THE ECO DASH EXPERIENCE (or, My First Sub-60 10k Up a Flyover and Under the Pouring Rain)

Just got home from Ayala Malls Eco Dash 10k. I only have one word to describe the experience: Awesome. I've already taken a shower and am typing away in bed, but I'm still stoked. I'm still amped. The adrenaline is still pumping (must be the strawberry GU Chomps, which is loaded with caffeine). I can go on all day and I'll never run out of words to describe how I'm feeling right now. I'll try my best to bottle it up in a few paragraphs. Here it goes:

Eco Dash is one race I'll never forget because it allowed me to register a couple of firsts. For one, it gave me the opportunity to run on a flyover and straight into the heart of the Makati CBD. One of the main reasons I signed up for this race is the route. For 10k, the race started in BHS (no surprise there). From there, we went all the way to 32nd Street, up the Kalayaan Flyover, and down to Sen. Gil Puyat (Buendia). We then turned left at Paseo de Roxas and went into the Ayala Center, the turnaround point. From the Ayala Center, we headed to Makati Avenue and went back to Buendia. We then ran up the Kalayaan Flyover before heading back to good old BHS. Since I was doing Makati CBD for the first time, I felt so invigorated. My unfamiliarity with the route kept me strong. I positioned myself at the tail-end of the pack at the starting line (I arrived late), but I somehow managed to pass more than half of the runners by the 3k point. I was running at a steady and sustained pace that I never knew I was capable of running. Heck, I even overtook a few Army boys along the way hahaha! By the time I made it through Ayala Center and headed for Makati Ave., I was still unscathed and I very well knew that a sub-60 finish was well within reach. When I finally made it to Makati Ave. and saw a multitude of 10k runners (our bibs had red numbers) just on their way to Ayala Center, you could not imagine the boost it gave to my morale (and to my ego hahaha!). By this time, I was absolutely convinced that I was headed for a PR.

Running in the pouring rain - that was another first for me. The night before the race, I was apprehensive about pushing through with the race because of the inclement weather. I have never done any run, much less a race, under the rain. I have too many lame reasons why I abandon the roads and head for the gym each time the weather is screwed - I don't want to get my shoes wet, I can't get my iPod wet, I might catch a cold - that sort of petty stuff.

I was desperate for some inspiration to soldier on despite the weather, and I found it in the Eco Dash thread at Takbo.ph. I went on-line to find out whether the race would be postponed or cancelled because of the rain, but what I came across were numerous posts from excited runners, all saying that Eco Dash will be a go, rain or shine. That did the trick. I turned off my laptop and went to bed, determined to wake up less than four hours later and do the race.

When I got to BHS, the place was already crawling with runners of all ages - all stretching and warming up under the light drizzle. I pinned on my bib, got out of the car, and went into my own warm-up routine. A few minutes later, the gun went off for the 21k runners. After downing a packet of GU Chomps, I made my way to the starting line and joined the throng of 10k runners. After a few minutes, we were off.

Fifteen minutes into the run, I felt the wonders of running under the rain. By this time, the drizzle had turned into a heavier downpour. I had already crossed the turnaround point but I still felt strong and fresh - like I had just left the starting line. As I got out of Makati Ave. and set foot on Paseo de Roxas, I noticed that I had been isolated from the pack of 10k runners. The runners ahead of me were at least a hundred meters away, and the runners behind me were also trailing me by a good distance. The rain was pouring and the wind was in my face, and it felt like I owned the road. "Skyway Avenue" by We The Kings was blasting in my earphones. This, I thought, is I why I enjoy heading to a race at dawn on a Sunday while the city is still fast asleep. This is why I run.

I picked up my pace and, about fifteen minutes later, I crossed the finish line. According to my iPod (with a Nike+ sports kit), I (unofficially) completed the race in 0:57:42. Coming into the race, I was hoping to go sub-60. Mission accomplished! This is the second straight 10k race where I've gone sub-60. I couldn't be prouder and happier. Thank God I decided get out of bed, brave the rain, and finish the race.

Next up is RotaRun 10k on 20 September. I'd like to be back on the road for a recovery run tomorrow. Hopefully, my Lunarglides would already be dry and ready to go by then.