36th Milo Marathon - National Finals

December 09, 2012 - SM Mall of Asia

Another 10k done! Yehey!

And another Milo Marathon on my list!

Thankfully I was in better shape this morning than I was during last week's QCIM. I shaved off 11minutes off my record from 1:46 last week to 1:35 this week. My legs have also recovered well so I was able to run more (and less walk) today than last week. *bow*

I think starting an hour earlier helped a lot as it was considerably much cooler today. The 10k gun start for Milo was at 5am while QCIM started at 6am. It's hard to run (or do anything for that matter) if the scorching sun is breathing down your neck. 

Hydration stations were overflowing with water and Powerade so I was fully hydrated the whole time.

All in all, it was a good run. Til next year....

Me and my sister, my ever loyal running buddy

Post-race photo ops with my little kulit

Source: www.runrio.com

Related posts:

34th Milo Marathon - National Finals (Dec. 2010)

35th Milo Marathon - Manila Eliminations (July 2011)

QC International Marathon 2012

December 2, 2012 - Commonwealth Ave.

This is my 2nd QCIM and I think it was better than the first in terms of weather, route and hydration stations.  

Weather

Mr. Sun was at its best today compared to a very gloomy run last year. Although it was cooler in the previous year, I had a hard time going home because I got drenched from the rain. 

Traffic

Traffic along Commonwealth Ave was also better this time around. The run only took the inner lanes from both sides so motorists can still pass at the outer lanes. Last year, they closed the whole side going to Novaliches so all vehicles were cramped on the other side causing bumper-to-bumper traffic. This year, traffic was smoother except for very few areas. 

Hydration

Hydration stations was aplenty this year. Where there used to be only 2 tables of hydration station, this year it was about 3 meters long. Still no power drinks but at least there was plenty of water. 

 
Performance

My performance on the other hand is a different story altogether. I have been inactive for quite a while so I didn't really expect a spectacular finish. I signed up for 10k 3 weeks ago and only started training then. The last week could not even be counted because there were other things I needed to attend to so I was not able to train. 

As expected, I was of  already out of breath even before reaching my first kilometer. I was getting doubtful if I'll even reach the turn-around point, much less finish the whole race. But I could not face that kind of failure so I struggled on. I promised myself that I will finish it even if I have to walk thru it all. And I did - walk my way through it all. I think I walked 80% of the time. I even found myself a walking buddy at the last 3kms. 

Post-race

It has been 6hrs since I finished the race and I can feel the cramps in my legs. That's a sure sign that it has not been used for strenuous activity for quite a long time. Going down the stairs is the most painful. Ouchie!

I have another 10k race next Sunday. Hopefully my legs recover well.

Related Story: QC International Marathon 2011 

Starting Over

After a pitiful 20k total run and gaining 10lbs since the start of the year, can I do a 10k race in 3 weeks? Good luck, right? 

The Quezon City International Marathon on Dec 2 would be my come back race and will be followed by the 36th Milo Marathon National Finals a week later.

So I'll be hitting the gym and ran laps in UP in the next 3 weeks. Anyone wants to join me?

Tiktakbo 5

September 9, 2012 - UP Diliman Academic Oval

This is Miguel's 2nd time to join this run. Last year he did the 250m dash with a couple of my runner moms' kids. I ran along side him but I was not officially registered. 

Since we already did our first 3k together last March via the Good Housekeeping Fun Run, I figured we could do another 3k with Tiktakbo. And so we did.

Prepping before the run

We both took our time. We were not running to beat PRs or anything. Heck, I couldn't even run faster than I did even if I wanted to. That's how out of shape I am. I wanted to, at least, run the last meter to the finish line for "show" but Miguel did not want to. He says he's tired so I obliged and we walked our way to the end. 

Walking to the end

Post race photo

We finished another race, yehey! And this is Miguel's 5th run.

1. 2011 Good Housekeeping Family Run - 250m dash
2. 2011 Unilab Run United 2 - 500m dash
3. 2011 Tiktakbo 4 - 250m dash 
4. 2012 Good Housekeeping Family Run - 3k (our first official run together, meaning we were both registered in the same race and we both had running bibs/singlets)

'Til our next race together.....

