Hmmm…we just said farewell to 2011.

As we welcome the year of the Dragon, best for me to do a year-end
report of sorts for 2011.

Let’s see…just 5 words to summarize my 2011:
Work, Run, Travel, Read and Tinker with gadgets.

Work
As a trainer, I taught to 1,345 Smart employees.
80% of these engagements were NOT for our department.
They were projects of HRD.

Run & Travel
A total of 2,337 kilometers for 2011 for practice runs and actual races.
That’s like 6K a day.
I know other people with double this number.

6 Ultra marathons, 2 marathons, 6 half mary’s, my first and only trail
run, my first minimalist run, a 32K, a 10K and a lung busting 1.5K.

In pursuit of these races, I was able to travel to Bataan, Pampanga, Legazpi,
Baguio, Vigan, Pangasinan, Tagaytay, Nasugbu, Cebu and Davao

This hobby and pastime made my buy 7 running shoes.

Uhm…who said running was the cheapest sport again?

Read
I love reading. I used to ask my dad to buy me books that needs to be ordered like
‘Things to Make and Do’. When in La Union during the summer months, I read
as many reader’s digest magazines as I can and bring borrowed Hardy boys books
from our library to provide variety.

For 2011, I’m still happy I finished 14 books, which i squeezed in before bedtime and on my way to work.

2 non-fiction:
Quirkology by Richard Wiseman and Superfreakonomics by Levitt and Dubner.

12 Fiction:
James Patterson: Cross Country, Double Cross, When the Wind Blows,
London Bridges, You’ve Been Warned and First to die.
Grisham: The Associate and The Confession
Ted Dekker: Bride Collector
Suzzane Collins: Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mocking Jay.

Gadgets
I started to get fascinated with gadgets at a young age of 7.
I remember the Texas Instrument calculator that my dad bought me.
It doesn’t give the answer. You give the answer to your math problems
and it verifies your answer. I got my first touch screen gadget last 1995 –
17 years ago. It was a Casio digital planner. I still have it in my ‘baul’ of
old gadgets.

So for 2011, I got the following:
iPad, Flip video, HTC desire S, Netphone, Lion OS for my MAC [errr..a software], Timex Global trainer and an Olympus point and shoot camera.

Well that’s about it. Just a quick review for the year that was.
Not much grand wishes and long-term goals for 2012.
Just live it a day at a time and be happy along the way.

Happy New Year!

Postcard from BGC…

Visited Riovana [Coach Rio dela Cruz's new running shop plus plus] after the energizer night run last November 5.

Some quick info based on my visit and interaction with store manager Arleine

Store info:

1. Soft opening just yesterday, November 4’11
2. Corner of 9th and 28th street at BGC. Saan ‘yon? It’s strategically located across Honda – where the usual start and finish line of BHS races are.
2. Grand opening on January 2012
3. Other branches opening also – Katips Nov 11. Heard may MOA pa…
4. For the meantime, it’s the usual running store. The Sole therapy part [massage and other recovery services with doctors and therapists], lockers and shower rooms are not yet open.

Product line & add-ons

5. Latest NB, Asics and Adidas shoes already offered and clustered already – Neutral, stability and cushioning. No Nike YET. to follow. no newton. not sure it it’s going to be offered.
6. Timex watches offered pero walang polar and garmin yet. other running apparels offered as well – headsets, socks, shirts, some compressions. didn’t notice hydration belts and bottles. no running magazines and other literature.
7. Decent lcd screen featuring races organized by runrio – all in HD.
8. Gait analysis for free. Lakasan lang ng loob for those who’s going to avail of this free service. The treadmill where you’ll do your gait analysis is part of the facade so kitang kita ng mga motorists and passers by habang tumatakbo ka sa machine.
9. Locker and shower rates are charged separately. Medyo konti lang ang shower rooms. 2 lang for both male and female. Lockers around 10. Not sure if they will add more upstairs when they fully open on January. We were told about the rates but it’s not yet final.
10. There WILL be 5 seats for internet surfing located between the two locker rooms at the ground floor.

Glad to know that they opened as early as 3am today, Nov 6, to cater to last minute needs of the NB power run participants.

Thanks, Arleine, for showing us around. She was even apologetic that the aircon was not yet running well kasi the store just opened yesterday.

