Ako si Kampuger

Rest and Recover?

2012-02-08T17:29:00.002+08:00

Many have posted about this topic and this is probably just a re-iteration of them. Many runners tend to forget about the value of rest and recovery after a long hard race or training. Some of the hardcore runners would minimize their R&R in between trainings in an effort to improve their endurance but that doesn't mean they absolutely forget about its value.

Whenever the body is put into a increased level of stress, it becomes tired and aching. This is a sign that your body is not used to it and will begin to adapt to the change. But if you continue to subject it to the same level of stress repeatedly, it will slow down the process and eventually putting you at risk with injury. Being injured will be a showstopper for your trainings leading to frustrations and being sidelined for a while. Nobody wants that!

This is where the rest and recovery part of your training will play a vital role. During this time, your body will begin adapting to the level of stress that you made. It will help repair the broken down muscles and replace it with stronger ones which will improve your physical fitness. Also it will give you time to do things outside your training (your friends and family surely will benefit from it :))). After this time, try doing the same training routine and see if it improves your result :D.

Here are a few links on how to do your own rest and recovery:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sampleworkouts/a/RestandRecovery.htm
http://www.time-to-run.com/training/articles/recovery.htm
http://www.ffnetwork.co.uk/fitnessfacts/recovery.php

Honestly, I was not a fan of this activity but after going thru the process and gaining knowledge about it, I'm now integrating it as core of my training.

So how do you rest and recover? :)

The Sweetest Revenge

2012-02-06T14:43:00.001+08:00

Tired, upset stomach and soreness... those were the feelings that I remembered as I was doing my last stretch towards the finish line. Up to the last moment, I still can't believe that I was about to accomplish a goal that I chased so hard but evaded me for so long. But I know last night was the moment and finally as I step on the finish line, I raised my hand and shouted for joy that I finally made it! A sub-4 hours (3:53 unofficial) finish for a full-marathon at last!

Kagat medal moment!!! That's one hell of a medal (photo c/o Gob. Caloy)

How did my obsession for the sub-4 marathon started? It began right after my 1st Camsur International Marathon. I finished a humbling time during that race but my officemates began to tease me about how a good buddy bagged it under a staggering 4 hours. At that point, I made it as a personal challenge and a goal which I swore that someday I'll achieve.

The chase for full marathon glory

So my chase for the sub-4 marathon began. For the record, I attempted 7 times to try and reach the very elusive goal:

1. QCIM 2010 -> Started fast and eventually choked out by km. 25 due to a very fast start with injured knee
2. CCM 2011 -> I almost made it but the heat, cramps and uphill choked me out by km. 32
3. Milo Elims 2011 -> Still recovering from being out of shape and obesity. Cramps attack at km 25 due to a very fast start plus the rain proved that it's my waterloo
4. Condura 2011 -> disaster performance. No sleep, cramps attack, bleeding nips. Was lucky to cross the finish line alive.
5. CamSur 2011 -> Supposed to be a chillax run but picked up the pace late in the race (started at 6:00 mpk pace). Discovered the power of Roctane but still choked out at km 34
6. QCIM 2011 -> Almost but since I'm still recovering from Miyamit, chose to be a pacer instead
7. Cebu City Marathon 2012 -> I was so excited about this race because it will be my last attempt before BDM 160 but alas I choked out because of overhydration and a lot of bathroom break. Too speedy first 21K took it's toll on my body

Based on my personal experience, these were the things that caused me to choke up:

1. Too Fast Too Early -> I spent too much energy on the beginning of the race which resulted to being depleted towards the end of the race.
2. Cramps Galore -> Being "Krampuger", I observed that I need to do something about the cramping galore as it forced me to walk and slow down to the finish
3. Walking -> There is nothing wrong with walking BUT I observed the moment I started to walk, I'm too lazy to go back on my original pace
4. Energy -> If I want to sustain the pace, I need more fuel to burn!

So what's the difference last night?

First, I'm running with a vengeance. My failure last week will be my source of strength and willpower to finish the race. I don't want to stack up on anymore negative feelings so I had to let it out. It's only a mental thing but again, it can help boost my performance.

Second, I ran slower on my first few km. Maintain an average 6 mpk then attack the downhills + jog the uphills will be my formula. Try to build up the pace towards the finish.

Third, do something about those darn cramps! I'm testing the supplements that my idol Alfred Delos Reyes was using. Hammer Anti-Fatigue Caps claims that it will improve your endurance and prevent cramping by releasing the build-up of ammonia from glycogen production. I don't understand what that means but there's nothing wrong with trying :)). I think it worked for me! :D

Fourth, minimize walking - Ironically, I've been practicing power walk but last night, I decided to minimize it. I'll only walk when I feel very tired but for some magical reason, I was able to convince myself to push hard

Runner's High

The route was very challenging. The rolling hills, killer uphills and sharp downhills were only a few hurdles that I've encountered in the race. A few close call of nature was imminent during my first 10k but I had to focus hard to maintain a pace. Portalets were far so wiwi breaks were never an option. I'm also worried about the fact that I did a staggering distance last week and it might cause me to choke out in the FM.

But for some magical reason, I managed to survive. Cruising along a safe pace while following Alfred throughout the course, I was really determined to reach the goal. Passing thru the 32 km mark I know I need to come up with a good plan to sustain my pace and momentum. Gulped down a GU pack then drank a lot of liquid, I found myself running the last 10K.

I met my teammate Joms along km 34 and encouraged me to never give up as the goal is within my reach. A few more minutes, I caught up with Mam Chang being paced by a bike and also gave me good push to continue my momentum. I can feel soreness already and fatigue on my legs but my determination has overcome them. I also remembered being snobbish as I was passing by familiar faces, sorry po at wala na ko sa katinuan nun kaya di ko na kayo nabati :(

At last, after a few more minutes the ramp going thru the Finish line was on sight. I was tired and I want to finish already so I desperately dashed thru it. But alas, the finish line is still not there. So I took down two cups of water and sped off towards the turn and saw the fantastic arc after it. I was so happy that I raised my fist up high signifying success towards the goal. And there it was, my moment, an elusive goal that I failed to catch for 7 times finally landed on my bag!

Now I value the meaning of the quote "Never give up trying..."

Finally, I have one goal to scratch off my bucket list :)


A fist of success!!! (photo c/o Angelo)

Towards the finish line!!! (photo c/o Angelo)

Failure doesn't mean the END

2012-02-03T20:51:00.001+08:00

I rarely set my expectations so high that even I haven't realized that Murphy can bite. Something that you prepared for a long time would eventually crash down in an instance. Yes, I declared my first ever DNF during the last BDM 160 at km 79.

But I've learned my lesson. I won't stay at the rockbottom and wallow with grief. Life must go on and I'm thankful that I'm still alive to run another day. Thank you for all the support you showcased during and after the race, I'll forever be grateful. I might not have bitten the silver buckle for now but that won't stop me from trying again :)

For now, my BDM 160 story will have to wait for a fitting end:)

My BDM 160 tale: Prologue

2012-01-26T14:34:00.003+08:00

Last year, after finishing the dreaded BDM 102 race, I decided NOT to run BDM 160. That was when I realized the challenge and witnessed it first-hand when I supported totoy last year. I vowed NOT to run it.

Fast-forward to 2012... I broke that vow. I'm now anxiously waiting for D-day to arrive and busy preparing for the long battle ahead. What happened?

1. I was convinced by Totoy to do BDM 160 because he PLEDGED that he'll be my driver and support. I remembered that conversation after the Pinatubo 50K that he will no longer do the BDM 100-miler hence I was convinced. But addicts do change their mind quickly $&%*#$%

2. In search for a purpose on why the hell am I going to stick my neck and do a freaking 100-miler, an opportunity struck me. I was so affected by the disaster Sendong made in Mindanao that I decided to make this as a charity run for them. Siento-sisentang takbuhan para sa pagbangon was born and together with my good friend, Alfred "Senor Alfie" Delos Reyes, we are gathering pledges as donations for the typhoon victims. If you're interested to help, do let me know :)

3. I realized that BDM 160 is a holy grail for ultra-runners so why not do it? It's a test of patience, strength, spirit and sanity as we try our luck crossing several towns in Central Luzon for the silver buckle. I want that buckle...period!

4. I'm an ultrarunning advocate and I hope that my story in this race would inspire a lot of runners to try and experience the glory of running an ultramarathon. As what each race bib from Sir Jovie's say "GO BEYOND YOUR LIMITS..." :D

5. Lastly, I'll be with my partner Beep Beep from km 0 until the finishline. We were the same duo who finished BDM 102 without leaving each other. This will be fun! (Jestoni, nakahanda na ang playlist natin :)) )

One more day before the big event. I'm really nervous right now as running such a feat is not a walk in a park. But nonetheless, before I start my race, I would like to thank everyone who wished me luck, supported our cause and helped me reach this dream.

To my support crew, Pedz, Imee, Hendy, Alex, Allan and Jenny, a huge thank you for volunteering in this crazy event. One day I hope that I can return the deed to all of you :)

I know I'll finish this race as God will always be in my side. He will be my guide as this is a gift I received from Him. I'll start and finish the race with a prayer of gratitude for He made this possible. Lord, kayo na bahala sa akin, salamat po sa lahat!

BDM 160 - Here we go, sagowwwww!!!

My Running Madness

2012-01-03T15:53:00.001+08:00

During our holiday breaks, I decided to do something different. Instead of the traditional "pound-gaining" days, I chose something crazy. Yep, I did a running madness streak of 9 days straight. WTF! 9-days of running? Why the hell would I do that?!

For those who saw my FB updates, they saw 16 km, 32 km, 10 km runs during that period. And yes, I was flooded by messages like "Siraulo ka ba? Bored ka na ba? Anong naisip mo? yada-yada..." in my inbox. But I didn't mind them, it was a goal that I set before my vacation started and I was determined to finish it

So why the hell did I set a crazy goal like that when I should have been resting and relaxing in my vacation? First, I was inpired by the post from BR regarding the "mile-streakers". These guys have a goal of running at least one mile per day, 365 days a year. I want to get back to my fitness level and I think this is one of the fastest way to do it. Of course, I need to cope up with resting by sustaining sleep of at least 6 hours per day and eating! (since it was the holidays, this should not be a problem). I want to see if their method will work if I alter between long runs and short recovery runs during my madness period.

Second, I want to get back to my original fitness level. Prior to the vacation days, I roughly have enough time for my training! Add up the several days of parties which resulted to a low fitness level. I was still recovering from a hamstring injury due to a trail run so I really have no time to train. If this streak will continue over christmas, good luck to me then! I would probably bloat to my post-Australian self upon return from the holidays.

Lastly, it served as my training for the upcoming BDM 160 this end of January. If you think that my stint was crazy already, wait till you hear about this race. A few hardcore souls chose to do a non-stop run from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac to commemorate our fallen war heroes.I will attempt to finish this race within the cut-off and as part of my training will be increasing my endurance and running under stress. The best way to simulate it: Be crazy enough to do runs in simultaneous days!

Here was my Running Madness Log:

December 24, 2011 - 30K (Bahay -> Katips -> Tiende -> Katips -> Bahay)
December 25, 2011 - 16K (Bahay -> Commonwealth -> San Mateo -> Commonwealth -> Bahay)
December 26, 2011 - 30K (UP Diliman loops)
December 27, 2011 - 16K (Bahay -> Commonwealth -> San Mateo -> Commonwealth -> Bahay)
December 28, 2011 - 40K (Bahay -> Km. 00 -> Bahay)
December 29, 2011 - 11K (UP Acad Oval Loops)
December 30, 2011 - 33.1K (3rd RDR)
December 31, 2011 - 32K (Fort -> Mckinley -> Rescue Run -> Lawton)
January 1, 2012 - 13K (UP Diliman loops)

Total Mileage: 221.1 km

This madness provided me with the following results:

1. Increased my endurance running under the full heat of the sun (12 noon long run along Commonwealth) with minimum hydration.
2. Minimized soreness thru strategic walking in between the run intervals
3. Practiced galloway pacing! 4:2
4. Simulated running under stress and fatigue
5. Faster recovery time in between days
6. Feet are sore after the long speed runs (I thought I will have plantar fascitis)
7. No speed sessions were included so I'm not sure if I can still maintain strong with a faster pace

This is not the optimized training plan for runners and ideally, there should be a rest day in between the training sessions. The results I observed were almost all positive and probably this is because I tried to analyze the effects after each session then re-apply my learnings in the next run. Also, you need to listen to your body; in my case, I guess I was lucky because I didn't get any injury during my sessions. I'll stop immediately if I feel any sharp pain as I don't want to risk getting injured before the big day.

Madness made me do it. I'm thankful that I survived it and regained my sanity :))

The year that was 2011

2011-12-31T14:18:00.001+08:00

Everyone loves to summarize how they spent their year during its last day. As I close my 2011, let me give you a glimpse of how my year was...

2011 was an awesome year of running. 2300+ km of mileage, 4 FM, 8 Ultras (3 ultra trails), a few half marathons and a bunch of training runs made this year very memorable. I also experienced the pain of being injured and sidelined for almost 3 months, a situation that I really hate as I felt the pain from an inflammed ITB. I was able to do a race within Visayas and Mindanao plus a short race in Australia. To cap it all off, I got my very first podium finish in a challenging trail half-mary before the year end! It was an exciting year as I had a chance to meet new friends and strengthen a bond with my existing running buddies. :)

2011 gave me the biggest heartbreaks and sorrows as it was the year that my remaining grandparents died. My lola Bacion and Ama died while I was away in a business trip. It was so painful because I was not here during the time of mourning and they were brought to their graves. It took me some time to accept it but I guess two deaths in a family was really difficult. I'm hoping and praying that wherever they are right now, they are finally resting in peace :(

Work-wise was quite good as well. Bigger responsibilities and goals were attained this year. Biggest goal was something I waited for and worked hard for the past 8 years which finally materialized :). Though the sad thing was I had a few who left my team :(. I'm not used to high numbers but I guess I learned how to handle the situation. I was also assigned for almost 2 months in another country where I gained X number of pounds when I got back here. It took me time to get back in shape as I love the food there!

I guess that was my year 2011. It's a colorful year where I learned a lot of things and experienced both the worst and best stuffs in life. God planned it that way and I'm thankful to Him for guiding me thru the year.

Looking forward to a great 2012. I had set a few goals for the new year already and hope that they will all materialize (BIG plans!!!)

Happy New Year everyone!!!

CDO-Kadahilayan 55K Ultra Trail Marathon

2011-09-03T11:28:00.000+08:00

I swore that I missed doing ultras when I left for Australia. I failed to join my supposedly come back ultra in Cebu because I have to catch up a flight for my business trip. Ang hirap talagang maging k!!!

Kaya naisipan kong salihan ang pinakamalapit na Ultramarathon pagbalik ko ng Pinas. At boom! Swak ang CDO-Dahilayan Ultra ni boss Francis (BDM batchmate) sa aking hinahanap. First day pa lang ng registration bago ako tumulak papuntang Australia, nagparegister na ko. Pati flight ko, pinaayos ko na rin! Ganyan ako ka-excited!

PRE-RACE

It was my first trip to CDO. I really don't know what to expect there except that we stayed in the city proper. I had reserved that place a week before the race (talk about cramming) with Ambo and Blas, my fellow UNGAS-es.

At dumating ang araw ng paglipad. Ang aga ng flight namin papuntang CDO. Buti na lang at sanay ng gumising ng maaga kaya walang problema ang aking trip patungong airport. Pag check-in, derecho na ko sa gate para sa aking flight. Check ng email at laro ng kaunti habang nag-aabang, mukhang madami nga ang pupuntang CDO.

Lilipad na nga lang ng may kalokohan pang nangyari sa akin. Muntik na kong mawalan ng wallet!!! As in, namutla, nanlumo, nagmura, nagmukhang-tangang hinanap ang wallet ko sa kung saan-saan. Paksyet, paano na ako mabubuhay sa CDO kung wala kong wallet?! :((. Buti na lang at may magandang loob na nagsauli ng wallet ko pagtapos ng ilang sandali. Nahulog pala dun sa kinaupuan ko kanina. Laking pasasalamat at nawala din ang kaba, sumakay na kami ni Blas sa aming eroplano.

Paglapag ng CDO, unang napansin ko ang aming tatahaking daan. Amp, puro ahon at burol!!! Kaya pala ang lakas ng mga taga-dito dahil sa kanilang lugar ng ensayo! Ito pala ang sikreto nina Francis sa kaniyang malupit na oras sa BDM 102.

Pinili naming mag-jeep ni Blas papuntang siyudad pagkat mas mura at tipid. Buti na lang at madalas si Blas dito noon kaya alam na niya ang mga pasikot-sikot. Nag-2 sakay pa kami kasi hindi dumerecho ang jeep papuntang bayan. Mga 10 na ata nung marating namin ang aming tutuluyan.

Pagkakuha ng aming racebib, agad akong nagpahinga at bumawi ng tulog. Gabi pa ang dating ni Ambowt kaya pagkagising, sinubukan kong lumibot ng kaunti. Malapit lang ang starting line namin bukas mula sa aming tinuluyan. Kayang-kayang lakarin!

Nung gabi, nagcarboload ng isang bandehadong pansit at kaunting sinuglaw (must-try pag nagawi kayo dun! kinilaw na isda na may liempo) bago naghanap ng supplies kinabukasan. Balik na sa tinutuluyan at pahinga dahil mahaba-haba pa ang tatahakin bukas!

RACE DAY

Nagising ng maaga, nagbihis at dumerecho papuntang finish line. Matagal-tagal din akong walang mahabang takbo at sa bigat ng aking katawan, di talaga ko umaasa na kakaripas sa takbuhang ito. Isa pa, ito ang aking paghahanda para sa nalalapit na Milo elims sa katapusan ng buwan pati bubunuin ko naman ang Fort Magsaysay Ultra sa susunod na Linggo. In-short, bawal mag-adik at dapat i-enjoy lang ang ruta ng karera.

Pagdating sa starting line, sinalubong kami ng ilang adik at mga mananakbong mula sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng bansa. Andun ang Ungo na galing Cebu, ang mga taga-Iligan na malulupit, CB at syempre ang IlabBoring. Nandun din si Berns at Irene na i-pace ni Mr. Pogi 1996 Bong Bernardez. Matapos ang maikling programa at pagpapakuha ng litrato, pinutok ang baril bilang hudyat ng simula...

Km 00 - 10

Sa sobrang excited, may isang bagay akong nakalimutan... STRETCHING!!! Dahil matagal ko na ring di nagagamit ang trail shoes ko, nanibago ang aking mga paa sa simula ng karera. Ambigat at masakit ang aking calves/shin pero buti na lang at medyo nasanay na rin kaya dahan-dahan nakabalik sa pacing. Ramdam na agad ang ahon sa simula pa lang pero kailangang medyo makapondo para di abutan ng sikat ng araw.

Naalala ko dun sa race guideline na madaming kakaibang ahon na aming dadaanan. Pwes, sa km 4 pa lang, isang malupit na ahon ang sumalubong sa amin!!! Amp, sobrang taas at steep ng ahon na hindi ko talaga kayang takbuhin! Kaya walkathon ang ginawa para makatipid ng lakas.

Parang walang katapusan ang ahon. Sumasakit na ang aking paa at likod dahil sa aking dala pero wala pa rin. Di kaya ng light jog, talagang lakad dahil na rin sa 5 kg. bag na suot ko sa likod. Tiis na lang at alam kong matatapos din ito. Kaya pagdating sa lugar na medyo patag, ayun pumondo na uli. Kapagod...

Km 11 - 20

Trail na ang aming dinadaanan. Mini ahon nung km 11 - 14 sa isang mabato at malubak na daan. Pilit kong tinataasan ang bilis pero naisip kong medyo malayo pa to kaya kailangan tipirin ang lakas. Pababa ang daan papuntang km 15 pero dahil malubak, ingat pa rin at baka matalisod. Naabutan ko si Ambowt sa checkpoint at naalala ko pa yung makulit na timekeeper na kumuha ng bib number ko. Amp, maingay!

Lakad ng kaunti sabay light jog ang ginawa. Ramdam ko na ang pagod dahil sa kulang sa ensayo at ahon na ginawa nung una. Buti na lang at andyan si ambowt para masabayan. Naabutan pa namin si Sir Raul ng ARC na support ni Michelle para sa race (una't-huling beses na nakita namin sa buong karera). Uminom ng kaunting tubig at kumain ng kaunting saging bago tumakbo uli.

Km 17 nung makarating kami sa isang barangay na namimigay ng mga higanteng saba! Ang mga sabang matitigas na parang tira-tira. Naisipan ko sanang magbaon kaso sa sobrang bigat ng dala ko, kumagat lang ako ng kaunti bago tinapon. Sayang kasi ok din yung baon. Dun ko rin naabutan si sir Francis na nag-abisong may mahirap na ahon na naman pagdating sa km 19. Oo nga...

&%*$(%!!! Ahon na naman!!! Mas malupit ang ahon na ito kasi: 1. Mabato at steep 2. Pabilog (di mo alam kung kailan matatapos). Masasabi naming steep ito kasi umiiyak ang makina ng motorsiklong dumaan sa amin. Dahil ayaw naming maubusan ng lakas, lakad-galore na naman kami ni Ambowt. Wala kaming magawa at ayaw namin masunog agad...

Km 21 - 30

Naabot namin ang dulo ng malupit na ahon pagsapit ng km 24. Nagsimula namang maging rolling hills ang daan (ahon-pababa-ahon) na mabato at malubak. Maganda ang pacing namin nung medyo pumatag at nakita pa namin ang long-lost twin sister(bro?) ni Simply_Carly. Sayang, di ko nakunan ng litrato pero sa malayo talagang aakalain mong si Carly sa get-up at running form.

Isa pang malaking ginhawa sa lugar na ito ay maganda ang simoy ng hangin dahil na rin sa mga puno. Di pa gaano mainit kasi mahangin. Dito kami unti-unting bumawi ni Ambowt, 5-2 galloway para hindi mapagod agad. Kaso ako'y minalas. Km. 27, umatake ang pulikat.

Syet, malas talaga. Di na ko makatakbo ng matino. Pero gusto kong tapusin ang karera. Kaya chillax lang, tuloy pa rin ang pagtakbo. Dito rin pala namin nadaanan ang unang pinyahan. Akala nga namin papunta na kaming Tagaytay :)).

KM 31-40

May nadaanan kaming isa pang barangay. Nakaka-4 na oras na kami sa takbuhan pero oks pa rin, medyo alalay kasi baka atakihin ng pulikat. Tuka ng isa pang Alaxan pangkontra sa sakit at baka umatake si ITBS. Dito inalok si Ambowt ng tubig sa kakaibang paraan. Napangisi na lang siya kasi may hitsura yung "nag-alok" sa kaniya :)).

Ito yung daan papuntang plantasyon ng Del Monte. May parte nito na umikot pa kami sa kanilang Bgy, Hall upang kumain ng pakwan at uminom ng tubig. Dito rin nagsimula ang sangkatutak na pinya sa aid station. Ibang klase talaga ang pinya sa Mindanao, kakaiba ang tamis!

