From 5K to 50K: A Story Told in Kilometers

**an old post from early 2012**

Ideally, you go through to 10, 15, 21, then 42K distances before doing an ultramarathon.

What I did was jump from 5K (ok, I did a 10K run once) to a 50K. All within the space of a month. Did I mention the appropriate training should be at least 6 months?

Crazy? They say those who run 50K and beyond are idiots. So now, my medal and certificate tells me I'm officially an idiot. But a satisfied, grateful, fulfilled idiot 

My mission was to do an ultramarathon once in my lifetime. And do it with love, perseverance, and a heart conscious of my Creator. I believe I managed to do all three, but I admit

I made certain sacrifices that were not very wise.

The Cebu-based ultramarathon I joined was no ordinary one - the 1st All Women Ultra Marathon (AWUM) in March 2012. It was indeed the first of its kind in the world. The organizer said that we have a very real and good chance of being in the Guinness World Records. Woah!

The race started at 10 PM and had a 10 hour cut off (ends at 8 am the next day). 

The first 5K involved a steep terrain that took us up a hill that overlooked the city. I had already decided to walk all hilly or incline slopes and do the Galloway method involving 5 minutes of running alternated with 1 minute walks throughout the race.

I remembered to start out slow and conserve energy, and I was able to maintain it although I found myself overtaken by slow runners. Later, I would realise I ran a bit too slow. Talk about leg muscles that crave for speed!

I went on my merry way pounding the pavement, and enjoying the sight of 181 women of all sizes, shapes and ages sweating it out in different running attires.

At about 23 km, I started feeling heaviness at the top of my calves and behind my knees. I haven't felt that way in a long time, not even when I ran 35 km in the heat of the sun during my training. Feeling the heaviness making me unable to lift my legs higher made me nervous and worried. I feared I might walk all the way to the finish line!

At 25 km, I sat down for 8 minutes at an aid station and had my legs bathed in Omega pain killer liniment, and continued to have this lifesaver of a potion sprayed onto my calves whenever I pass by an aid station that had it. I am the kind who doesn't believe in wearing a lot of fancy gear, not even hydration bottles. I simply inserted my water bottle inside the back portion of my shirt so my hands are free when I run  It's just me and my pink shorts, running top, Mizuno shoes, Timex watch and bracelet rosary. And a determined spirit. 

I was aiming for an 8 hour finish, and I was worried that I may not be able to accomplish my goal. So I kept on whispering for the Lord to help me finish, and pledged that all credit will be due Him should I be able to finish it.

I prodded on, and made myself rise above the pain and forget it was there and enjoy the view under the moonlit skies. I passed over 4 bridges, exhausted runners, and overtook friends who were a bit slower in striding their way to the final destination. 

I felt His presence, and a couple of angels, near me. I always got the impression or reminder that He was there with me, running with me. That I am not alone. And this made me smile. I said my prayers every now and then.

It also helped that there were many dutiful, gallant men who assisted us throughout the way as marshals and aid assistants (I loved the quick massages they gave!  ). We women definitely were treated (and felt) like queens!

In the last 12K stretch, I found out that running faster made the heaviness and pain disappear. Sigh. I muttered, "Why didn't I run faster earlier?"

So I scrapped the Galloway 5:1 thing and ran for longer minutes, finding myself overtaking exhausted lady runners, a lot of whom are just walking a lot of the times.

At the 45K point, a male ultrarunner I recently got acquainted with encouraged me by saying "5K remaining! This is your specialty, remember?"

So I ran the last 5K, stopping only for 30 seconds at certain periods (resting longer than that made the heaviness set in again). I felt impatience rising up inside me as I was eager to see the name "Karancho Resort" appear in the distance so I'd finally end my journey.

I bore with it, and fought off temptations to hop on some motorised vehicle to get it over and done with. Indeed, marathons challenge the mind more than the muscles! So I whispered Jesus's name.. and a few seconds later, I saw a sign saying "Christ is Coming." I beamed and tried to look left and right, seeing if He is indeed coming in person to carry me in His arms all the way to the finish 

Somebody was distributing roses to us runners near the end. I got mine, and took care not to drop it until I reached the finish line. At this point, my legs were aching so much that even a little twist to my foot landing or treading on rocky ground was painful. Hopping was certainly not possible then!

Photo Credit: Reynan Opada

Then, it began to drizzle, which grew into a light shower, until it developed into medium-sized drops of rain. A shower of grace to cap off my race? Perhaps, it was Heaven's way of blessing me. I then thought that it wouldn't make sense for me to cry tears of joy at the finish line, cause the skies were already weeping for me. I didn't feel like crying anyway. I just wanted to finish it, and be able to write about my journey later (and admire my medal heh heh).

Finally, I reached the beach resort and got a bit disoriented upon entering it. Where's the finish line? Is this it? So I limped my way further in to find this specially decorated pathway leading to a huge sign that said "FINISH," and a host of people waiting to greet the finishers.

I got hold of myself and got myself to jog to finish my run after 8 hours and 40 minutes...And claimed the golden medal and had my photo taken. We did it, Lord!

Suddenly, my legs felt so weak and painful I found it very hard to walk. It was kind of embarrassing, but I kept telling myself that it's alright and that I did well for a 5K specialist who never ran a 21K or a marathon before. And that I could not have ever done it without Divine help at all.

I admit I am proud of the 50K finish, and that I was even to finish way ahead of others who are used to running long distances. But I know in my heart its not for me to brag about. After all, I'm just an instrument that the Lord uses for His ends. And I hope by this feat, I have done some good even at least to one person. That by loving every enjoyable and painful moment I experienced in the run, some soul in the world have benefited by this little offering and prayer. Even if its just inspiring him or her to rise up to the challenges of life and fight the good fight until the end.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloria (AMDG)! To God be the glory!

