World Vision Run

21K and still OK

“Run for a cause, run with a purpose.  World Vision Run not only provided a release of endorphins but each stride was meant to help kids get a better future through a good education.”

Read about: Incoming: World Vision Run

I promised myself that I won’t be joining races this month as I want to invest more time to build up on endurance but then I was so touched by the cause of this run and even went to the extent of joining their sponsorship program.  World Vision Run is a run where 100% of the proceeds would go to World Vision Philippines and their projects which has over the years sent hundreds of thousands of kids to schools.  I went a step further by giving away my complimentary kit and registered for the longer 21K run, which was my equivalent training long run for the weekend.  So this was a no-pressure run for me but I also I have to test some of my limits within the race to be a productive one.    At this point of my training, waking up at the early 4:30 am gun start was still a bit foreign for me so ended up arriving just in time for the Gun start.  Good thing that Suunto GPS detection was really fast and I had my GPS signals just within seconds.  Yes, this is my Suunto Ambit 2S debut race.

Race Route

Race Route – courtesy of Suunto’s Movescount

The race starts of in 9th Ave near 26th street and proceeds to 3rd Avenue via 11th Avenue and 26th Street before heading to the loop in triangle drive in the International School Area. The race then shifts to the long stretch in 9th Avenue going to Kalayaan Road and then goes back to 32nd Avenue in preparation for the climbing part in Kalayaan Flyover for the first half of the race.  The race goes on the fast and flat Buendia area all the way to Osmena Highway which is around the 14th kilometer of the race.  The race heads back to Bonifacio Global City with another climb in Kalayaan Flyover in the 17th and heads back to Rizal Drive before descending back to 5th Avenue for the final stretch in 32nd Avenue and the finish line in 9th Avenue near 26th Street.

The Race

I wasn’t able to be join the pre-race festivities as I arrived in the venue just as the race was about to begin.  I positioned myself in the middle of the pack as I don’t want to get carried away with the fast pace of the lead pack.  The warm up was short and unique so had to make do with a few stretches before bang, the race is starting. So went on a 6:30 minute pace at the first kilometer and further improved at the second kilometer before I remembered it was a training race so decelerated to a 7 minute pace with a goal of finishing the first 5 kilometers averaging 6:30 minute pace, which I was able to do.  I had to set mini goals within the race just to test my fitness level yet still have enough fuel in the tank to finish the half marathon.

Let’s Go!!! – Photo by Running Photographers

The longest distance I had lately was a 15K run so I knew I could have enough power for a 10K run so next goal was to finish the first 10K in 70 minutes, which included the start of the incline in Kalayaan Flyover.  I ran the uphill part just for the training effect on the legs as I’ve been lacking hill works lately.  I finished 10K at around 68 minutes and I tried to take it easy from hereon by inserting recovery walks in between especially in the water stations.  I was settling at a more aerobic pace for the second half of the race though tried to add some burst in between just to add variety.  Upon reaching the u-turn slot at Buendia corner Osmena which was between the 14th and the 15th kilometers.  This is my favorite part as I get to start to counting down the kilometers going back to Bonifacio Global City and the finish line.

Bleh… Running fuel nearly empty – Photo by Jose Ramirez

The challenging part was the climb back in Kalayaan Flyover in the 17th kilometer and this time I went into energy conservation mode taking the hill at a slower pace before resuming my countdown to the finish line.  By this point, I’m just doing the remaining kilometers at an aerobic pace.  Of course, muscle fatigue is also kicking in having been foreign to this distance for months now.  At the 20th kilometer point, I had a final burst of motivation after my ipod randomly went to the song, “I Will Survive” so must I as I used up whatever energy is left onwards to the finish line.

Off to the Finish – Photo by Jose Ramirez

It was 21.7 Kilometers in my Suunto Ambit 2S watch and there you go some bonus miles to boot and I was glad to finish this one.  I felt happy as this was one solid training run and I’m glad I’m back to the half marathon distance.  It was an excellent build up for future races and no matter whether it’s a PR setting race or just a training race, crossing the finish line always feel so good and seeing that the run was for a good cause, it felt even more special.  Credits to Runrio to for coming up with a well organized run with hydration stations overflowing.

Runners were also treated by raffle draw and a concert from Rivermaya.

Weapon of Choice

Run for a Cause wit a Shoe for a Cause (K-Swiss Kwicky Blade Light Stand Up to Cancer Edition).