Nope, I am not yet 42 years old; but I am still a virgin when it comes to running a full marathon.     The  farthest I have covered is around 37k,-that was when me and Ian were pacing ultra runner friend Isko during last summer’s Bataan Death March 102k. I am still not sure how this is going to turn out, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. hehehe   I hope the dude in pink knows what he is getting himself into …   By the way, I went to Adidas this morning and registered for the KOTR which happens the day after ...

12 minutes late(and gasping for air .. again!)  – that was my reaction when I saw the 21k timer at the starting line. I was hoping that I arrived just in time but the queue in  the parking area was so long.  At that point I was already contemplating on running the 15k race instead. Fortunately, Ian Alacar (the race director) was very supportive in giving me directions for the 21k race route and off I went to run the 21k race alone. This was the first time that I ran alone in order to catch up with runners who started way ahead of me. The thing is, I have already sprinted (without any warm up) to the starting line from the parking area ; and here I am again literally sprinting to catch up with the runners. I was already walking before I reached the first KM. Who was I fooling ? I couldn’t reach them no matter what – or so I thought, after about an hour and after the fast 15k runners went past me, I was able to catch up with the last 20 percent of the 21k runners. It was only at this point that I felt good about myself This was a well-organized race, I mean if it weren’t for the road signs and the helpful men in uniform, I wouldn’t have been able to catch up with the runners from my race. The only thing is, I thought that we were still going to run another loop as we returned to the McKinley area – so you could imagine my surprise when we were told that there were only 400 meters left before the finish line. This would have been a close to perfect race, were it not...

    Knowing how bad the weather would be , I decided to arrive early for this road race. I arrived at  around 4:45 am.  When I got there,  it was announced that the race was moved to 5:30 am due to the rain. There was a warm-up exercise before the start of the 21k event,  I entered the coral  as the said exercise was about to end. I saw some runner friends and had a chat with them – and then it happened, the gun was fired and off we went. For me, this was a well-organized race.  There were adequate water and gatorade stations along the route, plus …  I was able to run in the Glorietta area even though it was raining very hard I finsihed the race at 2:24 (unofficial), just a few more minutes and i’ll be able to beat my personal best at 2:18. It’s timely though, that it was raining during a run dedicated to saving Mother...

I feel really good today. Finally, I was able to squeeze in some “me” time. The air by the bay never smelled better. The golden rays of the sun (even for a while) was like a shower of blessings  brought forth by the Almighty. Such is the high of one who has been “quarantined” from running by one’s mediocre job for quite a number of pressure-filled days. So high that I have seen my favorite running place from a different point of view.  ...

…and so being stubborn (from not having enough sleep to still running on race events and LSD-ing with Bolt) had its “fruitful” effect: almost an entire week vacancy from work, spent at the hospital. From splitting headaches, to fluctuating fever, and sudden nausea.    So, after a couple of weeks I decided to attend another 10K race event (yes, without training), which was Globe’s “Run For Home”       … and that’s when I learned two things the hard way: NEVER will I drink 100plus EVER AGAIN because it messed up my stomach …     and I won’t be running for another month or two because it was during this run I realized that I DID get hospitalized and that I needed more rest.     So, it began: a series of no-run weekends and just chilling with some of my people…     and one of the best parts: VIP tickets for Nine Inch Nails – Live in Manila with Arman and Paul! A “spellBLINDING” experience — check out the lights!     …continued hanging out with some of my best buds…     …ordered a huge-ass pizza for my officemates   and celebrated that night with the greatest of friends (pictures I have yet to post here …Mark! Upload already! :D) After more than a month-long vacation, I realized that I needed to get back on running…too much of no workout and/or exercise is gonna make me “dazed and confused” again! So, tomorrow I got into the list of attendees for the “RUNNR Academy: The Science of RUNNING” and I am just as excited as a little kid waiting for her mom to buy her candies and chocolates when they hit the mall on a sunday-family-day get-together! Woohoo! See y’all...

