My First Community Run

Taga Norte

The Team ADR Running Club held their second community run last September 22, Sunday, in Barangay Nailon.

Since I was not able to join their first community run last August 25 as it was the Pasigarbo sa Sugbu. As a newbie runner and since the registration was free, I did not hesitate to join and excitedly registered the event. It was early September when I found out about their second community run via facebook thus, there was still time to train for the upcoming event.

Good thing was I had my runner friends who also registered which was fun. The event thrilled us as we did not have any idea about the route and its kilometers. There were some hearsays that the run shall be 6km more or less. Nonetheless, we started the training.

The preparation.

It was kind of hard to meet our schedules for the training thus, we just do it individually. For my part, my running schedule is Monday, Tuesday and Thursday which includes easy runs and tempo runs while I do long slow distance runs every Saturday.

Week before the community run, my friends and I finally agreed to run together with a route from Bogo City Hall to Cayang Barangay Hall. The road to Cayang has elevation thus, the run was very challenging. They chose the route as someone from the ADR Running Club informed us that the route starts at Barangay Nailon, to Barangay Siocon to Barangay Libertad and Vice Versa. We all knew that the route has a series of uphill or elevation.

Among my runner friends, I was the newbie therefore, I really needed to keep up with them or run at their pace. It was a struggle honestly. They were fast. My hear rate reached to 188 and I was catching my breath during the run. I finished the 7km all straight run which was a proud moment for me.

On Friday, two days prior the community run, I took my compensatory leave and bought some groceries for my carbo loading and had an evening easy run. I just bought pancit canton, pocari sweat, bananas, some chocolates for energy and eggs. At night, the ADR running team posted the final route which was different to the information we received and we believed that it was more than 6 kilometers. I don't know what to feel but I was up for it.

On Saturday, a day before the run, I had general cleaning of the house in the morning and took a rest. I also started my carbo loading for the run. I slept early since our call time is at 4 in the morning since the gun start was at 4:30 am.

We met at 7/11 near shell and went to Barangay Nailon's covered court. A lot had participated in the event and all were excited and ready to run. The gun start was a bit late though, the sun had risen and we expected that we will finish the race in daylight.

We had some warm up and started to run at 5:30 in the morning. The run started fine not until I reached the first uphill then to the second and to those many uphill. Some of them were very steep. It really tested me. I got left behind by my runner friends as I decided to run at my own pace. People walked already, so was I. Aside that it was challenging, the route was very surprising.

Especially when we reached the mountain part where it was kind of rocky. The road run became trail run in an instant. I got worried on my running shoes as it was not designed for trail run. But despite of that, I still enjoyed the run.

I reached to a part of the mountain where the sea was overlooking which was a beautiful sight to see. I then slowly ran until the second water station which was about 7km already. We got out of the mountain and the road was already cemented and plain.

After drinking some water, I started to run at a higher pace. Someone told me that the finish line was near so I decided to have a straight run from the water station to the finish line. Sad part was, my airpods got low battery which was a bummer. Music keeps me going during my run. I just did not mind it and still continued running surpassing some runners.

I got all smiles when I reached Hisoler beach resort which means I am closer to the finish line which was their covered court where we started. I anticipated the last uphill in Lover's lane area hence, I walked.

However, as I was walking the uphill, I noticed the photographer of the event. And in order to get a good shot, I began to run even if it was elevated. I wanted to have a good running shot since that was my first ever since I started my running journey. And fortunately, it was. Thank you Bogo Times for this.

Among my friends, I was the fourth to arrive at the finish line and I immediately headed to the "painit" station. I grabbed some bananas, bread and congee which tasted good. Overall, it was a 9km road and trail run and I finished it in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Not bad, I must say. It was really a proud moment for me.

I don't actually aim to be the 3rd or first in a running event or to be in a podium. For as long as I could finish the race on my target time or before the cut off was enough for me. And with that, I am in competition with no one but myself. It is indeed a mental battle and mind games. Pushing my limit and discovering my capabilities.

I now look forward to joining fun runs or marathon next year but as for now, I am focused on my half-marathon run (25 kilometers) this January 12, 2025.

And that is all for today's blog.

Thank you for reading and until the next one.

With so much love - XOXO,
Bev 😘