After almost 3 years of self imposed exile .. I am finally back in my playground … the place where I learned to run long distance. I can’t help but feel sentimental as I stare into the horizon.   Google Map – Pasay, Philippines     Manila Bay – Pasay City,...

In my attempt to be consistent with my training schedule, I ran 10k this morning. I had my annual flu shot yesterday and according to the doctor, it should be ok to run today.  So here is the result of my run:       Unlike yesterday,  it is warm today (or is it just me ?) because when I reached the 3Km mark, I thought that I went for a swim instead of a run due to the amount of sweat flowing from my apparel.     PCP Run 2 Sundays ago, I joined the PCP 10k run because of the discount we got from a corporate sponsor.   I was feeling a bit under the weather before the race started so what I thought would be an effort-less run turned out to be the opposite.     Hmm .. what happened to my splits ?     After  reaching the finish line, I went to my car and wondered how it is that I feel energized for no apparent reason – could it be the 10 minute walk to the parking area ? the free Gatorade at the finish line ? Whatever the reason is, I decided not to waste my weekend and run an additional 10k towards the PICC area where another race has just concluded.        If I knew that I would be running after the race I would’ve  kept my pace slower so as not to drain what little energy I had stored.     Training Aides   Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves – to avoid further injury     I’ll post my review on these items next time  ...

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...

Fall Has Started12°C, partially cloudy and the sun shining really bright at times…definitely the perfect run in a long day while waiting for my fiance to get home from work after checking on websites and cleaning up his place. Went to Sweden to visit him for a month, I guess one last run alone before flying back to Manila (aside from the long walks we have that would last at least a couple of hours) is what I needed so that the hours of wait until he gets home would seem faster   Rocksmurfen and CrazyGraceAs I started to walk towards the jog route, I started to freeze a little and got a runny nose so I started running. I’d stop awhile to see if a car would hit me, and sometimes to stare back at drivers slowing down to look at me. I think it was because I had dark hair and looked foreign (uh, let’s say…Asian? Duh! Haha!) or probably because I only had my really thin Nike running shorts, New Balance running shirt and a windbreaker while the other two joggers / runners I saw were wearing thick jogging pants and fleece jackets. Hehe, stubborn might actually be an appropriate word. Lazy to dress up? Hmmm… I will keep this short because there’s nothing technical about what I did, it was just a normal “stroll” down the jogging path around here. Had I been training, I would have gone longer at this temperature. Until then, all I have to show is the video below. I will be leaving soon, and though it will be very lonely and sad for both of us, we gotta keep our spirits high. Not the best thing to say but here it goes anyway: Manila, I...

Half a year ago, I have decided to indulge myself with work as a Production Director, something I can do aside from being a Web Designer while working at home. I used to walk at least an hour a day, and workout when I have the time. Sad thing is, I got too busy and I ended up with no workout at all (not even walking) before independence day. I decided to “runstart” my routine by joining the Milo run this year. I did not, however, literally mean it to be exactly like that! Left the house at almost 5am and hailed a cab that only brought us to 2KM from the starting line (Roxas Boulevard had already been closed) and my brother’s 21KM race starts at 0530H. I was able to record a video of him, the last of the runners, trying to put his knee support (if I’m not mistaken) in place because he’s forgotten to fix it while in the cab. He shows up at 00:43 below 😀 Also recorded the live band playing an upbeat tune for the remaining runners: It felt like I was in the MRT while trying to get into the starting line for the 5KM run. Not only was it too crowded, but people actually had to stop and wait (yes, that included me!). Monster Magnet’s song was just perfect for my ears at this time so I tried singing to it a bit just to keep myself calm. When I got to the starting line…oh, what fun. Haha saw Mr. Zorro The Runner greeting everyone with a red flag (ser…ano bang nakalagay sa bandila mong hawak? sorry hindi ko makita hehehe). Even shot a video of him waving the flag haha…fangirl? Nah, just channeling my...

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to run the 2nd BDM test run even if I am not participating on the race itself. This is my first attempt at an ultra-marathon and I’m glad I tried it. With the strong CAMANAVA Runners 50K in 7:56:40   When we arrived at the Bataan shrine in Mariveles, it felt quite different, considering that the first time I have been here , it was dark … because the 1st BDM strarted at midnight. The 1st 7 kilometers were well, very difficult, most runners (me included) walked the up hills.  We were very lucky last Saturday that the weather was a bit overcast, because had it been sunny all throughout, I may not have been able to finish the race. Now I understand what Isko says when he speaks about attitude and mental toughness … having completed a couple of full marathons, I thought that running for 8 more kilometers would be easy – I was wrong! My easy pace became  difficult,  my target times – lost … I was worried that after 4 hours, I haven’t even reached the 30 KM mark. In fact, I had doubts that I will be able to complete this daunting task. Then, it all came to me – the reason why we were all doing this :  to pay tribute to those brave souls who marched these same streets of death more than half a century ago. After all, who am I compared to them? What is running a mere 50 kms compared to the distance our martyrs have traveled? Who am I to complain? 102 kilometers may just be a moment in a poet’s play, but for me this is as real as it gets.  ...