May nasabayan din kaming isa pang Ultravirgin na lalahok sa Camsur. Pinatikman kami ng kakaibang suman (nakalimutan ko na ang pangalan, suman siyang may bao sa gitna). Ibang klase, tinanong ko nga kung saan nabibili. Sabi niya, inorder niya lang yun. Sayang, di tuloy ako nakapag-uwi (amp, food trip ang takbuhang ito)

Inabutan kami dito ni Papi Jonel at Jael na steady ang pacing. Pumipitik-pitik ang pulikat pero pilit na tinatakbo hanggang kaya. Kada aid station nagpapabuhos para di mainitan kaso talagang kakaiba ang ruta nito pagkat umabot kami sa pangatlong malupit na ahon na naman! Maikli pero steep na ahon, hindi siya ok para sa akin pagkat pinupulikat na talaga ko. Kaso iba talaga pag adik, kailangang takbuhin!

Km. 41 - 50

Nasa km 41 ang community ng mga empleyado ng Del Monte. Parang nasa ibang bansa ka lang o kaya UPLB pagkat maganda ang ammenities. May malaki silang parke kung saan may football/soccer field. Pero hindi yun ang pinunta namin. Nandun kami para tapusin ang karera.

Dito nagsimula ang tunay na kalbaryo. Ang tindi ng init ng araw ay nagsimula na. Ang daanan namin ay kaparangan na walang lilim, malubak, maalikabok at maraming dumadaang sasakyan. Ramdam ko na rin ang pulikat na umaakyat sa likod kaya di makabanat ng matino. Konting-tiis na lang sabi ko sa sarili ko. Si Ambowt ang talagang nag-push sa akin para tumakbo pa bagamat alam kong mahirap na.

Sangkatutak na pinya, tubig na nasa supot at kaunting yelo ang bumuhay sa amin. Pagdating sa km 47, iyon na marahil ang huling aid station papuntang finish line. Kaunting ahon pa at lubak matatapos din ang karera. Naalala ko pa nung umupo ako sandali para magpahinga pero nung maanigan kong may kasunod, agad akong bumangon para hwag matuhog :))

Limang kilometro pa at matatapos din kami!

Km 51-55

Sa wakas limang kilometro na lang! Yun ang nasa loob ko kaya dahan-dahan pumondo para sa finish line. Aabot kami ng sub-8! Basta babanatan namin ang huling 3 km. Ang ganda ng plano! As in!

Pagdating ng km 52, nagsimula na kaming pumondo uli. Takbo! Habulin ang target oras! Parang nawala ang pulikat sandali nung sinimulan naming tumakbo uli. Ngunit 500 meters pa lang ng ako'y may makita. Isang poster na nakapaskil kung gaano pa kalayo. "Dahilayan Adventure Park - 5 km". AMP!!! Kami'y nalinlang!

Simula noon, nawalan na kami ng pag-asa. Lalakarin na lang namin ang huling bahagi ng karera. Nilinlang kami ni Francis!!! (uso na talaga sa Ultra ang mga pa-bonus!). Ayun, lakad-galore na naman kami. Nagpa-iwan pa ko ng kaunti pagkat masakit na ang paa ko. Pinauna ko na si Ambowt at baka maurat lang siya sa akin.

Di makatarungan ang huling bahagi nito. Matinding ahon sa lubak na kalsada. Ramdam ko na rin ang sugat sa aking balikat dulot ng dala kong bag. Hindi ko rin pala nabawasan ang laman nito pagkat may nalasahan akong di maganda. Kaya wala ring kwenta. Gusto ko na talagang matapos ang karera!

At hindi nga nagbibiro yung nakita naming poster. Sa km 55, nakita namin na 2 more kms before the finish line.

Km 56 - Finish Line

Nanlumo man, sinabi ko sa sariling tatapusin ko ang karerang ito. Yun lang di makabanat dahil sa pitik ng pulikat at sobrang tarik ng daan. Umulan pa! Wala akong ideya kung hanggang saan matatapos ito pero desidido na talaga kong matapos.

Sa wakas, naaninag ko na ang Adventure Park. Nandun na nakaparada ang ilang sasakyan. Pero wala pa rin akong ideya kung nasaan ang finish line! Kaya jog muna para mabuhayan ng loob. Nakita ko dun si Sir Raul at sinabing last 100 meters na lang. Bumanat ako at muntik na kong lumagpas! Umatake pa ang lecheng pulikat!

Awa ng Diyos, natawid ko ang finish line sa ganap na 8++ na oras! (Sinabihan ko si Francis na na-denggoy niya kami sa layo, Ultramarathon organizer nga siya :)) ).

POST RACE

Buti na lang at may masarap na pagkain sa dulo! Lechong baka at baboy! Simpleng programa para ihayag ang mga nanalo at masaya dyan, pagtapos ng lahat, zip-line to the max! Kasama si yaya ambowt, kung saan-saan kami sumakay na parang di kami tumakbo ng 55 km :))

Ito na siguro ang pinakamahirap na 55 km trail na nagawa ko. Tignan natin sa mga susunod na kabanata!

Pagkatapos ng una mong marathon

2011-08-27T11:49:00.002+08:00

Kapag natapos mo ang iyong unang marathon, mapapa-isip ka kung ano ang susunod mong gawin. natural na sa tao ang maghanap ng magbibigay sa kaniya ng bagong challenge kaya malamang iniisip mo kung ano ang susunod mong gagawin. nandyan ang triathlon, kung saan makikipagbuno ka sa larangan ng bisikleta at languyan. at syempre, andyan ang ultra kung saan tatakbo ka ng higit sa distansya ng marathon, sa ilalim ng init ng araw na loob ng mahabang oras. o kaya pwede ring bumalik ka sa dating distansya at maging speed specialist kung saan talagang huhulmahin mo ang iyong sarili sa pakikipagbakbakan sa larangan ng bilis. Pwede mo ring gawin ang lahat kung talagang adik ka talaga.

Anuman ang mapili mo sa mga iyan, paghandaaan mong maigi at gamitin mo ang iyong puso. mas magiging maligaya ka kung iisipin mo na ito ay talagang gusto mo pagkat habambuhay mong dadalhin ang mga kwento at karanasang napulot sa iyong napiling larangan. higit sa lahat, nawa ay maging inspirasyon ang iyong mga kwento para sa mga taong nakatapak din sa wakas sa finish line ng kanilang unang marathon

Ako, gusto kong maranasan ang lahat ng iyan pero di ko pinagsisihan ang aking desisyon na mahalin ang larangan ng Ultra. Kesa nga naman drugs di ba?

Mabuhay ang mga adik!

My BDM 102 story

2011-07-13T12:12:00.000+08:00

I cried. First time I cried in front of many people. Out of the difficult route and the thought of how I was able to cross the finish line after running 102 kms. in one piece. This is how I ended the race. Let me tell you the whole story (why the hell should I be crying in the finish line!)

Before D-Day

Weeks before the race, I had trainings of some sort. Long runs, speed works, heat runs, you name it I did it. I even joined the test runs to familiarize myself with the route. I was guilty that I trimmed down my mileage towards D-day (which was one of my biggest mistakes...). Bought some new gears as well: Esmeralda, my green silence, camelback which I forgot on the raceday itself and new tights for recovery.

Last minute support plan was also pulled off when I decided to have my own set of support crew and vehicle. This was a very serious event that I want to finish within my plan. I learned from my previous ultras how difficult it is to have a shared support crew and I'm willing to fund my own to survive this race.

My support crew: Totoy (6th place from the previous BDM 160/driver), Ultramaan (ultimate support crew starting from the TPPB days) and Allan (Running Free Manila/blogger which wrote my story). We used my dad's car, the black vios as the support vehicle knowing that it will save me some money for the gas. I did my groceries and patterned my nutrition plan to Totoy's 160. Good thing I did support him on the previous week so I have an idea what to drink and eat during the race. :)

D-day: Prologue

We left Manila at around 11 am. Had a few stop over were we had lunch and bought some ice. We did a recon of the route and still I can't believe that a few hours from that point I will start the story of my journey. Sobrang layo niya!!!

We arrived at the same inn were we stayed for 160 the week before at around 3 pm. Beeps was already there, so as RD (running diva). The crew already put some ice in the ice box before getting some shuteye. I was anxious and probably had only 30 minutes of sleep before we woke up for dinner.

We had a chance to talk with Beeps, Nick and Millet during dinner. It feels like this is our "last supper" before we go on our little adventure later. We're all excited and nervous of this fun run (we were even blessed by a slight rain as we went back to get dressed).

To the Starting Line

For the first half, I decided to wear the orange technical shirt I got from the runfest and the short I got from ANR. I should have worn Esmeralda but Totoy advised me to wear something with more cushioning so I wore Milo (Adizero) instead. It was still raining and we all hoped that this will last till tomorrow when we reach the finish line. After some last minute check, we went to the starting line.

We were at the starting line at around 8:45 pm. I met a few familiar faces with their respective support groups eagerly awaiting for the run to start. I was still looking for Doc Art and DocT for my medical certificate, got them just in time before the program started. I asked my support crew to go ahead already and meet me at km 7 so they can get a good spot.

After a few snapshots and chat with fellow runners, we were summoned to gather at the starting line. A prayer, the national anthem of Japan, US and then the Philippines before some final reminders were given. At exactly 10:10 pm, the longest race in my life has started...

KM 00 - 32

We did this route last Feb and our strategy was to cover as much distance as we can before the sun rises. Beep beep was my pacemate for the entire race and this was our strategy during the test runs. We were doing quite ok from Km 00 until the start of the ascend route towards KM 7.

As soon as we hit the uphill part, we jogged. We want to save as much time as we can without burning out all our energy so we decided to jog the dreaded uphill. This part was dark but once you reach the upper area you will see the beautiful lights of Mariveles. Thanks to the slight rain and cold temperature we reached the end of the uphill still strong.

We bumped across a fairview running club member earlier during the race. He said that he has 6+ teammates and they only have 1 van to support them. We decided to have him stick with us as he will have problems with the support later on. So it will be a trio of us until we reached the finish line!

Same strategy, run the downhills and walk the uphills. I decided to have my support done every 3 km. There were parts of this route which have inaccurate distance such as the long run from km 16 to km 24. In my garmin, it was 1 km longer but that didn't matter. All I wanted was to finish the race based on the strategy we made.

I brought along a couple of gel already for emergency purposes. I planned to take them every 20 km (or in-case I'm drained and tired already).

As we paced thru the dark road, we remained alert with our environment. Raging trucks and buses were avoided (damn, they are fast!) while we move away from cracks along the road. I stepped on some but thankfully I didn't experience any problem. There were "landmines" as well (poopoo) but we're glad we didn't stepped on any of them.

Dogs, drunk, bargirls, etc. Not your typical run were even gays who pimp them are chasing after you. We refer them to KB (this man has ABUNDANT support; ewan ko na lang talaga kung di niya matapos pa yumg race). We lost him at km 24 when mother nature called him (he dumped in a gasoline station after km 24).

After 4 hours, we were able to reach the fork at km 32. At this point, we have to change our strategy...

KM 33-50

From this point on, the roads are practically flat. We are about to enter the town of Pilar and here we started our galloway method. I dictated the pace and timing; 5 minutes run - 2 minutes walk. This will help us conserve our energy until the later part of the race.

From km 32, we passed by Pilar. My support crew brought some pandesals already (I only ate one as I don't feel hungry yet). I asked them to prepare some coke already as I'm getting bored with the water and energy drink routine.

Farmlands, small buildings, trikes and jeepneys; those were abundant during this part of the race. But since it's night time, they were like ghost towns, it's like we own the road for ourselves. I was still strong at this point as we follow our galloway method.

When we reached Balanga, we crossed path again with a familiar soul. KB has reached us already from the time he answered mayor's call at the gasoline station. We made an agreement that all of us will cross the finish line together and stay loyal to the strategy that we set.

Finally, after 6:00 hours we reached km 50 (PR plus we reached the halfway mark on our target time!). Halfway to go!

KM 50 -68

The original plan was to reach km 70 before daybreak and had a change of outfit. Since we still have some time to spare, I change my wet shirt already with something comfortable. I decided to wear my TPPB shirt and dropped the headtorch already. I ate an egg and drank some soda before I joined the group again. Felt energized, we continued on with our journey.

We remain loyal to our strategy as we traverse the road from abucay to hermosa. Daybreak was near already and we estimated to reach the 70 km marker by around 8 am. My support crew are still strong and we continue to share the resources with my group. When we get bored, we try to entertain ourselves. I can feel fatigue already at km 55 but we need to move forward!

At km 62, we were given a surprise treat from KB's crew. His pom-pom girls had arrived! The UP ANR folks were in full-support of him even throwing this! We had some pictures taken before we ran again. At this point, a puppy was following us. I thought it would follow us until we reached San Fernando.

Km 67, we're back at the main road. It was past 7 am already so we hurried along the busy road. At km. 68, we had our support crew wait for us as we will be resting for a while and have some breakfast. I'll have my foot massaged as well plus change into my Condura technical shirt + the "Japanese" cap to welcome the new day!

KM 68-80

The long agonizing final 34 km has begun. I switched my gear to "Esmeralda" my green silence and started our run towards the town of Dinalupihan. This is freakin challenging as the roads here are not shoe friendly; they have a lot of gravels and sharp rocks which I felt as I inch my way to the next town.

Reaching the "Halo-halo" point, we met up with manager Jj and Joen which gave us a bunch of food and water. I'm actually feeling some soreness already (who wouldn't after running 70++ kms?) and tired but I know I still have a few more kms to conquer. We're stuck with the 4-2 run/walk strategy and it will stay until we reach the finish line.

Around km 75, I felt some pain on my left knee wall. Crap, I think I'm starting to have ITBS! I've had it massaged and gulped a painkiller to slow down the pain but I know it will never stop. So I have to slow down and increase the frequency of walking. KB already left us as I can't keep up with a faster pace. At this point, it was me, Beep-beep and the fairview running guy left in the small group

KM 80 - 90

As time passed by, the pain became more intense. The heat was already increasing and I can't run any faster. Darn it, why now?! But I swore to finish all my races regardless of what happen. So I continued the journey, frequently walking rather than running. Thank God for Beep-beep in accompanying me in this race!

We passed by the town of Gua-gua under the tense heat of the sun. There were slight jogs every once in a while but I really can't hold a decent pace. This will be a long walk towards the end.

Last 12 km

After passing through the town of Guagua and towards km 90, I really want to end everything. I'm tired and in-pain. I'm psyching myself to never give up, I've already invested a lot of time and resources for this race.

I don't care if runners are passing by me as I'm not here to race. I'm here to finish the race! (Beep-beep even had a last second banyo break in km 92). Igol had reached me already and we paced for a km before he speed off. I guess it's really up to me and beep beep now to finish this.

The sun was already up and beating us up with the heat. Beep beep was encouraging me to run but I really can't do it anymore. It hurts like hell. I told him to go ahead but he never left me. We will finish this together and with style.

At last, the final km. Beep-beep told me that I should go ahead before them towards the finish line. I planned to sprint the last few meters to have a fantastic photofinish. But what if it alleviates the pain in my knees? What if I suddenly fell down before I reach the line. Amp, bawal ume-emo. Bahala na si batman...

With last ounce of strength, I poured water over my head and began to build up my pace. I don't care anymore. I wanted to finish the race. I feel a nth-wind passing thru me again and it was a sign. I felt my feet getting lighter as I ran the small road. People were already there, finishers cheered as I pass them by. One more step and finally, I accomplished finishing the longest race in my entire life...

Finish line Moment

Sir BR gave me his traditional hug. I can't help but cry and told him it was really difficult. I can't believe that I was crying! Syempre, nung may camera na I have to smile as if I didn't cry. Mahirap na masira ang image nyahahahaha!

Everyone was congratulating me but I cried again when Maan told me that I finally finished. It was very akward moment but a warrior can burst into tears as we are humans too. I was so tired and swore that I can eat whatever food was available. A few picture moment then I rested at the sidewalk waiting for the rest of the runners to cross the line.

This is my BDM 102 story. It might be late but I want to have it documented so I can share it with other people the crazy race I did in March 2011. Now, let me tell you my BDM 160 story...

BDM 160: A support's perspective

2011-04-04T23:36:00.001+08:00

I consider myself lucky for being part of history. I personally witnessed the gruesome task of completing the very 1st 100-miler road race here in the Philippines last weekend by one of my good friend, Totoy Santos. It was a very-very memorable experience even if I only supported a runner.

The Beginning

We started our journey at around 3 pm when Totoy picked us up from our meeting place. I acknowledged that I was really late as I wasn't able to pack earlier. Nevertheless, we went straight to the lodge, some hours before the actual race to relax and remove some of the anxiety.

At around 330, we already started gearing up as we have long days ahead (take note, long days kasi 2!). We wore the team UNGAS shirt plus my regular running shorts as I was planning to pace totoy in his last few km. I loaded up my camera and helped in preparing the support items at the back of the van. I was surprised when I found out that Luis (GBM) with Abby, Idol Ronald(yeah, the guy who's the living model for VFF) and Sir Jonel stayed at the same lodge. I felt the anxiety and worry in the air as it was the longest and most difficult "fun" run that they will do in their lives.

At exactly 4 am, we left for the starting line. We passed by the darn hills which I will be conquering next week gave me a freaking anxiety attack. But that will still be next weekend; the 160 warriors faced them today.

At the starting line, we were greeted with our fellow runners. The street near km 00 was filled with support vehicles and cheering crews. There were laughter and prayers as everyone wished the runners luck during the race. We took some souvenir shots (oo, kinunan ko sila habang nakakangiti pa) before the gunstart. We decided to leave earlier and move to km 7 immediately before the actual gunstart so we will have a decent parking space.

The First 50 kms

At km 7, we parked and waited for the runners to pass already. It was really-really COLD which was made worst by the strong wind. I forgot to bring my jacket as I assumed that it will be hot in Bataan already. Thanks for the hot coffee that I got from the other support crew which made it a bearable!

The first batch of runners passed 30-45 minutes after gunstart. Simply_Wilnar was already pacing with Sir Jonnifer Lacanlale at a marathon pace!!! They were followed by Ka Totoy which asked for a bottle of water before running again towards km 14. We still waited for a few minutes before we left the post to take some more pictures. I took the famous picture of papa idol, GBM and OJ where they can still smile (yari kayo no!) then left to follow Totoy

We stopped at a nearby store to buy some more bananas and took again some more photos. What surprised us was Totoy was way ahead already and passed the km 14. It was a good 14 km rolling route and he was already able to conquer it immediately. We caught up with him a few meters after km 15 to give him a bottle of gatorade. The sun was already up but he was still fine (halimaw talaga!). We were still able to see Simply_Wilnar and Atty. Joni leading the pack while totoy was closely following them. He instructed us to meet him at km 23 already!

At km 23, we noticed that it was really far beyond the dictated distance from the markers. The 2 BR marshalls were there. They even set-up a small tent! We were ahead of schedule as the lead runners reached that point 20-25 minutes from the last time we saw them. Junrox and Gene already bypassed Totoy as they followed the lead pack. Totoy arrived already and asked for a bottle of water. From the point, we were to do support every 3 km. (did I mention that there was a small piece of wire which almost puncture my ankle while waiting?)

km 35, totoy complained that he was experiencing quad issues (the one he had in Samat). Bought him some alaxan and gave him some salt. We already felt the heat as noon closely approached. Totoy was already passed by the two Singaporeans.

km 38, felt the need to go to the CR and sagutin si Mayor! But a carabao had postponed his plans :))

km 41, we refreshed some supplies like ice and water. The singaporean guy was already asking for support so we have to give him some gatorade and water. Totoy was overtook by the Paulina as we pass by the busy town of Balanga. We're almost near the 50 km mark

km 44, totoy was icing his quads already but he remained strong. Man, he's good! Paulina was also tired and we were suprised as she was only holding a small bottle for her water. We can't imagine how she was able to survive this run with only a small bottle of water. We poured her some ice water and refilled her water bottle.

km 47, last support for totoy before we proceed to km 50. Gave him a bottle of gatorade as we saw the singaporeans has overtook him already.

km. 50, we got lunch from Jimmy c/o Mang Inasal! Also took the chance to take a few pictures with the halfway marker. Totoy was still strong and didn't stop to even change his clothes. The sun was already burning but still he's running in top form! One lesson I learned from him was the effect of the salt against cramps. It helped him recover from the aching quads and possible cramps during the first 50 km. Just 110 km to go!

The Hot Road Towards 102 Marker

And we began the road toward km 102. First stop at km 53 as we caught up with Jessie, Junrox Brother.. We learned that he was the only support of Junrox until the afternoon. He was the driver as well; imagine the stress that this race had brought him.

Junrox: Bili ka ng wine. Kahit ano basta Australian brand ha.
Jessie: Paano kung...
Junrox: Kailangan para makapagcelebrate!

km 56, Junrox took a CR break while Totoy was nowhere in sight! The Singaporean lady told us that he might be injured already and we decided to go back for him. Found him a couple of meters after still running. Tinawag lang pala ni Mayor. That was a relief as we thought we'll be throwing the towel sooner than expected.

km 64 we informed totoy that Luis was catching up. With that he went back to his very fast pace as if he didn't finish 50 km already!

km 68 We stopped to buy some ice from a local store while I bought a bottle of coke. When totoy stopped to get something to drink, he saw the coke.I gave him whatever was left as he was already bored with the water and gatorade hydration plan. I planned to buy him some more softdrinks when we passed by a store.

km 71 A pleasant surprise that we found a nearby halo-halo store! Nothing like a local halo-halo to cool us down. We bought some for Totoy as well. Maridol from team CB also passed us by and refreshed our stock of ice. She said that she prepared some arroz caldo for us when we reach km 102. Ayos, food trip! :D

km 76 Totoy was able to caught up with Junrox. I was also able to buy some rock salt (one big pack!) and a liter of softdrink. Junrox already stopped by the side of the road resting because of the heat. We gave him a cold splash of water to re-energize him. He swore that he'll make it up during the night, once the heat had already subsided.

km 79 Jessie and our crew agreed that we will be doing a convoy as he is not familiar with the route. Unfortunately at the detour we were separated as we were able to pass through the town. Since Jessie will be waiting at the bridge, we supported Junrox while we were in town. Good thing that we were able to met up with Sir Raul with Mich and Reylenne as they were looking for Junrox. Jessie can now rest from support duty!

At km 81, we were waiting for him at the Caltex intersection. He was able to overtake the singaporean lady and still have the strength to go thru the remaining stretch until the city of Guagua. We learned from Totoy that BR gave him a bottle of water as he thought that we lost him already. :))

Moving forward to km 90 towards the busy town of Guagua, We are still on-track as he is planning to finish the 102 km within 14 hours. Outstandingly, he seems that he is still strong without the sign of being tired. 12 kms to go!

At km 97 We were able to find the other singaporean. He was still strong but very near with totoy. We can't find Paulina anywhere so I guess he had a very big lead ahead of her. This is the last stop before he instructed us to go to km 102 already.

Setting ourselves in km 102, we finally made it to the 2/3 of the distance! Totoy was still running towards the km marker. He quickly changed his clothes while we took some pictures! He got a new PR as he crossed the km 102 marker earlier than the planned 14 hours. After some pictures, off Totoy went to chase the remaining 58 km.