‘Like’ the Riovana fb page for more updates.

All downhill practice i mean…

great to be back in my practice grounds – sierra madre.

great to see other runners as well! saw two guys at KM 38 in their condura and brooks shirts so i think they’re runners preparing for a race or just doing a weekend LSD.

also saw two ladies in running singlets at Mang Vic’s. More of Mang Vic’s later.

I think there’s this unspoken courtesy among people of similar sports. As i saw these runners, we greeted each other a good morning – as simple as that and I think it says a LOT already…like ‘I know how it is running this route’ or ‘go go go’ or ‘for the win!’ hehe…

Now about Mang Vic [he's like the finishline or halfway mark for a lot of weekend warriors - cyclists, runners, motorbikers. After close to 6 months, I got served by Mang Vic again. Really does hand-on in his business with good customer service at that. I picked a bottle of mountain dew. before he opened it, he said it's not cold enough so he got a colder bottle. Simple acts of kindness goes a long way for runners like us. For me, it's literally 10K to go before my 'finishline'. Thank you, Mang Vic, for an alagang Tatay service! see you next week!

About the practice run today... first time I rode up to Palo alto [surprised me that it costs P30.00 from Gate 2 to Palo Alto. Mas mahal pa sa Cubao to Cogeo]. I always run up from cogeo to BosoBoso and run back. Since the next ultramarathon route on Sept 17 is mostly downhill, best that muscles to be practiced is for a downhill run.

and It’s all downhill, uhm, most of it except for 3 kilometers from Mang Vic to bosoboso highlands.

a good 8 kilometers was practically overcast with gentle headwind. not much temperature maintenance because of this so sprint I went for a good 3 kilometers since it’s all downhill for that part of the route.

After the three kilometers, started walking again and there it was – knee pain. tried to run and gone in an instant then I walked again and there’s this manageable pain again. guess i have to manage it thru stretching and ice after I write this [writing this as i cool down with no electric fan so I sweat out some of the 'left-over' heat].

20K in 2hrs 30mins in ultramarathon pace. guess that will do for now. Last LSD next saturday before T2N.

See you guys!

For the meantime, a much deserved lunch c/o my Chef Pamangkin. yum!

Running is a metaphor of the life that we live.
Drew some parallelisms between life and running after a lot of self-talk – which most of them dawned on me during actual race events while running under the heat of the sun.

1. Running is not about yourself. Yeah. You sweat it out in practice and it’s your name in the results page. You are more than that. Running transcends you.

2. Don’t let cut-off time, distance, weather, the finisher’s shirt and medal-among other things- define who you are and prevent you from helping fellow runners before, during and even after a race.

A high five from kids and a glass of cold water from locals goes a long way during an ultramarathon. What more for a runner helping a co-runner?

You are meant to be bigger than the races you are running. Races have a cut-off time and it ends there. Your act of kindness will last a lifetime. So true as well in our daily routines at home and in the office. Spend more time in matters that count.

3. Selflessness is not expecting anything in return when doing good deeds to runners – and in life – even to total strangers. Simply put, it’s less complicated that way in terms of emotional investment.

4. Be man enough to own the result of your races. No excuses, no disclaimers before, during and after the race. In the first place, no one forced you to show up during the gun start. Yeah. Freakin’ aches, pains and discomfort happens. Finish what you started or learn to quit with dignity intact with less talk. Same in life. No one forced you to show up for a job interview so own the result of the interview because no one else answered those questions but you.

5. Count your blessings in running and in life. If you think you didn’t run as well as others did, remind yourself that some people couldn’t even walk at all.

If you think it’s unfair that you were injured during a race after giving your all during your practice runs for many months, still be thankful. Your injury will heal. Other people are permanently disabled. Some of them simply wish that they can stand up even just for a day in their life.

6. Hydration / nutrition stations and support vehicles during a race should make you run faster and not take away the momentum from your strides. Make wise use of this privilege. Same in life. People around you and even situations should make you excel and not weigh you down.

7. More on form, comfort and function than japorms and fashion. Best to perfect both so experiment along the way ( but never on race day ) what running apparel suits you best. Same in life. There are must haves and nice to have items. Those with disposable cash can have both but what for?

