to be a 21K race finisher - CHECK!

Last Sunday, I put a gigantic check mark on one item in my bucketlist - I married Adam Levine!  Gising gising din sa katotohanan pag may time? hehe sige na nga!

October 20, 2013.  I finished my first 21-km race!  I had Jason Mraz'  I Fuckin' Did It as theme song in my head while I was nearing the finish line.  Haha I was knackered, that was the only song that came to mind! :)

ages ago since the last time na masabitan ako ng medal.

The run was not an easy one for me.  I ran slower than my already slow lola pace as I got sick the night before from fatigue, and not eating enough carbo, altogether skipping dinner and breakfast (don't be undisciplined like me if you are running long distance!) and then probably some nerves got in the way too.  In fact, I walked a lot and I was unable to keep up with the guys I was supposed to run the race with.  I will no longer tell you about the conversations I had with myself because they are Sisa levels sa pagkabaliw.  Kasi naman, it was not pushing I needed in this race, kundi a lot of SHOVING! haha. But that was okay, my only goal for this race was to finish it alive, with my uncooperative legs still attached to my body. hehe and huhu how they hurt after ah!

It was really a happy feeling to have accomplished something I've worked hard for weeks.  Running made me a medyo morning person as I had to force myself to get up from my warm bed on the wee hours, lace my shoes and run around the village half-asleep, 2 or 3 times a week.  Then most days, I'd walk down the stairs on achy legs because I ran the day before.  No pain, no gain, so they say. :)

with Gorgeous Ala, who will be running 21K with us in no time! :)

I would like to thank the following for helping me cross that finish line: my running bud Ace who pushed me (I pushed him harder) to train and scared me with the info that those who still have not finished the race by 6:30AM will have to be picked up by a van, without a medal and a finisher's shirt haha;  the rest of Team Chos who made running long distances on Sundays a lot more fun;  Haruki Murakami's book entitled What I Talk About When I Talk About Running for the added inspiration;  my new running shoes, for shamelessly reminding me that I didn't spend a few thousands for them to be just a decor;  my parents for understanding why I always had to leave the house and had to sleep the rest of the day after a tiring run; and to God, my pacer, who gave the not-athletic me the strength and a drumload of lakas ng loob to finish the run.  :)  Salamat po!  

with the guys of Team Chos.

You know how I always upgrade an item in my bucketlist once I've realized it? hehe Well now, it has become: to finish a full marathon. A slow-running girl can dream. :)