Beyond km 102: Towards the Busy MacArthur Hi-way

Since there were no markers, we have no idea how far/close we are from the finish line. I'm also not familiar with the route since I didn't join the test run which covered the route from km 102 till km 160. So we relied on the direction that I got from Madam. First things first, dinner. Maridol gave us the stock of Arrozcaldo which we hungrily consumed while we are on our way to meet Totoy. It took us a while to figure out the way and we really have no idea where are we going to meet him so we decided to drive along the MacArthur Hi-way.

Finally found him at around 5-6 km from the km 102. Gave him something to drink and asked him what he wanted for dinner. Since there were no markers, we relied on the odometer. I bought him some noodles and bread from a ministop store. When he was able to consume his food, we took a quick dinner as well in a nearby carinderia.

I also gave the crew with a pair of essentials which will at least help them stay awake at least during the last part of the race.

When we reached the Angeles checkpoint, we found out that we were very far from Simply_Wilnar and near one of the Singaporean guys. We informed totoy about it and he was instantly energized; he ran towards the nearest opponent. At this point, we learned a lot have DNF already :(. Too many warriors had fallen but that should not stop us from getting the goal.

And what luck: we found the Singaporean resting near our support van...

Bakbakan sa MacArthur Hi-way

People who saw the post in my fb and twitter account can recall the events where Totoy and the Singaporean guy were overtaking each other towards Capas. The Singaporean was already injured but if you can only imagine how fast he was walking; I think his pace was around 6-6:15 mpk! Everytime we did a stop-over for Totoy, we saw how determined he is in overtaking his opponent! There was a time that they were actually running head to head and pacing with each other. Totoy did took the lead soon until we reach the Bamban bridge.

We were able to find the other Singaporean as we cross the bridge. It was freaking cold on that part of the route! Totoy was still on the lead but he was already saying that he was really tired. The Singaporean was hot on track as we can see him very near Totoy. Unfortunately, the Singaporean did win this battle as finally he overtook Totoy on our way to Capas.

Tired and Sleepy, Totoy was already saying how much he want to rest already. I can imagine as he covered more than 120 km already. Maan and I were already exhausted as well and as a pacer, I need to rest for a while to accompany Totoy towards the last few km of the race.

At Capas, we stopped over at the nearby 7:11 station and bought some coffee. We gave Totoy some coffee already. We noticed that he's really tired as he is doing run-walk as he approached us. I've already geared up and ready to run with him for the last 15 km.

By the way, Totoy tripped over as he was crossing MacArthur highway! Man, that was scary! Thank God there were no passing vehicles during that time.

Pacer Duties and the Finish Line

I started my pacer duties once Totoy crossed the MacArthur Highway. The route was cold and dark with lot of dogs barking. I didn't have any headlamp with me so I have to stay close with him. Whenever he needed to walk, I walk and talked to him and asked him if he needs anything. I also watched over our pace as I know he needs to reserve some more strength towards the finish line.

Surprisingly, as we approach the Capas shrine, we reached one of the Singaporean limping and out of supplies. We asked him if he needs anything then instructed our support crew to give him some food and water. He said that he was lost as he didn't saw the marshall at the intersection! We want to ask for more info but we still have a race to finish so off we went.

At the Capas shrine, we found out that our vehicle was already low on fuel so they decided not to support us on the remaining distance. I asked for bottles of water as we need to rehydrate. Totoy already warned me that it was pure uphill and it is a gruesome final road to the finishline.

Another surprise as we were passed by sir lacanlale and gene battling as if it was a 5k race! Man, that's how far Wilnar was from his rivals! We were passed by the other runners who were ahead of us including the 2 Singaporeans. Run-walk-run-walk until we reached the turn-around point. Totoy was low in energy until he learned that Arman was just behind us! Knowing his competitive nature, he suddenly surges and requested to make haste as we ran the downhills. Occasionally we have to walk but we ran towards the finish.

At last, the shrine. Remember how runners became possessed on their way to the finish line? Totoy was still able to sprint towards the finish at an awesome pace!!! At around 3:30 am in the morning, Totoy was able to finish the race and clinched the 6th spot of the historic first 100-miler in the country!

It was an awesome experience. From start to the finish, we witnessed a runner conquered a very hard challenge in his career and executed it with excellence. A week after this, it will be my turn. If totoy can finish 160, I can surely do a 102.

Who knows I might do the 160 next year? I'm already inspired but undecided :D

(Photos to be uploaded soon...)

BDM 102: A test of endurance

2011-02-17T23:52:00.000+08:00

It's exactly 16 days before D-day and here I am still thinking if I can accomplish this insane task of running 102 km. For 17 hours, I'll be submitting myself to a test of endurance and will-power. I was still confident for this race but it changed when I did the 52K test run last Saturday...

I don't know if it was the right thing to do. All I want was to simulate the race condition of coming from a 50 km run with no sleep and already exhausted. I did that but with a bonus: I was suffering from UTI! Imagine risking my life running dehydrated because of my UTI. I have to do wiwi break every 2 km but nothing was going out: i only felt pain when I tried to run. And worst of all, my wiwi became blood red after a while. :(

It was only a bonus because the 2nd half will be the hottest part of the race. Literally. The heat will be insane during that time and I had a taste of it in the previous test run. It was only a spoonful compared to the real thing on March.

On a positive note, I found my new shoes awesomeness when I did the test run. I will write a separate review for it but right now, I'm happy that I made the right choice. :)

16 days to go and I'm shivering already *gulp*

Skyway Marathon: An open letter to the organizers

2011-02-07T18:28:00.001+08:00

Hi mam/sir,

First of all, congratulations to the success of the recently concluded Skyway Marathon yesterday. I have no doubt about how it was well organized from the program till the awarding ceremony, I give it a big thumbs-up. 16K++ runners who signed-up and did their best to become part of the Philippine Marathon History!

However, one of them was quite disappointed. He did his part in the race but he didn't received his finished medal. I registered very early for this race last December because I was so excited for my 6th full marathon. I haven't done my Cebu City Marathon yet but I made sure that I will run this event. This is where my I made my FM debut. I was eyeing for revenge as I really didn't like my results last year so I promised myself that this year I will redeem myself.

Alas, a few misfortune happened as race day came by. First, I lost my wallet due to negligence where I put all of my receipts. Second, I lost my racekit when my mom/dad threw it away accidentally when they were cleaning up my room. I discovered this exactly the night before the race so I have no time to look for a spare racekit nor tried to contact the organizers. I searched for your contact number to ask if I can still run the race but alas, I can't find it in the skyway marathon webpage.

This shattered my hopes for the race. I was really planning to abandon the idea of running this race but some of my friends encouraged me to continue despite of what happened. After a few mins. of contemplating and having no sleep, I decided to suit up and go to the fort. I will run my 6th FM. I thought to myself that I paid 1.2K plus for this marathon so why should I not run it even if I didn't have my race number with me. Plus the love of running made me decide to go to the starting line.

It was really difficult. I didn't have any sleep before the race. I have no idea on what will happen to me during the race. I performed well, paced with a fellow runner during the first 28 km then eventually slowing down because I felt some cramps already. At km 34, I walked and stretched, felt dehydrated and almost collapsed on the way to the takbo.ph aid station. Thank God for the Samaritans who helped me continue this race.

To cut the story short, I finished the race fair and square. I crossed the finish line with a time of 4:17:XX. I was not happy with the record but I was joyful because at least I made it safe and sound (minus the aching legs of course). So I went around and asked if I can get at least a finisher's medal to commemorate my achievement.

I was passed around the booths and I understand that I didn't have any proof that I finished the race from your system. They required the stub from the bib that I lost. I was so disappointed that I want to scream in front of the lady but no, that was not the proper way to do it. I just held back and do this letter to make it more formal and adequate to the situation.

Sir/Mam, I know you were runners too. You know how much we paid for our 42K race kit and you know it was quite expensive. But being told that you can't get at least the medal really crushed my morale. I worked hard for this race and even risked my life to finish it because I was really hoping to receive that award in the end. You know how difficult it is to accept that you've lost something already and it resulted to you not getting what you paid for.

I just want to express the feeling of being helpless yesterday and better customer support. Bottomline, I paid for the event (check my name: RONNEL GO registered last December 16, 2011) and I didn't get what my money's worth. I will bet my life if someone questioned if I finished the race yesterday as I claimed (this is also my preparation for BDM 102 this January).

I only want the finisher medal. I don't care for the loot bag nor the sponsor's freebies. I run for the glory of running and I would really love to get at least a remembrance which I paid with my hard-earned money.

I kindly ask for your consideration and help for this :(

Thanks,

Ronnel Go

Adination of Runners: 5th Sunday Run

2011-01-30T22:02:00.000+08:00

Despite the mishaps I got from yesterday, this day was really a blessing and a break from my streak of unfortunate events. Today, I've got a chance to run again as a team with my buddies from Team Powerpuff Boys in the ANR: 5th Sunday Run.

I'm actually quite nervous for this race as I really don't have enough preparation prior to the event. Less speedworks and low mileage for the week made me think again if I really can perform and deliver my best in this race. Plus I was preparing for my BDM 102 so I focused more on endurance and little on gaining speed. With that in mind, I was really trembling from inside of my mind!

Gunstart for the 5k group run started at around 6 am which we joined for our warm-ups. The agreed pace was 5:00 mpk but the garmin registered a freaking 4:00 mpk!!! (Anak kayo ng pating Jixee and Pat). But nonetheless it was a great start and helped me relax a bit. We only did 2.5 km to shake off the rust from my body.

Akin na ang batuta mo!

Our event started at around 8 am. Man, the sun was already out and I can feel the spirit of competition among us runners in the corral. I was really excited in fact this was the first time I felt it again after the epic relay! Pat started first while Jixee did the 2nd leg. I did the 3rd leg! Jogging back and forth, anxiety was really building up. I'm really-really anxious for the baton! When I saw the marshall signaled that Jixee was already near I know it was showtime!

Running Form!

Holding the baton, I sprinted towards the turning point without hesitation. We were in 3rd place so I know there is pressure on me to close the gap. Stride after stride, I can feel the beat of my heart strong as I was chasing the runner before me. I don't know if I can really do it but I swore that I will try my best to come close to him. Past the 400 meters I can already feel the shortness in breathing and fatigue but I won't let that get in my way! I'm already near him as we approached the turn-around point (I envy him for the water that his support gave him) but I know I will reach him. After a few more strides, I finally overtook the runner!

But this comes with a price: speed is taking a toll on me. I'm not used to running short distances at top speed anymore (even my yasso's are not that fast) and I already feel dizzy. I'm really thankful for my pacers from fellow BHS runners and Beep beep as they helped me keep it going despite the fatigue that I felt. I feel so wasted but the sight of the finish line gave me hope and with the last puff, I dashed thru the waiting corral and passed the baton!

Wasak!!!

It was over! I feel my legs shaking, I'm a bit disoriented and really thirsty. I was really wasted to a point that I was begging for water already. But it was all worth it, we did our best and we were able to clinch the 2nd spot! Sweet!

Thanks to my fellow TPPB members, Mark M, Jixee, Pat and Joms for letting me be part of the team earlier. Thanks to Brando our photographer and #1 cheerleader during the race. Thanks to ANR BHS for the support and cheers as we cross the finishline plus giving us the opportunity to represent the team in the event. And finally, Thank God for the wonderful time and helping us finish the race unscathed.

The boys!

Wenners! (L-R: Mark M, Joms, Pat, Jixee, yours truly)

ANR BHS Rules!

See you on the next 5th Sunday race! :D

Special Thanks to Brando for the superb pictures! :D

The year that was 2010

2010-12-31T23:03:00.000+08:00

2010 is a year full of glory and pain for me. It's been the most challenging year so far and I'm thankful that God was with me all the time. Too many things had happened and if I'm going to write them all here, I might not be able to finish it come the stroke of midnight. Behold, my year that was 2010:

My top memories of 2010:

RUN:
-> Running Career at it's finest! I did 4 FM, 3 Ultra and 1 Epic Relay. My total mileage for the year is 2202 km which makes me a candidate for a tune-up.
-> Running on events outside Metro Manila such as Cam Sur and Ilocos Norte. I also did an ultra trail run in Pinatubo (50K) which started my "Running Tourism" high in my career
-> My first official running clubs: 6:30, UNGAS and Team Powerpuff Boys!
-> PR's on 21K and 42K with an introduction to minimalist shoe running (I love my VFF)
-> Running Apparel Splurge (making my wallet cry :( ). So far, I purchased 4 running shoes and 2 VFF's :D

WORK:
-> I have a new team. Shifting from one discipline to another was a challenge but watching it grow exponentially over the year was a very exciting experience
-> Responsibility shift. This year marked huge changes in my work specifically to the goals I set. It is my momentum towards the start of 2011.
-> Talk about crunching numbers and schedules on projects! I experienced the craziest work schedule this year
-> This year an opportunity has opened-up a highway to my dreams. Slowly, I'm learning the system but I know it's the right path towards fulfilling my wishes.

SPIRITUAL:
-> I noticed that I drifted away from God early this year. This crushed me during the mid-months and reminded me that He was there to accept me back. Thank the Lord for showing me the way.
-> My dearest Nanay(lola) passed away last July. It was one of the most painful experience as she and 2 of her sibling passed away this year :(.
-> The Lord has shown me a blessing amidst the storm. Being rock-bottom was the most humbling experience I gained as slowly I'm returning and changing for the best. Above all, He was still there to guide me :)

EMO:
-> I've been into an emotional disaster for most part of the year. But somehow I'm almost recovered. Sorry for the people I've hurt and stepped upon, I really didn't mean it :(
-> A ray of light has captured my attention and even if it's a rocky start, thank you for coming into my life. I promise to treasure you always :D
-> I started to talk to my parents again and learned how to lessen my pride.

I want to have this post short as it summarizes my 2010. It was a roller-coaster ride but I'm happy I went through it happy and alive. I'm looking forward for my 2011 as I know there are a lot big things waiting for me next year. Excitement is just an understatement :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :D

Rest Muna

2010-11-16T00:56:00.002+08:00

I am very stubborn. I always love to push this body to the limit. I programmed myself to train hard without considering my personal limit. Unless I have work or other things to do, I want to get better in running such that I continue to batter my body with very aggressive trainings. I ignored the pain that I felt as I believed they are only temporary.

But days had passed and the pain is still here, nagging me and dragging my progress. Because of this i had convinced myself to slow down and rest.

Here are the 5 things that I will do during my rest period:

Stretchhhh!!!

1. Sleep - i need to have enough sleep again. sleeping at least 8 hours per day.
2. Eat - i don't have to worry about this. Food will help me build my strength and energy to propel thru my next set of trainings.
3. Stretching - stretching those darn affected muscle would help hasten the healing process.
4. Reduction - reduce training intensity in terms of speed. I would still continue building the base mileage with slower pace

Sleeping with eyes wide open

5. Equipment - having the right set of equipments to support this period is absolutely important. Changing running form to compensate for the injuries will require a new set of toys which I will use during my rest.

Will this work? Will i get better? I hope so. I only have a few weeks before my first training checkpoint and im hoping that i will be in-shape by that time. I'll try a couple of things as well to ensure my faster recovery but I guess a proper rest will be a key ingredient in getting stronger. As coach Salazar said, "ang katawan kailangan bigyan din ng pahinga para lalong lumakas, pag sumubra, baka ma-injure at mawala ang training progress".

Hoping to get well soon. The wait is killing me.


Never-ending wait! :))

* - Picture credit to various sources in the internet

Adination of Runners: nasa 2nd phase na!

2010-11-12T03:17:00.006+08:00

As I told you, I always love the brand of Adidas. It's been my brand of choice for years now and most of my apparel are from Adidas.But do you know that it has Running Groups here in Manila?

The Adination of Runners Running Group was launched this year and had 4 venues: Ortigas, BHS, Ayala and Alabang. For almost 9 months, it has created a number of followers whom had improved their running skills within the period. I had witnessed this in the likes of Deo, Bong, Rej, JR, Maya and Ceres who have progressed tremendously with the program.

They also offer promos within the program such as discounts with Adidas apparel, freebies and ultimately a free pass to this year's KOTR.

Ang mga magigiting na ANR BHS runners

Now, why the hell am I blogging about this program. First, I believe in the effect of the program. Second, I love the brand :). Lastly, it's for the friends I met thru the session where I shared a lot of experiences and gained a few in return.

What are you waiting for? You have enough reasons to get those shoes out of your cabinet and hit the road :D

Walang ulan-ulan sa mga adik!

I personally invite you to join our regular sessions:

Tuesdays:

UP -> 6:30pm -> infront of Abelardo Hall,

Alabang -> 7:00pm -> Madrigal Business Park

Ayala Tri -> 7:00pm -> inside Ayala Tri Garden

Wednesdays:

MOA -> 7:00pm -> IMAX Parking Lot

Ortigas -> 7:30pm -> Pearl Drive infront of UA&P

Thursdays:

BHS -> 7:30pm -> Bonifacio High St. (near ROX parking lot)

Fridays:

Ortigas -> 7:30pm -> Tienesitas

Mababait naman po kami at masisipag :)) (except si Maya na masokista). I promise you will improve within a few attendance of the sessions (Ako pa magiging pacer niyo, nyahahahaha)

Spread the love folks! See you in one of the sessions! :D

*-pics c/o Doc Marvs

BDM 102 Series: Prelude #1

2010-11-08T00:07:00.000+08:00

Known as the most difficult road race in the country, the Bataan Death March 102 km was an annual event held to commemorate the long agonizing trip done by the brave heroes during WWII when Bataan fell in the hands of the Japanese. A trip made by several hundred prisoners of war (POW) from Bataan to Tarlac, they marched under the searing heat of the sun with the merciless Japanese soldiers provoking and killing all those who can't continue the journey. Truly, it's one of the most darkest events in the history of our country.

Last year, I think it was during the Rota-run when I approached my good friend and barkada, Ian Alacar about how he was able to finish the BDM 102. I was really fixated and I can't even imagine myself running the whole 102K with a 18 hours cut-off! It was crazy! He told me "Man, kayang-kaya mo yan. Kailangan mo lang ng training". Yeah, right, I'm a runner but not insane enough to do that.

Now, I ate my words when finally I made a decision to join the event. I already had the invite last October 2010. Why the hell did I change my mind?

- I consider it as the "peak" race of my running career. I want to test myself and push my body to the limit by doing this extreme road run
- I want to experience the thrill (actually boring) of running 102K
- This is one way of paying respect to our fallen heroes to whom we owe the freedom that we own today
- I want to celebrate with my running friends and comrades (I want that piece of experience)
- The finisher trophy is so huge that I will never have a place where I can put it. And lastly...
- I want to have a story which I can tell to my children and grandchildren someday. I want it to be a source of inspiration and perseverance to do their best on whatever things they love to do the most. :)

I will use this blog to record my experience for this race; from preparations till the post-race celebration. It's an epic story and hopefully to those who will read this will also feel the excitement that I'm experiencing.

Thanks to sir Jovie (Bald Runner) for the invite! :)

And now, my BDM 102 story will begin... :D

Running Barefoot (Almost!)

2010-11-02T00:49:00.001+08:00

Gorilla feet!

Have you noticed those wicked "gorilla-feet" footwear used by some runners during races? It struck my curiousness; at first, I find them really funny and over-rated shoes. I even told myself that I will never be caught wearing one myself!

It changed when I had a chance to talk to more users of VFF and research about the benefits of Barefoot running. Finally, last Thursday, I was finally convinced to try and get one for myself.

VFF KSO: Solid stuff!

Meet "Chiz", my VFF-KSO! KSO means Keep Stuff Out which is considered as the most popular model of VFF out there in the market. It has a non-marking 3.5mm Vibram TC1 performance rubber sole is razor-siped for a sure grip, and a 2mm EVA insole enhances plating protection and comfort. a thin, abrasion-resistant stretch nylon and breathable mesh upper that wraps your entire forefoot to "Keep Stuff Out."*

With barely 2 weeks of using my new toy, here are my "learnings" about Barefoot Running (almost in my case):

Lesson #1: Change of Running Form - you will have to adjust from heel-striking to forefoot midfoot when you wear these babies. It's the same reason that I took some time-off from racing as I want to improve my form and do some serious forefoot training. Chiz is now my constant partner in achieving these goals.

Lesson #2: Do it gradually - It is advisable to start running in VFF within short distances (i.e. 3K) and increase it gradually. I was stubborn so I tried doing 6K immediately on my first road training, 11K on the second and 11K on the third. That killed my calves and gave me blisters as big as my big toe!!!

Adobo Run: My very first Race using Chiz!

Lesson #3: Blisters will haunt you - I never had such blisters in my entire life! Probably this is caused by the speed work + minimal protection I've had from Chiz. I need to invest on toe socks to minimize blistering or slow down during my training runs with her.

Aray!!!

Lesson #4: Distance Does Matter - KSO's have thinner soles compared to Bikila's. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who observed this but if you hit distances above 10K in a fast pace, the blisters will be coming after you. I think this can be minimized by using socks (if you have any advice on how to prevent this, please let me know)

Lesson #5: Different Strength! - Barefoot Running strengthens the calves. For now they hurt like hell but in the long run, they will be developed and grow stronger. Sanayan lang yan! Also, I observed that I'm improving my stamina already! If only I didn't had the blisters last Adobo run, I can still do another 10-12K of run using the same tempo pace :D

Developed not monster calves!!!

Lesson #6: Watch out where you are stepping - Since Chiz has minimal cushioning, you can really feel the surface of whatever your stepping at (to the nth level!). Grass is good, they are soft but you'll hate it when you accidentally step on small stones! I did last Saturday and it felt like a nail was put through my toe! :(. Again, this is not to scare you away from using them but just be extra careful on the things you stepped on (di ko pa naranasan sa "landmines")

You'll hate the small rocks... promise!

Lesson #7: Pabida effect: Lastly, using them will give you the curious stares from people. True to the testaments, you'll feel awkward at first as you get different comments about them. There are laughter, questions and even people who wants to try it themselves. I felt like an ambassador of BFR whenever people approached me on why the hell I am wearing such strange but cool footwears

Even he will roll his eyes when he sees you in VFF :))

It still a little early to observe any significant improvements using Chiz but I do love the process of learning how to run with her. I'm still a noob with this style of running but it is an investment to my goal of improving in the sport that I really love.

If you have the extra moolah, try to get one for yourself. I assure you it will be a fun yet fruitful experience running with these babies :D

They come in different colors and styles too! :D

For my next goal, I'm planning to log 16K with her next weekend. We'll see if she's up to the challenge! :D

I'll buy her sister on November but I'm still undecided if it will be "Trixie" or "Komina" :))

To be continued... (for more info about VFF, visit their site at http://birthdayshoes.com)

* - description from Vibram's website

Picture Credits:Various sources from the internet

KOTR 2010

2010-10-30T14:51:00.002+08:00

It's an annual event that I never missed since 2008. For the love of the brand...

I've been a fan of Adidas ever since I started to get serious in my running career back in 2008. My first set of running shoes was adidas which I retired this year. My 2nd and current race shoes were Adidas (Attune and Tempo). Lastly, I love the KOTR singlets which I always looked forward to every year.

