First December Run

Thud. Thud. Thud.

I had to drag myself out of bed this early Wednesday morning. I haven’t been running consistently lately and I have been so lazy this past November 2009. I left my two boys in bed and kissed them before I left. D wrapped his right arm with mine – and for a minute I wanted to snuggle up with them and sleep again… I had to resist the urge to do so – and I’m glad I did.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

I chose to not run with my ipod on – and contently listened to the sound of my foot as it hit the pavement… And let a multitude of thoughts run through my mind. In the beginning it was HARD. The first kilometer is always the hardest for me. And my mind was blank at first with just me talking in my head – pushing me to plod on.

And then, I thought of my almost three-year old boy. Almost everyone in my internet world – knows him already. He has been my anchor during the tough times that I had to go through for the past two years. Sometimes, I wonder if it was wise of me to kind of show him off. Now, that I think of it – he was my shield and protected me through the battle that I had to face back then… Today, life has taken a 360 degree turn for the good for me – for us. And I am oh so thankful – at the point of being scared. Scared because at any moment, something might happen and it will be all be gone in an instant. So everyday we make it a point to pray every night and every morning for the things that we are thankful for.

Last night before the three of us went to sleep, we had our goodnight/thanksgiving prayer. Usually, it was just me and D who pray out loud. And then out of the blue after I say, “Thank you Jesus for…”. Sky utters, “..For the dinosaur, for my juice and my milky…” And all D and I could do was smile – knowing we’re on the right track.

When I saw the sun rising up in the horizon, I headed home. On my way, I didn’t hear the heavy thud of my feet as it hit the ground. I was flying again, and it felt good. Mornings has never been so good. Nice start for my first December run.

Baby Steps… and free Body Fat % Analysis :D

Just as I was getting my groove back on the road to running and boxing. I get sidetracked again. The reason for my silence here in my blog. A full two weeks before I can do anything physically demanding again… Aaaarrrgghhh… It’s definitely frustrating for an active person like myself.

I was able to run twice last week and even do boxing over Elorde Boxing Gym Gilmore, before I felt pains again. Tough. But eventually this virus will get sorted out eventually. I’m just glad I have it and not my boy Sky.

So far now, I’m taking baby steps again to a fitter me…

Note: If you’re in the vicinity of Elorde Boxing Gym Gilmore EVERY FRIDAY from 8 to 12 noon and you would like to know you BODY FAT % using the 7-Skinfold system. Come by and get an analysis for FREE! Just drop me a message here or email me at thefitmommy@yahoo.com

Stroller Fitness! Postponed!

Update: Classes are postponed until further notice. I’m working it out with SM mall of asia if we can hold classes INSIDE the mall. Still scouting for other malls. THANK YOU!

I Reached The Finishline with a Kenyan…

…in an ambulance!

It was barely an hour into my hopefully official 42K, and I was COUGHING so hard every 2-3 minutes or so. I was not conditioned at all for the Subic marathon last Saturday. My pace was a far cry from the LSD’s and the QCIM 21K just a week ago, deep in my heart I knew I had to stop or pass out somewhere along the dark SCTEX road. So I chose the former.

I was all primed up for THAT Saturday, until Thursday morning came – when I woke up with a runny nose. I had been taking care of Sky a couple of nights before that from a cold – then I GET the bug.

My husband D was trying to convince me to re-think my plan. He didn’t think I was in no condition to run a full… Being my stubborn self that day, I told him I can still do it… But now I hate to admit it, but HE WAS SO RIGHT.

While I thought of just doing a walkathon for my first marathon after 30 minutes, I opted not to and get myself into an ambulance if my cough didn’t go away within another 30 minutes… I was struggling. And I think Ben of Photovendo saw it too. He and his female friend cooled my Gatorade flask in the cooler in their pick-up and told me that they would stop every 2Km, just in case I need it again. Just to lighten the load off my fuelbelt.

But after WALKING more than running. I decided to STOP. I hate that word, but it’s either that or something worse. I figured I can do my next full marathon early next year. I can’t afford to go back to my boys WASTED – it defeats the purpose of being a Fit mommy and wife. Even if I hated it.

I hitched a ride with Ben and he graciously dropped me off the nearest ambulance… As soon as I sat on the stretcher – I started to get CHILLS. My Blood Pressure was normal, but my Pulse rate was 138bpm, which is unusually high for someone who was walking. The Red Cross guy looked blurry when I first started talking to him… Then, after being administered Oxygen for 5minutes – my vision wasn’t blurry anymore…

A few minutes after I got settled, the ambulance started speeding to one of the female Kenyan runners who passed out somewhere past 25K. I got off the stretcher and sat by the side instead. They loaded up the mythical female runner on the stretcher, unconscious.

I have to tell you that I was still in awe of the runner resting on the stretcher before me. She looked immortal to me… But when she started mumbling in her state of exhaustion, I came to realize WE ARE ALL HUMAN doing the best we can to run a formidable feat of finishing a 42K.

I came out of the ambulance at Remy field and saw my family playing in the field while they were waiting for me. As I walked over to them, Sky came bolting towards me with a smile. I wanted to cry right then. But when I heard D tell Sky, “There’s our winner Mommy!”

Then I started to laugh when Sky gave me one of the tightest hug I ever got from my little man. And then I got a kiss and a protein shake from D…

And then Sky tried to pee on my shoes, then I didn’t mind at all anymore. There will always be a next time…

Come Monday morning, both Sky and myself were feverish. My fever is gone for now, but I think I’ll lose my voice any moment now. But, I’m well enough to take care of Sky. Thank you for all the prayers! I’ll be running again soon!

Jitters.

Normally, 2-3 days before a long run, I would bulk up with a bit of Carbs and Potassium. And come LSD I feel fine. The same went right before the QCIM 21k last Sunday. I finished with a decent (from runnex) 2:11:39 in a relaxed run mode. I even had enough strength to go around Greenhills with Sky without a yaya after adding another 10K to my half-marathon mileage that day.

Today being a Wednesday, I am preparing again. The routine has become quite normal. Coconut water in the morning, eating every 3 hours, drinking water every chance I get and doing easy workout routines at home… This morning though, I felt a bit sluggish to a point of feeling sick. I had to take the trip to the loo a couple of times too!

To hopefully, whisk away the feeling of nervousness, I dropped by Secondwind and grabbed myself 3 more GU energy gels for Saturday’s run. Then off to a mall nearby for a lunch of Chicken Inasal (Pecho with liver and bottomless Lemonade), the waiter was giving me an amusing look. He kept refilling my glass as I literally WOLFED down my lunch. The waiter just kept on beaming, I swear. I wanted to order another cup of garlic rice, but stopped myself – to save room for a yoghurt dessert treat I was thinking of having right after this. And to avoid another bout of warm, appreciative glances from the waiter.

Went around and I started feeling sick again… Not the bathroom type though, I just felt queasy. I decided to just stave it off at home with Sky. Got a good nap with my little man beside me. I didn’t wake up refreshed as I thought I would.

And I remembered what D told me awhile ago. JUST HAVE FUN MOM.

And as I finish this post. I don’t feel quite as tired anymore… See you all on Saturday!