I’ve been off my game for months now. My last long run was the Condura Skyway Marathon (Half Marathon for me) last February and before that was a 24k run last December during the QCIM. I blame it on my eyes.
Yes, you read it right. My eyes.
I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 12 and contact lenses back in the 90s. When I got back from the US end of September, both my eyes was diagnosed to have Kerititis, inflammation of the corneas. This was probably the result of contact lens abuse. I would wear my lens for 14-16 hours straight which is a big no-no. Since I was traveling from state to state and had a hectic schedule, I pulled out the no choice card. My doctor told me to rest my eyes from contact lens for 2 weeks. After a month, my eyes were still rejecting my lenses and I ended up wearing spectacles most of the day.
This resulted in a tremendous drop in my running and exercise regimen. From my usual 3x a week training runs, I ran 3x a month. From my daily yoga workouts, I ended up doing it once a week. I tried to take up dancing and spinning even with my glasses on but it was still uncomfortable. I gained weight because of this.
Eventually, I had to resort to Laser Surgery to get my eyesight back.
Now, almost a week post-op, I now have 20/20 vision. Although I still cannot run, I should at least be 2 weeks post-op before trying, swim after a month, I know that I am back on the road to a better me…10 pounds later 🙂
See you at the finish line 😉
The World Youth Day Run
Back in 1995, my grandfather, sister, an ex-boyfriend and I camped in the grounds of Rizal Park to participate in the World Youth Day celebration and to try and catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. Close to 5 million people attended the event. I remember singing the official song of the event “Tell The World of His Love”. It was such a memorable experience. This including my grandfather’s traffic harrowing driving after the event made it unforgettable 🙂
World Youth Day 1995
To celebrate the beautification of Pope John Paul II and in support of the Archdiocese of Manila’s preparatory activities for the upcoming World Youth Day gathering in Madrid, Spain on August 2011, The World Youth Day Fun Run was organized. The aim of this event is to raise funds to send finance the trip of our youth delegates to the WYD celebration this year.
World Youth Day Fun Run
May 1, 2011, 500am
CCP Complex
Race to be followed by Holy Mass celebration at 7am.
REGISTRATION FEES
3K – Php400
5k – Php500
10k- Php650
GUN TIME
3k – 540am
5k – 535am
10k – 530am
REGISTRATION SITES
ROX, Chris Sports Megamall, SM MOA, Glorietta and SM City Annex, A Runners Circle, and All Parishes in the Archdiocese of Metro Manila
You may also register online.
See you all there!
I love running. I love running that I really don’t mind waking up early to run. But it is different for my hubby, Noy.
Hubby is a night owl. Even during work days, he would stay up until 1am only to wake up at 630am the next day. Thankfully, our 5yo sometimes manages to coax him into putting him to bed early so he ends up falling asleep as well. This is the only time he can get enough shut eye.
As much as Noy loves to run, he abhors having to wake up early for a race. This is why the Takbo.ph Nightfest would be a perfect event for him. Aside from the fact that it happens early evening, Takbo.ph is our running family so we really have to be there.
Event Beneficiary
We also support the event’s beneficiary Runners on a Mission (R.O.A.M.) led by Craig and Michelle Logan. R.O.A.M. supports the Child’s Dream Foundation. This foundation helps children with special needs get treatment they require. They will have access to Physical and Occupational Therapy sessions, free consultations and medications. It is a mission very close to our hearts as our precious 5yo is a special child. We know how it is to feel helpless, not knowing how to can make things better for your child. But with access to treatment and early intervention, we were able to cope. And with the help of R.O.A.M. and the Child’s Dream Foundation, numerous special needs children and their families will finally be able to feel the same way.
Race Details
Date and Time: April 9, 2011 6pm
Events: 5K/10K
Venue: Filinvest Alabang
Beneficiary: Runners on a Mission (R.O.A.M.)
Registration fee: P650
Registration sites: Skechers Stores (Festival Mall, Glorietta 5, Market Market, Trinoma, Robinson’s Ermita)
All registered runners get a 10% OFF on Skechers Resistance Runner(SRR), race bib and a race shirt. FREE SRR Shirts for early registrants.
