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...

With Fingers Crossed The time it took for me to finish a 10KM trail run is faster than what it took me to finish the QCIM-10km run. It would have been easier if I had enough sleep (my trouble with getting a decent rest before a run is starting to sound really monotonous). People say, “you always have to make time to train”… a daytime job, three projects, and a couple more coming in from the west makes me want to “run in place” and build on that stamina! Well, if only my imagination were strong enough to make my body believe that it’s training while working. Good luck with that.   Carbo-Loading slash Quezon City International Marathon Press Conference On a not-so-hectic day for me after work, I had to run to Salcedo to give my strawberry cheesecake gift to a friend who will be celebrating her birthday that night (but one I couldn’t attend) because of a baby shower I had to go to in Shaw.   I ended up dropping by Quezon City circle for the Carbo-Loading get-together where Kenyans participating in the race were present.     Pacers were also presented: Jonel of Team Hardcore, Isko Lapira, Abet of Camanava Runners, some of whom I got introduced to that night.   Koyah Iskoh Pacers! Pacers Onstage! Flapjacks for dinner! Yaaayy! Below are vids from the get-together and advise these Kenyan runners provided     Quezon City International Marathon – Interview on Kenyan Runners Run. Walk. Run. Ambushed. Run. Got there at 4am, waited for Bolt to start on the marathon AND went to one of the benches to get some shuteye.   We were told the 10KM’s gun off was gonna be at 5:45am so I got up at 5:20...

…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...

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...

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...

      After almost half a year and four months of no physical activity due to my foot injury, but now I’m back.   At some point, my foot did start to hurt but whenever I asked myself the question: do I stop? The answer has to be NO. I’m gonna have to update this entry again later, but I thought it would be fun to post some goofing around after the race…   Find out how Kuya Eugene and Kuya Ian (being a bit “under the weather” cos of flu) finished their half marathon. Har de har har 😀  Music definitely played a large part in making me a bit more relaxed while I waited for them at the finish line! One of the hosts was right…it’s like Woodstock in a race event. I can’t remember who the musicians were but they definitely kicked ass playing their instruments! Definitely loved the one below....