KOTR 2008: First timers! (I did 5K)

My goal for this race was to beat my previous 21K KOTR PR of 1:52 last year. And I was so excited about it...

My official KOTR PR last year: 1:52:00

Starting line

I arrived at the venue at around 4:15 am in the morning. It was really early but I don't mind as I want to get a good parking spot. I met with Sir Junrox and Alfred (TPPB teammates and running idols) at the parking lot before I went to the ANR BHS meeting spot. Mingling around runners I soon found myself stretching with the Milo APEX guys in BHS. Man, you've gotta attend their trainings! Stretching pa lang, kakaiba na!

With Team boring!

I went to the starting corral with a few ANR folks to do some pep talks and basically plan out how are we going to finish the race. Funny because I found out that almost all of us bought GF's to the same guy who sold Rej his unit at least a week before the race (malaki ang kickback mo Rej!). I chose to stay away from the frontline as I was still recovering from the previous week's race.

Ang aming agimat!

At exactly 5:30 am, the gun popped and the race has officially begun!

KM 0 - 10

I didn't plan to speed up for the first 10K of this race. Passing thru the British school route until the end near kalayaan avenue, it was all hover as I'm prepping up for the Buendia fly-over. As we were on the way back, the 10K participants were already released (saw Brando, Jixee and Mark Mulder) as I run to the fly-over.

Buendia Fly-over. I miss this route already. Luckily, I was part of the lead bunch because the bridge was not yet crowded. Cruising along Buendia avenue, I gulped some water to cool down and enjoyed the marching band play the pep music. It was the same old route, same traffic and same issues.

On our way to the Buendia turn-around point

I've reached the turn-around post (where's the RFID hot plate?) and traversed the way back to the Fort

KM 11 - 20

On the way back, I passed by a few fellow runners along the way. Cheering up and keeping the morale high, I increased my pace a bit until I reached the dreaded site. The fly-over was overcrowded with runners! :(. I have to skip, squeeze, duck and roll to get through the crowd. Luckily, I was able to pass thru without any issues and continued my way to the last 6 km.

Waahhhhhh!!! Sea of runners :(

I have a bad feeling about the hydration for the last few kms. so I grabbed a bottle of powerade before I proceeded to 5th ave. I also took my energy gel for luck! Darn, I was right about this decision because the water stations for the remaining route was really far away from each other. Poor noobs, they suffered because of this. Reached the turn-around point at bayani road then sped-up on the way back to the finish line!

This saved me from dehydration!

Finish line and Post Race Chuvaness

I really aimed for a strong finish in this race. I conserved my energy for the first few kms. to spend it on my last 200 meter sprint to the finish. I sprinted like no tomorrow. But alas, a few walking runners blocked our finish line chute and I have to sidestep to avoid them. It made my left leg cramp and collide with a fellow finisher! Damn it! (please if you're planning to block the way in the finish line, please do follow the chute where you are supposed to finish and avoid any injuries to your fellow runners).

But still, I've got what I aimed for! A new KOTR PR :D. And a finisher medal to partner with it! That's more than enough to cover the boo-boo I've had in the finish line.

Kagat Medal Moment! :D

After the race, I went back to the car to change as my nips were bleeding. "Kaskas-nips" due to the singlet rubbing through the surface of our nips. This can be prevented by putting lubes such as petroleum jelly or covering them with a band-aid before the start of the race. Unluckily, the petroleum jelly I applied was washed-off during the race.

I went back to the ANR booths and had some photo-sessions. Overwhelming support to the ANR BHS booth and the new sites, MOA and UP were outstanding. I guess we will be running a big crowd now during Thursdays :D

Thanks Sir Raul of ARC Manila for the picture! :D

As a post-race comment, I really love Adidas. The brand I do believe. The race, uhm, I don't know. Races were supposed to improve every year and one of way of checking it was to get the feedback from the participants. For the past 3 years, I've heard a lot of rants about the race but this year I think is the worst. From the registration process until the post-race logistics, countless number of rants were received. I won't deal into the details anymore as I'm already fed-up with the feedbacks and I will leave it to the organizers to respond.

Will I still join the race next year? Definitely. I'm a die-hard Adidas fan :D

More pictures here

Photo Credits: Topher Montaos, Sir Raul of ARC Manila, Greentennial Runner and various sources from the Internet

The Pink-Coated Sunday

2010-10-21T02:56:00.000+08:00

Pink - a popular color associated with femininity. The more vibrant the color is, the greater the probability that you are inclined with the feminine side. This was what I believed before I got the chance to join a wonderful running team last June; a team which used the color Pink (fuschia!) as their official team color. "Tough Men wear Pink(Fuschia)" is our motto and I guess we're 100% barakos (unless someone protested)!

October 17 was a very memorable date for the team as the blessings poured like the typhoon Ondoy sent last year:

- We grew from 10 to 25 strong running members each with a capability to finish 21K under 2 hours.
- It showcased the fruit of our months worth of training, each one almost hitting a personal record
- 25 freaking runners with a majority wearing the popular "Singlet na may Sapi", hitting the road and running with all their might
- Display of courage and iron-will as all of us crossed the finish line despite the challenges we encountered in the course.
- 25 finisher medals as a testament that we completed the course, fair and square.
- A blessing of winning the Philippine Running Team Champion for 2010 ( I remembered how happy we were as we run to the stage and claim our prize!)
- The two trophies we are going to rotate within the team (one of them was really huge while the other one can be used to teach the female anatomy :)) )
- The finisher shirt which I guess were made of glow-in-the-dark material (oo na, magmumukha na siyang lumulutang na damit pag suot ko sa gabi)
- The free breakfast we got from the Adobo Run organizers at Paul Calvin's. I didn't ate much though because of Pocari (bespren ni mayor!)
- The consolation prize I've got for my entry "REAL MEN WEAR PINK" in the Pink Run's Photo Contest (which we can't enjoy because it can only be used by a girl :( )

Here are our official race results:

1. Alexis Estenor  (#2057) 1:32:41
2. Joms Paras (#2077) 1:34:43
3. Patrick Alcomendas  (#2058) 1:34:47
4. Graciano Santos  (#2054) 1:35:19
5. Nathaniel Garcia (#2053) 1:35:41
6. Junrox Roque  (#2051) 1:38:22
7. Alfred delos Reyes  (#2050) 1:38:22
8. Leandro Losaria  (#2061) 1:40:11
9. Nick Geaga (#2052) 1:41:19
10. Alex Macalintal (#2065) 1:42:22
11. Luis Arcangel (#2078) 1:43:15
12. Mark Mulder  (#2060) 1:43:17
13. Lito Brion (#2047) 1:43:40
14. Angelo Lagumbay  (#2079) 1:43:47
15. Jixee Lagunda  (#2064) 1:43:48
16 .Mcoy Lontoc  (#2046) 1:44:36
17. Mark Hernandez  (#2062) 1:44:37
18. Mark Anthony Rodica (#2049) 1:45:08
19. Mon Sunday (#2059) 1:45:42
20. Ronnel Go (#2063) 1:46:44
21. Robert Delos Santos (#2056) 1:48:56
22. Roy Eric Rivera  (#2055) 1:52:26
23. RIcky Gundran  (#2048) 1:55:23
24. Bong Zandueta (#2069) 1:59:35
25. Sammy Delena  (#2071) 2:32:25

If only I can name that day as Team PowerPuff Boys day, I will in honor of the blessings we received. Here are some of the pictures I got from my camera during that day (Thanks Kat for taking our pictures!):

Excited boys receiving their trophies!

L-R: Luis, Sir Alfred, Joms, Sir Junrox, Yours Truly, Brando

Trophies + prize money = sweetness!

Panadero!

Brando, Me and Beeps

Daydreaming

Return of the comeback ni Idol Luis

Parang walang trophy! (that's the prize shirt)

Thank you Lord for all the blessings you gave us on that day! Congrats Team PowerPuff Boys! Mabuhay kayong lahat! :D

Di na kami kasya sa aming signature pose!

ARC store opens in Manila!

2010-10-19T21:53:00.001+08:00

It all started with the message from Prince that there will be fun run organized by A Runner's Circle Running Store to celebrate their soft opening here in Manila. I said "Ok sige, punta ko dun" and asked the club six:30 running group that we will have an easy run training there as well.

ARC finally landed here in Manila!

To give you a background, A Runner's Circle (ARC) Running Store is a popular running store in Los Angeles, CA which is wholly-owned by Filipino runners and been named by FoxLA as the best running store for 3 years in a row! (*clap *clap *clap*). Now, they are opening their first store here in Manila to duplicate their success and share the great customer experience that they provide in the US.

100% Filipino-owned :D

Last Saturday, I've got a chance to witness the launch of their store here in Manila. I think there are around 50 participants in the fun run (represented by six:30, team CB, team Boring, team Ungas) which joined us for the short 5K run in the morning. I went there at around 4:30 am (the official call-time) and registered. I was given a cool ARC Running shirt which I gladly wore for the event (thanks!).

Me with sir Raul Acuna (love this shirt!)

The program started with a stretching session led by yours truly (volunteered by six:30 teammate John who incidentally worked with ARC as well). I introduced the "Simply_Mccoy" stretching method (ang sikreto ng malupit niyang mga PR) before we proceeded to the Roxas Blvd. for our run.

The distance should be 5K but from the GF, it was 6.3K :). It was fun! I got to join the lead pack which paced a little stronger than the target 6:30 pace (si Joey po ang may kasalanan) on the way back to the starting point. In-short, nasunog kami, nyahahahahaha.

Lead pack! (They will have this framed and hanged in their store)

Wasakan pace!!!

Nonetheless, we had fun. We were welcomed with a nice breakfast sponsored by ARC. I love the egg pandesal and boil saba so much that I think I ate as much as the calories I lost during the run. This was followed by a refreshing dance done in front of the store (with a special participation of Allan). There was also a raffle draw with prizes such as spa GC's, mesh bags, shoes and shoes! (congratulations to all the winners). Lastly, a short talk by running coach Titus Salazar where I asked a lot of advice and questions about running.

Wow! Breakfast!


Refreshing Dance step (wala kong kuha kay Allan :()

Six:30 represent! :D

I heard that they will also be organizing regular runs during Saturdays in front of their stores as well! I think I'll schedule some of our trainings on Saturdays during their regular runs. It will be fun!

Visit their store located at Unit H, Aloha Hotel, Quirino Avenue near corner Roxas Boulevard. Don't forget to greet the friendly staff and take a peek at what the store has to offer (I'm going to get one of their running singlets when I go back there)

Visit their store near Roxas Boulevard!

Congratulations and thank you for a hosting a great opening day to your store here, ARC Manila! I wish you success! :D

Tuloy po kayo!

Picture credit from ARC official website and Yoying Jose! :D

More pictures from my camera here

Pink Run Photo Contest

2010-10-14T02:21:00.001+08:00

On behalf of the TPPB, I've submitted an entry for the Pink Run this weekend. I'm not sure if it's legal since it doesn't have their official singlet but what the heck, it's for the spirit of fun :).

Please do support my entry by liking the photo!

It's one of our best team photo! TRUE MEN WEAR FUSCHIA!!!

Go go go TPPB!!!

On a choice between PR's

2010-10-12T19:38:00.004+08:00

Almost every Runner dreams of achieving a PR in each race that they join-in. It is the sense of fulfillment and gauge on how much they improved through their career. But what if you will be given a choice, you get to have a new PR but put your life into risk or do it on another day but you have to wait?

PR in every race: almost every runner's dream :D

I can't make a choice for all runners. But this thought echoed in my mind after I finished the Pinatubo trail run. To recap, I was really-really disappointed about being held-up in the 2nd to the last aid station. Waiting for almost 2 hours, my frustration really blew me off as I was already making harsh remarks about the decision. I was gunning for a good strong finish and my plan was ruined because of that circumstance. Indeed it was my fuel for my dash to the finish line.

Dash to the finish!!!

But when I heard about the experience of some runners who where released earlier on how they crossed the field while the chopper was firing live ammo's, it made me think again. Hearing how scared they were while they are running not only for the race but also for their safety. Imagine being in the field where a chopper was unloading its ammo on the ground and the possibility of getting caught in the cross-fire! What would happen if I chose to ignore the personnel and continue my mad dash to the finish line?

Lock and loaded! (live targets dead ahead!)

With that, I rest my case of not reaching my goal in this race. I'm satisfied that I finished the race even if I lost a lot of precious time. I wouldn't exchange my life with such a petty stuff, I can always do this again on another day. It is only a darn record; surviving the gruesome journey was already enough for me. Though it would have been better if I achieved my goal, I will just do the whole thing again minus the freaking chopper exercise.

I might be down right now but I'll be stronger the next time!

I'm glad that I'm safe, strong and alive to race another day. That PR can wait :D

* - photo credits to various sources in the Internet.

Habulan sa Bulkan: PAU 50K Mount Pinatubo Trail Run

2010-10-11T20:52:00.002+08:00

"Grabe pare, alam ko may nagtrail-run dito sa Pinatubo mula sa Sta. Juliana hanggang sa crater tapos pabalik. Pag lumakas ako, gagawin ko din yun!"

Those were the words I told my friend while we were riding the 4x4 on the way to the crater during my first trip in Pinatubo last December. Never did I know that I will be doing it as soon as this year! It all started when I saw the pictures from the Pinatubo invitational run organized by sir Jonel last August. I was so envious with the experience and experience that I read about the run. I swore that the next Pinatubo run, I will be joining it.

My visit to Pinatubo last December 2009. Never did I imagine I'll be doing this on foot!

As if God was playing tricks with me, sir BR announced that he's going to organize a trail run this October to the majestic destination. Boy, I was so excited that the first day he opened up the reg (during the CLP for P2P), I signed-up already. Di pa nga tapos ang isang sakit ng katawan, may kasunod na agad!

So how did it go? Let me tell you my story about the experience of "Habulan sa may Bulkan"

The Trip to the Starting Line

October 8, 2010 was a busy day for me. I attended a client presentation then had dinner with the consultants before I called it a day. My original plan was to finish everything up early then go home to catch some sleep. But I can't resist free food, especially when I didn't had any lunch! We finished at around 9:30 but I have to buy a few more stuff from the supermarket. I got home at around 1030 and still I have to pack my stuff before I went to Mcdo Munoz, our meeting place.

I arrived at the meeting place by 12:15. Had some chit-chat with a few runners before I accidentally broke my bag's zipper! All the time of DocT's orientation I was so caught up with fixing my zipper but with no luck. Have to improvise and accepted the fact that I can no longer fix it :(. We all left at around 12:30.

I was so excited with the trip that I can't sleep in the van. It looked like I have to run again with insomnia! Darn anxiety, this will kill me soon! :( But enough with the bad vibes, I had a tough race ahead of me. We arrived at exactly 3:00 am in the morning.

With a few hours to spare I started preparing already. I checked-in to get my bib number (it's not 69 :( ) and got to take some of my pictures in the starting line. It was still dark and a lot of night creatures (bugs) where zooming around the lights. I was hit by some a few times but my anxiety didn't let me down. I decided to bring along a bottle of gatorade as good luck charm (you'll know why it is a good luck charm in a while)

Starting Line!

The Ultra-legends! (mas mataas na nilalang sa ultraman)

Getting ready! (di naman kami excited)

The first 10 km: Darkness and Sand

At exactly 5:00 am, the gunstart popped and off we go. It was so dark, good thing that some of the fast runners ahead of us brought their headlamps. I decided to take the first kilometer at a comfortable pace but due to panic I forced myself to run faster to catch up with the guys using headlights. I swear that if you don't have any lighting during that time, you will get lost!

Aside from the first river crossing (which made my feet felt heavier), this part of the course was dusty with tall grasses but flat. You might think that this was easy but NO this is not a road run. Though this course was flat, we were running on sand. It's was really difficult as the sand sinks as you step on it. It required extra effort to run those freaking sand but my strategy was to follow the 4x4 tracks along the way. My observation was those tracks were relatively easier to run as they were already flattened by the 4x4. But still we had to run thru majority of the soft sand track which it zapped most of our strength. I had to endure this as I'm really chasing the guy with the headlamps (I really don't want to get lost).

It was already sunrise when I reached the first aid station. I decided not to stop as I didn't feel hunger nor thirst yet and continued to run until the next aid station.

Imagine Running at this landscape with zero lighting!!!

Day break!!!

KM 11 - 20: Surprise at 16K!!! (traps of the trail)

Was able to reach the 14K mark at around 1:55 in my watch. Took some time to gulp some hammer and refill my gatorade bottle. At this point, the course shifted from being dusty and sandy to very rocky and wet! Running thru the rocky course and several river crossings gave me a new challenge. First, the rocks were unpredictable, you might trip down or get sprained once you miss a step. Second, the river doesn't just make your feet wet but it brought rocks and sand inside your shoes. But this was still ok as the route is still relatively flat and compared to the sands, this is quite bearable. I felt like I was playing inside a maze where you need to find the best possible way out of it.

After a few minutes, I was literally surprised when I reached the next aid station. According to the race guidelines, aid stations were supposed to be located every 7K (7K, 14K, 21K, etc/), But this time, it was relatively short compared to the previous station. I was right, it was only 16K. And guess what, Walang support beyond 16k!!! Due to the course at this part, the 4x4 can't move any further. Well, I was worried at first but this little challenge will not dishearten me enough to not finish the race. I filled up all of my hydration units and thank God I brought along the Gatorade bottle! It will be my hydration for the next 10K++ until I reached the crater (hoping that at least there will be water/refreshment at the turn-around point).

Trail after the 14K mark!

The course after it was really challenging. You have to rely on instinct and follow the "Keep Left" rule to survive and find your way. Also, there were several "traps" along the way. The first trap was the coarse edges made up of sand which crumbles as you step on them. I was a victim of this as I made a wrong step, it crumbled and I fell down knee first! It was not that painful but I wounded my hand in the process. I checked if I had any other injuries before I washed up my wound in the river.

The second trap were the loose rocks along the river bed. It will can cause sprain if you accidentally stepped on them aside from being too slippery. Good thing my trail shoes have nice grips which helped me get traction against these rocks.

The third trap was the huge boulders. And when I say huge, they are HUGE! You have options on how to approach them, one you can literally climb them or go find another path. I always choose the latter as I don't want to risk any injury.

The fourth freaking trap was quicksand! Yeah! Now I believe that quicksands were true and I was a victim! There was huge pile of sand at the side of the course which I thought was safe to pass through. My legs sank up to the knees! Sensing that I'm in deep trouble if I panicked, I chose to calmly lift my foot one-by-one way from the scary sands. I was still lucky though as one of the runners also hit the quicksand and it took his shoes and one of his socks which made him run barefoot until the crater (he was asking for slippers or sandals that he can borrow just to finish the race, that's iron will!).

At this part of the course, I survived all the traps by being vigilant and careful on what I stepped on. I have to really slow down as I don't want to get injured as well. I'm talking to each runner that passes me by to keep my self sane as I really have no idea how far I'm from the turnaround point. Then I saw a familiar site...

Sample River that we tried to cross! (too bad I didn't have picture of the actual river)

KM 21 - 30: From the crater and back

I finally reached the "starting base camp" of the regular trekkers for Pinatubo. And time is running out, looking at my watch it was already 3:48 hours and I'm really near the crater. The trek would take another 15 minutes and my hydration units were almost empty. I tried to do some short runs on the way to the top, climbed the awfully long stairs and briefly stopped to enjoy the view. I went down to the turn-around point and rested for a while by shores of the lake (my turn-around time was 4:06). Took some pictures, dipped my feet at the lake, cleaned my shoes and socks then decided to start our trip back to the starting line. I was planning to swim in the lake but due to a cut-off were trying to chase, I decided not to (which I regret afterwards).

Base camp (used an old photo from previous trip)

There was no aid station at the crater so I filled-up my trusty gatorade bottle, which saved me during the trip up to the crater, with water in a nearby faucet. I didn't thought if the water was sanitized or not as I'm thirsty when I chugged it down. I also dampened myself with water before the trip as the sun had already started beating us with its heat. Lastly, I took another energy gel to gain some momentum on the way back. We then began our descend back to the aid station (10K uli!!!)

Trail to the crater!

Turn-around point

Frolicking at the lake!

Wasak na pero masaya pa din

During the descend we met a few more runners who were still on their way to the crater. I've also learned that some of the runners was lost along the trail by as much as 5K :(. I paced with Beeps and tried to do some short jog whenever there were flat routes along the trail. Here I got my second wound when I accidentally stepped on a very loose rock in the river which scratched my hand and made me do a split as landed on my butt first. I felt my left thigh cramped up after but I just shrugged it off as I want to really finish the race!

KM 31 - 40: Chop-chopped by a chopper

The heat of the sun is slowly taking its toll. I can feel dehydration building up and I'm almost out of hydration units as well. I also shared my water with Beeps to help him cross this safe and sound. Finally, we saw some brink of hope when the aid station (km 16 -> km 36) were already in our sight. Doing short jogs then brisk-walk, slowly but surely we were able to reach the aid station.

Cold RC cola and water... Nothing beats the cold beverage running down your throat after an almost 10K trip from the crater. I also stopped by the Takbo.ph support vehicle to get some fresh supply of cold gatorade and a splash of water to beat the heat. Off we go to the next aid station! By this time, the heat of the sun was already approaching it's full force which was amplified due to zero shading in this part of the trail. But we're already near the finish line so I decided to have a brisk walk - run strategy until I reach the km 14 aid station. Also by this time, the dried rivers were already filled-up again with water (bad news if the rain would come!).

As I reached the 2nd to the last aid station, we were held as there was a on-going Balikatan exercise in the field we had to cross. Jesus Christ, they were using live ammo for this exercise!!! We have no choice but to wait and hope that it will end soon as we were already cooling down and losing our momentum for the race. The marshal said it will only last at least 30 mins. but it turned to an hour then almost 2 hours.

Darn helicopter!!!

One by one, each of the runners were arriving at our aid station but we have no choice as we don't want to do any Lito Lapid stunts while crossing the desert. We were already hallucinating (man, those bad waters were fierce) on what can we do: a. Do a 12K fun run to the finish b. Do loops until we are done with 12K then ride our way back to the finish line.The effect of boredom and heat, very interesting...

Bangag na kami nito!

Finally, after the second round, they finally set us free! I decided not to carry my hydration belt already and brought a bottle of water and gatorade. I gulped down my last piece of energy gel, as this will be my dash to the finish... Epic Relay Style!!!

KM 41 - 50: Sprint to the finish line
Rested, cooler weather and built-up frustration; those were the factors I need to do my sprint to the finish. Holding a bottle of gatorade and cold water, I tried to speed up within the last few kms. I hit a 5:30 pace during the beginning of the dash, slowing down because of the sand and splashing some water in my back and head to cool-down. Support was present in every 3 km, so I was able refill my water bottle and drop my gatorade. I followed the 4x4 track to navigate thru the sand field and knowing that a rain is coming anytime soon, I continue to run the remaining course. There were brief walk-breaks to rest for a few meters and while crossing the gaping river (which has grew since we crossed it in the early morning). When I reached the guard post of the barangay, a secondwind began to blow behind me so I continued in increasing my pace until I saw the finish line. A mad-dash to the finish, I clocked in at 8:45 as my non-official time (I stopped my watch when they held us at the Aid station and re-started it when they released us). Finally, I'm done with my longest trail run in my career, 50 gruesome km with a lot of story to tell :D

Bangag at sabog!