I ❤ the shirt!
Register early and you might get this shirt for free! 🙂
Sponsors:
Nature Valley
Candy Corner (Sports Beans on the route)
GSM Blue
Pocari Sweat (Official sports drink)
Magnolia Life Drink and Pure Water
Gardenia
Soleus (Display Timer)
Activities:
There will be a Dance Showdown by Skechers w/ DJ Music by GSM Blue and a Photo booth.
My 1st race (3k) back in 2009 was held in Alabang. Now, both marathoners, we’re going back to run 10k. How time flies!
Race Map:
Let’s do this! See you at the starting line.
I know you might think I’m crazy but I do believe that more than anything, running especially long distance running is a mind game.
The Truth
Case in point, I probably outweigh one of my running buddies by about 10 pounds. We have the same height which means we probably have the same leg length. She’s a gym buff and I’m an overweight, workaholic who barely has time to workout. I can run a 10k race faster than her by probably 10-15mins. Make it even a 21k run. Why is that? Because she doesn’t believe she can do it. It’s all about mental preparedness. It doesn’t mean that I eat a 10k run for breakfast, it just means that I mentally KNOW I can finish a 10k run. I can envision that finish line, I can see myself crossing that line and I cannot wait for my after-run breakfast.
Amongst the running group I have joined, I am most active in a team called Team CB. Our team’s motto is “di masyadong mabilis, pero cute” (we’re not that fast but we’re hot…no i meant….cute”). And as funny as it is, this statement is so true! Except for the cute part. You be the judge of that :p When you look at some of our member’s race finish times, you would see that most of us would be average to slow. Of course, there are those who run, whatever the distance, as if they’re being chased by a pack of wolves…Wilnar, Earl, Argo, Allan, Tere, Grace….our breed of monsters. And there are those like me, who are a bunch of slackers (sorry guys) but have happily finished at least one marathon. And there are those who may have ran their 1st full marathon, the slowest amongst the team, but have conquered a 102k ultramarathon. Unbelievable you say? Believe it because it’s the truth.
My Team (Photo c/o Daie)
You might be thinking that these guys are probably the perfect athletes who train almost everyday, who probably have bodies like Gods and Godnesses, who live, breath and drink running. Well some do but I kid you not when I say the majority DO NOT. I can say though that they live and breath videoke and out of town group trips ;p And yet they have achieved so much by finishing at least a 102k ultramarathon and some even a 160k ultramarathon. AMAZING!!! As they would always say, it’s all in the mind. They believed they can and they did. They knew that they can cross that finish line and they did. They knew that they are mentally and physically prepared and prepared they became. Preparing to run a long distance race takes a lot of physical effort and a lot more mental preparation. Even if you are as fit as Sylvester Stallone during his Rocky days, if you don’t believe you can run even 21k, then you won’t be able.
Maybe one day, I will have that mental preparedness to run 102 kilometers. Maybe next year? 🙂
An All Women’s Run, a dream for many lady runners out there is now finally happening! Women’s Health Philippines and Athena collaborated to stage their first-ever ALL WOMEN’S RUN on March 19, 5AM at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.
I was invited by Summit to attend the blogger’s night last Monday. I’ve always look forward to attending events by Summit. Aside from seeing most of by blogger-running friends there, I get to enjoy the humor of their host. The Men’s Helath Urbanathlon 2010 blogger’s night was one of the most enjoyable blogger’s conferences I have attended. I’m a huge fan of wit and a girl big on funny. And they did not disappoint that night.
Christine Ongteco, Team Publisher for Summit, hosted the event and I was happy to have met her. A year ago, I read that she together with Lara Palparan and another friend joined the relay edition of IronMan 70.3. She did the swim part. What struck me most about her was that she practically didn’t know how to swim and trained only a few months before the event. OMG! And yet, even with minimal training, she clocked in after an hour for a 1.9km swim. I was thinking, if she can do it, then there is still hope for me. The whole team even landed a podium finish. WOW! What an inspiration. After I read the article, I seriously considered registering for the next CamSur Half IronMan relay. Unfortunately, my work schedule did not permit me to do so. Boooo! Maybe next year?