8. When running with a friend esp during a race, pinky swear that you stick to your agreed plan. Kung walang iwanan, walang iwanan unless there is consent. Don’t leave your running buddy just because out of nowhere you felt that second wind so sprint you go only to get that never before cramps close to the finish line. When the running buddy you left behind catches up on you and stops to help you nurse your bigger-than-life cramps, drink the water from his hydration bottle and swallow your pride.

Lesson: Don’t enter into agreements you can’t keep. Same in life because people can forgive you but they seldom forget how you made them feel.

9. Give lots of love and support to newbie runners. We all passed through that stage and improved our running form and performance through others. Running tips are meant to be shared even if it makes other people run faster than you in future races. A little caveat: share only when asked to share and never indoctrinate and force-feed techniques that seemingly worked for you. We all have our unique training plans and regimen. Same in life. Be kind to people learning the ropes. Be genuinely happy and shake their hand when they become your boss.

10. The best part of running may sometimes come from its afterglow – when other people (not yourself) affirm your great and phenomenal run. Same in life. Make yourself known through the great things you do, not through self-proclaimed greatness. We will all have our time under the sun and it will happen in HIS time.

We Run for different reasons. Run for the bigger purpose. Same in life.

The road to the longest race i have participated in started last December when we did practice runs…

tried barefoot running in the sand bars of Palawan last december...

joined UP aNR last december....

Antipolo was our 'main office', the nerve center of our practice runs...

Hannga’t may daan, tumakbo. Clockwise from top left – ran in La Union [San Juan to San Fernando and Luna to Bacnotan], La Union to Baguio via Kennon road and Luneta to Tagaytay.

Cogeo to Luneta and back

One of my dreams for TKR came true when we did Masinag to Mang Vic's bulalohan. Also ran with UP aNR mates Glo and Beth in this route. A bike route for many, we made it our training grounds for races to come, esp BDM.

A welcome change of routine for TKR - Sprint training at the Marikina Oval for that extra lung power with sprinter friend and UP aNR member Ronald Salgado who placed 1st in the recently concluded Run Rio 2011 leg 1. 18mins 5K. whew!

Bags and Bib number all packed and ready to go. A week before BDM 102, TKR made final meet to fine tune support for its runners – Boy P and Me.

A few minutes before gun start. A lot of things going through my mind - mostly happy thoughts. 3 months of practice will all be tested for 18 hours. Preparing for 102K made me run 700K for 3 months. Longest run I did was 70K. What will happen after 70K knowing that at that time the sun will be shining so high and mighty

On to my last 4K, a LOT of challenges yet you just have to believe that you prepared for this. Knowing that physical pain is just temporary, I challenged all my physical limitations and sprinted the last 3K despite knowing that it's beyond the cut-off time already. Slowing down to help a friend in need will always be an easy decision. To my running buddy, Prince, KM55 to KM77 was a struggle for you since you lacked sleep. We did everything but our body can only do as much. When you told me to carry on alone at kilometer 77 to fulfill my dream, that was when I went into panic mode. Last 25kilometers alone under the heat of the sun with little time left. 3 months of practice must not go to waste...still gave it my best shot and was surprised that I was able to sprint the last few kilometers non-stop.

With Race Director Jovie Narcise - after 18hrs and 39mins, finally reached the finish and fulfilled my dream. A year ago I was just laughing at the thought that I will be joining BDM 102 given that I was just running for less than a year.

That’s just half the story. I won’t survive BDM 102 without the motivation, support and tender loving care of the following:

Family – Ate, TonTon, Gina and Roger. I was just starting BDM practice when they had their vacation here. They supported me and even waited for me at the finish of our practice runs in Tagaytay, Baguio and La Union. Wish they were all at the finishline.

Running buddy Prince – so easily accessible to run with him since we’re just neighbors and have one dream race. So together we ran more than 300KM during our practice sessions. No regrets to pace with you as you were in discomfort for 22 kilometers during the race. Kahit wala sa cut-off ok lang. We know we came in prepared there are just some things we can’t control. There are still races to come. Let’s just think na lang na LSD natin ito for April 2. Bawi tayo,ha? Lesson learned. Our best race is yet to come. THANK YOU for taking care of me to help me prepare sa BDM.

