Late Night at ULTRA
I ended class late at around 8pm. Just like last week, I was not able to go to my morning training since I had to study. My supposed workout for the day was stairs… and there is no other place to do that except at ULTRA. I wondered whether I’d still make it on time, considering that ULTRA closes at around 9pm and it would take me 15-20 minutes from UP to get there, not factoring in traffic. So as soon as I got out of class, I rushed to ULTRA hoping to be able to do my stair workout.
I got to ULTRA around 8:30pm already. Guess who I saw?! Haha… people undergoing “secret training” haha! Vince of Rush, Ben, Lala and others whom I think were members of Happy Feet! (I have poor eyesight under low lighting conditions). Aha! No wonder most of them are soo fast. Haha!
After a quick change, I immediately did my 2.0km warm up, some stretches and proceeded immediately to the bleachers. I was supposed to do 10 sets of bleachers and 10 sets of stairs. Unlike my morning workouts, I felt I had more energy (maybe I’m an evening person). I did the bleachers first. Suprisingly, I didn’t get exhausted as I normally do. Maybe it was the weather and the cool air that made it easier for me.
By 9pm, I was already worried that they’d close the lights on me… So with little recovery, I did the stairs shortly after, whereas before, I’d allow myself to fully recover. By the time I was on my 4th set, half of lights illuminating the feild were switched off… Uh-oh!!! Takbo!!! Haha! I ran up the stairs faster than usual, increasing my pace. I didn’t want to stumble and fall in the dark. By the time I was on my 6th set… the staff had already closed all but two spotlights illuminating the track oval and soccer field. I guess I had to call it a night.
* * *
Before I went home, I got to talk to the lady guard.
“Ate, akala ko masasaraduhan ako ng ilaw… binilisan ko na lang takbo ko…”
“Dapat tinapos mo na lang. Aantayin naman kita. May mga tao pa naman diyan. Ginagawa ko, pinapatay ko yong ibang ilaw, tapos alis ako, tapos babalikan ko na lang ulit. Dyan lang naman ako nakatira sa malapit. Sa susunod, takbo ka lang.”
Haha… Sayang.. I’ll keep that in mind then next time I end up doing a late night run at ULTRA.
Aug 24th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hey buddy, we missed you with the nike testing the course, anyway sure I will see you at the race on Sunday. Maybe you should always go in the dark to ultrak or just before they close and try and beat all your PB’s. Please write the Tagalog in English as I understand most of it but not all and it will help me in my language study.
I could understand her saying you should finish already, the next dont understand the word aantayin then there are people still there. You are doing this, I am killing a few of those lights, then I leave, then I will return already only (ulit - later) There only on the other hand I stay close. To the next (I run only?)
How did I do? Please help if there are mistakes and the words I did not know.
Regards and keep fit!!!
Aug 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Hi Philip! Sorry it took me forever to respond to this comment. Been awfully busy. Unfortunately I had an exam on that day you guys did the trial run. I needed to study. Hoping to see you this Sunday at Nike+ Human Race.
Thanks also for offering to lend your GF405.
Oh, let me translate the conversation for you
Before I went home, I got to talk to the lady guard.
“Ate, akala ko masasaraduhan ako ng ilaw… binilisan ko na lang takbo ko…” –> Ate, I thought that I was going to get the lights shut down on me… I ended up running faster
“Dapat tinapos mo na lang. Aantayin naman kita. May mga tao pa naman diyan. Ginagawa ko, pinapatay ko yong ibang ilaw, tapos alis ako, tapos babalikan ko na lang ulit. Dyan lang naman ako nakatira sa malapit. Sa susunod, takbo ka lang.” –> You should have finished it. I would have waited for you. There are other people around anyway. Usually, whatt I do is that I switch off the other lights, then I leave, then I just come back to close the others afterwards. I just live nearby. Next time, just run.”
Haha… Sayang (too bad).. I’ll keep that in mind then next time I end up doing a late night run at ULTRA.