I had my first sweet taste of a runner’s high!
We tried another route from SunStar to IT Park via Mango Ave. at 6.32 KM
Vehicles were moving past me, honks blaring and the bright lights keep coming as I ran against the traffic along Gorordo Ave. I was alone. Some of the runners were ahead, others were behind but I just kept on moving forward my left, then my right foot, keeping my pace steady. I said to myself:
Keep it up Estan. Keep it up. A few more minutes you’ll be there.
Sometimes, my legs hurt a little and I have to walk for a few minutes before running again.
And indeed, I later saw the bend at Salinas Drive going to Asiatown IT Park. There’s no time to stop! A few more meters, a few more minutes and I’ll be there with the rest of the ungo runners. Just continue. Run.
At last, I saw a few of my companions standing at the grassy surface infront of The Walk. A wide grin etched on my face as I was approaching them. I glanced at my watch and I was happy, no, ecstatic that I was beating a personal record and that there were still a few of us who finished! It was my first sweet taste of a runner’s high!
That was three weeks ago in Cebu, my second time to join the ungo runners, the 6th to be held, who have taken up among ourselves to meet every Friday night at the Sun Star office in P. del Rosario St. and run to a predetermined destination covering between 6 – 7 kilometers just for the heck and fun of it.
What made this run very memorable was that I’m a newbie runner. I just started running 2nd of March following a running plan and during this week, I was doing 90s/90s run-walk combos capped with a long walk that usually takes me an hour to negotiate and about 4-5 kilometers long. But during this night, I was running most of the time with brief walks interspersed in between. My pace per kilometer was a surprising 8:40 and a longer distance at 6.32 KM!
Thus finishing at such time was very much of a big thing for me! It was great. I can’t help but bask in my own small victory, nevermind if there were other runners who were faster than me. The important thing was that I was beating my own record and proving to myself that I can do this sport! While I was cooling down by doing a slow walk within the area, I was smiling and just very, very happy.
A runner’s high is indeed true and I had it this first time! SWEET.
Similar Posts:
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- I surprised myself with a 5:43 pace/km!
- I’m now on my 5th week of running!!!
- 2nd week of couch-to-5k running plan
- I’m back to running again!
Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger, freelance photographer and a newbie runner based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine. To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.
I'm Estan Cabigas, a freelance photographer blogger and traveler. I just started to seriously run last 2 March 2010 and for the past few months, I've improved greatly in my running as well as lost pounds in the process. I'm gunning for a full marathon by 2011. I shoot races as well.
My flagellant image is Editor's Choice in the National Geographic Magazine May 2010 issue.
It can only get better =)
thanx ricov
that’s addicting! more runner’s high to come
That’s the feeling we all try to chase, man. Umpisa pa lang yan ng pagiging adik. Hahaha! Nice job, bro!
o nga pre, the feeling is just different. it’s not easy to run and sometimes, it’s tiring but these kind of experiences are just too sayang to let it pass
Ohhh and it gets better! What’s also addicting is when goals are reached and you see yourself improving each time. Keep it up! Oh, and welcome to the addiction =)
yes julie, attaining goals and superseding expectation are always exhilaratating.