What Time of Day Do You Run? And Why?

I prefer to run during sundown. The only time I wake up really early for a morning run is whenever I participate in a race. Other than that, I wake up at 9am, which is already too warm and all the cars are out in the streets. Hello pollution! Same reason why I do not run during lunch time. I did that once coz I had rehearsals after lunch until late at night. Never again. Unless I'm heat training.

To many, running in the morning helps jump start their day. I must agree. It really gets your adrenaline flowing, giving you much needed energy for the day. But I like running at night coz it helps me de-stress. Stress is ubiquitous as it is inevitable in our fast-paced lives. Especially when you're dealing with a very difficult situation, running can help boost your mood. And I believe that's how I got hooked on running. Because no matter how bad my day has been, I know when I run at night, I always end the day feeling much better. That being said, it also helps me sleep better. You can't put a price tag on a good night's sleep!

How about you? Are you a morning or evening runner? Or do you just run whenever you feel like it? Would love to hear your insights! Do post them in the comments section.

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Globe Run For Home 2010: Push!!!

Running a 21K once again was indeed sweeter for me the second time around. The new start line and finish line was definitely a plus! I actually anticipated for a couple of things to go wrong (just so I wouldn't feel so bad if it did), but fortunately, it didn't! I thought The Globe Run for Home 2010 was very well-organized. Kudos to Globe, Ayala Land, Finshline and most especially to Coach Rio for organizing a better event following the Century Superbods Run. I knew he'd do better next time... *high five Coach!*

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PARKING

A number of people complained about the parking. I really just wanted to know where I could park without getting lost (Yes, in case you don't know yet, I am geographically challenged, haha!)! So I referred to the race map countless times and asked my fiance to explain it to me and suggest better options. So I decided to park in Greenbelt 1 (near McDonald's) so I could do a slow jog to the Stock Exchange Building. It would be the perfect warm-up. Enough to wake up my muscles and get my adrenaline flowing. And I believe it worked!

PACE
I was happy to see the almost all the takbo.ph peeps were also doing the half marathon. And was equally surprised to see Carina! At the Century Superbods Run she was the one who paced me so I could meet my target time. I thought I was gonna die keeping up with her, Haha! So seeing her here made me scream, "Aaaahhh! You're here!!!" No, that was more than a scared scream than an excited one, hehe! We both laughed and she asked me my target time and I replied, "2:30-ish only." And she said that they were doing Galloway 5-1. Hmmm..."Ok, I'll join you guys, but if I can't keep up, just go, ok?" , I warned.

And so we were off! Team Galloway: Carina, Pepsi, DocMarv and myself.

with the takbo.ph peeps

Team Hotlegs! Just coz we registered together, hehe! Who has the hottest legs? Brando and Noy! =)

PR MODE
I welcomed the challenge of keeping up with these experienced runners. But at the same time, there were moments when I said to myself, "What the hell am I doing running with these guys?!" In order not to feel pressured, I stayed right behind them. I think that's so much better than running along side of them. Less pressure and kept me motivated. I wasn't more than two arms length anyway. =)

PUSH
Many times when we would pass other runner friends, I would hear Carina say to them, "Push!" And I must say I did apply that to myself as well. There were times I felt like slowing down and just stop pacing them already but I kept telling myself to push some more. Most especially when we reached Heritage Park. It was my first time there, so I was new to it's numerous hills. But by this time, I eagerly waited for Carina's 2 claps

which signaled us to stop running and just walk for a minute. Ahhh the much awaited clap. But when she would clap again to signal us to run for 5 minutes, I was like, "What? that was one minute already?!" Haha!

ON MY OWN
I gave myself until 10K to pace with my friends until I would slow down and fall back. Surprisingly, I lasted until 13K. Just past the 13K, I felt I couldn't keep up with them anymore. What I did was brisk walk the uphills and whatever time it took me to walk it, I would compensate running. So if my run was just 5 minutes, but it took me a minute to walk the uphill, I would run 6 minutes after. And it worked for me. I was on my own now but I didn't give up. I was gonna make that 2:30-ish goal I set for myself!