  Training or practice is an important part of any endeavor one chooses, be it in the field of sports or not. While BOTAK has once again redeemed itself from what happened in last May’s full marathon event, I have done the opposite and have continued on my downhill course. Since this would be my first time to run in UP, I went to UP at around 5am because I am not familiar with the place, just like Ian, the last time I have been here was when I took the UPCAT a very long time ago. I didn’t imagine that looking for a parking spot was difficult in UP (or maybe I was too early), I was also surprised that there were a lot of one way streets inside the campus. Anyway, after a while I was able to find a parking spot and met up with running friends Isko and Ian. Isko told me that he had just ran from Trinoma to UP. I also saw BDM veteran Jonel (bugobugo85) and Dhenz (runningpinoy). The race started on time and there I was trying to cope with Isko and Ian’s “slow pace”. I don’t know what happened but after less than 30 minutes, I just suddenly felt weak. Running, for me suddenly became a Herculean task. It seems that all those sleepless nights in the office is starting to take its toll on me. The 10 mile race course will require us to run the same route 3 times. – that is ok with me since I was enjoying the large trees that were providing shade to the runners. The only thing though, was that at the end of every loop, you will have to pass through the starting line where the mood...

      The urbanite run was indeed unique – in a lot of aspects, champion chip included. This is my first time to run a night race, and apparently the first time for more than 3000 other runners. It’s a good thing that I decided to arrive at the venue early – because at around 6pm (2 hours before the race), the parking slots were already full – I think this is due to the accumulated mass between the regular shoppers at BHS and those who would be running the evening race. I thought that since this was a night race, it would be a refreshing and relaxing activity. I was wrong – it was very humid that night; and the proximity of the other runners as well as the spot lights weren’t helping either. The 15k race started at around 8:15 pm. I was expecting all the streets to be well lit – well, it was, the street lights were doing their job. You see, I thought that the organizers would be using “extra” lights to make the path “more” visible – but that’s ok; it was still fun. While we were running the “darker” parts of the cemetery, the only thing that was left to see were the glowing “light sticks” (I don’t know what they are called) which were given to the runners. Most runners have used them either as bracelets or ornaments for their bibs. Somehow one can’t help but wonder if that is all that one sees in the darkness and not actual spiritual orbs. Hehehe This is fun – organizers should do it more often. Kenny’s Open 2009 Urbanite Run   A light moment with NandN after the race 😀  ...

I checked  takbo.ph the day before in order to find out if there was going to be a MOA group run in memory of the late President Aquino, but I didn’t find any – I decided to run anyway. So at around 6:00 am,  I was already geared up and waiting for the rain to stop or at least for the disturbance to “downgrade” itself to a drizzle – but everytime it does, it comes back again forceful than before. I texted running friends Isko and Ian wondering if they would also run. Isko was already running at The Fort with BR and the hardcores, while Ian was rowing.     The rain – as if the heavens were mourning for the loss of a great leader.       By the time I decided to run in the rain (it’s difficult to dry your shoes in this weather) Ian texted me that he can join me in my MOA run.  So we parked our cars in Esplanade and off we went to enjoy an easy, relaxing, refreshing albeit wet  12k – a much needed run for both of us; and what is important is that we were able to pay tribute in our own little way to our former leader. Thank you, President Aquino....

  4:17 AM – This can’t be right,  the last thing I remember was hitting the snooze button of my mobile phone’s alarm clock about an hour ago! So off I hurriedly went to the starting line of Globe’s Run for Home  at the NBC tent. I thought that I wouldn’t make it on time because of the long queue towards the parking area behind ROX which was reserved for VIPs. It’s a good thing though that I have already installed the champion chip on my shoe the night before.           The Preparation This part I like the most, like an obedient running student, I did my best  to consume a lot of carbs after getting my race packet from BHS last Friday.         I also ate more the night before :       You know, I think that I did this part so well that I have loaded enough carbs for an Ultramarathon. Ha! Hmm … does it say in the manual that I really have to run in order to prepare for a half-marathon ?   Barely Making It I can still remember running towards the starting line when the voice over the PA system is  telling the 21k runners  that the race is about to start in 45 seconds. I was able to make it about 5 seconds before I heard the gun. It was about this time when I started my stretching routine. There were a lot of participants in this race that it really took time to dash from the starting line up to the entrance of the corral. For a minute there, I thought that this was the 5k race   Paligsahan ng Palakasan ng Busina  What can I say...