Post-Race Thoughts

After the race, I had time to exchange stories with each of the finishers. We had lunch as I'm really-really hungry after the race (adobo, sisig c/o master jj, adobong sili c/o bong, fish crackers). After that, I hit the sack to get some well-deserved rest.

Here are a few things I had learned from this race:

- Trail Runs are really-really different from a Road Rage/Race! PR's in a road can't be applied in the trail :)
- Never run in an empty stomach or if you're lacking sleep!
- MT875 were the coolest trail shoes ever! Except for the part that water can easily pass thru it, cushioning and support was superb throughout the race. No problem whatsoever in the grip and sole after the race :D
- Expect the worst in a trail run and ensure that you are prepared whatever happens. Focus not only on yourself but your surroundings as well
- Beer Mug!!! Now I can enjoy my favourite "drink" and remind me of how much I worked hard just to get a piece of mug :))
- I adore people with Iron will! Ian who lost his shoes in the quicksand but chose to continue his journey and not to quit the race on barefoot and sandals is such a feat that he can brag to everyone else. I salute you bro for your fighting spirit and determination!


Ian finished this race using sandals from km 25 onwards

- Regardless of how many times an Ultraman tells you that it will be his last Ultra, he will never fulfill it as it is very difficult to get out of the addiction. Hahanap-hanapin nyan ang sakit ng katawan!!!

Kagat-trophy moment :D

Thank you Doc Topher for organizing the logistics of our trip and support. To the takbo.ph and team boring support crew, a big thanks and kudos to the job well done (laki ng utang na loob namin sa inyo). To boss JJ and her wife for the awesome lunch (sisig niyo the best). To the new friends and co-finisher of this race, congratulations and thank you for sharing this experience with me. To Sir Jovie, thank you for organizing a very tough and challenging run as always (you never fail to surprise us sir!). and to Dear God, for guiding us and ensuring that there will be no casualties in this race whatsoever.

As I said in one of my comments:
Yun na ata yung pinakamahirap na takbong nagawa ko kung saan nasugatan, natusta, natapilok, nadapa, lumubog sa kumunoy, nadulas at nag-split sa ilog! Bilib talaga ko sa mga nakatapos! :D

Congratulations to all the finishers! (gawin natin ito uli next time!)

Bonus: Ito pala yung pacer nina Doc T :D

* - Picture credits to Mccoy, Van and Jasmin! Thanks guys!

Taper mode sabi eh!

2010-10-07T23:06:00.000+08:00

I should be in taper mode right now. But no, I still choose to train hard (hill repeats pa!). I really hope that I won't be running into any injury in the trail run this weekend. I haven't even done any carbo-loading yet (crap! I need to do an emergency food trip c/o Banchetto!!!).

Seriously, if you're planning to do some serious distance running, do take some time to rest and prepare your body. Makulit lang talaga ako! as I don't want to taper yet. Hay...

Overtraining arayyyy(s)!!!

Here are an excerpt I got from the Internet about tapering a week before your long run (get the full article from here):

ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR MARATHON

Cut mileage to about one-third of normal during your final week before the marathon. Keep your normal pace for the most part. Slowing too much can alter your stride or make you feel sluggish.
Give your muscles a chance to rest and skip your strength-training routine in the final week before your marathon. You won't get the benefits from it until after the marathon anyway.
Eat a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (whole-grain breads, pasta, and cereals), and drink plenty of fluids. In the week before your marathon, about 65-70% of your calories should come from carbs. Avoid alcoholic beverages since they have a dehydrating effect and can also interfere with your sleep.
Take at least one or two days off during marathon week. Some people prefer to take off the two days before the race, while others will take off Friday before a Sunday marathon and do a very easy 20 to 30-minute run the day before the race to work out last-minute nerves.
More: Should I Run the Day Before My Marathon?
What to Do the Day Before Your Marathon
As race day approaches, you're likely to be stressed and irritable. Stay relaxed and confident, and know that pre-race nerves are normal. Try to avoid stress-inducing activities or situations. (For example, don't go to the DMV in the week before your marathon!) Start practicing some methods to deal with pre-race anxiety. It's never too early to start packing for your marathon. Leaving it to the last minute is likely to create unnecessary stress.
Get your friends and family on board to be your race supporters. You can share these tips for marathon spectators with them to make sure they're ready to cheer you on

It's up to each runner if he wants to taper or not. It is an option but for those doing their first FM, I would suggest that you do taper (and carbo-load!!!)

Good luck on your weekend races :)


Mmmmmm, carbo-loading!!! (pansit the best!)

*- Images are from various resources in the internet and owned by their respective authors

Prelude: Habulan Sa Bulkan

2010-10-06T19:59:00.001+08:00

This Saturday will be my 3rd Ultramarathon and 3rd trail run in my so-called running career. I will be joining the PAU 50K Pinatubo Trail Run which was organized by Sir Jovie Narcise a.k.a. Baldrunner. I've only done trail run on a 10K - 15K basis but never on a 50K distance. I'm nervous at the same time excited because I don't know what to expect on Saturday. I even don't have a strategy yet on completing the race which I should do at least by tomorrow evening.

I never imagined that I will be returning here on foot!

Preparations

Prior to this race, my training plan was a mix of hill sprints, tempo and LSD. Hill Sprints for strengthening my legs and increasing my endurance, tempo for the speed and LSD for more endurance. I did a 42K marathon two weekends ago to test my strength but wasn't able to pile up mileage the week after (have to rest my sore foot). I also did break-in of my shoes in the Aninuan Trail, Puerto Galera (man, that was one-hell of an uphill sprint).

Hill Sprint Rules!!!

Nutrition-wise, no special diet. "See-food" diet lang as I'm planning to gain at least 5 lbs. before the race (fuel that I need to burn). No limits on what food I should eat :)

Seefood Diet!

Battlegear

For this race, i'm gonna pick the following battlegear:

NB singlet (I bought it using the GC's from boss Jinoe)
Transition tights (love those tights!)
3 sets of compression socks
NB MT875 trail shoes (my first trail shoes!)
Hydration belt
First Aid Kit <- ni-require ni boss BR
Visor + Shades

I can't run wearing these!

Support

Thank you takbo.ph folks for sharing your blessed heart with us this Saturday. God bless you! There will be 7 folks who will be support to the 16 runners. We will rent 2 4x4 vans to cover the support needed :).

I'm all geared up for this Saturday! Ready na ko sa Habulan sa may Bulkan! Good luck to all the Ultramarathoners who will be running this endeavour with us :D

1st PAU Mt Pinatubo Trail Challenge 50K
Capas, Tarlac
October 9, 2010

*- images came from various sources in the internet and owned by their respective authors

2nd QCIM: kasado na!

2010-10-05T16:01:00.002+08:00

Advertising on behalf of Sir Rene (aka JazzRunner). This is my 4th FM for the year and it is a part of my preparation for my BDM 102K attempt. I registered early today in the RUNNEX office, UP Diliman (walang pila! fast transaction! bait nung nag-register!).

I marked it as one of my favourite races due to the following reasons:

1. It is done on my hometown of QC! (it will pass thru our village, hopefully my family will be cheering there when I pass by)

2. One of the well-organized races (sufficient hydration, nice route, reasonable reg fees, etc.)

3. Pacers! (for those who wants to set a PR in their respective distances, there are pacers wearing a big balloon with their target time. I'm not sure if they will have it this year)

4. Medal - this is where I got my first 21K medal. And it's not just a medal, it's the MEDAL (ambigat niya!)

5. Route -I'm assuming that it is the same route as last year, it's mostly flat coming from QCMC -> Commonwealth -> Batasan -> Commonwealth -> North Ave. -> QCMC. PR mode everyone!

One thing which I would like to note is if the organizer can handle the traffic fiasco it caused last year. A lot of drivers and commuters were pissed off because of the late announcement for major road closure (it was even covered by media!). I really hope they can fix it this year :)

Here are the singlet designs (they are based on the designs last year but with a new color scheme and the distance printed on the side :) ):

Proposed 42K design

Proposed 21K singlet

Registration Dates:
October 4 to November 7, 2010

Registration Venues:
ROX BHS
Chris Sport's Outlet
SecondWind Ortigas
QC Hall
Runnex Office, UP Diliman

See you at the starting line :) (another kagat medal moment for the year!)

Yeba! My first kagat-medal moment last year!

Pictures and info from Sir Rene's blog entry for QCIM here. Thanks Sir Rene!

The Cost of Running

2010-10-04T17:33:00.006+08:00

If you put in a nutshell, the basic costs you need to worry about running should be:

1. Shoes
2. Reg Fees

In the early 80's when the running boom was only starting, shoes cost only a fraction of the what they are now today. Minimal cushioning, hard-soles, no consideration if the feet are wide, etc. were popular. Minimal features = minimum cost. But today, due to results of scientific studies and feedback from the consumers, a lot has been added to the common running shoes. And this started the jump of cost to acquire one. The more the choices, the more expensive it gets.

aaahhh, the simple joy of running before...

For reg fee, I think there are various articles already about this topic (i had one a few months back). From P100 - P200 per race, now it has doubled its price for the same distance. My most expensive race to date is the corregidor international HM which has a whooping 2.5K for reg fee! (that's one shoe already!)

That was the basic expenses you need to worry. There are optional stuff such as training attire, running accessories, support cost, etc. This translates to additional cost which cost some pain in your wallet.

I'm not ranting about the cost of running nowadays but I want to give 5 tips in how to do some cost-savings in our favorite sport:

1. Choose your shoes wisely - Shoes can be expensive but again this depends on what are you buying. Read reviews before you do your purchase, list down the things you want to have in your shoe and do some shoe maintenance once-in-while. Reviews will give you info about the shoe based on consumer's feedback. It will give you an idea on how it performs and what are the pros and cons of the particular model. Emphasize also on the features that you need vs. the features you want because the more sophisticated the shoe, the more expensive it is.

too many choices = headache!

2. Plan your races - I used to race at least 3-4 times a month. When I computed the cost, I was able to generate enough money to buy a bike! With that, I began to choose my races each month. I choose them based on the distance, organizer, beneficiaries and cost. I posted these things in a previous entry but right now I'm planning to race only twice per month. The rest of the weekends I'll dedicate for my trainings. My mindset right now is the race is a testing ground on how well I did or progress in my trainings (I've got this from one of the blogs that I've read, I just forgot from whom... I'm sorry sir/mam but if this is from you please don't hesitate to give me a note so I can acknowledge you)

Even dogs are having headaches on increasing race fees!

3. Accessories are accessories - as defined in one of the online dictionaries "Something nonessential but desirable that contributes to an effect or result". Meaning you still can run without them but they can do value-add to your running experiences. Examples are GPS devices, exquisite shoes, MP3 players, etc. I'm not saying you should not be buying such items but always think twice if you are. Always ask yourself if you're going to buy them and maximize their use because you're paying your hard-earned cash for them (and they are quite heavy on the side as well)

I really want one :(! (but do I really need it?)

4. Group run/trainings are fun - well, having a personal trainer/professional coach is really very helpful but it will also cost you. Alternatively, you can join group runs. Some of these groups have experienced runners which will give you tips about running, exercise and racing. Besides this, you can also meet new friends and running buddies who shares the same passion and interest with running! (shameless plug for six:30 running group)

Group runs are fun! (Every Saturday, 6:30 am@UP Diliman)

5. Listen to your body - I reserved it as my last tip because some of the runners doesn't appreciate the limit of their bodies unless they feel something bad about it. Getting injured will not only cost you expenses but also your passion for the sport. Morale of the story: don't overdo it, when in pain, slow-down and check for any possible injuries. Stay injury-free!

You don't want to end up like this :(

I hope these tips can help you in planning your expenses for the hobby we all love. Running was supposed to be the cheapest form of sport as you only yourself, the road and a decent pair of shoes to enjoy it but it doesn't hurt to get a bit of things which can help you get better in this sport. Just plan it wisely :)

(still recovering from my running expenses in the previous months :))

*-all pictures were taken from the various sources in the internet and owned by their respective authors

Remembering Nanay...

2010-10-03T20:42:00.002+08:00

It's been a while since Nanay has passed away. It was a sad day for our family because she left us without any warnings. She was a strong as a carabao but I guess when it's your time, it's your time.

I've heard the news during my friend's wedding. It was a wonderful night when I received a text from my brother saying that Nanay has already passed away. I was so shocked that I was thinking that what if this was not true or someone is just playing nasty prank with me. But I called my mama and she confirmed the news. My heart immediately skipped a beat and tears began to fall; I lost someone that is very important in my life...

I prayed hard during the night and I realized how wonderful she was. Taking care of us when my parents were not around during our baby years, disciplining us when we were naughty and cooking the best biko during our bdays. On top of this, I feel the love she shared with us and teaching us how to walk the words of God in whatever we do. At least I was able to cope up with this and realized the lessons she imbued with us.

Nanay, I know I wasn't that expressive but wherever you are right now, I hope that you are peaceful. Thank you for the wonderful years you shared with us, teaching us on how to be strong and constantly reminding us about God. It was sad because we lost someone we love so much but this must be God's will. We will never forget you...

I love you Nanay! :(

good-bye Nanay, we'll miss you so much :(

CamTour International Marathon

2010-09-30T04:40:00.006+08:00

This was my 3rd FM this year and it was done outside Manila. As I've said in my previous entry, I prefer running outside the known routes here in the city and mix it with my travel bug. I'm also excited because it is my first time to go to Bicol (where my lola's hailed from) and create a great story.

Day 1: The Mad Dash to Naga

On the first day, I was almost late at the bus station! I was almost screwed-up because of the KOTR registration "phenomenon" on which I finished at around 5:30 pm. This should have been acceptable if only I brought my things already and I didn't have a car BUT no! Traffic was really terrible during that day and I ended up reaching my house at exactly 7:30 pm. Stuffing things into my bag without even checking if I left anything, I rushed to the bus station. Thank God for the MRT as I was able to reach the station in the nick of time!

Still panting from the mad dash I did to the station, I met my roommates Prince, Kian and Brando inside the bus. We have to travel in the evening to avoid the traffic, the heat of the sun and get some sleep during the evening. I hardly got some sleep because of the anxiety and the chair I got in the bus (every time the bus hits on the brakes, I was slipping down the chair). So much for the action-packed first day.

I should not be left behind!

Day 2: Exploring CWC and Naga

We arrived in Naga at around 5:30 am. We went to the Mcdonald's branch in the plaza to get some breakfast and wait for some our friends. From there, we went to the Golden Leaf Hotel and tried to get an early check-in but our rooms were still not available. So we left our stuff in the Hotel and went back to the bus station to get some tickets for our trip back home.

Golden leaf hotel!

After Prince made his signature move to the lady in the ticket counter, we went to CWC to catch up with team CB. At CWC, we has some photo-ops and had an occular of the 42K route. Finished the occular just before lunch, I bought a SIM from SMART with a free cool Team Pilipinas Jacket! We went back to the hotel, strategized for a bit, had dinner, attended the church then went to sleep early for the race. *Whew* the summed-up my 2nd day in Naga. Next stop: Race Day!

something like this but it's not the design!

Day 3: Race Day

D-day! I wore the Team PPB singlet as I want to set a new PR here and I believe on the "sapi" factor whenever I race with it (it rocks!). We left the hotel at exactly 2:30 am with the tricycle driver who fetched us from the station. He remembered our deal! :) Arrived at the starting line at exactly 3 am with a bunch of runners already preparing for gunstart. Brando lent me his GF (Garmin, not his girlfriend) for the race before we started. It was my first time to use it and like a caveman, I was intrigued on how it can be helpful during the race. I didn't know that it will be a huge factor later on...

Km 0- 10

The gunstart happened at exactly 4 am! Off to a good start with me running at a 5:30 pace. Thanks to the GF, I was able to check my initial pace (I was only hoping for a 6:00 pace but I got comfortable at 5:30). Passing thru some of the runners, I paced with Ely (Kulotski) and Angelo from km. 4-5 before I sped thru the intersection. It was still dark but the race organizer put up some lights along the path (thanks!). The course was rolling uphill and downhill but most of it is relatively flat. Kian already passed thru me at km. 7 and looking at the bunch of lead runners, it was the United Colors of Benetton!

Km 11-20

The sun was already rising as we went back to the intersection. The 21K runners were already passing when I got back on the road. Still maintaining a 5:30 pace, I was bobbing along the sea of runners and greeted familiar runners on the road. I passed thru the first set of barangay with a cheerful set of locals and supporters who boosted our morale throughout the race. For some reason this resulted me to increase my pace to 5:00 but I decided to put it back to 5:30 as I don't want to be burned up.

On one of the stations, I gobbled up a powerbar. It got stuck on my throat!!! Damn, it was so uncomfortable that I was coughing during that leg. Drank some water to bring it down and off I go again with the race. The heat was already starting but I still feel good about it.

Km 21-30

At km 21, I already consumed my first energy gel. Felt the kick immediately, I continue to pound thru the course. Passed by a slippery bridge, went to the next town (which was the turn-around point), saw Beep-beep (fellow PPB member) saying he's feeling side stitches and leg issues already and paced with "lolo Gil" (I was initially annoyed actually because whenever he passes thru the crowd he asked them to shout "Lolo, lolo" but I respecthim as he was old but he was still strong to finish the race). Sun was already up when I passed by the water truck which sprayed water to all runners.

At km 28, I was already experiencing a bad feeling already. For some reason, I feel dehydrated and exhausted so I decided to take a short walk break. After I rested (around 500 meters), I was re-energized when a nice old lady gave me ice-cold water and ice to cool me down. Probably its because of the heat which started the fatigue but I already took an energy gel at km 21. This was so strange but I don't want anything bad to happen so I really took a while walking (chipping down my pace to 11:00 mpk). I was to experience the worst...

Km 31-40

It was the longest 10 km of this race. I was literally walking at the start of km 31 when I felt the cramps attacked. It was painful but I endured until I reach km. 33 (there were energy gels at that point) to gobble up my last energy gel. I felt a little refreshed so I tried to gain back my momentum (although I ended up with a 6:00-6:30 pace). The cramps were getting worst so I took some walk breaks every 500 meters to shake them off. What's worst is at km. 36-37, we have to passed thru a sharp uphill, just imagine the agony of running with cramps while doing uphills! (man, I love the hills but during that time, I swear I curse them!!!). The heat started to take its toll that I took a sponge splash on every water station. I'm conserving energy as well because I felt dizziness already. Shaken but not down, I pressed on to finish the race

Km 41-finish line

GF says I only have 1 km left to finish the race. I tried to speed-up and hit a 5 mpk pace but cramps were literally slowing me down. On the last 500 meters, I took the courage to sprint even with the cramps but alas, my photofinish didn't work (cramp really attacked me in the last 100 meters). Well, I did my best and ended up with a nice 4:17 finishing time :). I was feeling pain on my legs but that will be another story.

Shaken but not yet trembled!!!

Post-race Events

Had a few snapshots with my friends, witnessed a runner collapse (which was helped by sir Rene and Prince), had a short lunch which I didn't enjoy and short talk with some colleagues, we decided to hit back the hotel at around lunch time. We were so exhausted that after we took showers we were sleeping like logs!

Woke up at around 4 pm, we went to a local bar to have some post race chats and dinner. Finally, authentic bicol express at last! Beep-beep joined us and shared a few stories as well. We went back to the hotel to check-out and left for Manila at around 9:30.

Insights

- The race was handled properly with lots of hydrations, abundance of bananas, separation of routes for the different race categories and pre-race preparations.
- The route, though it was relatively flat, was still challenging due to the oustanding heat of the sun! (this should have been known as the "Race against the sun" FM). Thanks to the awesome help of the locals for giving us support along the way :D
- I didn't experience the activities in CWC (watersports) as we were all tired after the race. I did promise to try them the next time I went there.
- I also wasn't able to go around Naga as well because of the time constraint. Next time, I'll make sure I'll give an ample time to tour around the city.
- Will I join this race again next year? Definitely I will look forward for this event again next year!

Thanks to team CB, Prince, Kian, Brando, Eagle, Beep-beep and to all whom I shared this great weekend with. Looking forward for my next adventure race! (hint: it is a race against a volcano!)

My next adventure!

* photo credit to Brando and the various sources in the internet :)

Happy 28th bday!

2010-09-23T02:03:00.002+08:00

Bday's are supposed to be fun and happy! For me, I'm still recovering from an emotional turbulence in the past few days thus it has a huge impact for today. But enough about the rants, I'll give you a glimpse on how I spent it:

1. New look - I've been planning to get a haircut already before we went to CamSur. Why? Because my current hair was a mess plus it's terribly hot in that area. I need more ventilation! So I got a new haircut for the CamTour!

2. Client Work - Went to the client to do some work and check on some of my resources. Brought them some KK donuts on the way. Was hoping to do some 1:1 meetings with them but they were too busy already

3. Back in TWS - Attended the Coffee-talk and unfortunately we didn't win the best picture for our manager (even if our entry gained the most applaud and laughter from the audience). I was given a "surprise!!!" cake by my teammates after the coffee-talk. I'm touched because I only received such things rarely in my lifetime. Thank you team :D

4. Team Dinner sa Giligan's - Treated the team to a small dinner at Giligan's market-market. Short chit-chat and planning on what would happen this November. Sayang, wala yung ibang members ng team :(

I'm already 28, 4 years short of having my age erased from the calendar. I was still depressed but at least I have people who helped me cheer up during those time. Cheers to you guys and thank you for the day. You are the best.

Now, time to face reality again :(

The traveling runner

2010-09-20T22:12:00.004+08:00

Running had become such a boom nowadays that almost every weekend, a running event is being scheduled. A lot of people has joined the bandwagon but I found another reason to run... become the traveling runner.

I was a fan of traveling before, exploring new destinations, taking snapshots with my camera and enjoying the scenery. Since I feel bored about the usual race course here in Manila (e.g. the Fort), I began searching for races outside Metro Manila. Voila! I found a new twist to my love of running, enjoying the travel while hitting the road for a run. I've done Ilocos, Corregidor and Nu Vali, now I'm gunning down the Visayas and Mindanao area.

I'm hoping to get more of these experiences in the future. My weekend schedule looks like hell right now but at least I'm enjoying what I'm doing.

What about you? Do you have any story about your run outside manila?

PAU 65K review

2010-08-31T16:50:00.003+08:00

The longest distance I ran within one day happened last August 29, 2010. It was a big run from Pasuquin to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (hosted by my running idol Jovie Narcise a.k.a. The BaldRunner).

D-day started in-front of the municipal hall of Pasuquin. 125 strong runners tried to conquer the epic distance, passing thru scenic landmarks and racing against the heat of the sun. We started the race at exactly 5 am after a prayer from Doc Topher.

Km 0 - 10 Early Start

Good thing I had a pace partner during the start of the race. Our plan was to take it easy on the first 30 km then speed up during the other half. We decided to take an easy 7:00 pace but eventually hitting the 6:00 pace. During this leg, we passed by a lot of stores selling salt. The route was still dark and some of the dogs were already chasing us (parang Tanay lang!). Got support by the end of the 10K route

Km 11 - 20 Long Run

Next 20 km, we're still hitting the 6:xx mark. Passed by a few locals, greeting us and telling us that we are still far from the finish line. We crossed a bridge with a glimpse of the sea to at least entertain us as we try to conquer our journey.