Going back to the reason for this entry, here are the top things you need to know about the Women’s Health All Women’s Run
1. It’s an All Women’s Run. No boys, no spitting boys, no sweaty boys, no stinky boys, no boys peeing at the side of the road…. Oh wait, I was pertaining to my 4 boys ;p For those of you who live at home as the only girl, you will appreciate this event.
2. There will be free mani/pedis and massages after the event. Yes, you read it right! Absolute pampering! Such is a life of a girl 🙂
3. Instead of a typical Manila envelop being used to store the kit or a plastic bag for the post-race goodies, you will be given a Women’s Health race bag. What will you do with this bag? Bring it with you to the event! You will need it when you collect freebies and goodies from sponsors like PhCare, Celeteque, MyraE, Goody, BananaBoat, Playtex, Century and many more.
4. Finisher’s bracelet. Instead of a finisher’s medal, a finisher’s charm bracelet will be given to 5k and 10k finishers. How kikay!
5. Racer-back singlet. This is another reason why you should join, the singlet is an absolute delight to look at!
Remember girls: You will need to be wearing this when you cross the finish line in order to qualify for the finisher’s bracelet.
6. And to top it off, the race director is Coach Rio dela Cruz. This means that safety, hydration and an excellent route will be waiting for us. That means the use of D-Tag technology to accurately measure your finish time.
Race Details:
What: All Women’s Run by Women’s Health and Athena
When: March 19 at 5am
Where: SM Mall of Asia grounds (parking in front of IMAX)
Distances: 3k, 5k, 10k
Reg fees: P500 (3k), P600 (5k), P700 (10k)
Assembly Time Gun Time
3k 500am 610am
5k 500am 600am
10k 500am 550am
Open exclusively for women ages 16 years old and above. Girls below 16 may still register, as long as they are accompanied by a registered female adult running in the same category.
Regular In-store registration period is from February 21, 2011 to February 28, 2011 only at the following venues:
- Toby’s SM Mall of Asia – G/F Entertainment Mall, Roxas Blvd., Manila (12nn–8pm, Tel # 556-0445)
- RUNNR – G/F Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City (12nn – 8pm,Tel # 4031787)
- Planet Sports Trinoma – 2nd level, Trinoma cor. North EDSA, Quezon City
- Planet Sports Glorietta – 2F Glorietta 3, Makati City (12nn – 8pm, Tel # 8177896)
- The Athlete’s Foot Robinsons Galleria – 3F Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Pasig City (12nn – 8pm, Tel# 6363162)
Late registration period is fromMarch 1 – 15, 2011 at the following venues: Toby’s SM Mall of Asia and RUNNR, Bonifacio High Street.
See you at the starting line 🙂
I know this runner who never fails to amaze me.
I know of this team member who’s always there when his teammates needs him. Who doesn’t complain. Who never fails to smile at anyone who says hi. Who never failed to volunteer to do support duties even after he just ran a full marathon.
I know of this unassuming individual who always calls everyone Ma’am and Sir. Who doesn’t fail to say “PO” after the end of each sentence to show respect. Who doesn’t show any hint of arrogance even after landing a podium finish.
I know of this runner who after running 160k in 17 hours 35 minutes, finishing first, managed to tell the Race Director “Sorry Sir, it took me so long to cross the finish line. Sorry to have kept you waiting” (In Tagalog).
I know of this soft-spoken runner who runs with his whole heart. His humbleness, his gesture of humility, his simplicity, his sincerity makes him who he is.
I know him and I am proud to say that I do!
His name is Wilnar Iglesia, I know him and I am so proud of him! 🙂
Education is an essential part of life. It is something that no one can take away from you. I have always been an advocate of good education. I always tell my children that this is one thing that I can provide for them. And I extend this help to the scholars I supported throughout the years. By joining the EDSA Run, we can help change the lives of children by providing them with much needed classrooms.
When: February 27, 2011
Where: People Power Monument, EDSA, Quezon City
Time: 530am
Distances: 5k/10k
Fees: P400 (5k)/ P550 (10k)
For more info and to register online, please visit http://iamninoyrunners.wordpress.com/.
