Charge it to Experience...Lessons Learned

When we plan on doing something, especially an event that is very important to us, we usually have some kind of plan to meet our expectations and goals. There are times that the plans that we conjured up in our head works. Oftentimes, it just turns the unexpected route and we need to cope with it. Make a little adjustment here and there and go on with the rest of the event.

That was exactly what happened last Sunday (October 19) at the Botak Paa-bilisan Race Series. Prior to the race, I actually planned on squeezing myself to the frontline of the starting area, just so I will be able to start as the official timer starts. But fate would intervene and I was at a lost as to whether the runners of the 10K and 5K will start together or will the 10K runners start first. After more than a couple of inquiries, instead of getting a clear answer, I was even more confused because of the differing answers I got. With the race about to start, I then went to the checking area to get in the railings for the starting area, but I was stopped by the marshals because according to them, the 10K runners will run first, and so together with some of the 5K runners, we waited outside the starting area as we heard the starting gun for the race. Consequently, we tried to enter the starting area to get ready for the 5K start, but what we were hearing from the announcer alarmed us, they were calling on the 3K runners to go to the starting area and was asking the 3K runners not to go along with the 5 and 10K runners. Apparently, we missed the start of the 5 and 10K run. And so we were quite on a panicky mode when we squeezed ourselves between the bodies of the 3K runners who are getting ready to start their race.

Finally, we were already on our way, but the tail end of the pack was already about 200 meters away from us, so we needed to run really fast to catch up with them. I was actually out of focus until the first kilometer mark. However, I psyched myself and went back to the main reason why I was running in the first place. And so it went, I ran the remaining 4 kilometers, enjoying every minute of it while glancing at the stopwatch to take note of my pace and time.

Seeing the finish line from a distance pumped much needed adrenaline to my system. I was able to run according to my pace and my goal while enjoying every minute of it. Finally I crossed the finish line and upon checking on my stopwatch, my unofficial time was 27:35. Almost 2 minutes off my previous PB.

Lesson number one…You have to constantly remind yourself on the main reason why you started running. For it will surely help to gain your focus if there are unexpected incidents along the way. It will also prevent you from burn out and from being discouraged;

Lesson number two…You have to put “space for the holy spirit” in your plan. You cannot really follow your plan up the very last detail, no matter how you are well prepared for it. There are factors beyond our control, and we should not be controlled by it, a proactive way of viewing things;

Lesson number three…Be mindful of the people around you, they have such great stories to tell;

Lesson number four…At the end of the day, you just charge it to experience and hope that you will get out of the situation with enough lessons learned.