It really is ON!

I had scheduled my Visa interview for the US earlier this month but due to some "concerns" I had to move it on a later date. So, last Wednesday, I finally had my interview for my US visa. It was a very long process yet I didn't mind that I actually waited for two and a half hours just to be interviewed in three minutes.

My day started at 6:30AM as I needed to be one hour early for my 7:30AM interview. I did all the necessary waiting in line, waiting into the pavillion and waiting for my number to be called. Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed within the US embassy premises hence, I was literally doing nothing. Just staring at other applicants and deciding on my mind if this person or that person will be approved or denied. For the first part of the process, my documents were checked by a Filipino where he was telling me that I did my application rightfully except that I did not give my middle name. This made me confused as the application did not have any blank for the middle name. I just kept mum and agreed with him - a lesson I learned from Nicolette Henson, to not argue with anybody. He then let me get inside the actual interview area where I had to do my finger scanning. Being the person I am, I have this habit of reading a lot of posters and reminders. I read all the instructions on how to finger scan and did pretty amazing. I just did everything in one try and was very fast compared to the others, who I see did it for three times or more.

Waited again for my number to be called and then the number 2113 flashed on Window#5. I went to the window and learned that my interviewer was a young male consul. This is the part where my heart started pounding and I actually felt fear. The interview started immediately with the expected first question: What are you going to do in the US? With my "interview skills" I answered in all courage, "I am running the New York Marathon". Then some follow up questions such as, when is the marathon, how many have I finished prior to this one and then thats it about the marathon. He then moved on asking me about my work, my family, where will I stay and who will finance my travel. I answered everything in the most confident and as honest as it should be. Then after a couple of minutes, without providing any document or whatsoever, he just mumed, "Approved". I was in total shock and, pretty excited.

Turned around, walked back to the pavillion and discussed my delivery details with Air 21.

Now, I have a VISA. I am really running the New York Marathon and I am really going to travel to the US. Thanks to everyone who have encouraged me to go and push myself to really do this. From my supportive officemates and boss, friends (here and in the US), my Bald Runner gang and most especially to Nicolette Henson and Garyjohn Rivera for all the coaching and briefing for my interview.

New York, here I come! (OK fine, include San Francisco and probably DC and baka Houston) haha!!!

7.98 Percentile Rank!!! Wohoo

Only today I was able to check my official time for the OROFOLS and I registered 7.98 percentile rank which means I finished 117 out of 1467 runners at the 5K category! I never finished this aweseome, but of course we know that 5K is usually the distance for newer runners. But still, I feel great. Got more pumped up to train more!

My first taste of LSD

I have been running for more than a year but I never had the guts and chance to do LSDs. I have been consistently training on my own and have been contented in running 5K every single time. So, since I formally join Team Bald Runner and is training for NYC Marathon, I was invited by my co-runners to do an LSD in Clark today. I instantly said yes since in my traning, my schedule was to run 22K and the team decided to run a 25K (since most of them are training for PAU). I decided to run the 22K and would check by that time if I can still run the remaining 3K.

The day started really early by meeting Iah and Macky at Shell Mckinley and then met up with Tin and Kaye at NLEX for some breakfast. Upon arrival at Clark, I was able to meet the other folks from Team Bald Runner and we took off for our run. As this is an LSD, the group's pace was normally slower than everybody's pace, well, except for me. We were running at 6:30 pace and I was still doing well. For perspective, I usually run trainings at 7:00-7:30. I was comfortable running as the air was clear and the weather was awesomely perfect.

At 5K, I was still at my best and was happy that all my pocket trainings were working. The fatigue has not yet kicked in and it allowed me to continue pacing with the team. At this point, the team are slightly inching away from each other while our support vehicles meet us at approximately 2K intervals to provide us with our hydration and other supports. We finally met our turn around mark (at 12.5K) and this is where I started to feel that I am slightly tired. We went on running with me usually at the last batch of the runners. I was still comfortable and tailing everybody else until around 17K. Afterwhich, I felt that I needed to rest but since the team was already ahead of me, we immediately ran after my quick water break. I was the last runner and would ensure to keep an eye on the 2 runners ahead of me to not get lost.

While we were in an area of woodlands in the left and a wall in the right, I was focusing intently on my breathing and was looking at the ground as the road goes uphill, then, when I glanced at the next runners, they were gone. I panicked a bit as I am not sure I remember the route early on the run. I just went on and made some minor backing when I felt I am loosing the right way. During this time, I have to stop to about 3 times to ask for directions. The problem is, I do not even know where I am going. So I just continued running until I see from time to time spots which I remember earlier in the run. At 22K, I stopped. And walked. Until 25K.

Primarily, I walked because I was quite scared already of getting lost and I was already trying to figure out how to call my friends. Then, at one point, I saw a tent, which I vividly remember Jerry joking that it was suppose to be a "water station". I felt relived and knew I was right on track and couple of meters away from the parking area. I saw my friends chatting and congratulated me for running my first LSD.

Lesson learned: train hard so I don't get left behind.

Happy about: running 22K. With very minimal walk breaks (during drinking breaks only)

Will definitely do LSDs with the gang next time.

My NYC Marathon Training Plan

My goal for the NYC Marathon is to finish with a sub-5 (less than 5 hours). With this in mind, I have deviced a training plan which I based on something shared to me by a runner colleague, Kristy. I have incorporated the in the schedule the days I can/cannot run. And hopefully I will be able to follow them.

So far, I am not yet able to follow my plan and I hope this is just my first week jitters. Will definitely work out on religiously following this one.

Hope to see lots of Pinoy during the Marathon EXPO! I know for a fact that Coach Rio, Jaymie (TBR) and the editor-in-chief of The Front Runner are all running NYC Marathon. Hope to learn more who are the others who will be running.

Been sick, now what?

I have been sick for about two weeks now. Last week, I got a virus which literally stopped me from doing a lot of things (read: running) and was getting fine around last Tuesday when (sound effect: WaPpAk!!!) I got a sprain. I was using this shoes that was misaligned that caused my left foot to ache. So, for the last two weeks, combined total running distance is just 10K. Bad.

Now, I decided to let go of the barkada's planned weekend beach outing so I can recuperate from the virus and sprain I got. I am having a 'day-off' on Monday as well as it's my beloved mother's birthday. I am not going back to running but instead I am formally starting my marathon training. With the New York Marathon on scheduled for November 7, 2010, I still have around 3 1/2 months to prepare for it and oh boy, no one can guess what measures I have done to make this marathon a reality. The only thing lacking is the training for the actual marathon.

Tuesday is the start of forever. A definite milestone.

My New Beybiah!!!

I. Bought. New. Shoes.

My new running partner, my Asics Kayano 16! I have long been contemplating on which shoes to buy until I decided to buy my first Mizuno. I have already picked the best model for me (with the help of Running Diva!) and decided to come back the other day to finally purchase it. Unfortunately, they don't have my size in BHS. We tried calling other stores and they still do not have my size. I didn't know what to do and was frustrated. I looked up again in the net and recalled that Asics store has opened in Greenbelt 3. I decided to give it a visit last Thursday and instantly fell in love with the Kayano 16. So right there and then, I took out my wallet and bought me the shoes. No turning back. I was so excited to test it on but due to a virus attack, until now, I have not used my new running partner. We'll be doing our test run tomorrow. :)

Here is my new beybiah!!!