How I Got Into Running and Other Tales

**Found this October 2011 post I wrote for another blog #throwback** 

I hate running. I find it really boring and tiring.

That was my attitude about the sport more than a year ago. I could not understand how my sister, and other running buffs, could enjoy going round a block over and over again for who knows how many minutes. It seemed to me this chore was no different from the thing hamsters do with wheels. You go round and round the same place until you've had enough of it.

"Keep your arms at a 90 degree angle when you run. Swing them too." My sister played coach to my rookie attempt at running.

"Don't land on your heels when you run. Use your soles. And spring against the ground on contact as if you got springs on your feet." Wide-eyed me tried to follow the instruction while imagining that the road was a hot plate and I was this little piece of meat hopping over the burning surface.

"You gotta contract your abs while you run so you'd have better upper body and core support." I then proceeded to squeeze by tubby belly while trying not to cut off my air supply or feel constipated as I do so.

I was touched by the helpfulness of my dear sister and I continued putting in my best effort running with her as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation. But still I found the whole thing an exhausting chore.

I never ran again after that early 2010 jog with her. Well, unless you qualify the running I did when I played badminton and volleyball a year after that. And running late for work (up five flights of stairs in 2 minutes).

I egged myself to go and try to run at a July race this year. I told myself I'd do the 400 meter dash first. What could go wrong in such a short distance even if I've never run for more than a year already? I ended up doing the 3K after being told the 400m was for kids. Nope, not teenagers. Kids aged below 10. I had my pride, so I smugly took up the registrar's challenge and did the 3K (which took me all of 25 minutes to complete). I was relieved I was not the last in my division and that I managed to complete the thing. Never mind that I panted as if I ran a 10K.

Despite the cold tremors in my extremities and the pain in like most of the major muscle groups in my body, I actually found the whole effort fun. I was surprised to find myself smiling as I ran and even felt I was having a holy experience despite the heavy breathing and the lead-like sensation I felt in my limbs. I started to understand why more people are now joining races and can relate to what other enthusiasts describe as being "bitten by the running bug". The invisible powers that be of running certainly had me by the gills then. And even to this very day.

From running one race a month, I'm currently onto 2 races per month. It helps me stay motivated and keeps the running fire alive. The one I'm joining on the first Sunday of November will be my sixth one and it's an 8K (no worries...it's my second 8K anyway and I can now miraculously run continuously for more than 30 minutes). I've since graduated from 3Ks and decided to specialize in 5K and aim to do it at or under 30 minutes by this January 2012's big race (as of my last 5K , I clocked in at 38 minutes).

Ambitious? It may be that, but what's a challenge if it's not audacious while seeming attainable at the same time? I even took up a 3-month gym membership and endured running on treadmills like (again) a hamster just to improve my performance, sacrificing my preference for the road and seeing natural landscapes as I run. The rainy season and scheduling problems made it hard for me to take my running to the road when I needed to give my legs a workout.

I still run on the beat-up shoes(which have seen too many miles but still works) my sister lends me, in my Speedo swimming shorts, in socks that sport a hole, and in Triumph underwired underwear (Update: not anymore; more on this in another post). I still don't have an athletic watch, compression leggings, and a hydration system (my distances are not that long anyway). Nevertheless, I run for the joy of it and I always think that you don't really need to have all those sophisticated apparel and gear to be a better runner. Heck, even the fast Kenyans run wearing just the obligatory singlet, running shorts, and the burning desire to cross the finish line first.

It's actually nice to feel those little discomforts while I pound the pavement: the bite of the chilly morning air on the exposed parts of my skin, dry lips, minor muscle twitches here and there and sweat dripping over my forehead and eyes (a single finger flick does it). It reminds me that I'm fully alive and that I can finish the race despite those difficulties. It helps me become a more enduring and stronger runner.

I don't race to win the event itself or to outrun the others (well, I admit overtaking a couple of them gives me that nice warm feeling in my chest). I race against myself and my weaknesses. I race with and for love. The whole thing is like a prayer done in motion with all the wrong gear but with a right heart.

Ready, FIRE, Aim

At "How to be a Multi-Millionaire" seminar last year, I was introduced to the concept of starting stuff even before you've figured out how exactly to go about them. You know, fine-tuning things on the fly. 

And so this blog - an example of that "Ready, Fire, Aim" concept. 

Expect a lot of fine-tuning on this blog in the coming days/weeks as I make it into the kind of multi-faceted resource that aspiring Hottifiers would like to be inspired by or check out for ideas/motivation. 

So, what's "The Hottification Project" all about?

Consider this blog the documentation of my journey to certified "Hotness," which points to "actualization" in major areas in my life - spiritual, physical, psychological/emotional, mental, social, and professional. 

I'm not putting myself out as a model to follow, but someone who you can cast an eye to when you need a little more encouragement in your own life goals or when you need idea sparkers that will transform your life and make it even just a li'l bit better. I'm hoping that my journey (or certain aspects of it) will help people somehow, whether it's learning certain things or avoiding pitfalls, saving you unnecessary heartache or hassle.

The title is inspired by this passage from Revelations 3:15-16:

"I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."

Being "lukewarm" is worse than being cold; it's like sitting in between two chairs, having a divided spirit/mind. I aim to be "hot" for my Creator as that makes my existence worthwhile and pleasing to the One who made me out of the searing heat of His love.

With that, I believe being a better person should affect all areas in my life - consistency and perseverance is key to this. And that is why I aim to be a "complete" person - one who's truly hottified inside and out. 

I'll be dedicating a page each for the major aspects I've mentioned and post my "updates" on each :D Thank you for visiting this site and following my journey. Hope that my experiences and learnings would also be helpful to you! I also look forward to learning from you and other inspiring people :)