Late Post: 22km Long Run!

This is a late post, been meaning to write about this but just haven't found the time (actually, I'm supposed to be checking papers, but, yeah).  Did last week's long run in the Greenhills area with CA and Janine (new friend!) - 22kms! Did 20kms the weekend before and was fine but struggled for last weekend's 22kms! I know the usual training plans would require LSD over the weekend.  Unfortunately (or fortunately?), for CA, there is no such thing as LSDs.  Only LDs - dropped the SLOW part of the run.  Hence, we do the long runs at 7:00-7:30 pace! Phew! We finished our 22kms LD last weekend at 2:40! Not bad, huh! Aiming for 2:30 or less for this Sunday's Condura Skyway Run! :)



Anyway, so I re-discovered my love for FitFlops! I initially bought 2 pairs during my preggy days since I wanted comfy footwear.  Since mom wanted me to accompany her to the mall for her haircut right after my long run, I decided to use my Fitflops and boy were they heavenly!!! It gave me just the right amount of cushioning I needed for my super tired feet! <3 It felt like I hadn't ran at all! :) From now on, this pair will always be present in my running bag!

New Shoes, Same Issue

So I broke in my new shoes today (NB 880v2 - see previous post), yay, right? NOT.  Well, in terms of how it feels when I run, I don't really see any significant difference..? I do appreciate how much more room my toes have.  The pair I have now is much bigger - thanks to pregnancy, my feet got bigger and I don't think it's going to get any smaller.

Anyway, reason why it's not a yay is because... I still got blisters (considered posting a photo but maybe that's too nasty).  I was hoping it was my Mizuno pair that was giving me the blisters, I guess not? CA suggested not wearing socks next time - I'll try next week.  Definitely not trying something new for this weekend's half-marathon.

Speaking of something new, I tried an energy gel today! Had one before my run with CA and well, I did feel a surge of energy at around 3kms! Although CA does not approve of energy gels, I think I might have to have one or two this Sunday, still thinking about it.  Not sure if it's entirely psychological - I remember last year when I did my first half-marathon, I didn't need any gel or even a hydration belt! But, yes, I will not compare my now-self to my last year-self.  I'm less prepared now and carrying on more weight.  According to CA, I always screw up my long runs - by screw up he means: (1) I don't run the entire distance and (2) I only finished 17 last Sunday (instead of the 20 I was supposed to do).

As for my blisters, will definitely load up on petroleum jelly for the half-marathon! We'll see how that goes.

Run BGC

...or more like Walk BGC.  I don't know if I'm just being a brat or overly maarte but I really am not proud of this run! The only saving grace? I didn't pay for it, thanks to CA's blogger friend.  Or, maybe I would have had more willpower if I actually paid for it? Here are the reasons why I thought I sucked at it:

1) I walked so much! In fairness to myself, I ran until 10kms and right about that time there was a steep uphill so I didn't bother running it anymore.  I was so not prepared for this uphills! The minute I saw so much people ahead of me I knew it had to be downhill kaya kitang-kita ko sila!

2) I think I ran too fast at the beginning.  Not having a GPS watch, I just normally base my pace on the Nike Running app (pretty helpful).  Usually, I end the first km at around 8:00 or 8:30 but yesterday I think it was 7:20? Why am I so much faster? All thanks (or no thanks, haha) to Van who Les and I ran with! She's a much faster runner but did say she was going to run this slow.  Anyway, I think that added to me getting tired...?

3) CA says I walked not really because I was tired, but mostly because I wanted to walk.  I think I was mentally weak yesterday because I was coughing and was on Day 2 of my period :( I wanted to cry when I got my period Friday but decided to be grateful instead that it won't be around anymore this weekend for QCIM! :p

4) I was so slow so at around 12kms, it was so hot na! I didn't wear my cap, but had it in my bag.  Stupid :))

I was supposed to run an additional 6kms with CA and his friends (who are now my friends too, hahaha) after but did not finish :( Thanks to my girly problems (which I do not want to elaborate on here), I only managed an additional 2.  

My Shoes! :((

Of all the things to forget on Runday Wednesday, I forgot my shooooes! :(( I'm just grateful that I live close to school, close enough to have it brought! Above is a photo of my current shoe, Mizuno Wave Creation and I think it's high time I buy a new one! Still thinking of which one to get but here are my options: 

New Balance 880v2 

OR

Asics Gel Cumulus 14 

These are so brands out there that it sometimes gets confusing! Someone advised me to go to Riovana or Runnr to have my feet analyzed so I could get proper shoes but I'm just too lazy to do that.  The ones I have now just came from CA's list of recommendations.  I just know I need shoes that are comfy and cushioned so I could hopefully stop having those nasty blisters! 

I love my Mizuno's for the support and stability it gives but I think the problem with it is it's not cushioned enough, but it's been with me for over a year and I've made so many memories with it... 

My half-marathon

A couple of 10kms and my best 10km at that!

Those horrible long runs with CA

My one and only run when I was pregnant! 

:) Never thought I'd actually have emotional attachments to a pair of shoes! Anyway, I hope to be able to purchase my new pair this December so I'll have January to use it and get used to it too, in preparation for the big marathon!

Shopping Shopping!

...because I really want to post about today's purchases, I had to make another entry.  Ayoko naman isama sa reflection ko something that seems so trivial and materialistic :))

So, today's purchases:

Bought another top from my current favorite store: Gingersnaps! I love how their maternity wear is just so chillingly pregnant.  I mean, nothing even that's empire cut and has a ribbon that can be tied at the back.  No offense to those kinds of tops, though since I have a few of them from SM.  But Gingersnaps just makes normal-looking clothes but tailor-fit for the pregnant body.  I've been to the Greenhills branch so many times that all the salesladies greet me when I enter! :))

This is obviously not for me.  My husband does not wear any other jeans but Levi's.  I, on the other hand, am fine with 700-peso jeans from herBench.  He was so happy with this purchase that right when we got home, he tried it on again with other tops/shoes to see which ones go well with it.  *rolls eyes* HAHA

I mentioned this on my Facebook wall but here I am again, raving about Parisian shoes! I got 2 pairs for P999.50! What a steal.  I did see some nice flats in Greenhills' tiangge - forgot the brand but really pretty and unique designs, but for P799 each.  Good thing this was after SM :p Bad news, I still have those flats on my mind... but, no, will not buy any more shoes!!

I've always wanted to buy this but since I've been looking for a Kris Kringle gift for my faculty room baby, I thought of giving her this.  The trouble with having so many new teachers is that I still haven't gotten the chance to get to know them all! I guess this is also because I wasn't in during the summer and first quarter.  Anyway, she's an English teacher so I'm assuming she likes to read!

Okay, I think that's it for the day! :) Things on my to-buy list for the rest of December : Gifts for some co-teachers, my advisory class and NOTHING ELSE.  Should start saving up for baby stuff <3

A New Pair, Please

Before I purchased my Mizuno pair 3 months ago, I was actually choosing between those and the latest Nike Free pair.  I found the latter a bit too flexible, I felt that maybe it wouldn't give me the support I needed.  I don't entirely regret my decision although I do think I need a second pair (Need? Want?).  Hmmm, sometime soon, maybe?

For now, it remains on my wish list ;)