HYDRATE
With the numerous hydration stations (a plus factor indeed!), I must've just missed 3. I remember grabbing a cup of water and Powerade at almost all the stations. I just felt incredibly thirsty the whole time. Maybe it was the summer sun which greeted us when we entered Lawton Ave., again. Wow! Indescribable! That's the one thing I cannot stand...HEAT.

SPONGE
Even if my friends were already way ahead of me, I found a new best-friend. And it's called, "the sponge!" =) The best heat-buster, I tell you! Those thick sponges dipped in cold ice water was the best thing in the race for me. I carried one from the 13K mark all the way to 21K. I squeezed the sponge slowly on top of my head, letting the cold water drip slowly.

Aaaahhh...wow, saraaap! I did the same at the nape area, chest area, and legs. Rubbed the

sponge on my arms and forehead, and all over my face. If I had soap, it would look like I was taking a bath! Hahaha! I would stop at every hydration station from then on to get a fresh cold sponge. And mind you. It had to be the pink one. Hahaha!

With best-friend, sponge. The first sponge that was handed to me. Not pink yet.

LAST KILOMETER
When I saw the last kilometer marker, I was thrilled. I still continued the 5-1 Galloway. But I stopped to walk for 30 seconds before turning right on Paseo to ready myself. When I turned right, I sprinted all the way to the finish line. Finish strong, Hotlegs!

Crossing the finish line

On March 21, at the Globe Run for Home, I finished at 2:36:35 on my second half marathon. New PR for me. 6 minutes faster than my first. *Bow* Even if the route was overshot by a kilometer (Garmin users said it was a total of 22K and not 21K), I was happy. It may have been a 2:30 if it was eaxactly 21K. hehe =) Still a LOT of room for improvement, yes. Just happy I leveled up. =)

My runpix

Thank you, Globe for a successful event and for giving us this opportunity to help build homes for others.

jumping for joy!

Thank you Carina, Pepsi and DocMarv for the company and helping me stay motivated! Carina said to me after the race, "Next time, keep up ok? Bawal mag paiwan!". Yes, hopefully next time. *gulp* =)

Pacers (Left to right): DocMarv, me, Pepsi, and Carina

Thank you God for helping me finish and reach my goal time sans injury. God, you rock!

takbo.ph class pic

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My Ateneo Aquathlon 2010 Experience

I...am...an...Aquathlete. I still can't believe it! Oh crazy joy! Sorry, I don't want to sound like I'm boasting. I'm just so happy and proud of this latest achievement I guess. And yeah, I think I've earned some bragging rights as well. So please just give me a week to revel. :p Please please please! Hehe! It wasn't easy training for and finishing an aquathlon. I know this is just a step towards me being a triathlete. Yup, that's the goal. Triathlete by 40 (years old). By God's grace, this will come true!

Although I did join Sheerwill's Aquathlon Cup a few months ago, The Ateneo Aquathlon is really my very first official aquathlon ever! I participated in the lite version which is a 400meter swim and 3K run. I started training for this in January up until the day before race date.

The week before the race I realized I agreed to do a show for the Fila Polo Cup on the same day as the aquathlon. Panic-stricken, I asked Rico if the aquathlon starts on time and even called Ateneo to inquire. I knew we were gonna have an early call time (10am) at the Polo Club for the show so I had to make sure I'd make it on time. I couldn't tell if I was more nervous about the event or making it to Polo Club by 10am!

Luckily, the aquathlon started each wave right on time. Kudos to Ateneo for that!

Multi-tasking: stretching while reviewing the rules

When they called the aquathlon lite girls, I felt like puking! A whole gamut o f emotions rushed through my body: nervousness, anxiety, excitement, and fear.

It all happened so quickly. We were ushered down to the swimming pool area, briefed on the routes (I listened intently so I won't get lost again), asked us to set up our stuff at the transition area, walked towards the pool area, jumped in the water and waited for the whistle to signal us to start.

that's me in the pink swim cap and beside me is Zi

still smiling and posing for the camera

Jumping into the pool. Here we go!

