Why Running and Marriage, I think, are the same

Sealed with a kiss. My friend (the bride) re-affirms her love with her husband a few days before 2013. I was so happy to have witnessed it. (photo by Roman Carlo D. Olivarez via Facebook)

You may think it is weird, but I realized that running and marriage are the same a few minutes after leaving my friend’s wedding a few days ago.

But before I explain why, let me first give a disclaimer: I’m not a marriage expert. I’m not even sure if my one true love is also a runner, just waiting for me to get tripped by the road so he could run fast enough to save me from an embarrassing fall (I’m also very happy to tell you that I was not chosen to get the bouquet on the singles game. Getting that bunch of flowers was the most embarrassing that happened to me; I’d rather get tripped while running.)

With that, let me tell you what happened on the day I got that idea.

My bride friend (she's one of my friends whom I met on the first day of our college years) went back in the country from the United States to re-affirm her vows with her husband. I was glad to see her on one of her important life events because I have not seen her for 8 years. My friend (who’s also a runner) persevered for eight years of being away from her one true love (the husband went to the US to work). My bride friend’s mom shared a bit on how she has spent time in front of the computer, using either Skype of instant messaging to keep in touch with her future hubby (I heard some snippets of stories from her just before we lost touch). I have heard a lot about the pros and cons of a long distance relationship, but I think no one could ever explain it like her. Seeing her walk down the aisle with so much happiness put a smile on my face (the smile immediately turned into laughter and banter when I finally got to hug her, because she was still the same bubbly and girly friend that she was).

Now, what does marriage has the same with running?

Time and commitment.

They say marriage is not only the wedding; it’s the next day, and the days after that, that matters. Race day is not grand day of running; it was the eating the right food, sacrificing TV or parties the night before, and the break-of-dawn waking up that matters. How marriage and running works may be reverse, but if one does not know how to commit, the passion and the love dies.

In marriage, one gives time to his or her spouse. No matter what happens, a committed married person takes out his or her spouse (even kids) to spend time at least once a week. It does not matter if it’s an out-of-the-country couple vacation or having dinner under the night stars by the front yard – what matters is the time. In running, one squeezes time to hit the road. Doing the runs may be three to four times a week, and depends on the training; one can spend more than an hour to run. Time is of essence for marriage and running. Lost time has consequences – a possible break-up in marriage, and possible injuries for running. Both are not good if you ask me.

So does this mean that I feel like I’m married to running?

Well, I couldn't say; running is not the only thing that I do in life. But I have also heard and read that 10K run is for serious runners; training for it is like saying I’m preparing for my “marriage” to running (if that’s true, then I consider my newly-bought New Balance 870 V2 my colored “wedding” shoes).

If Running is my groom, then this is my wedding shoes. I just realized I bought the 2nd version of my New Balance 870. Talk about match made in heaven. 

What I do know is that once a person finds that one love, he or she invests time and commits to make it work.

And works for the love every day not until he or she is tired, but until he or she feels it’s not work anymore.

To my dear friend: I hope to run with you soon. Keep marrying your husband every day.

As for me, I’ll keep running (and staying away from the bouquet throws).

Holidays, Skin Rash, and my 10K Program

                                                                         Source: womenshealthmag.com via Ann on Pinterest

I started my 10K training program on the last week of November. I was perfect attendance on my weekday runs, while I looked forward to my long Sunday runs.

I told myself that this will be no ordinary training, as the colder mornings and festive mood are my big challenges. Never have I thought that I would give in to two challenges: holiday traffic and a skin breakout.

The horror of me staying up on the road for a few more hours (no kidding) due to holiday rush made me sacrifice (with regret) my two weekday early morning runs the whole week before Christmas. I sadly decided to report early for my work so that I could go home early, too, for one whole week. I realized that if I continued 6 AM weekday runs, I will get into the horrible holiday rush hour when I get home from work. I remembered commuting during that week with heaviness in my heart. With it, I decided that I really need to work from home in the next few months or years (but that’s another story).

Second, I had a strange skin rash that occurred in my both legs. They were red and a bit swollen and super itchy. I went to the doctor and found out that it was due to chemical irritants. I went under medication for a week. I still felt blessed, though, that I only got rashes this year. The last two years, I got flu as my Christmas company. It was not around this time.

I consulted the Runner’s World website and friends on what to do since my I lacked one week training. After reviewing my past weeks of my training program, I’m back to the tracks by Christmas week. Today, I close my 2012 with a 5K (my mom was surprised to see me eating at 5:15 AM. I told her I’ll eat earlier next Sunday for my 8K long run.)

Did I say this 10K training was no ordinary training?

Well, I guess I was not the only one who has experienced such setbacks. We plan on how we run, how far we should go, who we run with (or if we go alone, like in my case), how fast can we go, and how many times should we run. But any plan does not go as planned.

But it we get into the holidays and skin rashes, it does not mean it’s the end of the world.

Here’s my new year’s wish that every runner will get to receive miracles on their every run, and just continue running with a smile just in case things don’t happen their way.

Happy 2013, runners!

Give your old singlet and running shoes at Runnr!

2012 is about to end. I am sure you have attended a lot of running events this year.  During the last 12 months, you have accumulated certificates, medals, freebies, and singlets.

Instead of keeping your singlets, why not donate it?

Running store Runnr is accepting old singlets, even your old running shoes, to be given to the victims of Typhoon Pablo. They will accept donations until December 20, 2012.

Isn't it great to remember your best runs of 2012 while giving hope to our fellowmen?

Go the extra mile through Runnr!

