I registered for the Timex run sometime on the last week of October. I actually registered 10k without thinking! I just felt it’s about time I moved on after that very dismal finish in the 5K of the Adidas KOTR. I say dismal because my official time that was published is forty-one minutes. I was in denial after that. How could that happen when in fact there were only 6 female runners ahead of me and if I am not mistaken my unofficial time was 28:10. I had a good run and I really felt I was stronger and faster after Eco Dash. The several complaints that I read in forums didn’t appease me. I actually can’t get over it until I decided to sign-up for TIMEX.

        I had two weeks to prepare and I thought it would be enough. I had been running around Camp like crazy after the KOTR so I was confident that I can make it. The trip to Baguio on the first weekend of November was a welcome treat, although it was purely work, I was able to squeeze a morning run at Burnham Park.

        It was a crazy week at the Office before TIMEX. The good thing is I was able to sign-up on the speed training of the Team Baldrunner under Coach Titus.

Fast forward to Saturday November 14 – I prepared my costume as if I am joining a beauty contest (ngek!) I also decided that my hair should be kept in place by a red rubber bond and a red headband (never mind if I will look like a Christmas décor!).

        They say carbo loading is good before a race so I did just that. Argo and some of the good peeps over at takbo.ph also gave me some tips. I wasn’t able to buy chocomucho so I decided to just bring a couple of choclairs.

        I wasn’t able to sleep well even if I went to bed quite early due to excitement… I am the only one who signed up for the 10K in my office; all of them will run 5K including the head of the Mafia. In short I will not have a support system and nobody will take my picture (no proper documentation for you now). I just hope Photovendo will be at bay to document my feat

        I woke up at 4am on race day. While waiting for my companions I did some warm-up around the compound. This is the very first thing that I learned in speed training. Do your warm-up first before stretching. I have been doing the opposite since I joined the noble profession of arms. At least now I know.

        We left the compound at 0500; I am a bit frantic because my race time is 0530. I don’t want to be late. We arrived at the NBC tent at around 0530. I panicked when I saw runners passing by thinking that they were already the 10k runners. I hurriedly get off the vehicle and sprinted to the starting line only to find out that it was the 21K runners that I saw. Foolish me!

        The festive mood is very palpable… I saw celebrities but not Piolo. I guess he was somewhere but not in my line of vision :-) never mind… I am not really a fan anyway.

        I did some stretching oblivious of the runners around me. It was announced that we will be released at exactly 0535H so I still have time to plot my strategy (as if!) my objective is to finish in an hour and whatever happens I am not going to walk. I was kind of meditating (huh!) when I heard the countdown then it was Bang! Off I went… I still don’t have that techie gadget that tells you how fast you are going so I just tried to go by my own pace. Not so fast but not so slow either. The fast runners are in front so I was not threatened that I will be stepped upon. It was somewhere in Rizal Drive, I guess near Basilio’s restaurant when the Kenyan runner came into view. Wow! He was fast; a couple of minutes later the second runner who is wearing a green Team Bald runner singlet followed. I later learned that it was Alquin Bolivar (Congrats, Alquin!)

        It was an easy run for me… I am not pressured and I still had time to observe the runners around me. I am not going to post my observations here but suffice to say that some merited a really good chuckle from this wicked gal hehehe I negotiated the flyover with ease, I was just psyching myself that I am running at Daza Park. It was when I was on top of the flyover that I saw this group of good looking guys; I was really tempted to look back and stare :-) but I just had to pass the opportunity. I had a race you know (imagine me saying the “you know” part ala Pacman) it was also in that same area when the 21K runners started coming into view. I took my first water break in the water station after the flyover. This is also another first for me since I never take water in my previous races, I only drink every after a road run.

         I am still fairly observant at this point in time; it was before I reached Paseo de Roxas when I saw Running Diva. I said hello to her and she responded. That was nice… I saw Argo too but I was to shy to say hello.    

        I am still fairly strong when I reached the turn around. I knew I will finish this race with a decent time.

        I almost stop on my way back to Paseo de Roxas to confront a taxi driver who was very arrogant. I really gave him a dirty look (maldita mode) Motorists on that part were honking their horns as if it’s New Year.

        The flyover on my way back is another story… I suddenly had difficulty and my knees are just about to give up but I held my ground. I talked to myself, I prayed, and thought of the things that I am going to write in my blog. It was also during this time when I remembered to eat one of my choclairs. Then I sang to myself until I reached the foot of the flyover.

        I regained some of my strength when I took my last water intake somewhere near Mcdonalds. I am now more excited to finish the race because I can already hear the sound system. I am now imagining my finish line look.

        I slowly increased my pace when I reached the vicinity of the NBC tent. I am also slowly passing several runners and it felt nice. I sprinted upon reaching the Toyota showroom. I gave it my all until I reached the finish line. I raised my hands like a champion when I did!

        I didn’t have anyone to take my picture but I was happy. I was so proud of myself. I still can’t believe I just finished 10K in 1:05:03 my classmates will surely laugh I am pretty sure of that. The ever collapsing Gangski is now a certified 10k finisher.

        And the official time is…

         My suppose to be cheerring squad hehehe They are properly documented!

 Last but not the least…