I have been running for over 2 years now and I have to admit that it gets a bit redundant and dreary sometimes. However, I find that inspiring other people adds spice to any activity you may engage in.
It takes great pleasure to know that I have helped inspire over people to start running, to join races and to finish.
From good friends to former officemates, from hubby’s friends to my business partners, I continue to spread the good health benefits of running. Even regular runners like myself sometimes need pick me uppers!
Take the case of one of my good run buddies, Maridol. We joined a small, well-organized race in Greenhills called Greenfinity Run last week. She wasn’t feeling peachy that day so at the 3km mark, she wanted to quit. It was a 16k race. Now, I know her. I know for a fact that she will regret not finishing this race. It will eat her and cause undue stress. So I said no. She cannot quit and that I will run with her even if we have to walk all the way to the finish line.
I stayed with her, made her laugh, paced her (although I would sometimes run ahead just to challenge her which kinda worked), poured cold water on her and pushed her until she reached the finish line. I didn’t bother with my own time. I can run another 16k race anyway. And she finished the race. I think I was happier to know that I got her to cross that finish line.
Sometimes it’s good to experience a different kind of high when you help somebody achieve what they thought was an impossible task. It makes me feel more human…more myself.
Inspired by Friendship
Something happened to me when I crossed the finish line. I became a runner. It makes me feel so good about myself. I’m no longer afraid of anything because I’ve seen what I’m capable of.
Heather Walsh, runner and liver donor
Yes! You read it right! Run BGC 2011 will be a multi-sport event. Aside from the run event, you have the option to join a simple flag football competition. You start with the run portion of the race, move to an individual play of catching a football, defending your flags after which you will have to shift back to running towards the finish line.
I’m not a fan of football, american or european or any kind of football sad to say. I mean I can probably watch it with hubby but I don’t think I can ever play it. Too bad as I was a strong kicker back in the day. Lost my right big toe due to that sport. Annnnndddd now back to the main topic…
The event will happen in November 27. Can you guess where? Of course in Bonifacio Global City! It is Run BGC after all! Details are below:
Race Categories & Fees
3km P500
3km w/ flag football P500
5km P600
5km w/ flag football P600
10km P700
Registration Sites
Toby’s/RUNNR
-Level 1 Shangri-la Mall
-Bonifacio High Street
-GF Entertainment Mall, SM MOA
Planet Sports
-2F Trinoma, QC
-2F Glorietta, Makati
The Athlete’s Foot
-3F Robinson’s Galleria
-2F Twin Cinema Arcade, Alabang Town Center
Registration is until November 23.
The Run BGC Flag Football Mechanics:
-This is an individual play where a runner would need to catch the football and defend his flags.
-Runner steps inside the flag football zone and gets fitted with a flagbelt. He cues up in his designated lane.
-A quarterback gives him the go signal to sprint to the 5-yard marker. Runner turns back to face the quarterback who will then throw him a football. Runner should try to catch the ball.
-After catching the ball, runner turns around and again sprints to the end zone while defending his flags from the defender/s.
Ruuunnnnnnnn! Defense!
-When he gets to the end zone, he then sprints back to the starting area with his flags and football to finish the course.
So for something different, I suggest for you to sign up. I’ll be doing the 5km with flag football 😀
See even kids can do it!
See you at the starting line!
Ruuuunnnnnnn! Defense!
Another Exciting Race!
I can’t believe it’s already November and I haven’t trained for my 32k Run United 3 race yet. Gulp! My November is full of races and I am really excited 🙂
See you at the starting line!
As part of my “self motivation” plan to get back into shape, I decided to “inspire” friends new to running to join races and our regular trainings.
My first project was Chie, a friend who used to join aero-marathons (yes, there is such an event in their world). She ran her 1st 21k or I should say 23-something k with me last year during QCIM. There’s Cyril and MM, friends who decided that I have “deceived” them into thinking that they can run. Hey, M did 5k already so I’m already proud of her achievement. And there is Cary, hubby’s friend, who started running with Tris, another of hubby’s friends.