As you may have noticed, I have been in a running hiatus for a few months now. I rarely am able to train. My distances keep getting shorter. And my weighing scale is moving more to the right 🙂
Condura is fast approaching and running 21k without training is no joke. I don’t think I can wing it this time. Time to call on reinforcements.
The great thing about being in a running group is that you can always depend on others to help motivate you. One of my Happy Feet co-member, James, did exactly that. He told me that he can run 15k with me during the ANR 5th Sunday event w/ Sir Mon, who we fondly call Master 🙂 I decided that it’s just right that I make that event my 1st fun run for 2011. For one, my Takbo.ph family will be there. Friends from this community were chosen as team leaders for different training grounds. I also am a part of the Ortigas group, although I was formerly from BHS, but had to change groups as I wasn’t able to attend their sessions anymore.
Pre-race
At 430am, I readily got up and got ready for my 1st early morning run in 2011. As I slowly prepared my stuff, I realized that I wasn’t used to this life anymore. I really hate waking up early.
I prepared my water bottle, hydration belt, granola bar and my extra shirt. But as soon as I left, I noticed that I wasn’t able to grab my bottle, granola bar and extra shirt. Sigh…this will be a long day.
Arrival
I got to Newport at 536am. James and Master Mon were already doing their warm up run. I joined them shortly for a quick 1.4k warm up before heading towards the starting line of the event.
Feeling giddy and excited, I guess this is the effect of endorphins, I greeted and hugged friends who I haven’t seen in ages, got my bib from Argo who thankfully had an extra one and then joined the crowd by the starting line. The feeling was amazing. I felt re-energized and ready for the run.
James was targeting a 30min, 5k which I felt was too ambitious for me. We then settled for a 35min goal.
Race Proper (The Best)
The route was a simple 2-loop around the Newport parking areas, out by the terminal 3 airport road and back to the finish line.
I really enjoyed the 1st 2kms of the race. Our pace was steady at 6:15-6:19. There were no feelings of chest pains, no side stitches, no pain on my knees. It was just me and the exhilarating feeling of “YES, I can still do it”.
There was a slight uphill climb before the 1st and only water station by km 2. Since I felt like I was on the top of the world, I quickened my pace and conquered that hill like there was no tomorrow. I felt horrible and out of breath after. Thirsty, I decided to slow down and get a sip from the water station. BIG mistake. Apparently, my body didn’t like the idea of me slowing down that it gave me a huge side stitch. Oh well, you can’t have too much of a good thing 🙂
We were making good time even if we had to stop for a minute to catch our breath. Stopping for a minute during a 5k run? Unheard of. But I did it without shame. I had to give in to the urge of my body. I remember saying to myself that I was freaking tired but it had to be done. I needed to finish the race.
James and I sprinted the last 100m to the finish line. We were satisfied with our time of 32:07. Not a PR but still better than my training runs.
I just wanted to sit down, relax and chat with my friends. Enjoy the moment. For P50, this was definitely a great event. We had free lunch, free pair of socks from Adidas (I gave mine to Wilnar) and free drinks, water and powered. This was way better than KOTR but then it’s unfair to compare the two events 🙂
James and Sir Jess...Chilling
James, a regular in Adination BHS sessions
Photo picture taking after the race before the SURPRISE
SURPRISE (The Worst)
After less than 10 minutes of peace, Argo suddenly appeared out of nowhere, got my hand and begged me to run the 1k relay portion for Ortigas as the first, mind you, 1ST runner. I remember saying:
“Are you out of your mind?! I still haven’t recovered from my run and you want me to run again?! “
And he said,
“Ok lang Gail. Si Rhian Ramos ran 2k, ikaw di mo kaya ng 1k?”
He used my pride against me. I HATED, no I still HATE, that radio commercial. I was shocked that he outwitted me and while I was contemplating how to get out of this rut he placed me in, he finalized the arrangements with Jinoe, who was trying so hard not to laugh.