Team KAMOTE: Paano ko na ito uumpisahan? EVERYONE – as in ALL 21 members helped prepare for our support in the race. Months before the race prep work was already on the go. GRABE…All hell broke loose at KM55. As I was changing, it was also time for me to take my anti-highblood meds. Can’t find them. So I ran with caution. Buti Prince waited for me [who was feeling already wasted kasi puyat]. You were our saving grace when you arrived at KM63 and told us that you will support us already since the second team arrived na. Thank YOU for taking care of Prince at least nabawasan worry ko kasi natatakot na ako sa highblood ko. When Prince said he can’t continue it anymore, TOTAL panic mode na. Alone, highblood, heat of the sun, 25K left, so little time [3hrs 30mins to cut-off]. What sustained me are your cheers and ultimate support sa food, hydration and temperature management. Reaching 80K, parang tunaw na utak ko. All i can hear are your voices. Kaya when you ask me what I need, mahina na boses ko. I was lightheaded na so I don’t know what’s going to happen na. Sabi ko pag anything happens, at least you are just nearby. Divine and KAMOTE intervention na lang talaga ang naghila sa akin to the finishline. I was thinking kung paano ko ito masusuklian so at the last few kilometers, I just decided to give you a strong finish pa rin so off I went to sprint to the finish. Grabe…the last 20K was brought to me by…TKR!!! with that, I am eternally grateful. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! Sorry to bring disappointment if I did not meet the cut-off. I just had to make decisions along the way. A friend will always be more important than a race – even if it’s a very important race that’s supposed to cement your reputation in the ultra marathon community. Bawi po ako next time. Thank YOU soooo much to all the contribution you gave for the support needed. Thank you sooo much for pacing with me sa last kilometers, for the calls during the race to check how i’m doing, the massage, the CHEERS from start to finish…lahat nakatatak sa utak at puso ko ‘yon.

Dave and Maripaz Buban – my Angels for the first 50K of the race. THANK YOU!!! napansin nila na every 15K ang support vehicle ko kasi they had to also focus on our lead runner who ended up 9th place. nakapag-bond tuloy tayo sa madaling araw. para tayong gumimik overnight, Dave and Maripaz!!! Grabe!!! next time I do ultra, I’ll take note of the comprehensive prep that you made for the race. Ang galing!!! Mabuhay ang galloway!!!

SMART buddies – Maffy, Kuya Sandy SALAMAT sa pag-alternate kay TKR in giving me cold sponges. haaaaay….kaka-pressure knowing na tapos na kayo, ako 10K to go pa… Drivers Rey and Ding, good job!!! mission accomplished!!! top 9 si Kuya Sandy. That’s all that matters for me. alam ko namang makakatapos tayong lahat gusto ko lang this time top 10 si Kuya Sandy. CONGRAAAAATULATIONS!!!!

Sir Bhrein – you opened the marathon world to us in Smart. We challenged that distance so off we went to ultra marathon races. Thank YOU!!! kelan swimming lessons natin? go go go!!!

DOC T!!!! – iba talaga mag-alaga ang Doctor!!!! puyat ka pa nyan,ha? di ka bumitaw sa support sa amin as you passed us by – always checking how we are doing and offering food and hydration – may oresol pa!!! Extend my thank you to Team Boring!!!

UP aNR pompom girls and Sevee – Beth, Ai and Madam Glo!!!! thank you soooo much!!!! angels at KM 55 shortly before I saw our support vehicle…Thank you for all the pics and write-up sa FB page natin. Thank YOU for the rose, Sevee!!! Thank You, UP aNR buddies!!!!

SMS family – thank you for the nakaka-pressure email announcement and show of support for us. Thanks sa lunch get-together.

SMART HRD – Thank you for the van!!!!

Ipe Mascarenas – thank you for starting this all for me. Looking back when we interviewed you, I can’t even imagine running the skyway. Every journey starts with a single step. You helped me make that first step in running. go go go!!!

To all runners, the locals, RD Sir Jovie Narcise and Mrs. Narcise, marshalls and all support team who cheered and supported us thru social media and personally, THANK YOU!!!

I give back the obelisk and medal to you all!!!

to my parents and tita up there with the big boss, THANK YOU!!!

