33rd Milo Marathon

It was my second marathon run.

Oops, technically, it is not a marathon run, pardon the word.

It was my second 10Km run. That's much better.

I stayed at my condo for this weekend to be able to join the Milo Marathon.

Yeah, I kinda missed my family and my girl back at the province, but

sometimes, you just have to give up a little sacrifice.

I prepared for 3 full weeks to complete my second 10km run.

I knew it's tough, I knew it's gonna be hell on my legs for the last 5 kilometer of the race.

So I knew I better come prepared.

My first 10Km run, at The Fort, I finished at exactly 56:00 minutes.

That's a pace of 5.6 minute per kilometer.

To win, you probably need to run at a stunning pace of 3minute per kilometer.

Hehehe, But I'm not there to win, I'm there for an experience.

To finish the race, yeah, that's practically it! Finish the leg-punishing race.

This time, it's not just about finishing the race.

It's about setting a personal record.

I finished it 56 minutes the last time, I better beat my own time and finish below 50 minutes.

So I prepared myself for that goal.

I ran 3 times a week at the condo rooftop.

I started running for 12 minutes non-stop.

Then days later, I could do 15, then 20, then 24 minutes.

A week before the race, I could do 30.

Days before the race, I could do 40 minutes.

When I'm not running at the rooftop, I'm at the boxing gym honing my boxing skills.

It still helps me prepare for the run, because boxing is a lot of stamina-building routines.

The night before the race, at the condo, I couldn't sleep.

Hehehe, actually, it's more like, I wouldn't want to sleep.

I'm trying to become the champion of 18-hole Fantasy Golf Tournament on my PSP.

I failed, and realized it was almost 2am in the morning.

I have to wake up before 4am since my running buddies and I plan to go to

Quirino Granstand, Manila before 5am. The 10Km race starts at 6am.

I did not prepare for my breakfast.

When I woke up at 3:50am, I took a shower, changed clothes and

struggled to buy anything for breakfast.

Finally, I settled for a hot cup of Milo and some slices of Gardenia Loaf Bread,

(walang palaman).

Fortunately for me, I have the power behind my legs on race day.

No ill effects of "puyat" and though I did not fully energized my body with a heavy breakfast,

I was able to finish the race.

It was a lot fun.

Thousands of runners flocked the streets for the Milo Run.

Students, sweethearts and partners, employees, oldies, sexy ladies, macho men, you name it,

every people from all ages and walks of life were there.

I started from the Starting Line with my boss and her sister together with a lot runners.

Everyone's eagerly anticipating for the starting signal (let the gun be fired).

There was MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Manila Mayor Fred Lim, the Milo Marathon officials,

the race volunteers (who gives water and gatorade along the race, some directs you where to go).

[To be continued ...]

The Battle for Improvement Begins

25 June 2009

The Battle for Improvement Begins

Ganda ng performance ko strategically.

Mejo tensed pa den nung first two rounds, like gigil tumama at saka ramdam

yung ilang bwan na walang sparring.

First two rounds:

Laglag lang ako ng jabs at straights.

Mejo frustrated dahil nde ko makatama ng solid at saka nde ko

makalaglag ng upper cut sa katawan.

Sabi ko sa sarili ko, nde ko natatalo kasi nde naman den ako natatamaan.

Maganda yung high-guard na depensa ko at saka natatantya ko yung

tamang distansya para nde ako abutin ng suntok nya.

Pero at the same time, nde rin ako makatama ng maayos kasi maganda din

yung depensa nya.

Based on my opinion, pedeng tabla yung first two rounds kasi wala masyadong

effective punches. Pero pede ding iiscore saken slightly kasi mas marami kong jabs

saka mas aggressive ako na sumusugod paminsan-minsan.

Yung style nya this time ay mag-abang na magkamali ako at matamaan ako ng

wala sa tamang posisyon.

Rounds 3, 4 and 5

Sumisigaw yung isang trainer na wag ako puro sa ulo sumuntok.

Tirahin ko din yung katawan. Naisip ko, ginagawa ko naman,

nde ko lang makuha yung timing at distansya para dun.

Pero nung naisip ko na oo nga, kelangan ko din tumama sa katawan nya.

Mas pinilit kong itapon yung uppercut sa bodega.

Sapul sya dun sa kanan ko.

Left jab sa katawan sabay right straight sa ulo.

Magandang kombinasyon kasi dedepensa sya sa baba, pero

mabilis yung follow-up sa taas.

Tapos umuubra den yung jab, habol sabay jab-straight.

Nasa full defensive mode sya most of the time.

Tapos nung nagconnect yung right straight ko one-time.

Naisip ko, ayan na, gaganti na sya.

Pero nde din sya sumugod.

Siguro parte den yung ng effective na jabbing style ko.

AT pede den na napapagod den sya.

Isa pa, handa talaga kong pakawalan yung uppercut sakaling lumapit sya saken.

Bukod dun sa dalawang uppercut na tumama saken sa tyan,

wala kong ibang natanggap na suntok.

Nde ganun ka-exciting yung laban.

Nde masyadong maraming exchanges ang nangyari.

Pero alam ko, I did enough sa jab at straights ko.

Mas marami kong suntok na naitama.

Kumunekta din ng apat o limang beses yung uppercut ko sa katawan nya

tuwing maglalapit kami.

Conclusion:

I've won the match, I think 4 rounds to 1.

Pero marami pa kong pedeng improve:

1. Faster jabs (Straight and ALmost Reaching). Double up.

Nababasa nya yung timing ng jabs ko at nasasangga nya effortlessly.

-> Left Jolt !!!

-> If cannot, just try to partial jab then Boom (Double Up)!

2. Movements to set up the body shots. Masyado kong nawiwili sa jab-straight combo minsan.

Kelangan ko mag-exert ng effort para maging mas aggressive sa pag-atake sa katawan.

-> Bob and Weave

-> Slip and Slide

-> Box in Circles

3. Left hook. Nde pa den ako komportable sa suntok na 'to.

Kelangan ko pa sya improve. at kelangan magkaron ako ng confidence na pakawalan sya.

-> Power Line (Close the Gap!)

4. Defense. Effective yung high-guard. Pero nde ko alam kung ganu na ko kasanay umilag.

As I've said, nde sya naging aggressive sa sparring na 'to. pero di ako kelangan magpabaya.

More practice sa defensive skills.

-> Aggressive Defense

-> Block and Parry

-> Evade and Counter

-> Hands Up and Head Movements

-> Semi-Crouch

5. Last the 6th round. After the 5th round, which I didn't expect na aabot kami ng 5. Alam ko talaga,

4 rounds. break tapos 2 rounds ulet. Tinanggal ko na yung gloves ko. Sabi nya, isa pa. "Ayaw mo na?

Ayaw mo na?." From his voice, gusto pa nya talaga ng isa pang round. Pero nde ko na kaya, I could have

given another round. Pero I'll be a stting duck. Wala na kong lakas para lumaban ng isa pa. Sabi ko,

"Ayaw ko na." Hehehe.

-> Relentless, Never Give him room to breathe

6. Use the Right Hand a lot more. Leads. Straights. Upper Cuts to the head and to the body.

-> Violent yet Controlled Straights and Uppercuts

-> Unforgiving Body Assault