SWIM - There were around 8 to 10 of us on the first lane. When we started swimming I remember kicking a few people and being kicked myself. I was warned about this so I wasn't thrown off at all. I think I had more of an advantage since I was doing the breaststroke. However, Zi got me several times on the arms, shoulders and HEAD! Haha! Ouch! I remember jokingly shouting to Doc Marv when I was switching lanes, "Your girl-friend is kicking me!", Haha!

Swim Leg: 2 rounds (16 laps) for a total of 400m
courtesy of ateneoswimming.com

I could easily be spotted. Thanks to my pink swim cap and pink goggles :p

trying to keep my distance from Zi, hehe!

Anyway, whenever I race, I have trained myself to zone out. Especially when swimming. I tuck in my ears inside the swim cap to drown out the sound. All I can hear is my breathing. I wasn't aware of other swimmers passing me or my takbo.ph peeps cheering me on. I constantly reminded myself that I am competing against myself and NO ONE ELSE. So, I paced myself during the swim because my goal is to run the 3K all the way without ever stopping to walk.

TRANSITION - Everyone kept telling me about my lightning fast transition from swim to run. I wished that someone caught a video so I could see for myself. Haha! I have all my years of quick changes during performances to thank for that. I have mastered pre-setting all my costumes and changing into them in a blink of an eye. Haha!

transitioning from swim to run

Multi-tasking again: wearing my singlet while running

RUN - As I exited the pool area, an uphill greeted me right away! Oh dear! It felt like there were bricks chained to my legs! "Don't you dare walk"! I told myself. And not for one instance did I take a walk break. Yahoo! At a slow steady pace, I ran the whole 3K. I didn't really care about my time, didn't care who passed me, or who finished ahead of me. For me, I have achieved my goal. To complete the swim and run without taking any breaks and finishing strong. Oh and not getting lost, hehe!

Run Leg: 1 round (3K)
courtesy of ateneoswimming.com

The singlet was so big it looked like a dress!

Upon crossing the finish line, I was handed so many giveaways. Another plus for this aquathlon (even if I could barely carry them all :p)! There were a lot of booths where you could get free bananas, have your pic taken, get sunblock, etc. Very well organized event indeed!

After crossing the finish line, I actually had another transition from running... to dancing. I rushed to take a shower at the covered courts and quickly changed into my rehearsal clothes and drove to Manila Polo Club for our show. Did I make it on time? Oh yeah! I was parking the car already at the club's parking lot at exactly 10am. Swim + Run + Dance...Hmm... if only dancing was a sport, I would've been a triathlete that day. Hahaha!

Another goal achieved. Another item to check off my bucket list. Thank you Ateneo Aquathlon! See you again next year!

P.S. I dedicated this race to my fiance, who helped me during my training for this event. For patiently accompanying me in the mornings of my training and timing my simulations. Unfortunately, he wasn't there to share this moment with me. Once again, he is oceans apart from me...but is always in my heart. Serving as my inspiration. =)

Yihee sobrang cheezy! I love you my hanako!=)

*UPDATE: My unofficial Ateneo Aquathlon results: 400meter SWIM (0:12:36) / TRANSITION (0:00:56) / 3K RUN (0:19:45)/ TOTAL TIME: 0:33:17.
Out of 38 participants, I placed 8th. Not bad. =) If there was an award for fastest transition time, I'd be 2nd place! Hahaha! The one in 1st place was just a second faster than me! ;p

**thanks you doc marv, suzi and argo for the pics =)

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I Got my Running Groove Back!

I've always been used to running alone. I actually prefer it that way. No pressure. No conversations. Just me, the road, and my thoughts. I look forward to running every other day. Just like most of my runner friends, I consider this as "ME" time. It's been a part of my weekly routine since late last year. I lace up, warm up, turn up the music on my iphone, and RUN. Simple.

However, when my fiance (who has been gone for almost a year) flew in last February, my running routine changed. He was only here for 2 weeks but he immediately took an interest in running. After my race at the Century Superbods Run, we had his gait analyzed...

His 1st gait analysis at Runnr

Mike's running shoes: K-Swiss Tubes

...Two days later, we went to Secondwind to have another gait analysis and there we also got him his first running shoes. How exciting!