Good Housekeeping Family Fun Run 2012

Today my unico hijo attempted to run a 3k race and succeeded! Yippe-ya-yo!

The Good Housekeeping Family Run in 2011 was his first official run where he did the 100m dash along with other kids. This year I thought he might be ready to go to the next level so I decided to amp it up a little. I registered both of us in the 3k run, a category that was really intended for parent and child tandem.  It would be a first official run together in the same category!

The run was held in BGC this year. Our scheduled gun start was at 6:15am but we were there as early as 5:30am.

 Pre-race shots

This year's host: My fave radio DJs, Chico & Del of The Morning Rush - Monster Radio RX 93.1 

When the countdown started from the last 15 seconds to gun start, there was that excited smile that flashed across Miguel's face. Precious!  Then we started running.

 

Obstacle course for kids

He enjoyed the obstacle course placed halfway thru the 3k race.

 

My little runner

I have been out of the running scene for quite a while now so I'm really out of shape. This morning's 3k run had left me panting. I needed to hold Miguel's hand or else he will run away from me especially when he can already glimpse the finish line. He got so excited that he wanted to do a sprint.

Miguel, wait for meeeeee!

At the finish line

Family pic c/o Baicapture

Thanks Good Housekeeping for this annual family run. We had a great time. Until next year...

Hyundai Run for a Cause 2012

In April 2011, Hyundai organized a FREE run that filled the whole stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Luneta to EDSA with thousands of runners. From what I heard, about 24,000 runners joined the event. It was one of the best runs I have the pleasure of joining. And it was free!

See my post on last year's Hyundai Run for a Cause here.

This year Hyundai is organizing another run that aims to support various causes such as:

• Education
• Community Development
• Filipino Heritage and Pride
• Environmental Sustainability
• Road Safety and Responsible Car Ownership
• Youth Development Through Sports
• Women and Children's Rights
• Social Entrepreneurship

Date: April 29, 2012.
Venue: Quirino Grandstand
Distances: 5k and 10k
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hyundairunforacause

I will update this post as details become available. 

Outbreak Manila

This run is so twisted! I mean zombies running after you? Imagine that. I salute the one who conceptualized this innovative run. Cheers to the organizers and the runners who registered. May you all cross the finish line 'alive'. 

Outbreak Manila will be held on April 14, 2012 at Nuvali, Sta. Rosa.
Official Website: http://www.outbreakmanila.com/
Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/outbreakmanila

Family Fun Run

Update on March 13, 2012

We're finally registered! Yehey!

 
Original Post: Jan. 15, 2012 

Got a surprising invite from hubby last night to go on a morning run in UP today. He has always been supportive of my running activities but has declined my numerous invitations to join me. 

It is such an effort to get out of bed that early when the weather is like this - cool and comfy. Felt like the bed grew two arms and were hugging me to stay put. So I actually overslept  We were supposed to leave at 6:30am but I was still struggling to open my eyes around that time. Finally before 7am, we finally got our big butts outta bed and drove to UP.

I did not really expect to do a long run because Miguel was with us. Since I want to do a 3k with him via the Good Housekeeping Family Run 2012 in March, we made this morning's run his first training.

And as expected we only managed one round because Miguel was already complaining of being tired after doing a 1.5k straight run. That's good enough for him for now. We will try again next week =)

Today was the first time the three of us ran side by side with each other. Happiness!

Thanks to my sister, Kath, for taking our picture =)

Good Housekeeping Family Fun Run 2012 FB Event page : http://www.facebook.com/events/317288518302519/

2012 PSE Bull Run

My 3rd PSE Bull Run - 2003 or 2004 (can't remember anymore) - 5k, 2011 -5k and now 2011 - 16k *bow*.

Finished my 3rd 16k run but it was not by any means impressive, even by my standards (which means very low, hehe). Well, it was entirely my fault. That's what I get for failing to allot time for training. As early as the 11th km, my legs and my feet had started to cramp. I had to walk most of the way. Good thing the organizers did not use the McKinley Hill area or I might have crossed the finish line in a medic's van. My legs will surely not survive the hills of McKinley Hill.

Crossing the finish line

 16k Finishers

Anyway, in my previous post, I mentioned that this run was one that I shared with my dear Tatay because he celebrated his birthday today. He says he enjoyed the run. Happiness!

