Life Before My GF (Garmin Forerunner)

These past few runs I was thinking about my life before GF (Garmin Forerunner) came into my life. It came so unexpectedly, like it was destiny. I was so excited I check to look at the watch almost every stride I made. "Ooops, I think Im going too fast, I think Im gonna check THE WATCH!" or "I wonder how My heart Rate is doing, Im a check THE WATCH!" and I do this over and over again. I would finish the run thinking about my time or my distance or my heart rate.

Now I would lie if I say that GF has not helped me in my running, It has and it still does, but what it also did was to make me forget. I would end runs thinking "Why am I running?" and the answer would be "to beat that little black guy in your watch" which I so conveniently name ABEBE GEBRESELASSI. (it didnt help that I gave him a Kenyan name)

Thats Him right there on the top

I found out the problem isn't that I love this watch too much, Its that I love it more than running.  I shrugged and continued my routine get up wear the watch and run, "My old passion for the run would turn up sooner or later" I thought. but it did not.

Pre-Race
Until something Unusual happened. I was warming up getting ready for the Adobo run yesterday when, I looked at my watch and was dumbstruck, there was only a piece of flesh there which apparently was my wrist. Im going to run without my watch?! What if I go out too fast? What if this, What if that.

when I arrived at the start I was already a bit late so I just ran regardless of what may happen.

Race
I was racing from the back of the pack, air rushing across my face, damn I was feeling it! Overtaking here, Over taking there. Sadly This is no fairy tale that ends with "I race and broke my PR" in fact barely 2k have passed I realized, I was going too fast.

I got burned out and did the rest of the race at an easy pace. Big Thank to my fellow six:30 RFM whose Cheers and Encouragement help me finish the race. (sayang lang bro we didnt get our loot bags!)

Post-Race 

 No PR for me this time. But I finished knowing that I didnt Run trying to beat that litte man in my watch. I enjoyed it, I loved it and with my friends around me at that night, It gave me a picture again of why I'm running , glad I ran without my GF (no double meaning intended haha)

The Run that started it all

Your first, like a wedding day or a loved ones birthday, you'll never forget it, its so memorable some runners even celebrate their running anniversary. You dont forget it...well usually you dont, and usually that word "usually" doesn't apply to me. I forgot much about it, but before I forget everything  I decided to put it in writing and thus my first post!

Pre-Race 

It was days before the event my aunt told me she registered me to a 5k event. it was a fun run to raise awareness for handicap runners and athletes, I smiled as she gave me the kit. I went home dumped the kit somewhere and then did my usual bum around stuff.  I did not train nor did I even consider going out for a run. I thought 5k was just a walk in the park or the occasional trip to the sari-sari store to buy toyo so with that in mind I just waited for the race, I was even thinking "Hey matt your pretty fit, Yes you are, You're young and strong you can do this. You can even win this!"

Race day

I still don't remember how on earth I managed to wake up that early. All I know was that I was standing among unusual people, with their short shorts and their sandos which I found out was called singlet (I was calling it bibs the whole time) Man was I out of Place! I was standing there with my white high cut basketball shoes, my green basket ball shorts reaching the tip of my calf and if that wasn't enough I wore a white shirt underneath my singlet. I looked like a basketball junkie, on his way to an NBA game. 

It was not long after that, the runners assembled, I was near the front, and again that little thought bubble pop out saying "Its time to win Matt! Its time to prove to these shorty short shorty guys what real men with basketball shorts can do"

While I was day dreaming, The race started, I found myself running almost at top speed, looping at the academic oval. I remember thinking any minute now, this will be over...but it wasnt over and it wasnt even near any "minute now"

I dont know how long it was going to take me to finish, but it sure was taking a long time.

I was begining to realize that my thought bubble was lying when it told me
Im pretty fit, young and strong
For one, I did not feel fit at all! I sure did not feel young either and as I see all those shorty shorts guys (and even ladies) pass me by, I know I wont "win this"

I felt that is was taking forever, till there in the distance I saw a small arch that has these sacred words on them "FINISH"

and so like a soldier coming back from war with multiple wounds there I was running with my long green shorts, my head dangling like a cocoon, pride reduced to zero, I crossed that yellow finish line.

The funny thing is, maybe out of sheer exhaustion, one thought into my head: "I love it, I want to do it again!" and this time I knew the thought bubble was not lying.

Post-race

I went home really tired, I did not win the race but I was smiling till we got home. I remember the song playing was Micheal Jackson's I wana rock with you. I looked up, the sun beating down may face, and at that moment I just knew The Big One up there was smiling with me. I did not win the race, But I won something greater after all.