My first run was with Joanne, Ava, and Irene in the PSE Bull Run back in January 2008. Never really trained for it…just woke up one day, went to the race and tried to finish it. Haha. Gotta work on discipline tho, cos until now it seems that I’ve never really stopped doing that for a race. Ugh. The trend in 2008 to present: running era with my ladies -> work-indulgence -> running-after-working-hours -> foot operation -> lsd-ing with my brother and his friends -> and yes, work indulgence again -> hospitalization a little more than a couple of weeks ago. My training? Sleep whenever I can, and some positivity. Tomorrow (or later…in a matter of minutes) would definitely be a reunion. The ladies will be there, some of my batchmates from college, my officemates, and my brother and his friends. Everyone will be joining in on the “chip” fun. Quite a hectic schedule for me too. After the run, I’ll be meeting up with some of my friends back in college (whose wedding we’re currently coordinating), the son of my cousin’s birthday party in KFC (woot!), and head down south to watch Wanders (thanks to Miss AJZ and Mr. GV for the passes–yes, they gotta be in codes)!     I don’t mind if it rains tomorrow because I’ll be running again so tonight is with feel-good vibes, and I’ve been listening to Jamiroquai’s “Corner of the Earth”: “Little darlin’ don’t you see the sun is shining just for you, only today. If you hurry you can get a ray on you…” Tomorrow is a long day, so I’ll start heading home now: to the direction of the bed for a little bit of sleep, and making sure all the alarms go off...

There are billions of reasons why people run. The one I find the funniest was what Joanne said after Adidas King of the Road 2008, when we ate this huge-ass servings of pancakes at Flapjacks without feeling guilty at all. “May nasunog na naman tayo eh, time to fill it up again.” Bwahahaha. I haven’t used that loveable lame excuse for a long time now. A little before I got hospitalized (the blog entry about it is still a draft … as many of my entries imported here from my previous blog), I have cut down on food. I’ve always thought that making me lighter would make me run faster (people who make lame reasons tend to have lame logic as well hahaha). The melodramatic part is I’ve been cutting down on a lot of things as well. Cutting down communication with people I don’t want to be hanging out with: emotional vampires, parasites who cling for made-believe affection, and just plain lies. I could hold them all off by being indifferent with just the snap of my fingers but I knew I had to run all the pressure and stress off sometime. Even the skies were gloomy. I would have gone for a run last night, had it not been raining, had I not been discharged from the hospital a little more than a week ago, and had it not been darker than the usual late nights I spend working on freelance projects. The sun is out now and I’ve been listening to a very calming song since yesterday: Kaskade – Empty Streets. I’ve posted it below, and you will notice that it is as relaxing as a night you have envisioned to be, when suddenly nobody and nothing exists around you. The...

After staying in Cebu for a week plus all the free meals that I have consumed, I decided to do my usual long slow run yesterday. But to my dismay, I woke up late. I guess I’m still tired from work. Luckily, I was able to wake up early today (that was around 5:15 am, is that still early? heheh).  By the time I got to MOA, the streets were still a bit wet, probably from last night’s downpour. So I did my usual stretching and ran my usual route, but as I was running along Esplanade, I suddenly felt pain on my left knee. Uh-oh … I guess I haven’t fully recovered from last week’s 21k.     Chocolate – In case I get cramps   But then again … I thought that maybe the endorphins haven’t kicked in yet and true enough, after around ten minutes of limping and running – the pain disappeared. While traversing Roxas Boulevard, I have noticed that the south-bound lane was closed to vehicular traffic. “Could there be another race ?” Yup there was definitely a race – I think it’s the PNP fun run thing. Since the road was available, I decided to run with the registered runners. I’d prefer running on asphalt rather than the brick-like sidewalk of Roxas Boulevard without the fear of being side-swiped by incoming traffic. On my way back from KM 0, I have noticed that it was crowded along the Pedro Gil area. It seems that there is a dragon boat event and that the rowers were doing their warm-ups. I tried to look for my friend Ian who is also a rower but to no avail. It was around this point when it got a bit cloudy and my mp3...