Cary was running his 1st 10k when hubby decided to run with him. This was during the Earth Day run last August. We started to run together almost every Tuesday and Thursday in BGC. I knew that he had the makings of a person who would have running addictus so I decided to help him build his confidence by providing simple tips, teaching him running drills, planning his training for the evening and eventually motivating him to sign up for his 1st 21k. And sign up he did!
Race Day
Hubby decided to tag along to be our unofficial photographer and support which was great! At least I can assure Cary that he will have good photos.
Guntime for the 21k was at 5:15am. Cary arrived at the venue 4:05am. Talk about excited.
All Ready!
We both agreed that we will do a 4:1 Galloway Run-Walk throughout the entire course. But I told him that my target time for him was sub-3 so he can beat Noy’s time. Hehe! He kept on saying that it was enough that he finishes the race. No can do…I secretly said to myself.
Race Proper
I finally figured out how to remove that really irritating beeping sound of my Garmin so I relied on it time our intervals. Unfortunately Cary had the sniffles so he had a hard time breathing. Oh no….
So far so good. Kalayaan Flyover, no problem! It started raining by the time we hit Buendia-Makati Ave. I was hoping that it wouldn’t dampen Cary’s spirits and it didn’t! In fact, he looked like he was enjoying it.
It was smooth sailing all the way until km8. When I proudly told Cary that we were already at km8, he was like “Ha? 8k pa lang?”. I told him…”No Cary, 8k na! That’s how you’re suppose to react.” I told hi that running long distance is all about your will and mental preparedness to finish that race. You are against your own person and positive thinking will always bring you across that finish line.
We then saw Noy at the bottom of the Kalayaan Flyover. He gave us some water to drink and I told him to take a photo of Cary as soon as he hits Km11. This was his farthest race km marker! Haha! But as always, no such luck! Hubby really doesn’t have the skill to be a photographer. Booo!
I told Noy to take a photo of Cary by the km 11 marker not me! Fail!
We left Noy as soon as we got back to BGC. He wanted to wait for us by the finish line. I allowed Cary some down time as I could see that he was having a hard time breathing.
By the time we got to the BHS/Serendra area, I began to push him again.
Last 6k
6k to go!
Since the IS, EveryNation area was part of our weekly regular route, we did not have a hard time running through this neck of the woods. I would tell him stories about my first few races, my first Half, my first full mary. I provided him tips on how to regulate his breathing and how to prevent cramps and side stitches. I wanted to push him more. I knew that he would beat hubby’s 1st HM time and I wanted him to beat mine but he was happy with just finishing the race. It was a pleasant last few kms before the finish line.
Last 800k
Goodness, Cary was negotiating with me. He wanted to walk until the curb where the finish line would be. I declined and told him to just slowly jog and to not stop. He agreed 🙂 He also agree to run alongside of me as I strived to sprint towards the finish line.
FINISH
I told Noy to make sure he takes a lot of photos of Cary running towards the finish. And what did I get?….
Finishing photo!
All’s well that ends well! Cary got his 1st Pikermi Finisher’s medal. We finished the race at 2hr 50mins! Not bad at all! He beat hubby’s 3:22 finish. But missed mine my more than a mile :p
Congrats Cary!
To Cary, I know that you will be a stronger runner than me one day. And let’s train together to make sure that happens! Cheers!
Yahoo!
If you’ve been following my training and running mishaps, you would know that I failed to run the Men’s Health Urbanathlon last year as I misplaced my race kit. And until now, I still have no idea where I placed it. It’s a good thing that there are second chances 😉
I attended the Men’s Health Urbanathlon bloggers’ night last week and just the same as last year, it was hosted by the very funny metro male (with a female voice), Arlo Vicencio from Summit. Again, I am a fan!
Arlo doing his thing 🙂
This year’s event will be more challenging as the organizers added a new obstacle in the form of Monkey Bars. My upper body strength is close to nil. I can’t even do a single pull up so good luck to me!
In addition to the new obstacle, they also added a new distance. Aside from just 5k and 10k, they now have a 15k distance. Great for those who really want to punish themselves! Haha!
