Beck and I suddenly found a new love and registered to join the GIG (Green is Good) Run 2009 which was held at UP Diliman campus last June 28 . This is my second 10k and should have been her first, but a few days before the said event, flu struck her which we almost thought that its the dreaded AH1N1, fortunately its not. This is also RP’s second fun run, her first is the previous week’s Olympic Day Fun Run.
The one thing I dislike with running events is that they are held so freakin’ early in the morning. Stricken with insomnia, its needless to say that I’m not a morning person. So Beck, RP and I were late for the race. When I reached the starting point, the 10K run has already started and so I have no choice but to join the start of the 5K. Fortunately, there’s only a 10 minute difference, which means that I could still overtake some of the slow runners of the 10k. Anyway, I could just deduct 10 minutes from my official time to determine my actual running time.
My goal for my second 10K race is to finish it within 60 minutes. The route of the race started near the front of Palma Hall at Roxas Avenue, go around UP Campus via Magsaysay Avenue, E. Jacinto Avenue, to the College of Science Grounds, to Quirino Avenue, back to Roxas Avenue going towards the UP oblation, then right turn to Osmena Avenue, past to the College of Music then right turn to Roces Avenue and another right turn back to Roxas Avenue. 10K runners must do 2 laps of this route while the 5k runners will only do 1. The 2.2K costume right is just one lap around the Academic Oval.
Since I started the race late, I had a sense of urgency to run fast to make up for the 10 minutes I lost. Running around UP is very pleasurable, with its tree-shaded roads, the only downside to this race is that the drinking stations have ran out of water (when I already running for my 2nd lap) and for the last 3kms of the race, I am dying of thirst. Again, I fell short of my target time of finishing the race under 60 minutes. My official time is exactly 1 hour and 10 minutes, so deducting 10 minutes for my late start, it took me a full 60 minutes to finish 10 kilometers. No choice but to train and try harder next time.
RP posing with Zorro, they both joined the 2.2k costume race.
We were surprised to see MAP Vice President Andy Galvez in this race. He finished well ahead of me in this race, well he is a strong runner because he joins the RP team when they train every morning.
RP crossing the finish line
Beck, RP and Andy
The organizers of GIG run 2009, the UP Mountaineers. They organized this event as a fund raiser and also the create awareness on the need to protect the Ipo Watershed in Bulacan.
Anubis is also beginning to enjoy these races because its also a chance for him to run outdoor.
