A personal running milestone--my first 21k run

Yours truly, posing right after the 21k run! :D

To run is to feel alive!

Less than five months ago, when I got back into serious running, I never expected I'd be able to finish a 21-kilometer race as early as now. After all, aside from a 15-kilometer run I did last March, I've never really progressed beyond 10k.

The 21k Finisher's Medal

But, yeah, earlier today, I finished a 21-k (13 miles) run during the Brooks Run Happy 2 race in Bonifacio Global City. As I write this tonight, I am nursing exhausted legs that have been subjected to more than 2 hours of run time.

My official time was 2 hours and 21 minutes (this counts the time when I would walk to rest). But my Nike+ GPS reading, which I pause whenever I do take walks, reads 2 hours and 3 minutes. Either way, I think this is a decent job for someone who've never ran a 21k before.

At the same time, I feel alive, strong, accomplished. I can't stress how proud I am for myself (and everybody else who finished their respective runs), having achieved this personal running milestone. And to think I was so nervous the night before because I haven't been running regularly for the month of May as compared to previous months.

Since my longest run before was 1 hour and 27 minutes, I was also concerned that my bladder would give me problems during the run. Thank God for strategically placed portalets along the route.

Another thing that concerned me was the weather condition. It has been raining almost everyday recently. And while many runners wouldn't mind this, I would have. Thankfully, weather cooperated and I was one very happy runner. :)

Overall, the Brooks-sponsored run was better than many races I've joined--distance markers were placed accordingly; water and energy drink stations were aplenty; medical personnel were attending to runners who needed help; route was challenging but very doable.

Best of all, I appreciate that the marshalls were actually working--greeting us, runners, with energetic applause and "Good Mornings!" To a tired runner, this means a much needed push and inspiration to get to that Finish Line as soon as he or she can.

The only thing that bothered me to no end was that the race started 37 minutes late (5:07am instead of 4:30am). This is a no-no and Brooks should know this!

Having said that, I really am already looking forward to finally doing my very first full marathon, hopefully sometime September of this year. I am excited and ever thankful to the Almighty for giving me the determination, the opportunity, the resources, and the time to run.

Keep running! :)


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