Me & my sister with our dear Tatay, the birthday boy =)

This run was also hubby's first run after several years. He got a free race kit from the office.

Me & hubby

Pushing aside my shortcomings resulting to a disappointing finish, the race was generally okay. Except for an  instance somewhere along the first 2kms of the 16k race when the marshalls tending the traffic gave us mixed signals on how to proceed as cars had started to pile up in the area. Other than that, the whole run went on smoothly.

The weather was cool. It was actually pretty cloudy and a few very short drizzles were encountered during the race but it never became a full-blown rain.

There were enough hydration stations and even a shower sprinkler. Was also able to get my first ever banana on a race route. From what I know, the bananas were really for 21k runners but I was getting really hungry and my legs were starting to cramp round that time so I helped myself to one banana. I was ready to return it had the marshalls told me so but they didn't so ate it.  

Loot bag consisted of a banana, an apple, a small can of Century Vienna Sausage, a finishers shirt, and the medal. Since I finished quite late, the finisher's shirt were in L and XL only. I guess, hubby has a new shirt =)

So there goes my first run for 2012. Looking forward to more runs this year!

Happy Birthday, 'Tay

Tatay will be having his birthday this weekend and we will celebrate it by joining the PSE Bull Run 2012 in BGC. The whole family will be there but only 4 of us will be running. After the run, we will treat him to a hearty Sunday breakfast - BGC style (whatever that is!) 

You see, Tatay has been a runner ever since I can remember. He would always be up early to jog around the neighborhood. If that is not possible (like if it's raining), he runs in place inside the house. His discipline to be consistently active thru regular exercise is one of the things I admire about him. He's past 60yo now but his morning routine has not changed. He's slower, yes, but he still wakes up at the break of dawn to go out and jog or just walk. 

When my sister and I caught the fitness bug in the early 2000, we would join him on his weekend runs. We would jog/walk around the Letre-C3/C4-10th Ave.-Sangandaan area in Caloocan where we used to live. I think it would be about a 5km round. Then before heading home, we would always drop by a lugawan to buy lugaw for our breakfast. Yummy!

Tatay & me at the 2004 28th Milo Marathon - Manila Eliminations

2004 GMA Kapuso Fun Run

We were also able to join a few fun runs around that time but since BGC was still non-existent then, all our runs were in Roxas Blvd. Suffice to say, his running soles has not touched ground anywhere but there. So I thought, why not invite him to join the PSE Bull Run since it falls exactly on his birthday and held in a venue that he has not tried running yet. I'm sure we'll have fun =)

Happy Birthday, Tay! More running years to come! Love you! Mwah!

2011 : A Personal Running Review

I would remember 2011 as the year I started running again. I joined a total of 17 running events consisting of 5 5k, 10 10k and 2 16k events and spent P10,000 in registration fees alone. Yes, it was quite expensive but I still think it was money well spent simply because I enjoyed every minute of it. There is always an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment everytime I finish a run. Then follow it up with a good hearty breakfast with hubby and Miguel. Happiness!


I have ran the streets of Roxas Blvd., CCP, Macapagal Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, McKinley Hill and Commonwealth Avenue. Still dreaming of running the Skyway. Hopefully it will come true in 2012.

I met a lot of new people and made friends with runners like me. Some who were struggling with their 5ks when I met them are now half marathoners. Others who are more advance runners are now doing ultra-marathons. Their achievements inspire me to do better. I have been doing 5k events for the longest time and my goal early this year was to run a 10k before the year ends. But I outdid myself . Not only did I accomplish my 10k run, I even did two 16k runs. Winner!

My running has also rubbed off on my 5year old son and he enjoys running as much as I do. It has become one of our bonding moments. We even landed a photo slot in the Oct-Dec 2011 issue of the Runner's World Philippines.

Lastly, 2011 gave birth to this blogsite which helped to channel whatever writing skills I have to chronicle my runs. It started like a photo blog because that was all there is to it - photos. Then I learned how to write. Now, the photos became more alive as it is now accompanied by a written account of my personal experience on the event. Let's see how this site will evolve this year.

Looking forward to another running year. Hopefully I may be able to do a 21k before the end of the year. Maybe in time for the next Adidas KOTR or maybe even earlier. We'll see.....

Keep on running...... happy =)