Sunday, January 8, 2012

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!

Friday, January 6, 2012

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!

Monday, January 2, 2012

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 =)