Hate Cigarettes? Run against it through Sin Tax Run

Run Rio's front man Rio dela Cruz is making a stand against the ill effects of cigarettes and alcohol by inviting runners for the Sin Tax Run on December 16, 2012 at SM Mall of Asia!

Check the rest of the details here:

http://runrio.com/2012/11/sin-tax-run/

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/79221/getting-people-addicted-to-running-not-cigarettes

November Rundown

                                                                  Source: thehealingintuitive.com via Ann Kristine on Pinterest

I’m sitting down in front of  the table in my room, with Sydney (my Acer notebook) in front of me, helping me put into words what has been going on in my mind during the past month. I consider this a blessing; I haven’t used Sydney for my blogging works in a while. I was scared for two weeks because Sydney would not start. Thank God for the geek in me, I was able to resuscitate it (I clicked on System Restore with my left eye closed).

I realized I have not written in my blogs for the past few months, so with Sydney’s resuscitation, I thought it’s about time for me to write again, just before the Mayan calendar ends (I don’t believe it, though).

A week before the New Balance Run, I saw myself with a different vigor. I ran 10 rounds in our village, something I have not done in the past year. A day before that, I learned about the New York City Marathon was cancelled. But on that morning, I didn’t mind. When I was running my old familiar route, I told myself that when my New York Marathon time comes, it will never get cancelled. Maybe I got too much red wine the night before. But anyway, I have written my participation in my bucket list.

This is Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain when she crossed the ING NEw York City Marathon in 2009. I plan to post this and change the bib name to mine. (Source: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/62kNIbjOLQL/40th+ING+New+York+City+Marathon/ZH-tziPqQA1/Paula+Radcliffe)

Speaking of New Balance Run, well, I was supposed to run my 5K there. Suddenly, the “monthly dues” arrived the night before (men runners, in case you don’t understand, ask your wives or girlfriends). I could have wished for it to arrive earlier in the day so I could have given my slot to somebody else. But then I just didn’t. What transpired the week before the event was an indication that I was not meant to run it. I wasn’t well-prepared mentally and physically. So, I woke up in the morning of November 11 with a smile on my face; I was saved from future injury.

I was in a different mode when November entered. I was again at my busiest. I’m both happy and overwhelmed. So happy and overwhelmed I realized I haven’t been writing.

So here’s my November rundown.

I got myself in a personal six-month project starting November. I got a name for it: Prodigy Project. I know I’m no longer that young to be called a prodigy. I called it such because in the next six months, I will start the journey of knowing myself, pushing my limits, and conquering new boundaries.

                                                           Source: anchoredinfaithandlove.tumblr.com via Ann Kristine on Pinterest

I got a lot of things at hand with my Prodigy Project: first, I enrolled in my master’s degree class this semester. I was blessed to be re-admitted for the second time, yet with a warning: I’m way passed the deadline of finishing the course. So I’m calling this semester as the ‘make-it-or-break-my-back-by-non-stop-running’ semester (I honestly thought of taking that consequence but my wits got me). Finally, after making too many escapes, I am facing one of my dreaded monsters during sleep: research (first is math). I remember doing a 30-minute run one morning and I realized that I just took one step towards faith in myself. If I come out of this alive (and with a crisp publishable technical paper at hand), then New York Marathon is not a dead dream. So far, my professor has kindly turned down two research problem titles that I submitted this month. I know it will not be easy, but persistence is my new friend.

Second, I’m preparing for a revamp of my other blog (click here). To do that, I need to finish ten website tutorials, take a video of myself three times to say how cool I am, and get new skills and be a geek like Einstein (okay, I’m exaggerating). If I finish this, I’ll be putting myself as one of the top freelancers in the world that people can hire to get the best work done, miles away from whoever wants my service (if I just sounded Greek to you, click here to be enlightened).

Third, I am doubling up my ante in running. I’m finally saying hello to 10K by 2013. I have not searched for a particular race to run my first 10K next year; what I focused on was to get the best training with my current schedule. I targeted to run 10K this year, but I was still scared to try. Getting on a 10K plan this year ain’t bad, I guess. Weeks ago, I saw myself in front of the Internet, thanking Jeff Galloway for his published 13-week 10K training in his site (great because it just requires 30 to 45-minute runs during weekdays, which I am already doing). I realized I was really serious about it when I saw myself re-creating Galloways’ 10K training calendar on an Excel spreadsheet (I had to convert the miles to kilometers. I also placed dates). So far, I’m about to cap my first week of training with a 3.2KM run today. I’m blessed that by December 16, I’ll be running 5K in Run Kuyang Run in Manila, and on February 3, 2013, my first 6K in my first Condura Skyway Marathon. Both dates and distances were just right in my training calendar. Biggest challenges that I see: cold mornings and holiday parties (and the thought of running alone in a nearby cemetery where I plan to do my Sunday long runs). Bring it on.

I may have set these goals but I still do think: I’m crazy. When I get to sit down and think of my Prodigy Project, I see myself smirking and telling myself I’m crazy. I have gone completely out of my wits to keep my mind working, upgrade my skills, and run longer. I’m crazy enough to do these because I think I can. I am still a breathing (and running) human being who has refused to be told that “I can’t make it.” Nobody told me that getting through all these would be easy. I just thought it would be worth it.

So that’s my November rundown. Think I’m crazy or not? Do you want to tell me something about my project or just simple want to cheer me on? Please feel free to put on comments below(I would really appreciate if you could do more than Like.). Warning: statements such as and related to “You can’t make it” will be spammed. ;)

                                                            Source: eat-sleep-run-repeat.tumblr.com via Ann Kristine on Pinterest