    For me, that phrase equates to what others may deem an ode.  Although I missed the cut-off by one minute, it was still one hell of an experience. For this race, I left my car at home and instead took a cab from my house to Km 0 due to the anticipated traffic and lack of parking space. I was  early enough to  see the  lead pack of the 42k runners along Roxas Boulevard on my way to  KM 0.  I arrived at  the starting area at around 4:45  am. The atmosphere in the starting area was festive, the kids who I think are joining the 3km race are all over the place, excited as if they are going to be handed out goodies just by joining the event. The way I see it, the Milo marathon touches every participant’s life, be it the grade school children or the oldest runner. I myself, have always looked forward to joining this event ever since I was a kid. Thanks to the internet and informative sites such as Takbo.ph, I can now easily get information on road races in the Metro with just a click of the mouse. When I entered the corral, I saw Ian, my officemates and other familiar faces. After the warm-up the 21k race started on time (what else do you expect from a Rudy Biscocho race ?).  There were a lot of water stations , no .. not just water stations but cold Gatorade aid stations! So my excuse of not finishing this race due to dehydration is just simply .. gone The race went well, the organizers were able to cordon a part of Roxas Boulevard for the safety of the runners. There were water trucks (I think...

Last Sunday, I was contemplating on whether I should join the Men’s Health All Terrain Race or do an easy run along the Metro. I chose the latter. You see the problem with trail runs is that they are usually held far away. I don’t have enough cash for gas and besides my trail running shoelaces have been damaged during my last trail run. They aren’t ordinary laces (kevlar) so I still have to wait for the replacement set to arrive. As I was running along Roxas Boulevard, I was suprised to see a water aid station near PICC. Hmm .. could it be that there is a road race which was not announced in Takbo.ph ? I arrived at the KM 0 marker with no incident and as I was eating my Kit-kat Wafer bar, I have noticed a support vehicle running along Roxas Boulevard followed by a group of runners. It seems that there was indeed a race and it started late (around 6:20 am). I think this is a “special” race because aside from regular runners, I saw people in their wheel chairs joining the race. It was a sight to behold, too bad that I wasn’t able to take pictures of them. At that time, since I have already depleted my water supply, I thought of running as a bandit with this race but then again, I was too shy to do so. I folowed the runners until I entered the PICC compound. It was a relaxing run plus I also now know how it feels to be a spectator in a road race. I have learned a few things from this experience : Bring cash in small denominations. Since my car is parked in MOA, I wasn’t able to drink...

It’s been more than a week that I have slept late before the Mizuno Infinity Run 2009 when I read of Mr. Rene Peñas’ passing. The last speech he gave to a crowd of well-off people, recounting what he has done, made the attempt of any urban creature at anything noble, just seemed futile compared to what he has already achieved. As posted in the link to the particular article I read from GMANews.TV, it states that “In 2007 he led a 1,770-kilometer protest march from Bukidnon to Manila.” Wow. How far can a runner go when his principles are at stake and not just a table of Personal Records to beat? Is it possible for a race event to be organized, and make the proceeds go to the farmers he has left orphaned now? Too many questions, and yet I know: the answers trying to scream out of our souls, will just burn to the ground, turn to ashes and dust…that our feet will continue to pound on. “Everybody’s got a vision, everybody’s got a plan…” – Diane Birch     “Walang imposible kung manindigan lamang at magkaisa.”...

I have experienced pain in both my knees during last week’s Mizuno run so I decided not to join any road race this weekend and instead do a long easy run. Since this is an Independence Day weekend, I decided to run from MOA up to Luneta and back. I have brought with me  a bottle of Gatorade and 2 Milo bars just in case I get hungry. I arrived at MOA at around 5:30am and started my long slow run from there. I felt ecstatic being able to train again after four months of  stress. The stress from work isn’t over yet but I’m glad I was able to take a break today. I have seen a few runners doing their long runs along the way: I even saw a lady wearing her Mizuno finisher’s singlet. Let me share with you some pictures I took while running:   Milo Bar Bay Walk Bay Walk Manila Yacht Club PICC KM 0 Bulova Luneta Luneta Job Fair Breakfast after the run...

