Beginnings are not deterministic indicators of the journey ahead, but they can be important.
Resolution number 1: hit the ground running!
Back in college, I was pretty active. At least twice a week, my friends and I would spend a couple of hours playing football at the Sunken Garden. Aside from football I would also spend a couple of days running around campus. I loved football, even if I was rarely among the most skillful on the field (my strongest days were mostly due to heart and effort rather than artistry); on the other hand, I enjoyed running, and -- without meaning to boast -- I was a pretty strong runner. Not that I ever competed (this was before running, as a popular social event, exploded), but I could run at a fast pace and sustain that pace all through a 10K run. Unfortunately, I knew very little about structuring a training regimen towards preventing injuries, and after some time my left knee started giving me problems. Then I had to cut down on running, then football -- and even when the symptoms disappeared, the mental aspect of knowing that I had a troublesome knee prevented me from even wholeheartedly attempting to get back to where I had been. Then graduation, then work... By 2008 I had very little of either football or running, and by 2010 the physical toll really began to surface. (And it could be plainly seen: with a gradually expanding gut beginning to blanket what had used to cut a trim figure.)
A healthier 2011, I thought while vacationing in Cebu near the end of 2010, would be more likely realized if I went for it sooner rather than later. Thus -- I committed to myself -- as soon as my ankle felt strong enough, I would resume running regularly again.
A robotic coach
I've found that it is always easier to commit to any athletic activity if you have a group of friends or teammates who can train with you regularly. Unfortunately, when you and your friends are already working, it can be difficult to find common ground in terms of scheduling. Luckily for me, technological progress has provided a 2nd best option!
Sometime in December, before leaving for Cebu, I went ahead and bought my first Android Device: the LG Optimus One (also known as the LG P500).
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| Image copied from GSMArena. |
I had been thinking about getting an Android device. While I love my E63, development in the Symbian platform has slowed considerably in the years since I purchased the qwerty phone; in contrast, the Android ecosystem has only become richer and richer, most especially in the past year.
The Optimus One is a wonderful phone, and gives good value for money considering its price (around Php 13K when I bought it). It is zippy enough, has a generous amount of RAM for multitasking, and compares favorably with Andoid phones that are several thousand Pesos more expensive in terms of features and day-to-day use experience.
One of the features that caught my eye was its built-in GPS receiver. When I bought the Nokia E63, although I did mention that it did not have GPS, having a GPS-capable phone at the time wasn't a primary want. In retrospect, the available software that made use of GPS weren't compelling enough (yet) to prod GPS capability beyond just being a "cool" feature. Sure, Google Maps was "cool", but back then even the major cities in the Philippines had yet to be properly mapped. And on the Symbian platform, apps like Nokia Sports Tracker (now known simply as Sports Tracker), while already available, were still in their infancy and had yet to achieve (at the very least in the eyes of this user) killer-app status. Besides, GPS-equipped phones back then were expensive, costing around and upwards of Php 20K. I love gadgets as much as the next techie, but -- as economists would point out -- wanting to buy something does not always come with a willingness to buy (especially not in a city where being the victim of a pickpocket is a daily concern).
Fast-forward to 2010, and the usefulness of GPS has progressed by leaps and bounds. First of all, in 2009, the Philippines finally saw decently plotted maps available through Google Maps. Maps were now not only "cool", but useful as well! I can't even count how many times I've used Google Maps to find out how to get from Point A to Point B, or to help others find their way. Also, more and more apps were beginning to offer services that made better use of GPS (and mapping solutions like Google Maps). Even Nokia joined the value added game by offering free worldwide turn-by-turn navigation on its GPS-equipped phones -- this was done as a response to Google's free turn-by-turn navigation service (at least in some territories) through Google Maps. Lastly, competition gradually brought retail prices among GPS-enabled phones lower and lower. The Optimus One nominally costs as much as the E63 did when I bought it, but taking into account inflation, in real terms it is actually cheaper! And considering the extra features that come with the Optimus One, it is safe to say that even if inflation is taken into account, the computed difference in the "real" prices of the Optimus One now and the E63 in 2008/2009 would still understate the degree with which competition has brought the cost of owning a feature-filled smart phone down.
Among the different kinds of GPS apps, my favorite are the Trainer apps -- the ones that use GPS to keep track of outdoor activity, be it hiking, biking, running, or what have you. In lieu of regular running buddies, I have been using my Android phone as a 3rd party, a coach if you will, to keep me on track towards achieving my main goal (for now) of being able to run 10K in under an hour. I actually have several apps installed for that purpose, but my current favorite is Runkeeper Pro. Normally an app that has to be purchased, I was able to get a free copy through an on-going promo: the Pro version is available for free all through January 2011. (Grab it while you can!)
Since the start of the year I have logged more than 20K (or around 170 minutes) of running. With 11 months still left in the year, declaring victory would be premature. That being said, it has been a good start nonetheless: one that has put me on a path towards a happier, healthier 2011. :)
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P.S.
UP Diliman has been my training venue of choice, but rather than just running circles around the Academic Oval, I have been mapping out different routes -- to keep things more interesting. During the course of the year, I shall be posting my favorite routes, for my own reference as much as for others'.
The 5K "Infinity" route:
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| Click the map to enlarge. |
The run starts along the Academic Oval, at the corner of Apacible St. and Osmena Ave., near Melchor Hall (the College of Eng'g).
- Run one full circle along the Academic Oval, past the Vargas Museum (1K), then the School of Economics (2K), then past the cor. of Apacible St. till you reach the stoplight at the intersection of Roces St. and Osmena Ave.
- Take a right and run a short distance along Roces.
- At the next intersection, with Magsaysay Ave., take a left and run straight along the road until you reach the UP Bahay ng Alumni.
- Turn right and run along the street just before Bahay ng Alumni. Run along the road -- past Bahay ng Alumni you should be able to see the Track Oval to your left -- eventually the road veers right and the road signs will tell you that you've reached Juan Luna St.
- Upon turning the corner expect to run downhill until you run past the corner of Apacible St. Past that point, Juan Luna slopes upward into the most famous hill segment in UP, what runners have over the years referred to as "Heartbreak Hill".
- Attack Heartbreak Hill until it levels off, and then take a right on Gomburza. Go straight along Gomburza until it leads you back to the Academic Oval.
- After Malcom Hall (College of Law), turn right into the Academic Oval -- run along it until just before the stoplight at the corner of Roces and Osmena.
By the end of this "Infinity" route, you will have run a little bit more than 5K. :)
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