Km 21 - 30 First Landmark

Reached the first landmark, the Burgos Lighthouse. The route was a short but steep uphill so we decided to conserve our energy going up this part of the race. Took a picture in-front of the lighthouse before we speed our way downhill. We took our first set of Hammer Gel already to replenish our energy as we have a long way ahead. The road was already rolling with brief uphills and downhill towards our next stop. The sun had risen already and the heat starts to build-up. Still we push on with the race

Km 31 - 40 The first surprise!

At km 33, we finally reached the entrance to the Kapurparan rocks. I didn't expect that the trail was long so I only brought a few hydrations. As we continuously ran the trail, we began to notice that they were not kidding about the distance. It was freaking long! And more bad news, I'm feeling dizzy already. This means that I am already dehydrated. There was a brief moment of panic as I sipped from my bottle to cope up with this state and thank God I also brought some rock salt from the Inn. Beeps went ahead already but I caught up after I licked a bunch of salt then drank some water.

Then there was another problem: my shoes were meant for road races and not for trail running. I felt the ground with each step and I guess it was adding stress to my feet already. We were forced to walk in most part of this route. To make things more exciting, the trail on the beach were sharp rocks! I was hoping not to trip over because it will mean disaster so I really have to walk slowly to the marker guy. Had a photo-op with the photographer (I asked for some water as well) before we hit the route again. It was another run-walk session on the trail.

When I got back to the main road, our support group was missing. I was sensing that I have to panic already so with the other group, I drenched myself with water, applied some painkillers and tried to chase after the support group. Oh well, I just told myself that hopefully I can reach them without the blisters forming on my feet ache. I did reach them at some point and changed my socks. It felt good so I tried to run again with Beeps towards the next landmark.

Lessons: 1. If BR said that there is a trail run, bring some trail shoes! 2. Never panic, just keep your composure 3. Believe in your support team

Km 41-50 The Windmills and the heat

Our pace by this time dropped already because of fatigue and heat of the sun. We were doing 1K run then 1K walk to reach the cut-off. The sun was not cooperating as well as it continues to warm up our route. I reached my wall as well so I'm already conserving my energy.

We reached the entrance to the Bangui Windmills and learned that it was another trail run. It was my first time here so I don't have any ideas on what to expect within the route. First part, it was a sharp descend so we can't run it (mahal ko pa mga tuhod ko!). Then the heat is building up plus the trail is already giving pain on my feet (read lesson #1 from Km 31-40). We literally walked the whole trail until we reached the road.

At the end of the trail, we found our support crew. I asked for some sandwich plus gatorade while having my feet massaged to loosen up the pain. I also drenched again on water to cool-down before running again the remaining part of the route. The 2nd wind was there already but after a few meters I felt pain on my legs and back. I was forced to walk. I have a bad feeling about this...

Km 51 - 60 Breaking Point

It's noon already. The heat was very unbearable. Beep already went ahead because I don't want to cause him anymore delay in this race. Pain on my legs. I was already cursing myself for reaching the wall but with sheer determination I walked. Cramps were already building as well. A part of me says that I should quit but never in my entire running career did I commit a DnF.

Prince (joseph) was passing by already and I asked him if I can pace with him. He was so helpful in building my morale again and be motivated to try running even if this body was already weary. He helped me gain momentum and never left me as we continue to finish this part of the race.

Our strategy was simple: do some short interval runs then walk. It was effective especially now that we were so tired. It was really sheer determination to finish the race.

For some reason, I felt a 2nd wind pass me when I saw the "Welcome to Pagudpud" arc. It means we were near! (hooray!)

Km 61 - 64 Lost?

Dreaded uphill were already killing my legs but I tried to do some short runs in between. On the downhill, the momentum was great but have to stop because of the pain. Reaching the flat road, I began asking questions to the locals on how far are we from the resort. They said it's around 1.5 km. So I built my pace and start running like hell. After 1 km, I tried asking again on how far was the resort. Still 1.5 km.

I realized that there is no point in asking them as I will only get disappointed. And I did because at Km 63, we have to do a left turn towards the municipality. I have to shut down my brain and just do the running. I'm really determined to finish the race

Km 65 - Finish line

Still a long way to run! Brain was only programmed by that time to focus on running. No more questions, no more buts. Just run! And by all means at exactly 10:41, I was able to cross that finish line. I was so happy and fulfilled that beyond all odds I did finish my longest race so far in my running career. I want to cry but I promise not to. I sat down for a while contemplating on the achievement and still in the high of finishing a darn race

Thank you Beeps for the strong pace + support, Takbo.ph for the support (hindi ko talaga kakayanin to kung wala kayo), Prince for the help and knocking my sense back, BR for the fantastic race and to God who with all his mercy allowed me to finish one hell of a race.

Will I still continue with my Ultra-marathon career? Definitely yes! See you in PAU 50K Pinatubo :D

P2P prelude

2010-08-28T01:44:00.004+08:00

After a long hiatus of not updating this blog, i finally made this new entry. I'm one day away from attempting to run the longest distance in my running career: a 65k ultramarathon from pasuquin to pagudpud.

I arrived here in laoag early last night together with a couple if takbo.ph friends. We're lucky to have a room at la ellana hotel even if i had a conflicy with my reservations. Grabbed dinner at the near resto then hogged the videoke to cap our first night.

Right now, i'm anxious about the race. Not because it is long but the experience that we will get. I want to enjoy every moment of it; thus, i will be doing an easy pace to appreciate the landmarks we will pass along the way.

I really hope that we will cross that finish line without any problems and in one piece. if only i know how to make it rain this sunday, i would do it to survive the heat.

Good luck to all runners in this long-awaited event. Please pray for our success and safety.

magpapaka-wasak na naman! :D

Takbo runfest 2010

2010-07-26T17:04:00.003+08:00

Hindi ako tumakbo sa event na ito kahit na nag-register ako. Pinili kong maging isang boluntaryong maniniyut kasi gusto kong makatulong at mag-practice ng aking kinakalawang na maniniyut skills.

Went to the venue at around 4 am. Pretty surprised that set-up was already complete for the event already (thanks to the volunteers :) ). Met with the photographers to plan where should we set-up to take the pictures. I chose to go at the far area of the 10K track, why? because I want to try my luck with the 10K passing thru my spot.

With Josiah, we started walking to our respectives at around 5:15 am. Met also with Gary in the every nation intersection and gave my bib number (Gary, dapat sub-45 yan!!!) then proceeded to my station. While waiting, I chatted with Rod and Ley (ang tagal mong nawala!) and set-up my equipment. I brought my barbel lens even though it is heavy because of the speed and event. Glad I made the right choice!

Around 6:15, the first set of runners appeared in my spot. It was a leisure shot as they were the race leaders. BUT come 6:30, the chaos had started! Man, I was shooting against a sea of runners. It was like target shooting, clicking at every possible runner that I can! Pretty stressed already when the last runner passed by but my job is not yet over. I decided to move to another decent spot to get more photos :).

While walking, I took shot of the runners I met along the way. I stayed at the last 700 meter turn-around point of the race and took a couple of shots. I felt the weight of the barbel I'm using and literally, my arms were getting exhausted. Still I was able to take a few more good shots before heading back to the starting line.

In-fairness, this is one of the most organized event I joined this year. Proper hydration, perfect weather, organized loot bags and very good program. Meeting a lot of new runners and chatting with a couple of oldies was really good! Plus I love the singlet, even though last minute na siyang dumating.

Congratulations Boss Jinoe for a successful event! Kudos to all the people behind this race especially the never ending support from the volunteers! Looking forward for the next runfest! :)

Mabuhay takbo.ph!

9 months to go!

2010-07-22T00:12:00.003+08:00

I'm exactly 9 months away from being free in one of my debts. Hooray!

Speaking of funds, managing it is very hard! I'm trying to save for a possible new toy next month (hint: new hobby) so I need to really tighten my belt. Have to remove unnecessary spending and stuff but have enough funds to live for the month. I'm using an excel sheet now to balance my spendings and savings, something I learned from a friend.

I hope I'll be successful with this :)

A lesson in integrity

2010-07-18T13:45:00.005+08:00

Integrity is a word that matters in my experience for the past few months. Experiencing it head-on is quite fulfilling and I'm hoping that it would be a lesson for the runners who might face a similar situation like this in their future races.

Today, I joined the Eng'gfinity race under the 10K category. I was excited for this race as it is for my dear college and I'm gunning for a 10K PR. It's been a while since I run my last official 10K here in UP and I want to see how much did I improved from my trainings.

Race started late by 15 mins but the issues didn't stop from there. Early in the race, the leaders did a wrong turn because no marshals were in place, confusing directions because of arrows and hidden among the sidewalks. Enough of the rants, here's the main part of this post :)

On the last part of the race, I had a good progress on my time as I'm consistent with my pacing (thanks to the speed training last Thursday). I was not familiar with the race route so I was following another runner who passed me earlier. At the finish line, I thought that we were supposed to cross it to record our lap but unfortunately, it was the end of the race! This was terrible as I know that the distance lacks 2.2K and what's more interesting is they said I was the 3rd to cross the line.

I felt so guilty about it because it seems like I cheated :(. I saw the elites pass thru the finish line after us so I know this is really wrong. So what I did was I ran again the last 2.2 km then went to the marshal to tell them the issue and drop me officially from the race. It was not really hard for me to do it because I was not expecting any rewards from the race; I'm more disappointed because I wasn't able to set a PR for the distance and marshals who were not able to do their job properly.

Funny thing because I was wearing the TPPB singlet which reminded me of how much we value integrity as the shirt signified in the last epic relay :). At the end of everything, it is not the reward that I considered but the valuable lesson I learned from it.

Hope everybody learned something from this post.

P.S. I think this is the first race here in the Philippines which used the D-tag. Engineers nga naman :D

Sick!

2010-07-14T22:14:00.002+08:00

Ito ang patunay na tao lang din ako. Sinabayan ni Basyang ang pagkakaroon ko ng sakit (ubo+sipon+muscle pain=flu?). Di kasi ako umiinom ng vitamins at nagkakain ng gulay noong mga nakaraang araw eh. Hay...

Anyway, kailangan kong bumalik sa normal upang maipagpatuloy ang aking pag-eensayo. Sayang ang miles para sa P2P ngayong Agosto (I need to run at least 40K per week as preparation).

Sa mga may sakit, pagaling kayo! Nandito na naman ang tag-ulan at ang sakit di tayo tatantanan.

I hate being sick...

Race Prices

2010-07-12T02:46:00.003+08:00

After reading Maan's post, I also pondered on how much money I spend in joining races per month. For example, during the month of May 2010:

PAU 50K - P850 (nakalimutan ko na kung magkano talaga...)
Men's Health - P450
Run to Transform - P500
Nature Valley - P650

That's a whooping P2350!!! (which I could have used to buy a lot of stuff already :( ). Having noticed this, I decided to put some control on the race I join per month:

- 21K and above race only (max of 2 races per month)
- Race outside the Fort or even metro manila. New routes are always welcome (i.e. PAU series)
- Race with fee <= P300
- Race with a great chance of having < 1000 participants
- Race which are sponsored (asa pa, nyahahahaha)

So what will I do on the days where I don't join a race? I'll probably allot it on training and developing my skills or take the day-off. It will save me money at the same time improve my skills! :D

Thanks Maan for the write-up, it opened my mind up with managing the race I join per month. Gone were the days where a 10k or 21K would only be less than P400.

Time to tighten my belt :)

Post-Milo Marathon Write-up

2010-07-09T01:06:00.005+08:00

It was a big day for most of the runners. For most, it is considered as the most prestigious marathon here in the Philippines. For others, it is a dream that they want to fulfill. For me, it is a race that I am really looking forward to :)

It's my 2nd 42K in my running career (after a bad yet learning experience in Condura). I really prepared for this event, increasing my mileage per week and eating like a pig to gain a few weight. I'm positive that I won't make it to the qualifying time of 3:45 minutes but nonetheless, I would try my luck and set a new PR. For me, it's time to redeem myself from the last full marathon I took.

I went there at around 2:30 am to beat the traffic and get a decent parking space. Met the takbo.ph folks who will also run the race. We went to the starting line at around 3:30 to warm-up and stretch. The last few minutes we were there chitchatting and talking about the excitement about the race.

By the way, this year's route was different from the previous one. Instead of the long route from Km 0 to Heritage and back, the organizers set it with loops within the NAIA road - Vicente Sotto rd. 3 freaking loops with two huge fly-overs which we will be passing 4x during the race (that's 8 fly-overs!!!). It was relatively flat aside from the road passing the fly-over. People thought it would be easy but little did they know...

Gunstarts at 4:10. On to my first loop, I decided to do a relatively slow pace because I don't want to burn-out early. There were many gatorade and water station available along the way plus the Hammer Gel around the 16K mark was a huge help. It was still dark but fortunately the path was lighted so I think it was a good start. Passed by the takbo.ph aid station, saw a lot of support already cheering for us warriors made me feel good about the run. That was the first loop!

On the 2nd loop, the sun has started to rise and again passed thru the lane. No cramps or pain in the legs yet but I'm already starting to get worried about the "wall" (point where you can't run because of exhaustion, etc.). I still increased my pace, hoping to finish the race within my target of 4:10. I took my first fuel before the first flyover at the 2nd loop but realized its effect after around 5 minutes. It was really a good booster! :D. Passed by the takbo.ph station again, this time Macoy gave me a "hug" err Pocari Sweat.

On the 3rd loop, fatigue starts to kick in. I decided to have a short walk break after every hydration station. On km. 28, I saw my PPB teammate Ka Totoy walking because of his injury in the previous epic race. I decided to walk with him to save some energy and at least know what was he feeling that time and how we can get some help. I paced him to the next aid station but eventually he walked because of the pain. I went ahead and asked Marga to assist him when he passes by. Too bad on the 3rd loop there were no more Energy Gel so I consumed another packet to get my feet going. My pace was also dropping as well because of the heat and fatigue already. Passed by the takbo.ph for the 3rd and last time, I asked for a bottle of water. I remembered to bring one and thank God I made the right choice because of the last set of things to happen.

After the aid station, I decided to do a run-walk-run strategy. I can feel cramps building up in both of my legs so for every run up the fly-over, I would walk while making up for it on the downhill. I saw and cheered a couple of my TPPB teammates doing their last few kms (They are really fast!). Eventually, I'm almost burned out that on the last fly-over before the turn-around point, i have to walk.

The last few km was hell. Walk-run-walk (majority walk) was still my strategy. There were no more hydration station available for the last 4 km. I did the right thing of bringing up a bottle as I refilled it with water when I passed by guys with water containers. I asked them to douse me with water as well because the heat is building up. There was even a guy with a water gun, squirting me with some cold water. Normally, I will get pissed off but by that time I was thankful for such ingenious and effective help.

Down to the last 2.5 km, I decided to walk up to the finish line. But when Noelle passed me by, I was inspired to help her qualify for the finals. So with the little strength left, I paced her towards the finish line. Road after road after road, I was really eyeing for that freaking finish line. I was no longer minding the pain, all I want was to finish this race so I gave my last push. I hate the crowd near the starting line as they are blocking our path. No marshals were insight; no crowd control was found. Damn it!

Time is running out for Noelle so we dashed towards the finish line. I was getting impatient already because of exhaustion, no hydration and people blocking our path. But all the hardships were worth it as we crossed the finish line! At 4:18:xx, I beat my previous PR and helped a fellow runner qualify for the finals!

It was a nice feeling! But it didn't end there. I'm going to claim a prize for another goal. On that day, I passed my 1000 km mileage and qualified for BR's club! It was a simple shirt really but it reflected on my commitment and determination towards my goal. It was a few goals that I would really really treasure in this lifetime.

God, it was a long post. I know it's overdue but I want to have this remembered as my first Milo marathon and the day I got my BR shirt. Thank you to the people who helped us during the race (panalo kayo takbo.ph), BR for setting my goal and the new friends I met as I made my journey.

Sa wakas natapos din! :D

P.S. "Milo" is the name of my shoes which I will be using in every long distance race that I will have for the year and made it's race debut last Sunday. I found it light with the right amount of cushioning and no blisters at all! Love those shoes :D

Milo Jingle Lyrics

2010-07-03T14:28:00.002+08:00

I didn't expect that it was really-really hard to find the freaking lyrics for the Milo jingle. Thank God for google and youtube, I stumbled upon this video:

Good luck and God bless to all the runners in the most prestigious running event tomorrow here in the Philippines! :D

Progress

2010-07-01T12:44:00.004+08:00

Not sure how much weight I've lost due to running but here are a few pictures to see my progress:
Before (KOTR 2008):

After (Nature Valley 2010):

Hope this helps :D

On Dictations

2010-06-29T20:40:00.003+08:00

I hate it when people dictates what I need to put in my blogs. Grabe, blogs are supposed to be an outlet of what I feel or think about during those moments. I don't want it to be something like I'm forced to write on something.

Please lang lubayan ang aking mga sinusulat dito. I acknowledge that I might NOT be covering EVERYTHING in my life right now, but PLEASE DON'T DICTATE whatever I need to put here. If I want to write about it, I'll put it here. I want it natural and not as if I'm forced to.

I hope you understand this. Please lang talaga, this is my space. Sorry...

Sari-saring updates

2010-06-28T00:58:00.004+08:00

Since I have a lot of stuff to blog about, I decided to have it consolidated into one entry:

1. GPS love:

Ever since I had my new phone, the feature that I really-really love is its OVI map. Man, it saved me a couple of times already from the brink of being lost. It's free from the ovi website; you can download maps and save your favourite locations. For me, it's really handy when I'm going to unfamiliar places within and outside Manila.

Instances which OVI Map has saved me:

1. Location of BaldRunner Inc. - to get my racekit for PAU
2. SBMA (Darwin's Tavern) - our inn during the Epic Relay
3. Traffic Route to Kamias - traffic talaga! Sobra!!! (kaya nakahanap ng ibang daan :D)

Thank God for the OVI map app talaga!

2. "Milo"

Since the epic relay, I confess that I became obsessed with getting the next best shoes for the Milo marathon. I feel that my former fave shoes are not enough to get my best time in the said event. I need something light but comfortable for long distances at the same time will not be too expensive. I considered different models from different brands (Asics, Mizuno, etc.) but I fell in love with the brand I consider my first. Thanks to Luis, I came back to the three stripes and bought an Adizero Tempo!

I tested it during the Adination event last Thursday across different scenarios (Speed, rain, downhill, uphill) and I felt the comfort plus the lightness that I'm searching for. I'm really excited with the real-thing this coming July 4 where "Milo" will make his race debut. I'm so glad that I think I made the right choice :)

3. BR's 1000 km club

Lastly, I have to blog about one of the most prestigious obsessions that I have. I envy those guys who wore the black BR shirt during the gatherings; they conquered 1K km already in their running careers.

Oh, I'm blabbering about it but I haven't discussed what's the club all-about. Just read BR's entry here. It's a concept of rewarding one's self after achieving a very-very challenging goal.

I'm almost there. Im already 956 km and I will reach my mileage during my stint in the Milo marathon. It will be a double celebration as it will be my 2nd full-marathon and I finished a very challenging goal.

I will get that shirt :D

Post Happy Father's day post

2010-06-24T04:30:00.002+08:00

I was supposed to write this entry last Sunday but I was too tired to create one. Since it was father's day, I want to write something for my Dad.

Dad, thank you for being there throughout the years of my life. From the day I was born, I know how much love you've shown me; extending your patient and understanding me as a young kid. You were there in all my success and failures; you're quiet all of the time but I know you were proud of us. You treat us as if we were elite kids, knowing how much you contradict mama in all of the decision she made.

Dad, I'm sorry for being such a pain in the ass. I know I've been giving you headache left and right but please treat them as my learnings thru my journey in life. I know you were disappointed with some of the decisions I made but thank you for supporting them and reminding me that everything that I choose, I should make a stand for it.

Dad, I want you to be proud of us, we tried our best to meet your expectations and living your dream. I remembered the quote you posted in our old house "The greatest treasure that we can ever have is a good education and honesty". I value those stuff as well and thank you for showing us the right way.

Dad, I don't know how I could repay all of the good things you did for us but I always pray to God that He gives you all the blessings in this world. You deserve them promise :D.

Thank you so much! To best Dad in the whole wide world, we love you! :D

NB Trail Run

2010-06-23T21:06:00.006+08:00

After my first Trail Run in Timberland Heights, I vowed to try my luck in trail running. It was quite a while as I missed two trail runs already (Enervon Happy Run and Men's Health All-Terrain). But nonetheless, I'm still hopeful that I can do it again. Then comes Father's day...

This is my first time to do a 15K trail run in Nuvali (I missed the first one since I lack sleep from the Pahiyas trip). Though it's far from the city, I like to try a different route at the same time enjoy some fresh air.

Here's a summary of the event:

- Went to the venue at around 3:00 am since I have to accompany my brother to the airport and lend me his car :D (now I know how to get some free ride for the whole week)
- Took around 10 minutes looking for my wallet in the freaking car (demmit, paano ako magbabayad ng toll di ba?)
- Arrived at the venue at around 5:10 am
- Didn't know that the starting line is not at the mall. It's located at the other end of Nuvali!!! (we have to ride a jeepney)
- Saw Luis, Abby and Ka Totoy in the starting line. Pretty anxious for the start of the trail.
- Started at around 5:40. As expected, we piled up at the start of the trail because it's narrow.
- First 5 km is a real jungle trail. Went thru a forest, down a hill, across a river then up in an open field. My socks and shoes were filled with gravel literally giving me a foot scrub for the rest of the race.
- Second 5 km is relatively flat as we ran through an open field and tall grasses. Started picking up the race pace but occasionally slows down because of land mines (jebs ng kalabaw)
- Last 5 km was still flat but at the last leg, the 15 km runners were led to a different branch of the track. Sped-up to an easy pace till the finish line.
- Finished at 1:31. Met-up with the rest of the takbo.ph people at the finish line.

Over-all, it was a great race to meet old and new friends, enjoy the scenery and celebrate the day for our dear dad's.

Happy Father's day to all! (Snapshots of the event can be found here) :D

Goodbye Diego! :(

2010-06-20T19:26:00.006+08:00

Three years ago, I was still undecided if I want to be serious in running as a sports. I was still going to the gym then and my old shoes are no longer keeping up. So I thought of buying some new shoes to fit my new lifestyle.

I forgot what model Diego was but he was on sale when I got him. He's light, snug fit and very comfortable. I had raced with him since 2007 and progressed with me from my 5K stint to the current 42K (yes, I wore him during the Condura marathon). But age do take its toll as the markings were already blanking out and some of the soles were already pulling out. So I decided to have him retire today; our last race as partners.

I still felt the same comfort and performance I expect from him since the day I bought him. Although the trail is indeed punishing as it wore him down for the last time. One last push and I was able to set a record for my trail run in Nuvali!

Diego, thank you for the wonderful years you shared with me throughout this career. If i'm to choose a shoe again, I'll find you but alas your model is no longer in Production. Don't worry, I won't ever forget you through the years. Finally, it's time for you to rest.

