Of Support, Moral and Otherwise

This, I’m sure, is a very common concern among women runners. I am talking of the physical type of support. I guess just like male athletes, women runners also need all the help they can get in the support department. however, it is my firm belief that most sports bras were made for those who do not really require much support. If you are like me, who is—well, “problematic” on top, you know what I am talking about. In order to run properly, I require two sports bras… three if I have the monthlies. And this is all just so I wouldn’t bounce all over the place. I find that this is also necessary to prevent the pains around the chest and upper back area after running. Also, breast movement during running in the wrong bra will damage the breast’s outer skin and connective tissue – the Cooper’s ligaments – permanently --- an extremely horrifying thought, amplified by my zealous imagination of breasts sweeping across the floor as I walk.

Most bras available in the market do not offer enough—well, for the lack of a better term—“bondage”. Or maybe I should actually call it “bandage”, because as a kid, I remember this was the best way of making the girls stay in place and out of the way. Someone actually did suggest that I could tape the girls up, but visions of rolls and rolls of sticky packaging tapes revolted me so I decided to stick to my two-or-three-bras routine. It gets the job done, albeit really wasteful of detergent and water come laundry time.

There is a rather promising line of sports bras offered by CW-X, makers of athletic undergarments that offers mesh webbing and a Targeted Support System that promises to give support even for the bigger cup sizes. Unfortunately, this one is not available in the local market so it seems I have to order them online or get my brother… my BROTHER, to buy me my bras in Canada. And they do not exactly come cheap, too, at 60 to 70 USD a pop. Think I’ll have to stick to my two bras in the meantime.

On to support of the moral kind, I am extremely grateful to my aunt in Toronto, who is also an avid runner for always being so supportive as I make my way to becoming a real runner. She’s been extremely encouraging from my first 5k to my most recent 10k this month. i told her of my training plans for my first 21k and she promptly sent me her 21k running manual from the running room. Thanks Tita N! goal is to get my first 21k by October of this year. Yeah yeah, over 8 months in training I know, but bite me. I will run at my own pace and enjoy the route to that 21stK.

Happy running everyone!

Words

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp, or are you going to be strong today?'"

—Peter Maher, two-time Olympic marathoner from Canada


after my run today, i'd have to say i was a big time wimp!ha... letting little cramps on my shin stop me from finishing my 7k.... total wuss!

Cause for Celebration

this may come a month late, but i like to think it's still valid. february 1st of last year, i was released from the hospital after suffering an ultra mini stroke with strict orders of taking it easy. it came as a huge wake up call on my part, forcing me to take a long hard look on the way i lived. i decided i liked living, so i made changes to make sure i'd go on living for the next 60 (hopefully) years. as part of these changes, i discovered running.

i am a newbie, having begun this love affair with running only in july of last year. it has been tempestuous at best, enough to drive me crazy at times but addicting enough to make me want more and more. like a jealous lover, running has etched itself into my head.

so it began with 5Ks and daily runs. i would look forward to the daily runs, trying to see just how well or worse i will do on a particular day. but i was not satisfied. i craved more.

so today, i power ran. i was at the Mall of Asia at 6 am, to join other infatuated runners, as we bid the sunrise hello on the land of sunsets. there was also one major difference in my race today. i joined the 10K.

as i took my place on the starting line, doubts rose within me, knowing full well i did not train as hard as i wanted for this run. i was pretty sure i would not finish the course. i was pretty sure i would end up walking even before i hit the 7th kilometre.

miracle of miracles, i actually finished the race! coming in at exactly 70 minutes, i felt it was a pretty decent time, too. definitely sticking to the 10k plan!

i will be running two more 10Ks with a two week interval. my goal for the next two 10Ks is to still finish the course with a solid run and maybe, JUST maybe, decrease my time by a tiny bit. definitely a great way to start summer i have to say :) who knows, maybe the 21K is lurking just around the corner... until then i'll just have to keep on running :)

pushing myself

i have done something a little bit crazy... i went and registered for a 10k this sunday. its time i pushed myself. i have been running 5ks and 7ks and frankly, those may have just lost their steam for a bit. so yes, i am stretching myself to the full 10k. no particular time for me, just looking to finish the the course. i'll let you all how it goes :)