With three more PT sessions left, I decided that it is about time that I started training again, even if it involves running short distances only. This morning, I was able to do a 5k walk and a 6k run.  Instead of running in the MOA complex due to the volume of the participants in today’s GMA Kapuso Fun Run, I ran towards the PICC area and then went home.     Runners (or walkers ?) on their way to the Mall of Asia Compound More participants along Macapagal Avenue When I reached home, I felt really good – I haven’t felt like this in weeks Oh by the way, the lock laces are really good – you can wear and remove your shoes...

At the starting line of last week’s  “A  G.O.O.D.  Run”, I was asked by one of the big bosses where I work from if the emecees get paid . I said I think so . He then said that may we should organize our own race  so that we can reap the benfits of the current running boom in our country ; I said we should think of a great name for our race …. I think it has almost been two years since I last joined a 10k race; the reason for which is practicality: I needed to do long back to back weekend runs – and of course the cost.  I joined this one because we have been sponsored by one of our office’s Principals – they would pay 500 bucks : this means that I only had to pay 100 bucks to join the race. Another reason is that  I haven’t ran in almost 1 month due to my injury (my therapist advised against joining this race) – running this race would be a welcome against the monotony of staying indoors during the weekends. What they say about being “de-trained” is true – I had a hard time finsihing this race – the panting was so heavy that I had to to take walk breaks all through out the course – not that I am complaining, after all I can’t run as fast as I want to due to my injury. I finished this race with a chip time of 63 minutes.     Race Result On another note, I have just recently acquired a pair of lock laces which I used on my Asics GT 2140.   My ever-dependable Asics. Let’s see how this one goes...

Prologue I was hoping this year, I would go full circle : from being a pacer during the 1st Bataan Death March Ultramarthon, support crew driver last year and finally a finisher. Well, what can I say ? Just like all those who have hoped to finish their first 102km race , I stood at the starting line happy that finally all these months of hardships are coming to an end as the realization of owning my first ever BDM trophy draws near – only to find out later that it wasn’t meant to be.   Preparation Perhaps anybody who would run their first 102 km race will really seriously train months ahead for it – I followed the schedule , I did my best to gain mileage – no rain nor spells of sleepiness would get in my way to train; I figured that I should also train for sleeplessness since the race would start late in the evening and eventually end late in the afternoon. I even joined endurance activities  like  “THE” fat-ass and joined midnight runs of ultra runner friends who were preparing for their  1st BDM 100 miler – not even supernatural manifestations stopped me then. Every week was ultra distance weekend for me as training required me to run an ultra marathon distance every weekend. For the mental part, I already had a goal- I was dead set on finishing it  the earliest time possible: I have already strategized how to handle the first  7 kilometers as well as the rolling terrain of the first 20+ kilometers. Everything was planned  :  from my apparel, my running shoes, my first aid kit , my food and hydration up to how long it should take me to reach Abucay, my pace...

I can still remember the time when I first listened to new wave music, I was a freshman in high school then. It was one of those mundane afternoons where I was scanning the frequency modulation band for relaxing music to listen to while solving Algebra problems. That moment  had  rippled through my life – the attitude, the rock and roll lifestyle and most of all the music – finally, an alternative to the jokes from the supposedly number one pop radio station at the time. The last few days of their broadcast were great  : Zach and Joey in the morning (in the afternoon and in cyberspace) and Tom Lupton’s eulogy to mention a few, brought back happy  memories from 23 years ago. Thank you NU 107 for rocking this runner’s life.    ...

  This morning, I was able to run almost 30 KM.  I feel a sense of accomplishment- it has been almost 4 months since I have stopped running due to an ankle injury and work related training during Sundays.  The only other long run that  I completed before this  was running 25km during the Milo half-marathon ( yup, i added loops before heading for the finish line). It’s also my first time to run that distance alone ; you see running  that long by yourself is very difficult. It’s a good thing that I brought my iPod with me to keep me entertained. I  had to take a different route for this run since MOA was filled by the participants of the Rexona Run.   Cones lined along Macapagal Avenue … This is the first time I ran this route alone … When I reached the Quirino Grandstand, I was looking for the mosaic containing President Cory’s pictures but didn’t find any … This is the distance I have covered upon reaching the Quirino Grandstand according to my GPS watch. It seems that I wasn’t the only one doing a long run this morning – I met Pat of Takbo.ph twice. Upon reaching the 28th KM I suddenly felt weak,l then I remembered :  I didn’t eat breakfast! Almost 30 KM – I had to stop due to the heat; next week I’ll try to start...