Goodbye old friend! :(

Chris Epic Relay

2010-06-16T01:10:00.005+08:00

2 days, 2 vans, 10 superb runners, 4 outstanding support crew, 1 goal, 1 mission. This composed my last weekend: running 250 kms across SBMA, Bataan and Zambales. I joined the group "The Powerpuff Boys" composed of different runners from different backgrounds. More info about the group from this post of Luis.

Anyway, I'll summarize my fantastic weekend by days. Let me see if I can at least capture the highlights of the race:

Day 0:

- Met Jai, Mark and Brando in SM Megamall. Had carbo-loading in Avenetto, downing 3 heavy pasta over bottomless drinks. We ate like there is no tomorrow.
- We will meet Bryan and the rest in Subic already since they still have some appointments here in Manila. Luis and Roy were already there in the tavern while Mark and Bea will be joining us during raceday already.
- Had a stop-over at Petron Lakeshore to look for batteries, soap and shampoo. Decided not to buy them here as they were expensive. Ate Halo-halo instead for meryenda while Brando was criticizing (inokray) the music they played as laos (freaking sexbomb girls!!!). Started our way again to Subic
- Arrived at Subic earlier than expected. I already plotted the way to the tavern via Nokia Maps (the sweetest thing that happened in mobile history). Mark M. took his camera from the bag and started shooting some videos. I remembered how Subic got rich because of my traffic violation so I was extra careful driving!
- Went to the Inn already but Roy and Luis was not there. We left our stuff in the training room and went back to town. By the way, the location was really strategic as it is near the Runner Exchange Point(REP) #2 for tomorrow
- Withdrew some money and checked for things that we can buy in town. Looked at the local sport shops to check shoes and paraphernalias. Was tempted in buying the Nike Lunarlite (sobrang mura!!!) but decided to meet Bryan first at Boardwalk
- Met Bryan and the rest of the gang. They were already done with dinner already so we made some additional orders. Beep-beep is still wearing his barong as if he was a congressman. Promo girls from Marlboro and Philip Morris met with us but I guess they were turned-off due to Beep-beep's remark ("we don't smoke nor drink but we do womenize!"). That scared them off pronto
- Bryan explained the plans for tomorrow using the table condiments (ang lufet!!!). Had our first photoshoot as a team outside Gerry's grill
- Went back to the tavern to refresh and get ready. All the power sockets were occupied by things that need to be charged. Room was big; enough for at least 15 people. Everyone was excited and had a hard time sleeping. GBM was still posting on his blog while I'm catching up some small work. Technology will play a vital role in our game tomorrow.
- Slept at 1 - 2 am after charging my camera and laptop

Day 1 (June 12)
- Woke up at around 6:30 pm due to a call from Mayor. I need to respond!
- Went outside and noticed that the REP was already set-up. First set of runners were already arriving including "Will Run for Beer" (a.k.a. my team from HP). Took some action shots :D
- Had breakfast in Jollibee but prior to that, we bought some ice already. All coolers were filled with ice. On the way, we saw the last batch of runners released before our call-time
- Met a few groups in Jollibee. Most of them were running the later legs of the race. Had burger steak + soup for breakfast (Yummy!)
- Went back to the tavern to get ready. Van was already waiting for us when we got back. Wore the legendary pink singlet. Didn't wore my shoes yet as we will not be running yet.
- Had a few snapshots with the REP and as a carwasher. Used Mark M.'s sponge as props and washed my car plus the van in the REP. Will use the earnings for our toll fee.
- Assigned to Van #2 which will run legs #5-#10. Went on our way to the starting line which is the lighthouse in SBMA.
- Upon arrival, fixed the supplies for each van. Found the van of another team and guess what, they have 4 Kenyans!!!
- Went to the registration area to register. Since the first team is not done yet we decided to take some pictures at the stage. Feeling winner ang mga loko.
- Finished registration while Beep-beep is doing his ritual dance. Had a few more snapshots before we went to the starting line.
- Beep-beep was briefed together with the other runners for Leg#1. Thinking that they will be starting already, we were wrong as the Ponstan Cheer Dancers did a dance number to energize the runners.
- Race started at exactly 12 nn. Beep-beep was leading the pack (ahead of the Kenyan lady!). It was a start of their love story! We decided to go to the starting point already. At midpoint, we decided to buy lunch first in town before proceeding so we went back.
- Strange because we did not meet beep-beep along the way back. It was the Timex runner who was leading. Found Beep-beep at the far-end of the course. He was lost :( (sayang ang lead!!!).
- We had lunch in Jollibee. Bought lunch for the driver and dinner for the team. Got 15 Champ burgers for the team. We went back to the Pawikan Center
- On our way, we were able to met Brando and found out that the lead was significantly far from the first placer. We were able to close the gap and landed 2nd, overtaking RunnerSpeak. It was way too hot to run!!! We also noticed that the markers were not noticeable and the number of marshals were not enough!!! Also, the other teams were committing violations already.
- Arrived in Pawikan center. Chit-chat with the other runners who were waiting for their turn. Changed my lens to Telephoto to get finer action shots. Timex arrived first in the exchange point followed by our team. Mark Hernz started his run already while we are getting prepared to leave.
- Went ahead of Mark to do support. His leg was difficult because of the length of the uphill. Goats were abundant in the next REP so had to take a snapshot of them as well :D.
- Luis tried to close the gap already but were barraged with dogs! Grabe ang dami ng mga aso. Waited for him at the end of the leg and whoah, he overtook the Timex runner (great job luis). Jai started his leg and was doing a very fast pace.
- Maan was doing a fantastic job supporting Jai. She's like a slave waiting for Jai's orders. I started warming up as well as I will be the next runner.
- Met Kaye at the start of my next leg. She was doing leg 12 already which was the reverse of our route. Timex guy is also waiting for his turn already. Started my leg at around 6 pm already, running a very fast downhill. It was hot and humid! Damn dogs were chasing and growling at me! (stupid dogs ruined my freaking pace!!!)
- Route was short by around 1.1 km. Was surprised when I got to the REP at the turn of the curve. The support van was late since they were expecting the route to be a bit longer. Handed the baton to Totoy and he ran off as if he has firecrackers in his butt!
- It was already dark as we saw Totoy battle out the route. Man, this guy is a legend with a consistent pace conquering the uphills! The hills were quite long and steeper compared to that in Tanay plus the maddening darkness where snakes can attack made this a freaking hard route.
- Near the end of the route, we noticed a zigzagging light behind him. We thought it was another vehicle BUT no! It was the freaking Kenyan! It was suddenly a race to the top!
- Reaching the end of leg 10 gave us a breather. Passed the baton to Beep-beep as we saw him disappear towards the darkness. Heard from the support van that he had a great time having an "epic" chase with the Kenyan downhill. Had dinner while resting and catching our breaths! Champ's the best!
- Started our descend towards the next venue. We bought some ice already along the way as we tried to catch some sleep. Freaking van music are all classical love songs! (mga pang-casa!). Luis is still updating the race status thru his blackberry device :D.
- Arrived at pawikan center. Our van was stormed by little critters attracted to the light. Hanged my singlet outside the van to dry. Anxiously waiting for the news about the other team.
- Suddenly got the news that Brando was overtaken by a cyborg runner. Damn! How could that be???
- Started Mark H. leg at around 1115 am. It was really really dark and hot but we had a plan on how to support him.
- Stupid dogs are everywhere during the leg. Timex Van was following us suspiciously from behind. We're getting annoyed and angry already with them.
Day 2: (June 13, 2010)
- Luis started his leg with a full-blast. But he was stopped at around 500 meters from the REP.
- Darn race director told us that we were not reaching the cut-off. F*ck him! We were penalized by 1 hour AND the entire leg 17 was cancelled. We were so pissed off during that time.
- Fast forward to leg 18. Jai already started his leg with a vicious pace. We were still mesmerized with the freaking change in the rule.
- Around 12:45, I started my leg already. I opted not to be supported as it is a very short leg. I only asked for a bottle of gatorade and kiss from manong driver (joke!)
- The early part of the leg was so dark and creepy as I can hear the bats swooping down to get their prey. Almost got lost in the fork but was saved when a runner said that it was the wrong way.
- Passed by a few more runners uphill, sped down the highway going to the REP
- Mistakenly mistook a sign as the REP costing me almost all of my energy!!! :(
- Arrived at the REP and finished it within 28 mins (5.6K)
- Supported Totoy towards the way to the lighthouse. Side-stitches was already bothering him
- We made a wrong turn in the Reming Field area :( but we were able to cope up immediately.
- Arrived at the lighthouse exactly 2:15 in the morning!!! I have to argue with the race director but man he was so freaking cocky that he won't listen to what we were saying. We were so frustrated but agreed to finish the damn race.
- Beep-beep started his leg at 3 am in the morning. The race rules were again twisted with having all the teams start the last leg simultaneously at the lighthouse.
- Our van went to get more supply from a nearby Ministop. Also have to give manong his coffee as he was already sleepy.
- Two couples were making-out in the shop. Funny because the driver told us that it was a common site in that area during the evening. Almost told them to "get a room already".
- Went back to the tavern to freshen up. We were so damned exhausted! Bryan took the key so we have to devise a way to open our door (stupid tavern doesn't have duplicate keys). Using an MRT card, I was able to become a cat burglar and opened our door. Had some shut-eye prior to the next race already.
- We almost overslept! Went back to the van at 5 am and gave instructions to go to the next Van Exchange Point. We were all asleep in the van and was surprised that the driver went back to the lighthouse. Way to go!
- Drove fast to the next VEP in a farm in Zambales. Had photo-ops with the PNP - SAF team.
- Timex was leading, followed by SAF then a burst of energy from Bryan. I was telling Mark H., that we need to have a time of 15 mins at least to grab first place. He took it at 13 mins (Damn it!)
- It was getting hotter when Luis and Jai started their legs. Frequent sponge baths were done to prevent them from overheating. Maan has a new career: Manual Garmin! :D
- When it was my turn, I have to battle the unbearable heat. I was planning to do a consistent pace but the team informed me that Timex was near.
- Increased my pace and held it for the whole duration of the race. Was able to overtook the Timex runner at one of the turn. Built a small lead for the Totoy and probably secure a win.
- At the REP, was so dehydrated that I slumped at the van. But this was nothing as the game became interesting as we were able to catch up with Timex.
- But Timex have a very strong runner and overtook totoy. Although we have our next target: the police guys!
- We were such great sports as we offer the police runner some sponge bath and water as he was already walking. Totoy clinched the lead and was ready to finish the race.
- We crossed the finish line at around 10:45 am. It was such a great feeling!!!
- Had a few pictures taken and decided to go back to the tavern to freshen up and rest. The heat was really unbearable!
- Got a chance sleep for a few minutes but still I was exhausted. I decided to stay with my other team or else we might end up in an accident.
- Went back to the party to get some grubs. As I predicted, it was bottomless pansit!!!
- Won the best in uniform award. HP teams won both best dressed vans and best team name!
- Timex (for some f*ck*n reason was first place). 2nd and 3rd team winners were not announced!!! (boo)
- We were so damned frustrated that nobody cheered for Timex. They deserved this as they were not fair in the race.
- Everyone left the race spot except for me which planned to shop for chocolates and pasalubong in duty free
- Met with Jonjon and the rest of the gang in Pier One. Poured out the bitterness and frustrations with the team.
- Dinner in Meat Plus. Exhaustion was really-really kicking in!!!
- Arrived in Rap's place at around 10 pm. Due to exhaustion, I fell asleep immediately. They were making fun at me when I was talking in my sleep!
- Left for Manila the following day refreshed and ready to fight again!!! :)

The remarkable weekend taught me a lot of important lessons but the experience will never be erased in my heart. Running 250 km is a feat but a greater achievement is doing it with the best team which will do their best based on the books.

Will we join the next relay? Probably if the organizers will promise to improve it!

-

Powerpuff Boys Debut

2010-06-07T14:06:00.004+08:00

I really thought that our official singlet for the Epic Relay Run was too gay for the team. But I found it wrong when I saw it being worn for the very first time during our practice run yesterday.

Did a 9K run under 48-49 mins in the AMG Fun run with an additional 3K to complete 12K :D. I was burned out during the first few km of the race since I was trying to pace with my fellow teammates. Even so, I think I did great running at 5:17 pace with hills!

The team bagged a couple of awards after the race (swept 6K and almost all of 9K) before we planned for our strategy this weekend.

I'm really excited for the weekend! I never thought wearing pink would be really fun :D

Milo Marathon on July 4

2010-06-03T13:07:00.002+08:00

34th Milo Marathon (Manila leg) will happen this July 4. From the forums, it looks like the registration would start tomorrow (June 4) at Toby's Greenhills, SM North Edsa and Park Square I.

It is a challenging race as it implements a cut-off per category. For 42K, I think it would be 5 hours (amp!!!) for the elims while 4:30 for the finals (mas amp!!!)

I'll join the 42K category. God bless and good luck to all the participants :D

Too many deaths in the family

2010-05-31T15:51:00.002+08:00

Today, my mom told me our Aunt Cely died in the hospital. She was a huge help to us while we were growing as she helped in taking care of our lola (her elder sister) and us in the household. She was a nice lady, she always have time to prepare the food for important celebrations.

But her death was not in a good timing as it happened during the 91st bday of my lola. She must be still in shock as her younger brother died last month as well.

Hay. Pag oras mo na talaga oras mo na.

Rest in peace Aunty, see you soon :(

First 50K experience

2010-05-10T23:27:00.002+08:00

It was a very tough-tough race!!! Sir Jovie was not kidding when he said that it was a very challenging race when he first briefed us about it. How hard was it?

- The terrain was challenging because of the crazy uphills which from my estimate resulted to 30 degrees inclination. Ok sana eh, kaso yung mga inclination niya sustained for almost 2 km.

- The heat!!! I was targeting to finish the race within 6 hours but the heat and exhaustion will literally kill you. I'm not sure what's the temperature yesterday but I'm pretty sure no one would like to stay under it starting 10 am onwards. (sunog na sunog ako). I was wearing a hydration belt pero di talaga kaya ang init (yung gatorade na nilagyan ko ng yelo, within 15 minutes uminit na uli!)

- Training is the key. Lack of training caused me my speed and endurance to suffer. Although it was not only me, a lot of runners probably experienced walking during the last 15 kms. (grabe, almost 80% of my last strides I walked).

- Kaunti na lang mababaliw na ko sa kakabilang ng mga markers papuntang finishline. Lagi kong tinitignan ang lupa to see how far I'm to the next set of marker. Grabe, mag-isa lang na naglalakad sa init ng araw, ilang beses ko na inisip himatayin!

- Strength is another key factor. Like the previous entry, this race is not for the weak hearted. I salute those people who finished late (mga 12 noon) because of the scorching heat from the sun. Saw two topless guys still running to reach the finish line when we were going home (mga 130 pm na ata yun)

- Without the support crew of takbo.ph, i might not be able to finish the race. Thank you for the hydration, food and sponge bath (amp! super lamig!) which helped me kept going in the race. I'm forever in-debted with you.

This is really a remarkable experience for me. Sobrang hirap but that won't stop me from joining the next one. PAU - Laoag, here I come! :)

Saddest Day

2010-05-04T01:48:00.003+08:00

May mga pagkakataon talaga na sana matutong magpakumbaba ang ilang tao. Ayoko na talaga ng may nasasaktan at umiiyak dahil sa mababaw na dahilan. Nakakapagod. Sobra.

Mabuti na siguro na yung ganito, malayo sa isa't-isa hanggang matutunan ng bawat isa ang halaga ng kapwa nila. Tama na ang sakit, hindi ko kailangan ng sakit ng ulo sa mga panahong ito. Oo, madami na akong naipundar pero ang pagsuko dahil sa mga simpleng bagay ay hindi dapat patawarin.

Kung nasaan ka man ngayon, maging masaya ka sana. I wish for your success and happiness to whatever you do. Hwag mo sana makalimutan ang masaya nating alaala at hindi yung mga pangit na mga pangyayari.

Sana muling magsama ang landas natin. Ma-miss kita :(

Graduation Day

2010-05-03T01:56:00.004+08:00

This was an overdue post. I acknowledge that but nonetheless, I need to post what I experienced during that day, the day that finally ended my 3 year post-graduate studies.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Just came from a race yesterday and Tagaytay, started the day by attending the early morning mass. Yep, I still lack sleep but I need to go to church to thank Him for making this day happen. Of course, it's God's will in the first place that I finally was able to make it to the finish line.

After the mass, we decided to get home and catch some sleep. I was not planning to attend the morning ceremonies since it was too early for me but I still pushed-on. I went to the recognition rites with my parents, brother and cousin. I wore the barong I bought a few weeks back (to You who chose this for me, thank you! :) ) and found it really elegant. It was simple in design but it served its purpose. I brought my camera as well to take photos of the event. I gave it to my brother in hope that he will take good shots of the event.

Sa simula pa lang sobrang gulo na namin. Para kaming mga nakawala sa koral. Ang saya-saya, picture dito, picture doon. We're like celebrities in our own rights :). May AVP rin ang batch namin, although sobrang simple niya, we appreciate the work done by our officemates (Adie, Asel and Karen). Lunch was also served after the events (bitin!!!).

We went to the University graduation after lunch. As if faith was smiling upon us, there were clouds! They were blocking the scorching heat of the sun such that it made us at least a bit comfortable for the event. Picture uli dito, picture uli doon. Para kaming mga celebrities uli na adik sa camera :). Pansin ko lang na kaunti lang ang umattend ng ceremony.

During the ceremony, kami ata ang pinakamakulit na batch na nandun. Halos puro pang-okray at bitterness ang binato namin sa mga summa cum laude's (c/o Hans, me and Marl). Oks lang, at least di boring ang aming graduation.

The ceremony ended quickly. Before 6 tapos na lahat pati pagtugtog ng UP naming Mahal. Nandun pa rin ang mga traditional na nag-rally para sabihin ang mga hinaing nila. Keber na lang kasi ayaw ng mga taong masira ang moment ng graduation nila. Nandun uli ang mga walang kamatayang picture-picture kung saan-saan.

Me, Garry and Marl decided to celebrate the event by having dinner at our favourite after-class venue, Dencio's. We reminisce the years we had in MTM plus met a couple of new friends (c/o Jobert). Drank a few bottle of beers while Don Isi joined us as we were almost drunk. Ang sayang magkwentuhan matapos ang lahat.

Overall it was tiring but a happy day for all of us. It formally closed the chapter of our lives and opened a new exciting path for the batch. I'm happy that I was able to finish the course within my planned timings but happier because we have a fantastic batchmates whom I shared the long journey.

To us graduates, congratulations and good luck to whatever the future has in-store for us.

Pictures can be found here

Zest-Air Bwiset

2010-05-02T13:25:00.003+08:00

Bingo na talaga sa akin ang Zest-Air. Punyemas na airline yan, talagang notorious sila sa operation nila sa Kalibo. Ngayon may malaking ekis na sila sa listahan ko ng airlines (Pulang-pula pa!!!)

Ito ang mga na-delayed naming flights:

Boracay 2007 -> First time sa Boracay, delayed ng isang oras. Understandable kasi first time sa Bora

Boracay 2008 -> 2nd time sa Boracay, may bagyo nun kaya delayed lahat ng flights. Ok lang sana na delayed dahil sa bagyo eh kaso nakakabanas na kailangan ka pa dalhin sa Kalibo para lang sa flight mo. Tapos ginawa pang free-for-all yung seating sa eroplano at may muntik pang magsuntukan sa likod namin!

Boracay 2008 (2nd trip) -> Hay naku... ni-cancel yung flight namin at ginawang mas late. Punyemas na yan

Boracay 2010 (last straw) -> Delayed ang flight for 4 hours. Made me missed my barkada's wedding yesterday. Really made my blood boil kasi its supposed to be a mini-reunion :(

Zest-air management, please hear this. Nagpalit kayo ng brand but not the quality of service. Still sucks after all these years and no wonder that there are numerous complaints about you. Sana naman mag-improve na kayo kasi kawawa naman yung mga taong pinili kayo for their flights.

This is the last time I'm going to use your service. Punyemas kayo...

Katangahan 101

2010-04-23T03:53:00.002+08:00

It was supposedly a fast trip back home from the store today. I started the car, opened the aircon then turned-on the radio. Then I remembered that I left my wallet at the trunk. So I opened up the door and went back to the trunk. As I pick it up, my spare key for the car fell down. So I was so curious and tested if it will work.

Guess what happened next, the key works for locking the car but not for opening it!!! I was stuck outside the car while the engine is still running. Tangina talaga!!! So I have to run from the store back to the main road and rode a jeep back home to get my spare tire. I was always looking at my watch and thank God, it only took me 20 minutes to get back and opened the car.

Moral of the story: Hwag tatanga-tanga. Masakit sa ulo...

Wow! Malas!

2010-04-19T22:01:00.002+08:00

Luck is really taking its toll on me right now. Too many evil things are happening such that its getting all on my nerves. However, I need to learn how to control my depression and sadness. I need to be calm as I approach the upcoming storms in its full strength.

Easier said than done but I need to control myself. I should. I don't want to lose my wits over the pouring rain. Hay. I only wish that I'm at the end of the line of these unfortunate events. It's really taking a toll on me, honestly. I hope and pray to God that he would show us the light of hope beyond the sea of tragedy.

Crap, ang emo ko pero kailangan ko siyang ilabas. Mahirap ang buhay ngayon lalo pang lumalala eh.

God, ikaw na muna bahala. Gusto ko muna magpahinga...

Globe Run Post-mortem write-up

2010-04-11T09:43:00.003+08:00

This is my first attempt to formally do a write-up about a run. And it is supposedly fun! :)

March 21 2010 marks the 2nd Globe Run For Home held at the Ayala Triangle. It was the first ever run which will start and end at the heart of the Makati CBD so I got excited about it. Also I've marked it as my "pambawi" run after an unsatisfactory record during my Unilab run (I was injured on that event and it caused me my PR :( ).

I'll categorize my comments about the race under the (+) and the (-):

(+)
- New route for seasoned runners. Most of the events that I joined was held in the Fort area and I was always looking forward for something new. Also the new route inside the heritage park was really challenging
- Tons of hydration stations! More than enough water, sports drink and banana to support the runners across the race
- The ice-cold sponge. I felt refreshed after squeezing one in my head and putting it at my back
- Freebies are abundant! (breakfast, magazines, bags, etc.)
- Medical help are everywhere. I saw a couple of ambulance throughout the route which were ready to help
- Bulk-registration discounts were cool! :)

(-)
- Registration logistics. Only one person was manning the registration booth doing all the chores. Imagine how long would it take to have 10 people registering 10 runners at a time!
- Bouncers during the event. I've read the comments from a running forum about how they affect the event. IMHO, bouncers belong to the club not to racing events
- Traffic control. We understand that it's challenging to control traffic since the race is held within the Makati CBD but it's equally important to consider the safety of the runners. I witnessed some close calls where the drivers were really insisting about crossing the intersections.

Overall, the event was a great as I'm guessing a lot had enjoyed both the race and post-race events. Kudos to the organizers!