Panic and fear gripped me. I was so not ready for this. I begged him to find another runner or at least swap me with someone else but he said the list was final. I seriously wanted to sit down in one corner and sulk. The brat in me was brewing and preparing to go on an all out tantrum. But what can I do? How can I say no? How can I face my friends teasing me that the radio-ad-writer-runner-wanna-be was better than me? What can I do? I can do nothing but to panic and shake from nervousness.
Maridol kept on saying you can do it. Marvin said, ok lang yan, kaya mo yan while laughing (what vote of confidence). It’s all good. Payback time from all my Doc Marvz pranks and side comments :p LOL! Z, was as sweet as always trying to keep my mind from the inevitable. Luis and Argo were telling me to just have fun with comments like: It’ll be done in 4 mins Gail. WTF?! Run one full kilometer in 4 minutes?! Are they crazy!? My Garmin registered my fastest pace at 3:03 but I was certain that it was due to the last 60 or so meters sprint I made at the end of the 5k run.
I remembered that I still had a pack of GU Roctane and decided that now would be a good time to take it. I took half and gave Maridol half. I hope it keeps my energy up.
At the starting line, I was really starting to panic. I felt like my knees were shaking. But it’s too late to back out now w/o making a scene. I slowly accepted what I had to do. I kept thinking why me? Why did they pick me to start the relay? They know that I am an average runner. I never did a sub-60sec 10k. My fastest was a 1:03 and I think it was a fluke. I couldn’t even break my 2:30 record for a 21k or Pikermi distance. Oh gosh, what have I gotten myself into? Yes, I was thinking about these during the 20sec countdown to gun start.
ANR Relay Teams (Thanks Ace for this photo 🙂 )
5, 4, 3, 2, 1…BANG (The Mommy in Me)
And off we go! My knees were shaking as I was sprinting to push to gain momentum towards the other runners.
Knees were seriously shaking here (Thanks Jojo for the photos 🙂 )
But after 200m, I began to feel like my legs were turning into lead. My energy level crashed big time and I was struggling to keep on running. I wanted to stop, just sit down and cry. The bratinella in me wanted to throw the game away and blame other people for putting me in this predicament. But then I thought to myself, no one will really know what happened to me if I did stop as none of my team mates were on the route. It was just the marshals and they seemed oblivious to the fact that I was almost having a nervous breakdown. No way am I going to put up a show without anyone watching. Haha! Fortunately, common sense won and I started to try and run, pushing myself to put one leg after the other and just slowly gain distance.
Up ahead, I saw one runner walking, more of limping. She seemed to be in pain. As I was passing her by, I asked what was wrong and if she needed help. She said, that her legs hurt and that she was wrong to think that she could do this relay. Wow! I told myself, here I am in the company of a runner who had the guts to volunteer for this job and yet her body doesn’t want to cooperate. I have to help her finish what she started. I can’t just leave her here. So I told her “C’mon, let’s do this together.” I told guided her to where she’s not suppose to run (she was veering towards the vehicles to our right). I advised her to slow down if she still feels the pain. I told her to just run towards the finish line.
About 200m to the finish line, I felt a bit of phlegm stuck in my throat and I was coughing to remove it which triggered my gag reflex. A concerned marshall approached me and asked me if I was alright and I said, Yes I was just fine 🙂
Anonymous girl runner, who I now know as Aryan, and I sprinted towards the finish line.
Me and Aryan running towards the finish line
As soon as I crossed it, I was greeted with hugs and well wishes from runner friends. I felt Marga and Argo hug me. I apologized for screwing up our chance to win this relay. They told me I did well. How well, no one really knew. The clock wasn’t working. Nervousness made me forget to start my Garmin. I eagerly explained to them what happened and then I realized that I forgot all about Aryan. I went back to the finish line to check on her condition. She was white as a sheet. Ellen got her some ice and the medics took her to a nearby ambulance.
After the race, it dawned on me that there were consequences to what I did. My teammates had to work harder to make up for the time I lost. I felt worse when Argo said, “You stopped? Why’d you stop? Oh no….Just kidding.” But we all know that jokes are half meant and of course I don’t blame Argo for that ;p It was true. I was initially upset at myself. I could’ve just called the attention of the marshall telling them that a runner needed help. The game wasn’t mine alone to lose. But I knew that the mommy in me would not allow that. Had I been in that situation again, I would’ve done the same thing but maybe sprinted and ran like hell during the last 100m or so. Haha!