It was a cool Tuesday night. I was warming up and he was copying everything I was doing. After a few minutes I asked, "Are you ready?"

He nodded, almost looking nervous. And we were off.

Looking shy =)

I could feel his excitement and at that moment I remember feeling really happy (and a little kilig). I didn't mind running along side of my man. With him, I didn't mind slowing down, I didn't mind holding a conversation while running, and I didn't mind stopping for a quick break. I found my "sole" mate!

We alternated brisk walking and running so his body would slowly get used to it. That night, he did his very first 3K run while I continued to run my usual 5K on Tuesday nights.

The next day, he swam with me at Camp Aguinaldo to cross-train.

On Thursday we went to the ULTRA oval. We ran together during my warm up and he patiently waited for me while I did some speedwork.

Friday, he didn't swim or run with me. He volunteered to help me with my training for the Ateneo Aquathlon. So he timed my swim, my transition and my run.

The next week, same routine.

So by the time he left to go back to the U.S. I felt lost and lonely. In the 2 weeks that he was here, my routine was altered in the sense that, it was basically the same as before but with

Mike in it. So when he left, I had withdrawals.

I tried to run but it felt different this time. My body felt really sluggish. Almost catatonic. I couldn't wait for my run to end. By the end of the week, during my Sunday long run, when I was suppose to do 12K, I only did 6K. This has NEVER happened before. That I didn't finish a run? N-E-V-E-R! I knew I was extremely sad, I lost my motivation to run, and wanted to just stay home in bed all day.

The next week, same thing.

With only days to go before the aquathlon and less than 2 weeks before my next 21K race, I knew I had to somehow snap out of it. I didn't run this Monday and Tuesday. I really didn't feel like it at all. But this Wednesday night, I dressed up an hour early so that I could will myself to run. And run I did.

At steady pace of 7:04, I ran 6K and I felt great!

Still missing my fiance and feeling lonely, but I knew I got my running groove back. Back to the old routine. Back to being the lone runner that I am. But still looking forward to running with Mike on U.S. soil..or should I say...pavement, come May of this year. *fingers crossed*

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Runners CAN Dance!

Dancing is also part of our cross-training as runners...NOT! Well for Noelle and I, this statement is true, but for the rest...ok, just keep reading.

A little over two weeks ago, Jinoe and Que (the founders of takbo.ph) asked me to choreograph a dance presentation of our runners which will be shown at the welcome dinner of this year's Hong Kong Marathon.

According to Jinoe's blog:

"There were runners from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, and Philippines. Each country was asked to have a presentation number that will encourage those who will be running the next day. Since there are only three of us from the Philippines, Bing of New Balance, Jaymie aka Bull Runner and myself, we decided to bring some back-up.

Barely two weeks to go before the Hong Kong Marathon and the Welcome Dinner, we tapped members from Takbo.ph to be part of the presentation. There were volunteers to take the video, do the choreography, dancers and those in charge of the music and location. The video was then shown in Hong Kong during the welcome dinner with over 100 attendees."

It wasn't an easy task, to be totally honest with you. To most of the runners, dancing is scarier than participating in a marathon or the Bataan Death March. I had to guarantee them that:

1. they will not get injured
2. they will survive this
3. and like in some races, I will give them a finisher's medal if they participate.

Ok # 3, of course, was a total lie. =p

Amazingly, in 3 hours we were able to rehearse and shoot the video! Imagine, in 3 hours (much shorter than the Boston Marathon Qualifying time, hehe!)! I almost lost my voice (and patience, hehe!) since I was handling more than 20 runners at an open air venue. But we were all happy with the end result. And so were the other runners at the Hong Kong Marathon.

"Bing of New Balance Philippines calls it "A Phenomenal Number". John from New Balance South Africa says, "It was the best." Joyce of New Balance Hong Kong says, "It captures the goal of New Balance in uniting runners in a global running event." - taken from Jinoe's blog

So that's how takbo.ph became sayaw.ph (dance.ph) just for one night.

Check out our video below...




So...Do You Think We Can Dance? =)♥.•:*¨*:•.♥



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