Event Details:
Date – November 13, 2011
Venue – Bonifacio Global City
Distance – 5k, 10k and 15k
Registration Fees –
5k -P750
10k -P750
15k -P800
Registration period – Septmebr 16 – October 16
Race fee inclusions – Race bib, uber cool Urbanathlon shirt and a 3-month subscription to Men’s Health
NOTE: Venue was changed to BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY not MOA
Hubby signed up for the 5k race. Unfortunately, my Urbanathlon dreams will have to wait ’til next year as I’m running 32k at the Run United event. Sigh…shattered again…
But don’t let anything spoil your Urbanathlon dreams. Hubby will see you at the starting line 🙂
Last year, I almost completed the three legs of Coach Rio’s Runrio Trilogy. My personal PR for 21k was achieved during the Century Tuna Run- Runrio Leg 1. Fresh from my 1st full mary, I ran the Nature Valley Run – Runrio Leg 2, a week after my TBR Dream Marathon debut. I was so looking forward to running the Afroman Distance of 32k during the Run United 2 Leg 3 of Runrio Trilogy 2010 but vacation plans with hubby came in the way. I was bathing beneath the Boracay sun. Well…it wasn’t a complete lost.
This time, I will get to participate in the last leg of the Runrio Trilogy, Run United 3. And yes, I will be joining the Afroman distance.
During the bloggers’ get-together, Runrio head honcho, Coach Rio dela Cruz was there to personally give a briefing on how the event would look like.
Being briefed by the main man himself
Unlike its predecessors, this race will be held in the SM Mall of Asia grounds instead of the usual Bonifacio Global City. Coach Rio said that this decision was due to the need to accommodate more runners and the need for more parking spaces. THis was a good call as he is estimating 20,000 runners to be participating in the event. WOW! TWENTY THOUSAND! WOW! But even with 20,000 slots, you need to register early as this is one of the year’s most anticipated races and kits will most likely sell like hotcakes.
Running at the grounds of MOA and the nearby vicinity expect a flat course. However, for the Afroman distance (32k) and probably the 21k, expect a bit of a challenge as the initial course map, which by the way has yet to be finalized, showed some uphill flyover encounters. Time to tone those gluts!
Cool depiction of what each route would look like
Expect also excellent quality singlets, a Unilab Active Health Kit which we all know would be filled with lots of goodies, a hassle free online & iPad registration, timing chip, discounts from Toby’s, RUNNR & Planet Sports and a post-race analysis. 21k and 32k finishers will get medals and finishers shirts.
Event Singlet by New Balance
Medals ❤
32k Finisher's Shirt Study ❤ ❤ One of the reasons why I chose to run the Afroman distance
Here are the details:
Event Name : Run United 3 –
RunRio Trilogy 2011 Leg 3
Event Date : Sunday , November 13, 2011
Race Owner : Unilab
Race Organizer : RunRio, Inc.
Distance : 500m (kids category), 3k, 5k, 10k, 15k, 21k, 32k
Please note that the 500m kids category 5-12yo. Parents should be present during the registration.
Registration
ONLINE: October 3 to 30, 2011
*IN-STORE: October 3 to November 6, 2011
RUNNR – BGC
RUNNR- Shangrila
Planet Sports – Glorietta
Planet Sports – Alabang Town Center
The Athletes Foot – Galleria
Planet Sports – Trinoma
Unilab Head Office
*In-store registration will start on October 7 instead as there were delays in the delivery of singlets due to typhoon Pedring.
Fees and Inclusions
Fees and Inclusions
- For you concerns, please contact (CALL ONLY) any of the following RunRio hotline numbers (10am – 6pm, Monday to Friday CALL ONLY) :
Globe 0916 5709220 / 0906 2237330 Smart 0929 7178164 / 0947 5323737 Landline (632) 703-1736 - RunRio Email Addresses:
- Timing and Race Results: runriotiming@gmail.com
- Pre-Race Kits: runrio.racekits@gmail.com
- Other concerns and Feedback: runriofeedback@gmail.com
After much photo opps, we headed to the starting line to wait for the gun start. I bumped into Ultra hotness goodness Vicky Ras who I knew was gunning for a podium finish. I jokingly told her to stay in front so she can be with the “elites”.
Me with Team CB International
Group Pic
And off we go…
Our master plan was to follow a 3:1 Galloway program. I didn’t realize that there would be LOTS of hills (Argo, you said it was all downhill! Arrgh! LOL!) long the route so we changed it from 3:1 to 3:1 + walk break on uphills. Cool plan huh?
