Cycling Training for a Run Event

I put it in my mind to join The North Face 100 this coming May, just for fun. I've thought about finally doing the 100-km distance, but that's just crazy for someone as unprepared as I. So 50 km is the most that I'd do.

The thing is, I really don't get the chance to do any legitimate run training. Sure, I get to run at least twice a week, but that's really pathetic. What I do get to do is bike.

Two Saturdays ago, our planned rock climb trip got cancelled. So instead of wasting a good Saturday, I got duped into riding with Daddy-o, Princess, LA, and a few other well-biked individuals. The route taken was a miserable uphill road passing throuhg Monterey Village, AFP Village, and Maarat. I can't say that I didn't enjoy the ride, but definitely it was painful while I was pedaling. A testament to my lack of long ride is the newly-burnt tan line on my arms.

Then this weekend, I went to SBMA on a marshaling gig at the Ironman 70.3. I ditched my pick-up truck, took my bike and rode the bus. I was supposed to get off inside SBMA, but the bus I rode didn't pass through the freeport. Instead, I had to pedal my way from Olongapo City up to Subic Homes in Binictican. A good 9 kilometers. A meager distance, unless you lack sleep and nursing a neck crick.

The section I handled was close to the start/finish line of the run. The bike came in handy when going back and forth to check on the marshals and racers. It was a bitterly hot day for triathlon. I was glad I wasn't one of the poor racers on the road.

The race finally finished mid-afternoon. Back at the hotel, I found my face, especially my nose, all sunburnt. Didn't participate, but I had the same facial results.

I have to find a way to start running, or my chances of doing the ultra will be gone.

A Typical Workout Week

With the traffic and all the big and small problems in the country not going away any time soon, having a routine that de-stresses you is becoming more and more important. Without physical exertion, all that pressure inside you will slowly crush you until you get sick. 

As October gets closer and closer, making sure that I'm in peak form is a priority. Good thing I can rely on the U.P. Mountaineers for some motivation. My typical week is segmented into a) domestic duties and taking care of the dog; b) work and trying not to get fired, and c) physical training.

Tuesdays. Mountain rockstar training (MRT) is going well. Master Thumbie celebrated (in advance) his birthday with us with a lung- and gut-busting workout. Two days after the workout, I could still feel the burn on my obliques, which I hope would translate to a stronger core. 

Alternative Commuting

Normally you set out to have an adventure. But sometimes, the adventure comes to you.

If you're in the Philippines and haven't been living under a rock in some remote island, or just awoken from suspended animation, you are probably well-aware of Metro Manila's transport woes. Almost everyone you'd talk to will say that getting to and from work is getting worse every day. 

must bike to work more often to spare me from the hellish traffic

Since I moved residence last year, daily commute is pretty much unpredictable. On a good day it takes me an hour to get to work. On hellish days, the travel time doubles. Taking the MRT is definetely out of the question. That's one contact sport I don't want to play.

Last Monday I went to work a bit earlier than usual, hoping to arrive on time for once. Because of an accident in C5-Bagong Ilog, I was stuck in Katipunan Avenue for nearly an hour. I was already late, and it looked like I still have an hour's worth of driving ahead. So I turned back and filed for half a day's leave. The funny thing was, I had an inkling to just bike to work that morning, but was too lazy to push through with it. Of course I ended up bike commuting anyway. It still took me almost an hour to weave through Katipunan traffic.

At least on the bike, you know you have a way to escape being stuck on the road.

Mercury in Retrograde

Last week was particularly "un-awesome" for me. Stock market is down. Pickup nearly stalled in a busy intersection because it ran out of fuel. Later on I found someone keyed my car door, leaving very nasty scratches. To top it off, I crashed my bike to a pickup truck on my way to work. I was too battered I had to cancel our Atimonan rock trip last Saturday. While Mercury's retrograde is said to affect electronics and big decisions, I think it had some influence on my week.

It's just one of those days, I guess. #Ouch

A photo posted by Dennis Lopez (@dencius) on May 27, 2015 at 10:49pm PDT

Getting where you want to be

At best, I would describe my relationship with fitness as "casual". I know and like fitness, but committing full-time is much too hard. I envy all my friends who have embraced a lifestyle that lets them do all the physical things on a daily basis--sometimes complaining that it's hard, but more often, just happy to have done it. I have made countless excuses why I haven't found a way to commit to be consciously active--from spending too much time at work to basically saying my body wasn't built to run everyday. All these excuses fall short of acceptable because I see people around me who are no different than me and my situation, and they find ways to get out.

Yet I continue the struggle to be active. To fight the urge to just plop into bed, log on to the Internet, and live my zombie life. There's a big world waiting to be explored. Mountains to climb. Friends having fun outdoors without me. I need to be in shape. 

pool sessions

Single Track Riding in UP

A spark of inspiration got me off my bed and on my bike on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Weekend plans were scrapped (including two rock climbing trips and the alternative long bike ride), and except for that brief venture out to SURP, I was slowly decomposing in bed in front of my laptop.

I was supposed to meet Cece in about an hour so I knew this would be a short ride. I pedaled out to UP CHK to check out the bike trails the built around the idle lands there.

First round wipeout

The saying "you never forget how to ride a bike" might be true. That didn't help me on the trails.

Last Saturday, at the invitation of Jojo, we headed for the trails of La Mesa Nature Reserve. It was drizzling in the early morning, so I expected it to be a muddy day. 

There were five other takers who showed up, with Ros as the lone thorn among the roses. After registering and paying the entry fees, we pedaled our way towards Tower 1.

(photo: Jojo Gutierrez)

The Week that was (Part 2)

June 23-24 - After a weekend of running under the unforgiving sun and having too much beer in your system (I wisely turned down any drink offers after Saturday's party), it was time to recover.

Work was still work, nothing I could do about that. I still haven't won the lotto, so I can't quit my job. My only problem is that all that staring into the computer screen, checking endless spreadsheets, have put a strain in my eye. I've had this condition since late last year. There came a point that I was seeing images on the screen in 3D! The doctor said that the lens in my eye has a scratch that refracts the light, creating the 3D effect. I had to put artificial tears to lubricate my eyes, to avoid further scratching.

Comeback bike ride

Finally, my road bike has seen the light of day in after so many months!