a happy run

a happy finish after the happy run (with baby a.k.a. swthrt)

with Baby and IceOne

The Happy Run on January 25 was indeed a happy run for me not just because of the festive mood during the race, the entertainment, the water stations and the kilometer markers along the way.

The race was for the benefit of the school children of Bagong Tanyag, in Taguig City. Living in this city for almost 10 years now, I’ve been to almost all the places that are deprived of comfort and luxury. I’ve seen school children walking a kilometer or two on barefoot or sometimes on slippers just to be in time for school. In the evening some of them would go from one house to another to collect and dispose the neighborhood’s garbage just to earn and augment their meager centavos for their baon the following day. These children if given the chance to have a decent school and surroundings may have a bright future for them. We found this as an opportunity to help them in some other way however little it may be. We are thankful for being truly blessed that we can afford to buy our running paraphernalia, while some of them go to school on empty stomachs. We may have our own way of helping them but I am really thankful that we, runners, are united and one in doing our share for this good cause. Drew Arellano, Bianca Gonzalez, The Team Super, Coach Rio and the rest of the organizers did a very good job. Kudos to them!

For the lighter side, dahil masyado na ata madrama itong posting ko, I was really, really happy because I met Nora, the golden girl for the first time! At my bonus pa, I also got to meet her daughter eia!

(photo courtesy from life begins at 50) meeting the jolly golden girl for the first time

(photo courtesy from life begins at 50) with Baby, Nora and daughter Eia and Manny

PSE Bull Run: My WR (!?) for 2009

The PSE Bull Run was a much anticipated race being the first for this year. I expected a well-organized race but to the runners' dismay the race turned out to be a mess not to mention the inconvenience during our registration. But I don’t want to whine or complain as my run turned out quite well.

Manny and I arrived a bit early so that we will have enough time for our warm up and stretching. We registered for the 5K event as I was not quite confident with my knee injury ready for the 10K . We positioned at the middle of the assembly area after chatting with some of our officemates. It was a smooth and nice ride for me as my right knee cooperated until the 2.5 kilometer turn-around point with a time of 13 minutes. I calculated that if my knee continued to cooperate, I’d be fast enough to finish a time of 26 minutes or less for my 5K, which was my PR during the past years (and that was 3 years ago! hahaha!). I continued with that steady pace until I reached Essensa. That was the time I started to feel a throbbing pain on my patella which prevented me to take it easy until I saw Baby (BroJ’s sweetheart). We greeted each other and continued pacing. I was tempted to walk a bit and just jog before reaching the finish line. I was only relieved when I turned right and saw the finish line that I started to sprint. My unofficial time is 33:52. Though it was not a PR (I think it's WR, not world record but worst record, hehehe), I am happy enough that my knee doesn’t bother me after the race. I never paid attention to the long queue at the finish line because my attention was focused with my knees.

After the race, I met Bards(BananaRunning) thank you broJ for introducing us. BroJ also introduced me to Wilbert, Gigi (thefitmommy), Christy (Vener's wife). But I was sad that I never got to meet Nora, the golden girl. Baby and I even looked for her but to no avail. I hope, this Sunday's happy run we will meet na talaga!

The Big C Scare and Running: A Tribute to Madam Emy

I just received an email from our yahoogroup that our former Professor in Architecture and a good friend passed away recently due to breast cancer. I am not sure how I am feeling today but my world fell apart upon hearing the news. I never thought that it would happen to her that way too soon. I remember her during my college days as very jolly, approachable and very informative professor especially when it comes to new trends, technology and techniques in architecture. We consider her as more than a friend rather than a professor. She never treated us as her students but more as being friends.

With the prevalent Big C scare especially for us women often affected in the cervix and breast, we really have to find ways to involve in healthy lifestyle. Stress, unhealthy foods, and pollutants really aggravate such kind of sickness and therefore we should combat it with healthy living. When was the last time you really sweat out in the gym or in your favorite sports? Sure we all have our hectic schedules but maybe this weekend, it’s time for us to lace our shoes and do some brisk-walking and jogging in the nearest park.

Madam Emy, wherever you are now, I am sure that you are already in a very safe place with the Lord. May you continue to build new edifice up there…

The Architecture Batch 91 of the Bicol University in Legazpi City with our professors.

Patakbo sa Kabundukan 12.21.2008

Post Race Photos:

A wacky pose from our team after the "Disaster" Race sa Kabundukan last December 21, 2008

This shot was taken by Romel. (clockwise) Norman, IceOne, me, our driver Mang Bert, Tolits, Ross, Ralph, Zaldy, Mar, Monette, Donald, Limuel and daughter Cacai.

and this was taken by Donald (clockwise) Ross, Ralph, Mar, Monette, Limuel and daughter Cacai, me, Zaldy, IceOne, Norman, Tolits and Romel.

2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

Merry Christmas!

To all who visited this site, to friends, colleagues, and fellow runners, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
May you have all the blessings you have wished for this christmas and through the coming year!

See you on the road!!!

Disaster Run sa Kabundukan: WORST RACE OF THE YEAR

This was a long anticipated run for us. Aside from being part of the DENR family which we advocate the protection of the environment and conservation of our natural resources, we were previously told about the hilly course of the race. So our team registered for this event ready for the challenge. After taking a break after the Adidas King of the Road, I finally decided to join being my last race for this year.

I woke up early and expected long hours of traveling as the race was located in San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal. We leave from the office at exactly 4:00 am but to our dismay as the organizers never put up any marker to the location, we only found the place through the residents we asked along the way.

As we entered the oval, there were only few runners who attended the event and several of them were the elite ones from the Team Bald Runner and a few who we recognized from afar. We spotted Phillip aka The Foreign Runner and Bald Runner who registered for the 21K event. Tolits, IceOne, Ross and I were originally registered for the 10K event but we changed for the 5K event due to lack of preparation. I was afraid that my right knee would not cooperate again.

I started my run with a very slow pace together with Ice One and we increased gradually until the second kilometer. But to my dismay, my nike+ sportsband collapsed. IceOne continued to pace me until my right knee began to complain so I told him to continue without me and I will just meet him at the finish line. I ran alone and that started all the bulls^*(&%^ts that happened to me during the entire race. The route was almost flat but the roads were congested with motorists. Runners were told to run at the sides of the streets and those fu&%^%^in’ tricycle drivers kept on shouting at runners with offensive words. They were so barbaric at the runners. We were running while inhaling smokes from the vehicles. I also got lost because the marshals didn’t even know where to direct us the right route for the 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K. Water stations were not also found and it’s a good thing that I hydrated myself with a bottle of Gatorade before the race. Lost runners complained to the marshals but they instead lead us the road to hell. My vote for the worst and the most unorganized race of the year definitely goes to this race…Runners… how do you rate this race?