Thank you, ALMIGHTY!!!

Was in Cebu October 12 – 15’10.

First adventure was when I left my cellphone in the airport taxi.
Guess what? Got it back. The waterfront hotel personnel helped me hook up with the operator of the taxi and there you go – cellphone back!
Lesson: don’t be content with just taking the plate number of the taxi. Can save precious time if you also get the name of the taxi franchise.

As part of my drive to lose the extra 10lbs that I have, I made sure to bring a number of running apparels.

Stayed at Waterfront, Lahug. great that it's very own 'BHS' is just across the street. Great as well that the hotel gym is open 24hrs. No excuse to skip physical activity....

Was able to run 15 kilometers in a day but split it in two sessions – one in the morning as seen above and one in the evening as seen below.

Proud to be part of SMS. Wherever you are, there will be SMS members you can run with. With the Cebu-based SMS members.

Joined the Runnr running clinic and ran 5K with SMS buddies. Truly an active group and most are gearing up for longer distances. go go go!!!

Oh, by the way, I actually went to Cebu to attend the PMAP convention.
Below is the great venue – the Cebu International Convention Center.

Cebu International Convention Center

The highlight of the PMAP convention was the awarding of exemplary people and companies excelling in people management.
Attended the awards night for the said event.

Time to suit up!

Waterfront Hotel has worldclass room cleaners. Can speak straight English way better than the average juan.

Here's our courteous and American-sounding room attendant.

See you soon, Cebu!

The past two months were dedicated to prepare myself for my first full marathon.

Here’s a postcard pic from my practice runs in the hills of Antipolo…

To build up on mileage, ran 50K from Sta. Lucia Cainta to Baras, Rizal.

Before joining races, had the honor to be picked as a race marshal for Takbo.ph’s Anniversary run.
The camaraderie didn’t end after the race. It got even better for team 6 [now team Kamote] The team now does regular LSD’s [long slow distance runs] as we all prepare for monthly races. Proud to be part of team Kamote!

With TEAM 6 during the Takbo.ph anniversary run

The Rexona run was my third half marathon.

21K, 1hr 56mins

Same month-August- was my first Ultramarathon at Ilocos. Covered 70 kilometers in 10 hours and 30mins. I made sure to join this event to make sure that I can finish my first full marathon come September 26’10. Inspired by Coach Rey Antoque [4-time International Marathon Champ and Milo Marathon Champ during the '90s] – he practiced more than the actual distance of the marathon to make sure he’s in top shape during the actual marathon. First time I experience being sponsored [kahit sa running gear man lang] by my favorite Rudy Project. Thanks as well to HRD and Sports Marketing for the support!

My first Ultramarathon with running icon Ret. Gen. Jovie 'Bald Runner' Narcise

Just a week after the ultramarathon came the Gabrielle’s Symphony relay where we joined in the corporate category. Covered 405KM in a day. Thanks to Public Affairs for the sponsorship!

Champion, Corporate category, Gabriele's Symphony race, Ayala, Alabang

As tempo run the week before my first marathon, joined the run for help at McKinley hills, Fort Bonifacio.

paced with Cathy in the 10K category of Coach Rey's Run for Help

To end September and to mark the end of those crazy practice runs, LSD’s and practice races is the marathon of my life – CamSur International Marathon.

42K runners from Smart. My honor to be part of the ever growing number of full marathoners in SMS

Finished the race at 5hrs 10minutes, 40mins short of my target of 4hrs 30mins. Past the 20K mark, had side-of-the knee pain [which I got after the ultramarathon] so I had no choice but to walk for most of the remaining distance. Still thankful I finished the race. Still have unfinished business with 42K though.

By choice, I am on a self-prescribed 1.5 months rest from races to help my legs heal.

Next race: Unilab Run Rio Trilogy, November 21’10, 32K

For the meantime, will do cross training.

till next post!

MAY

Got a trainer and nutritionist to prepare myself for my first 21K [May 28, 2010] [Run Rio 2]

My first 21K at 2hours 5mins and 41seconds

Well-organized race with Rio redeeming lost glory from not-so-good reviews from Run Rio 1 last February.
Good hydration stations, sponges for 21K runners especially at the Heritage park route.