Roughly 2 weeks

2010-04-09T15:46:00.003+08:00

I only have almost 2 weeks left before I move on. 3 years has passed since I held my post, grew and learned a lot from it. It's a mix of emotions as I saw it grew through the years, facing a lot of challenges and see all of them mature into who they are right now.

But I need to accept and embrace change. A door of opportunity has opened and I chose to enter it. It's a very tough decision but God-willingly, I would make it the right one.

Two-weeks away from a new life and I'm excited!

Secret Project

2010-04-08T13:19:00.000+08:00

I've got a secret project somewhere out there in the internet. It will be revealed soon after some events.

Watch out for it! :)

Easter Day for a twisted mind

2010-04-05T18:35:00.001+08:00

Easter is supposed to be a day of rejoicing for some of the Christian folks as Jesus rised from the grave and went to heaven. But what if there was a twist on how easter was celebrated? Being inspired with how Neil Gaiman mind works, I have my own top-5 alternative easter activities:

1. Instead of easter eggs, why not use landmines? They are both hard to find and finding one can give an excitement! Plus you'll really know that the kids have found their easter landmine (ka-boom).

2. Instead of easter bunny, why not have a deadly alligator/croc as the easter animal. Put the eggs on the mouth and see the fun it will bring to the crowd!

3. I heard this from Rex Navarette in his audio joke(?) that Christ told Paul on the day he will rise-up again, tell the whole world to paint eggs during Easter

4. Kids should be wearing Elmer Fudd costume and hunt down the Easter bunny. Give them some elephant live rounds and genuine shotgun, let the poor bunny run and shoot it like hell!

5. Make the Easter Bunny throw the eggs at the kids. The more he hits the better Easter is!

Don't worry, I'm not serious with these items. I just want to see an alternative violent Easter celebration (but nobody's stopping you from doing them :) )

Happy Easter Everyone!

Testing the capability to post blogs

2010-04-03T21:01:00.000+08:00

I'm literally happy with my phone right now. with it, i can easily update my blog whenever there is a wifi hotspot and even without my laptop. I'm glad i made a decision to switch to it early last month as it packs the feature i need for a phone on the go.

I heart my phone, costly but still it packs a lot of punches.

Now i only need to worry about my monthly phone bills. (crap!!!)

Investments paying off

2010-04-02T19:36:00.000+08:00

3 years have passed and my investments are indeed paying off already. Masters which I will be finishing this April and a small land I bought was already starting to bore some fruits. I'm happy as I saw them rolled out before my eyes even if it took a while to complete.

God really knows the best and I owe this all to Him.

Ang bukid

2010-04-01T21:03:00.001+08:00

Even though I lack sleep, I was forced to go to the farm today with my family. I woke up in a bad mood and really acted like a brat but towards the end of the day, it was a fun trip:

1. Enjoyed the fresh organic food from Tito Junior's bukid (tinolang manok na native, inihaw na mga isda tulad ng dalag, bulig at imelda pati saluyot at sitaw na sinabawan with fresh bagoong isda!)

2. Walked towards my tito's farm under the high noon sun! Literally sweating and exhausted after the long walk but its worth it. Amazed with the big mango trees and the big fish pond in the middle of his big farm! (with goose and ducks at the side)

3. Talked with him for my next business venture. We'll try to experiment on something new this year and hopefully I can get additional financing from my partners *wink *wink

4. After 3 years, the mangoes planted in my piece of land finally bore some fruits. Anak ng pating, pagkaliit pa lang pero ang laki ng mga prutas at ang dami!

Ended the day with pansit and iced tea. Mainit pero worth it ang trip. Will be back in the next set of days to establish our next project :)

Here are sample pictures of the mangoes:

More pictures here

All Terra King of the Mountain + post rants

2010-03-30T03:55:00.000+08:00

Even though that it is a messy weekend, I was able to enjoy at least the run in Timberland. It was my first trail run and I really enjoyed it because:

1. Change of route (sawa na ko sa Fort, UP at Manila route).
2. Challenging obstacles such as rocks, grasses, extreme uphills, potholes, snake(?), dogs, extreme downhill
3. Shirt was so cool (dry fit material which I could use for some run)
4. Dirty shoes (amp kasing-kulay ko yung sapatos ko pagtapos)
5. Siomai - the best siomai and mango juice breakfast this year
6. Subaru girls - enough said!
7. Crowd - 200 participants really made this race special. Less crowd means more organized race
8. Trophies - unique trophies talaga (made of bamboo)!
9. Accessibility - Well, I sort of got lost going to the venue (darn GPS doesn't work)
10. Takbo.ph peeps - wherever there are takbo.ph folks, there is always fun!

They declared that they will have the same race on June during the rainy months. Will I be joining it? Of course, I love to see how we can run on the muddy hills even if it is raining!

Trail Run is now part of my fave running event! :)

Pictures here

Immaturity

2010-03-28T02:38:00.000+08:00

Punyetang immaturity yan!!! Sometimes people tend to be immature but they need to know that it has a great impact to other folks. Ang hirap talaga tsong, tapos sakit pa talaga sa ulo! Being selfish will only cause pain na ayaw mo rin mangyari sa iyo.

Bakit kasi sinasara ang isip pag mainit ang dugo? Wala tuloy pinatutunguhan ang mga nagagawa. Hay... Sana talaga wag kang makarma sa mga pinagagawa mo at nakakainis na. Pasalamat ka at hindi ako mabilis magalit kungdi...

Kala ko pa naman magiging happy na ko starting yesterday pero may pagkakataong mabubuset ka ng di inaasahan (tangina talaga...)

3 races for April

2010-03-26T22:57:00.000+08:00

Registered for 3 races this April 2010:

- Mizuno Run (April 11) - 15K
- Nat Geo Run (April 18) - 10K
- Sundown Run (April 24) - 21K

April 24 is also the date for the HP Charity Run while the 25th is my graduation. I'm still thinking if I should do a 5K run the following morning (baka mamaya lawlaw dila na yung status during the ceremony!)

I need to get more mileage for my 1K goal at the end of this year. I want that 1K Bald Runner's club shirt so badly! :)

Go 1K mileage!

Thursday Malas

2010-03-25T16:54:00.000+08:00

Well, today is not starting good as I expected:

Nagising akong late so I wasn't able to keep one of my schedule.
Naubusan ng battery yung alarm key ng Vios. Amp, umuwi pa talaga ko ng bahay para lang makuha yung spare. Buti umabot ako sa grace period ng Number Coding. (late ko na rin napansin na iniwan ko pala yung wallet ko sa bahay which includes my license)
Missed another meeting due to in-flux of issues in work. And they disappeared into thin air after 30 mins. (gademit!)
Expenses this week due to thesis has increased by 3X more than expected. Budget is now getting low and I need to tighten my belt.
Last minute changes are killing me :(

I dunno how to repel such things from happening but I should be more careful next time. Para atang may kumulam sa akin. Hay, may on-going turmoil pa which is also giving me a hard-time.

Sometimes gusto kong gamitin yung quote ni UltraRunner "Ultra-running doesn't need thinking". Kung pwede lang ganun para sumimple ang buhay :(

God, please help (kailangan ko ba kayong suhulan?)

Impatience took its toll

2010-03-25T02:40:00.000+08:00

Yes, I am impatient. I don't like to wait and I always look for ways to hasten everything up. But this is a bad habit as I ended up doing additional work or stuff to worry about. Like today, due to my impatience, I need to repeat something again from scratch. Sayang ang resources! :(

I should have consulted my adviser before I did it. Although it can be done, it still wasted a lot of effort to finish something very important.

Hay, need to have more patience or else I'll really grew old in turbo mode.

Revisions...

2010-03-21T18:07:00.001+08:00

Ang daming pinapa-revise sa paper ko. Hay, kala ko pa naman tapos na ko :(

Wala na namang tulugan to.

13 km away from being half-away

2010-03-18T03:26:00.000+08:00

During the start of this year, I swore that I will be reaching my 1K running mileage by the end of this year. Tracking my progress, I'm only 13 km away from reaching half of it already. Trainings and more races (minimum of 21K per race) and I'll be on my way to being member of the 1K bald runner club.

Wish me luck! :)

Towards the light at the end of the tunnel

2010-03-16T01:36:00.000+08:00

A dream with 3-years in the making... Two more weeks and I'm finally free from the University again.I will get to build again the things that I have lost along the way, the sacrifices I made to get it and regain the life I put aside to gain it. Hay, it was a very tiring journey but I really hope that I will be able to get what I worked hard for.

A few more days... kaunting tiis na lang... sa wakas, makukuha ko din siya...

Taking back something

2010-02-16T04:22:00.001+08:00

I want to take back one of my post. My rants has been answered mysteriously by a complete blessing!

Thank you Lord! :D

Feb 25

2010-02-16T04:19:00.000+08:00

I only have a handful of days left before the deadline of my first thesis draft. Until now, sumasakit ang ulo ko para sa theoretical framework at di ko siya maintindihan. Mukhang ilang gabi na naman akong walang tulog nito.

I really need a freaking inspiration to complete my thesis

2009 in a nutshell

2009-12-31T13:21:00.000+08:00

2009 is such a memorable year for me. I would like to say it could have given me some reasons to smile but I would believe it is the most painful year for me.

Happiness in the forms of:

-> Travel, I have a few roadtrips and long vacation including my first business trip in the US
-> I've learned how to drive a "matic" car the hard way and was able to go back to SFO without getting caught
-> This is my last semester in UP Diliman. I hope that I will graduate on time
-> I've got a new camera body and a bunch of new lenses. I've sold my old gear to gain back some of the funds as well
-> I've got a very high running mileage this year. Been active with running since I got back from the US to lose a few pounds but eventually it became a passion! From 5K -> 10K -> 21K -> 32K, wow! It's been a very productive running year
-> New friends and groups: Active again with RACE barkada and Takbo.ph. :D
-> Got a new car which replaced my old Rev-O. Loving every day with my new ride (Zoom-zoom!):D
-> Mickey's new pups which brought some new joy here at home

But there are a lot of pains this year:

-> Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in Luzon. A significant number of people lost their homes and loved ones because of the onslaught it brought
-> Work-related stuff. Changes which shattered my morale and to think twice if I will be pursuing my career in my current work
-> A lot of personal issues with a few folks due to my stubborness and arrogance. Tried saving a couple of folks but I didn't get any thanks in return. Sorry guys for being like this, I'll try to minimize it in the next year
-> Opening up the shell and lowering down the shield to expose the reality inside. It hurts when it is often misinterpreted and I believe this is where Karma sinks in.
-> A big number of frustrations which builds-up and waiting to explode. I really hate the feeling that almost every week in the last few months that I have some new issues or problems which I have to face alone. What makes me sick is they are not related to me but I need to do something to fix them all

I wouldn't say I hate 2009 but I would like to thank it for the important lessons it taught me and let me grow as a person. I'm looking forward to what 2010 has in-store for me but I hope it will help me recover from the year which was 2009.

Happy new year everyone!

Amador Daguio

2009-12-29T12:01:00.000+08:00

During our trip in Pinatubo last Saturday, we had a side-trip to the Capas Shrine. The huge needle surrounded by marble walls was truly an eye-candy for anybody who went there. The walls bear the name of all those patriots and veteran who marched from Bataan to Capas, Tarlac during the war.

But what struck me most was a line of a poem from Amador Daguio at the end of one of the walls. It says:

"And when the world shall wake again, from the grim decay to growth and beauty, let no one know my pain, but i have done my humble duty..."

Wow! This was one of those things that struck me by the heart; I easily connected with the message it was trying to relay.

Now I'm a fan of Amador. I'll search more of his poems and put it here in my blog.

One on one

2009-12-09T19:27:00.000+08:00

Had a one-on-one session with my mentor today in Starbucks. I just want to release this disappointment which is lingering in my chest since that announcement. Was it good? I think so as now I have a bigger idea on how such decisions were made plus a few more inputs to help clear the topic. It was hard and bottomline is the final decision will be with me alone which I agree.

Thanks Marc for being patient with my angst and doing your best to explain the current scenario we have in our company. I have learned a lot; I will use this info to explain to other folks as well to understand such decisions.

Post-Corregidor Report

2009-12-08T00:22:00.000+08:00

One of the most fantastic run I had this year. Very tough course, lovely weather and breath-taking scenery would make this run a worthwhile to remember.

Kudos to the organizers for this race!

Corregidor fun!

2009-12-05T20:26:00.000+08:00

I'm excited for my trip tomorrow! It's my first time to be in Corregidor and I'm going to enjoy every part of it :). Together with the takbo.ph folks and one of my hs buddies, I would be running 10 miles of rugged terrain.

What excites me more is the thrill of somebody wishing me luck for this run. I hope that I can get a good PR tomorrow minus the freaking cramps and haggard slowdowns.

See you tomorrow at the rock!

Long Weekend

2009-11-30T21:58:00.000+08:00

Minus the ka-eklatan of support stuff today, it was a fairly nice weekend. 3 freakin' escalations closed on the nick of time because of my team's dedication and collaboration made me a very stressed guy towards the end of last week. I did some progress for my TM 299 project, created a more sensible outline and camped out in the TMC library.

I deserve to have a long vacation after this...

Good news!

2009-11-24T13:34:00.000+08:00

Not! 2 years straight is really really painful and impacts our morale. Where are all the support that we getting after the hard work that we were able to deliver?

Once is painful, Twice will really kill you... I don't want to say this but shattering our momentum will really fire back at you.

Too depressed right now to discuss. I want to rant but I can't freaking think right now.

Time for plan B

My screwed-up body clock

2009-11-24T03:54:00.000+08:00

Since I moved to my current work, my body-clock was really messed-up. Being global does have a price and I don't know how much damage it did to my body. Well, I can still run at 5 am in the morning even without sleep but when I read the article sent by my former officemate, I think I need to think twice (not enough sleep = increase in the possibility of having a heart attack).

Well, I'm a nocturnal person and I'm more productive at night. But thinking about that article really changed my mind about my sleeping habits.

I need to do something soon... :(

Thesis Series (Part 1)

2009-11-21T15:25:00.001+08:00

As I've said, this quarter is very bloody for me as I need (1) to finish my studies and (2) expand my work responsibilities. I'll start discussing about (1) as it is really quite exciting and challenging at the same time.

I have changed my thesis topic thrice already this week and it's not really fun. Why? Because each topic, I have to create a long proposal and have it approved by my adviser. I've been literally a zombie by staying until wee hours of the morning drafting and preparing for my proposal. All of these while I have a training in the morning (kamusta naman di ba?).

Oh well, I have to accept this as it is my first step to freedom. Can't wait for March 2010!

Vacation after-math

2009-11-21T14:54:00.000+08:00

It's been days since I've last posted here (and I promised myself that I will be posting DAILY). Anyway. I've been busy with a few stuff lately in both work and school. But why should I be ranting about them when my topic is about vacation in the wonderful land of Boracay?

It's really not as exciting as its used to be because I've been in that island for 4x already. Yeah, 3x last year will really took all of the excitement away but that didn't prevent me from returning. Why? Bora has the most wonderful beach in all of the beaches that I had visited. White powdery sand, crystal-clear water, excellent weather and a lot of activities are just a few things that I really miss about that place. Plus an array of cool companions sparked at least some excitement towards the trip.

As a summary, here's what I love about the trip:

- HS barkada -> sa lahat ng kalokohan natin, mga pre dito ako talaga saludo
- New Friends -> Linus made a few friends in the island. A few bottle of red horse and gilbey's premium made it possible. Plus the friends of Karel who really love to party
- Weather -> It's been raining cats and dogs here in Manila but our prayers have been answered to clear the sky away. Very lovely blue sky with just the right amount of sea breeze. Heat is tolerable since the christmas season is just around the corner.
- Food trip -> When you're with Enton, you will never get hungry! From the buffet of oysters (oo, sangkatutak na talaba) up to the the sober-up serving of balut, it will really satisfy your cravings
- Photo-whoring moments -> minsan ka lang mapunta ng bora, take the picture like a lolang bakla (nyahahahahaha). Seriously, photos are really abundant all through the trip
- Manong guide -> very good rates for the activities I've lined-up for my friends. And a walking travel encyclopedia as well. (if you're going to bora, I recommend that you hook up with him for your activities. Just let me know and I'll post his number here :) )
- Sunset - Of course,the legendary sunset at the beach. Never leave the island without the majestic shot

As for the downsides:

Zest-air -> hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle-hassle!!!!!!!!!! They re-booked our flight too frequently and in a very uncomfortable schedule. Damn it, we arrived at 4 pm in the afternoon and almost missed the beautiful sunset. Don't be fooled by the low rates as it is really-really-really not good. The returning flight is also a freaking hassle as we arrived at the airport 4 hours before the flight as we were hoping to buy some stuff in Kalibo. Damn it, the van arrived at exactly 2 hours before the freaking flight; when we got to the airport, it was already boarding time :(

Work -> wee hours in the morning with a freaking escalation. I didn't bring my laptop but still work is hounding me like my leg is bounded by a long ball and chain. Thanks to my team who helped though, you're the best!

I think that's probably it for my 5th time in Boracay. No excitement but surely it was a very memorable moment for me :). Pictures are still not available as I haven't even edited them yet but I'll try to do my uploads by tomorrow.

A 6th time in the island? Yep, I'll definitely go for it :)

Pre-vacation eklat

2009-11-06T00:52:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow I will be on official vacation till this Sunday to a great place somewhere in the middle of the Philippines. And yes, I won't bring my laptop with me (I got all of my bases covered in work, bigyan ko sila ng pasalubong when I get back).

Hopefully, I won't be paged for any escalations or issues during my short vacation (Lord, I've been good this year, please lang hwag niyo naman lagyan ako ng sakit ng ulo sa aking munting bakasyon).

By the way, I officially hate Zest-Air for moving our flight in a short notice!!!

See you after 3 days! (I'll post the pictures once I'm back) :)

A new name doesn't mean anything

2009-11-05T12:17:00.000+08:00

A lot of companies/products nowadays are switching to a new name. What's the reason? Probably to re-package their services into a new persona and get a piece of the market.

BUT (yes there is a big BUT) they forgot to improve their own service/product. Changing your brand name doesn't mean it magically removes the flaws and issues of the same product. For example, Smart changed it's broadband brand into Smart bro probably to hide or shadow the flunks it got when they initially offered the service. Did it made any difference? Well, yes it does in the eyes of a common individual who never tried it before but still has the same cranky and lousy service. In-fairness, they had a significant improvement in-terms of the service but still it can't remove the previous performance or experience of those who used it before.

Why am I writing this? BECAUSE DARN ZEST-AIR GAVE AN ADVISORY A DAY BEFORE MY FLIGHT THAT IT IS MOVED TO A MUCH LATER TIME!!! I don't know, I thought moving to a new brand name will remove the very lousy service we experienced from Asian Spirit before but alas, all of the changes are more into the outside image only. It's like painting a freaking old car instead of changing its engine parts to improve the performance.

I'm really disappointed as I'm looking forward for this vacation and yet, a lousy service messed it up already. I hope it will not get worst... (positive thoughts insert here :( )

Ang beerbash (bow!)

2009-11-05T00:58:00.000+08:00

Since walang beerbash si etspi, we agreed to have a small version of the beerbash with our group in Trelli's. Di makukumpleto ang FY kung wala ang beer (kahit maliit lang sa population namin ang umiinom).

It was a chance to get-to-know the new hires, get-away from the stress of work and have a good time kahit sa maliit na paraan. I did enjoy the beer, food, stories and laughter (hay naku, ang mga hirit!!!) :). Mas masaya kasi sagot ni papa Jonjon ang majority ng gastos! (I did give a small part as well as I promised)

Wala man beerbash, may G-Web party naman! Nyahahahahahaha!

Ang alamat ng enrollment sa Peyups

2009-11-04T16:40:00.000+08:00

Ngayon ko naintindihan uli ang joke na UP = University of Pila! Kung kailan last sem ko na tsaka pa talaga nangyari :(.

Scenario: Bayaran sa OUR
Characters: Ako (bida)
Katabing chick (leading lady)
Mga peyups student (mga dakilang extra)

Scene 1: 11:00 am -> sa pag-aakalang mabilis lang ang pilahan sa bayaran ng OUR, dun ko binalak bayaran ang aking matrikula. Salamat sa BPI (langya kayo, lahat ng ATM niyo offline kahapon!) at hindi ako nakapagbayad agad nung unang araw ko sa enrollment.

Pagdating sa OUR, nagtanong kung saan ang pila ng bayaran. Turo naman si leading lady sa pilang pagka-haba-haba. Take note, talagang mahaba siya kasi pati 2nd floor ng OUR umabot siya at pumalibot pa! Anak ng pating, mapapasubo ata ako :(

11:15 am -> Naisipan kong nandito na rin ako kaya pinuntahan ko na ang dulo ng pila at "pumila". Ayos lang kasi may matching upuan naman at hindi nakakangalay maghintay. May electric fan din pala na nakakalat sa lugar ng pilahan kaya di rin mainitan. Nakausap ko pa uli si leading lady habang nasa pila at nagtanong ng ilang bagay-bagay tungkol sa buhay niya (ang conversation sa susunod na post ko).

12:00 pm -> Inabot ko ang dulo ng 2nd floor na pila. Take note, dulo ng pila papuntang first floor para sa part two ng pilahan blues ko sa enrollment. Di mo maiwasan din na makinig sa hagikgikan at usapan ng ilang estudyante habang nabuburyong ka na sa kakahintay sa pila (nalaman ko ang isa dun ay graduating na pero di sigurado kung kaya pang suportahan ng pamilya ang kaniyang pag-aaral :( )

12:30 pm -> Nababaliw na ko sa kakahintay. Deliryo na ata sa banas ng mga nangyayari kasi sobrang bagal. Pero parang may naghimala at bumilis uli ang galaw niya pagtapos ng 5 minuto! Balik na uli ang ngiti sa mukha ko

12:45 pm -> Anak ng pating bumagal na naman. Isang tawagan na lang at nandun na ko sa loob. Pero no, masama ang tadhana. Ayaw ata talaga ko patapusin sa del.... sabay pinapasok nila kami! Yeh...

12:50 pm -> Banas, magsasaya na sana ko ng makita ko kung ano nangyayari sa loob. Naka-break ang tatlo sa apat na kahera at naging sanhi ng pagbagal ng pila. Sayang ang binandera nila sa labas na "Walang lunch break" daw ang bayaran. Hay....

1:00 pm -> Natapos ang aking paghihirap. Ito na ang simula ng aking huling semestre sa UP....

:D

November 2 = boring day

2009-11-02T15:16:00.000+08:00

Bored. Oo, bored ako ngayon. Ewan ko ba, nasanay siguro akong nakikipaghabulan sa deadlines, nakikipag-away at nagtrabaho hanggang sa madaling araw. Ngayong walang magawa, bored naman ako.

This is absolutely outrageous. I should be enjoying this day na walang gaanong ginagawa kasi pagbalik ko sa opisina, balik na naman ako sa routine ng buhay ko. Syet...

Oo nga pala, enrollment na naman. Last semester na (yehey!!!) at sana makatapos na ko. But wait, thesis sem na pala ito so sakit na naman sa ulo. Mukhang kakainin ko na naman ang salitang "bored" next month.

I should really be enjoying this day. Takbo na nga lang muna ko sa UP...