Overcoming Pain

After the 7.4K mileage I had last Thursday, I feel pain every time I descend from the stairs. Sometimes, I have to limp while walking so as not to feel the pain. But eventhough I feel such pain, no one had stopped me from running in the First Leg of the RunRio Trilogy last Sunday. Simply because, if the race is organized by Coach Rio, it is absolutely good. More so, the pain subsided during the race.

Yesterday, I bring my running outfit just in case I would be on the mood to join UNILAB's running clinic at the Ultra. But earlier, I kept on informing RunningAtom that I am still tentative at attending the clinic for I am still in pain. I have that fear that I might not be able to run at UNILAB Run United for Wellness, my first 10K.

Come 5PM, I felt the urge to go. No, not because of Coach Rio, but because I do wanted to know my limits. I just told myself that I won't join the workout come I feel that I might hit the wall.

We arrived at the Ultra past 6 in the evening. The clinic did not start on time for we were still waiting for the soccer game to end. In order not to keep us waiting, coaches from FinishLine/RunRio already started our warm up by allowing us to have our 15 minutes easy jog in the quarter part of the oval. I asked ChickenLegs then to pace with me. Having someone to pace with you keeps you on track, really. But then, I can still feel the pain in my legs. It was a very slow easy jog for me. Nevertheless, I still managed to jog nonstop in the 15 minutes warm up. With every jog I make, I am on crossroads. One pull is telling me to stop, while the other is telling me to continue. If I stop, it will just make my legs sore, but if I continue, I would be able to Overcome Pain.

After the warm up comes the dynamic exercise. I joined the exercise with the thought in mind that it could help me release that pain from my legs. Unfortunately, I still feel the pain after the exercise. I asked RunningAtom to pull my legs by pointing his feet on mine. It felt a little good.

Then comes the workout which consists of 15-400m run [5 laps per set]. With my girl running buddies for the 10K, I paced with Eunice. And I am glad that I was able to keep pace with her [for she's the one who rans faster than I do last Thursday]. With each recovery, I did not stop; I walk round and round until we're all set to go again. The workout had been fun. We (the 10K girls) had that sort of bonding. Coach San Goku (well, he never told me his real name) had monitored our elapsed time. We had an average of 2:35 - 2:45 per lap. He told us to maintain just a 2:45 pace so that we still can have enough energy to finish the workout.

In each and every recovery, we find time to talk with each other (Eunice and I) and the coaches. I become acquainted with Coach George (our coach in my first clinic), Coach San Goku (who also likes Vincent of Ghost Fighter like I do), and Coach JoAr (whom I teased to be looking familiar for he was featured in Ben M. Chan's blog).

We were unable to finish the required workout for the Ultra will be closed by 9PM. In total, we only have 5.2K mileage (2K in the warm up, 2K in the first set, and 1.2K in the last set).

Coach JoAr then helped us to cool down. With all the lights off at the Ultra, we bid goodbye to each other and say "See you on Thursday!"

I don't know, but I just find the clinic enjoyable for there were no longer strangers, but acquaintances [or shall I say friends]. And to top it all, I find it magical that I no longer feel the pain in my legs. The clinic does not only prepare me to run my very first 10K, it also helped me in Overcoming Pain. Thanks to UNILAB! Thanks to the friendly and helpful coaches of FinishLine/RunRio!