0k-15km
We took our sweet time in Tagaytay even stopping for a not so quick break in 7-11 to pee. Running beside Taal Lake was exhilarating. Even hubby was having fun telling me that he hasn’t appreciated Tagaytay fully until that very moment. Unfortunately, his leg started to cramp at km10. So much for our 3:1 plan…
Enjoying Tagaytay
Still in Tagaytay. Noy's updating his FB.
16k-30k
Ok, running an ultra distance is VERY challenging. Aside from the length of the race, one had to deal with issues such as:
1. Being side swept – We are encouraged to run on the left side of the road, facing the incoming traffic. However, there are vehicles on the opposite lane who hastily overtake vehicles in front of them thereby driving right beside you with probably just inches in between. SCARY!
2. Running on uneven surfaces – Since running on the asphalted or cemented portion of the road is probably not the wisest thing to do (remember side sweeping buses/trucks?), we had to run on the “shoulder” or “side walk” (if any) which is made of either dirt with rocks or gravel. I tripped probably more than a dozen times. Klutz!
Am I the only one with the fear of getting side swept?
3. Horse and dog sh*t – A serious problem? Probably not. Ha!
4. Stray dogs – I AM SCARED OF STRAY DOGS. I kid you not. I had to wait for Noy to run right beside me so I wouldn’t have to deal with these dogs alone. He kept on saying “walk and look straight, don’t look at them, they can sense your fear” and he would laugh at the relief on my face overtime we’d safely pass a dog by.
Unfortunately, hubby’s leg prevented him from running at a previous agreed pace so we took plenty of walk breaks. That and him updating his Facebook really slowed us down.
Still updating his FB. Ho-hum...
My feet were starting to get blisters so I decided to change my shoes and socks. Big mistake! It made it worse so by the time we hot 30k, I had to change it back to my trusty Nike Lunar Glides.
Spirit’s still high. We were still ok. Enjoying nature (beside the highway…)
TC (dont know how to do B)
30k-42k
It was Noy, Ellen and I running/walking together now. I was starting to get impatient. Whenever we’d pass our support vehicle, I’d tell Maridol to not allow Noy to stop.
I then computed our pace vs our remaining time till cut-off and I told realized that with our current pace, we wouldn’t make cut-off. I could already feel pain on my right heel, and at the side of my left knee (ITBS is here!!!)
We had to pick up the pace. I know I envisioned crossing the finish line, hand-in-hand with the love of my life, but I knew that if I waited for him, I won’t make cut-off. So at 35k, I made a decision…Ellen and I went ahead. Noy got left behind. Love of my life or cut-off….CUT-OFF! LOL! Sorry my love!
We struggled to hasten our pace. But pain due to my ITBS was so bad that I had to take pain killers. Celebrex is my friend.
Last 8k
Where in the world is that Jollibee?! I have been running alone now as Ellen was having issues with her breathing. I turned off my Garmin when we hit 42k so I didn’t know how far I was. I was struggling with stray dogs, speeding vehicles all by myself. Wow! Running an ultra gets really lonely…
Last 2k Wilnar and Maridol said. I handed Wilnar my hydration belt and took my Team DB singlet from Maridol. Two kilometers shouldn’t be too bad. I’ll be done in about 16mins or so. I thought to myself, yes…I can do this.
Last 1.5k. Freak! I can’t do this! Maridol quickly tell me that I only had 10 minutes before cut-off. I had to run fast to make it. Since we were already in town, weaving through passing tricycles, people and vehicles was not easy. I even had to cross the road alone. Thing is, I don’t know how to cross a street without the green and red man telling you when to stop and when to go. I quickly calmed my nerves and hurriedly crossed and made my way towards the finish area.
Seeing my friends by the finish line, cheering me on gave me another boost of adrenaline which allowed me to scream and sprint towards the finish line.
Amidst all the cheering, the fireworks (I could’ve sworn there were fireworks)…
Sprinting towards the finish line
Screaming towards the finish line
I MADE IT!!! I finished my first ultramarathon and the best part is, I made the cut-off! 8 hours 59 minutes and some number of seconds. OMG! The joy!!!