JUNE

Joined the Epic relay [June 12 - 13, 2010] Covering 250 kilometers with 10 team mates. Subic-Bataan-Subic-Olongapo-Subic

Finishing at 25hrs and 41minutes

JULY

My First Milo half Marathon, July 4, 2010

2hrs 1 minute, 21K

My first race in South Metro Manila – Joined Run4Life last July 11, 2010 [Alabang]

Finished 46th out of 508 finishers, 46mins 32seconds, 10K

Building up mileage for my first full marathon on September 26, 2010.

Postcard from Nomad, Glorietta.

Nomad is located at the second level of Glorietta – near powerbooks.

It has lots of bags for different uses – bags which you don’t usually see from regular bag stores.

What I also like is the service from the staff.

I bought a shoe bag just yesterday and the staff asked me if it was for me.
Curious why she asked it, I asked why. She told me it might be too small for me considering that I have a size 10 shoe.
She further told me that I better get the bigger shoe bag since there’s no price difference.

That’s what I call AMAZING SERVICE. it’s in the little things.

I actually ended up still buying my original choice since I tried my shoes in the shoe bag. I fit snugly.
Ever remember a favorite relative helping you out when you were a kid do something for the first time?
The staff did just that. She was about 50y/o and had a ‘my-favorite-aunt’ approach in dealing with customers.
She just wants you to get value for your money.

Five stars!
Like!
Service Excellence award!

Postcard from my first race in Baguio.

My first race in Baguio! Thanks for the news of my Elementary batchmate – Celia Yong.

We arrived 4:30am at Burnham to warm up a bit in time for the 5:30am gun start.

Approaching the venue, from the football field, we can’t see any lights to guide us where the starting line is.
This led us to think that the race might have been postponed…
When we saw the starting line, the tarp of the starting line pole is still being set up.
Committee members are being paged from the P.A. system.
Sad to see Burnham so dark when it used to be well lighted with various bulb colors.

There were no portalets. at least there’s a baggage area.

Close to 6:00, we were informed by the organizer that there will be a delay since markers wasn’t set up earlier due to the dark area in the route.
I felt the sincerity of the organizer and for me it’s no big deal. We still got the chance to meet other runners who were soooo friendly.

It’s like a street party where you have the license to talk to anyone and be guaranteed a conversation.

The route was the most challenging of all the races that I joined.

high place = low oxygen level coupled with uphill and downhill surprises since I am not familiar with the route.
A LOT of winding roads so you really have to learn how to cut the distance during the curves.
Just learn how to negotiate with approaching vehicles as well since for most of the distance in 10K, the road was not closed to vehicles.
Very patient motorists since I didn’t hear any impatient honking of horns from vehicles in the intersection as we passed through.

Decent hydration stations. At least two for 10K – also faithful to what was plotted in the race course paper in the kit.

There were some parts of the course that I actually stopped with other runners since we don’t know where to proceed given the endless forking of roads even in the city proper.

A good number of race marshals were at the major intersection to make sure runners and vehicular traffic are managed well.

Ambulance on stand by makes you feel you are covered just in case medical emergencies happen.

An intimate number of runners makes you feel na magbabarkada kayo. I think it’s a 400-strong crowd.

Marshals are courteous. Truly consistent with how Baguio residents are known for.

When I told the main coordinator of the event that the 10K in my watch registered 11.36k, he had a genuine look of concern and was immediately worried.

For a change, no Kenyan in the crowd. So that took the tension off [as if it applies to me.hehe].

How did I get to Baguio? I travelled a day before the race thru Victory liner – 11am trip that gets you to Baguio by 6pm. Right time to have dinner and carbo load in time for a 3:30am breakfast for the last carbo load.

The race started 6:12AM in my watch for 10K and 5K. We were done by 7:30. Headed back to Baden Powel where I checked in, had breakfast and had extra time to go to the Cathedral to observe Palm Sunday. Headed to Victory again around 9:30am in time for my 10am trip which I didn’t ride.

Instead, I hopped in a non-stop victory bus going to cubao. Only took us 5 hours instead of the usual 7 hours.

Great memories for my first Baguio race. I know it won’t be the last. 56minutes and 18 seconds for 10K.
Good practice route for competitions in the lowlands.

Mabuhay ang mananakbong PInoy!