I felt even more worse when I found out that there was a cash prize and a trophy for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd relay team placers. We finished 4th by the way. Sinking feeling coming back……
As I was walking to my car, Aryan called out to me and said she was feeling a lot better. Color had returned to her face and she was all smiles again. Sinking feeling zapped away.
To my teammates and team leaders, I am truly sorry for my slow finish. I promise to run faster during the next relay (as if!) 🙂
To the ANR 5th Sunday run event organizers, congratulations on a successful event! Looking forward to the next one.
Today, my body is familiarly painful, my legs usually lobby and my mind is screaming for more happy juice. But, for tonight, I need to spend time with my kids and show them the mother in me. Tomorrow, I will tie the lace my running shoes again and run that familiar route towards fitness.
I received great, great news this morning when I woke up! Good running friends, Jinoe and Quennie Gavan, welcomed baby Gab into the world at 6:05am.
Jinoe sent a text that said “Check mo FB ni Doc Dianne para official. Hehehe. Baby Gab out na. 6:05am. Pero sa Garmin ko 6:06am. Me ganun! :)”. Classic Jinoe! Always relating everything to running…which is but normal for every running fanatic.
For those of you who don’t know who Jinoe and Quennie Gavan are, Jinoe is best known as the Manukan Runner (Chicken Runner) & Quennie, Chicks ni Manok (Girl of the Chicken). He is the admin of http://www.takbo.ph and http://www.takbo.net, a running blog with a HUGE following. This blog and this community is what gave me the inspiration to start running. I would say I owe it to the people of Takbo.ph giving me the confidence to run 5k, 10k, 21k and eventually a full marathon. Their support is what gave me the courage to reach for goals that seemed impossible a year ago.
I am certain that Jinoe and Que will be great parents as they have been pseudo-parents for Takbo.ph members. Sleepless nights, I’m sure would not be a problem to this two ;p They can just try to compare it with moderating a 4,000 (or bigger) member strong online community!
Congratulations to Team Gavan! Hugs and kisses and God bless baby Gab!
Daddy Noy & Baby Chito's 1st Photo (July 2005)
When I was a kid, my body used to be stick & bones. I was a very picky eater and my metabolism can zap anything I ate as soon as it hits my stomach. However, everything changed as I went into adolescent. It started with a 4-month long vacation to the US. I felt like I could eat anything and everything I wanted. As my weight got was moving to the right of the scale, pound after pound, I felt proud that I was finally gaining a bit…no a whole lot, of weight. Looking back, I wished I had stopped myself from downing that baloney & mayo sandwich every night. Although the results were very surprising to most, I finally had a bit of meat to go with my stick & bones body.
Fast-forward to high school & college.
I wasn’t that thin and I wasn’t heavy either. But what was I thinking having a beer and tequila-fest almost every weekend. Calories galore!
Fast, fast-forward to a year ago.
There I was, unhappily shopping as no clothes would fit me. I would settle shopping for shoes and bags to make myself feel better. I then decided that I needed a healthy change. I needed to diet.
So what diet technique should I choose?
Tried Atkins. I think I enjoyed but my arteries didn’t. My cholesterol level was through the roof!
Tried South Beach. I loved it at the beginning but it was too difficult to follow. I didn’t have time to prepare my daily meals.
Tried abstinence from beef and pork. I think it did my body well. But the pounds were just not moving.
Then I finally tried, calorie counting.
With the help of an iPod Touch application called Tap & Track, I was able to monitor my calorie intake. I can basically eat what I want as long as I only consume a certain amount of calories a day. If I want to consume more food, I have to complement it with exercise which basically just gives me more calorie allowances.
Counting calories helped me be conscious of what I eat. It was the perfect diet technique for people like me who’s always on the go.
Twenty pounds later, I still wished I did not eat too much baloney & mayo sandwiches, still wished that I did not drink those bottles of gin and tequila, still wished that I preferred light beer over Pale Pilsen. But I am grateful that I have today and tomorrow to count those calories 🙂
Gailcons's Blog 