Made it!
Marvin gave me a bouquet of flowers from my Team CB. After I received my finishers medal from BR, I hugged my friends, said my thank you, ate my food, cheered Ellen on as she crossed the finish line and worryingly waited for Noy to arrive.
with BR and my finisher's medal
Hubby crossed the finish line in 10 hours 15 minutes. I am proud of my dearest husband. He had major blister issues which prevented him from running. Seeing him finishing the race, all smiles, in good spirits, having the energy to crack a joke, brought tears to my eyes.
Noy approaching the finish line (trying to open his shirt)
And his shirt's open...
BR, Noy and his finisher's medal
Me with BR and Noy
Truly this was one hellava ride. One which I probably would not do again. “Probably”. Noy’s already planning his next ultra 😉
I want to thank our fabulous support crew…MARIDOL YABUT and WILNAR IGLESIA plus our driver BONG. You guys are the best! To my Team CB! Thank you for the support! I love you all!!!
PS Argo, BI ka! ;p ❤
Thursday September 15
Upon the advice of my doctor/brother-in-law, I rested my legs and avoided any strenuous form of activities that will strain my shins. Fine by me. I’ve been feeling down in the dumps, having a bout of PMS. Crap! Monthly visitor, why now?
Needing some pick me uppers, I booked hubby and I for a spa date in Tian Di Urban Spa in San Juan. I have read good reviews about this place and I look forward to experiencing this slice of heaven on earth.
Tian Di Urban Spa
We absolutely loved the place. The ambiance of the house, the massage itself and even the food was enjoyable. We plan to go back for a post-ultra treat.
Friday September 16
Oh what a crappy morning. My mood’s has gone from worse to worst! I found myself losing my patience with our family driver; getting pissed at Noy for not leaving any money for the driver’s parking and running late for an early morning meeting. To top it off, I have not finished doing grocery shopping for supplies for tomorrow’s event. Yikes! This will be a long day.
I had a full day meeting at work and was only able to get off at 530pm. I headed straight to the grocery to quickly grab supplies. I hit the sack as soon as I got home at 630pm. Unfortunately, I woke up at 830pm no longer feeling sleepy. It’s been 5 days since I have gotten a full night’s rest. Darn insomnia. I fixed my gear and that of hubby’s too. I decided to run with my trusted Nike Lunar Glides with my NB 1063’s as back up; my ever reliable 2XU tights which I plan to retire soon and a long sleeved dri-fit shirt which was a gift by a good friend exactly a year back. Wore it only once. Isn’t there a rule that I’m not suppose to wear anything new during a long distance race? Oh well…
I tried to get some sleep after packing but to no avail, I got out of bed after an hour, ate, took a shower and got ready to leave at 2am.
I will be running with hubby, of course, and a teammate from Happy Feet, James Rosca who I supposedly “coerced” into joining T2N when we bumped into each other in BHS during a training run. So not true!
Our group will be supported by Team CB teammates, Maridol Yabut and Wilnar Iglesia. Wilnar, an experienced ultramarathon runner having finished 1st during earlier this year’s BDM 160k race (you read it right…ONE HUNDRED SIXTY KILOMETERS), will be supporting moi. How cool is that?
Maridol was already in my place raring to leave. We left as soon as James arrived to meet up with Wilnar, who was out running at two in the morning. What the?….
Saturday September 17
After a quick stop at Mercato in Fort, Maridol had to claim her Dream TBR Marathon certificate, we headed to Tagaytay.
We arrived Tagaytay at 330am. Still too early to be heading to the starting line, we hanged out in Jollibee to fuel up. I can already feel that this is going to be a long day. (How many times have I said this?)
Chilling in Jollibee Tagaytay
Thank you to my Team CB for this banner!
At the starting line, we greeted runner friends and acquaintances. Saw friends from Takbo.ph all wishing me good luck. Friends from Team CB, Team Boring, came to give me a high five and a quick hug. I can feel the excitement in the air! I was getting excited myself. But I realized that my Garmin’s strap broke. Eeep! Another bad sign? I told myself that this will be over in 9 hours time. Eeep! 9 hours? What have I gotten myself into?
To be continued…
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