…or so I thought. Wrong again, said Bolt. It’s long slow distance. Say what? Since we won’t be able to trail run this weekend (Bolt’s been swamped with his systems analyst job tasks and I, with freelance web design projects), we’ll be running our own route just for kicks. Haha…yes, this is our definition of fun. Har de har har. Been checking on schedule and postings on Takbo.ph and I think I really need to do some more training if I want to keep up with what’s there. That’s IF my left foot will cooperate and not start to hurt again tomorrow…err, I mean later during the run…which reminds me, I need to rest! I’d literally be seeing diamonds in the sky going around my head if I run tomorrow (okay, I mean later!!!!!!!!) without enough rest and food. Tata! Something chillaxin to listen to before I go to sleep and what I’d prolly be listening to during the run tomorrow:  ...

  350 for 15K Distance of Mizuno’s Infinity Run 2009     “Gasping for Air” – That is the first thought that comes into mind whenever I would think of this year’s Mizuno Infinity race. I have unexpectedly went beyond my comfortable pace as I was 2 minutes late and was desperately trying to position myself in the middle pack. It didn’t also help that I have been doing overtime work for the past 4 months (read: zero training). However, things got slightly better as we descended the Kalayaan flyover on our way to the NAPOLCOM building. I was feeling refreshed, being able to establish my position, I ran at a comfortable pace. The run was generally safe and hassle free. Law enforcement and the easily identifiable marshals did their job well in holding off the ill-tempered drivers. I thought that I was going to DNF when I suddenly felt light-headed after we crossed Dian Street. I had to stop running and as what I always read in Sir Jovie’s blog – I listened to my body. I drank some Gatorade from my hand held bottle and took in some Sports Beans. After a minute or so, I started feeling better and decided to jog. The high point of the race for me was when I realized that we were already at the turn-around point in Bautista Street – ha! just a few more meters from the LRT station and I would be home. =) In fact, I was really tempted to DNF and take the train home were it not for the parked car in BHS. The idea of having ran half of the race course probably boosted my morale to push myself once more and before I realized it, I was already at...

The Fort, Taguig June 7, 2009 I woke up this morning remembering the last Mizuno run I participated in last year, and realized…haha! I ran 10KM there and I’m still running the same distance today. I’ve always believed that when you want to do something…the trick is to always believe. That’s what got me going for awhile now, but this time, I know the sequel to that is: consistency is the key. Race started at around 6:00am and as usual, I got to open the race kit in the car already, after waking up from a 3-hour nap. Yes, a nap. I usually sleep light before a race…and it’s only usually before a race that I do get to sleep.   Mizuno – Infinity Run Time Trials 2009: 10K Race   The killer word: Kalayaan! It never occurred to me that such a liberating word could actually trigger something traumatic from the past. Haha. The first time I joined an event with this route was in Adidas King of The Road in 2008. The words that came out of my mouth after: NEVER AGAIN will I join any race passing through this flyover. Then again, if you’re the type to never check the map online before having yourself registered for a kit…then never say never 😉 Botak was the second for me passing through Kalayaan (some of my so-called-rantings can be found somewhere in this so-called-blog har de har har) and my only reaction: I shook my head and wished I’ve put sunblock on. So I decided to not complain and just finish the race as soon as I can. I got to the turn-around point at about 00:34– beating my personal time for previous 5K races, but a little after that, I think...

A long run every week I am currently in the office right now performing tasks that would make my mediocre job seem well, just that -mediocre. Anyway, as I was browsing takbo.ph , I have noticed that there is another 10k run on July 12. I was just thinking that maybe due to the popularity of the sport, organizers should organize a long run every week – say 21k (21k is long for me) so that we won’t have to “run” again after we cross the finish line. You see, my weekend runs are the only source of endorphins that I get because of the sudden additional work (read:stress) that I have to do in the office. I can’t train anymore on weekdays like I used to. As they say, the longer the run … the more endorphins you get. Now tell me, has my running addiciton affected my mind...