2009 Family Fun Run

I know everybody who joined the Run for Home is now excited over the statistical results and analysis of the race made possible by the timing chip. I have read good reviews and a few not-so-good ones. Will talk about mine as soon as I nurse my broken heart on my frustrating results.

Anyway, let's take a break from "serious" races for a while. Forget about pace, forget about breaking PR.

Join the 2009 Family Fun Run for a change. Organized by Kenneth Montegrande as shown in the photo above, I'm sure I'll enjoy this event as much as I enjoyed the Manila Half Marathon Challenge last year.

Bring the whole family to Rajah Sulayman Park Manila on Aug. 2, 2009 and simply have fun! My kids and I, their grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins will be there.

I can think of 10 reasons why you shouldn't miss this:

1. The race will start at 4 PM. No hassle getting up at 4 AM.

2. The kids can run/walk with you and finishing a 3k race is a healthy and fun way of spending time together.

3. For only P250 registration fee, all the members in your family can join. And there's even a prize for the highest delegation of family group. By the way, Anna (the meek runner) will run 10k together with the whole runaholic family. And just the same, she only paid P250 for all of them. That equates to only P50 per family member. What a deal!

4. Each family will get a cool singlet after registration and surprise FREEBIES after the race (not to mention the trophies and cash prizes for the winners). What a treat!

5. My first race last year was organized by Kenneth Montegrande. There were adequate kilometer markings, helpful marshals everywhere, unlimited supply of ice-cold bottled water. How refreshing! Also, the commemorative t-shirt was something you could wear everyday. Di lang pang sports, pang araw-araw pa!

6. The route will be along Baywalk, Roxas Blvd. A completely different scenery from that of U.P. Diliman and the Fort. Even the air that you'll breath will be different.

7. You'll get to teach the kids a little bit of geography and history while passing by the Ninoy Aquino statue in Baywalk, the U.S. Embassy building, Dr. Jose Rizal's monument in Luneta.

8. You may bring the kids to Museo Pambata before the race. Try lifting the phones at the Heroes Hall on the first floor and they could actually "talk" to our heroes and learn something not found in ordinary History books. Cool! There's also a Sports Room where they could rock climb, shoot some balls and visit the lockers of our famous sports personalities like Paeng Nepomuceno. There's a Science Room, where the kids can actually get inside the giant parts of the body! There's a hands-on activity room, music room, showcase of international dolls, and many many more.

9. If your kids love marine life, then bring them to Ocean Adventure at the back of Quirino Grandstand.

10. Take your kids a stroll in Rizal Park. Test their ability in geography with the giant Philippine map. You may even explore Intramuros if they still have the energy.

Before I forget: For P150, you may run as an individual if you can't bring the family. You also get a free singlet.

You may register at San Andres Sports Complex. Tel. No. 5151915.

Or contact Kenneth Montegrande. Celfone # 0917-3630004.

Or visit his website http://www.kjmontegrande.wordpress.com/.

See you all there!

All Alone in Run For Home

I'm supposed to start this story with the Pre-Race portion but for whatever reason, I couldn't position the pictures in the manner that they should appear. And so, I have no choice but to start this blog with the ending.

Post-Race:

Nothing beats the pleasure of meeting running friends after the race! (More so when you ran all alone during the race . . . )

With the sultry Running Diva, Roselle!

With the growing takbo.ph family!

A souvenir pose with Run For Home route map as background.

With a truly inspiring group of running friends Christy, Johnny, the One and Only Jaymie, Mariel, Jun C., Annie, Miguel, Jay and Vener! Finally, I got my copies of the TBR mag which the whole running community is raving about. Thank you, Jaymie!

With the soulmates and solemates Jun C. and Mariel! Hope to run with you, Mariel, in future races.

A very happy reunion with Johnny, Christy and Jay!

With the dynamic duo Vener and Christy, my ever faithful guardian angels!

With the lovely running couple Mark and Tiffin, Jinoe and a fellow takbo.ph family member.

That's me waving before reaching the finish line.

Now let's go to where the story should start.

Pre-Race:

I registered at Fitness First SM Southmall branch last July 11, 2009. The people who attended to me were warm and accommodating, making my stay at the lobby enjoyable even though it took me almost one hour to be fully registered. Anyway, watching the weight watchers sweating it out with the different gym equipments delighted my attention and didn't even realize that I was sitting there for some time already.

It rained cats and dogs for the whole week. Didn't get the chance to run even for a brief time. Came Saturday, July 18. It was the last day of picking up race packets. No choice but to go all the way to the Fort, or I won't be able to join the maiden voyage of the disposable timing chip (not to mention the P500 that I paid for it).

It wasn't raining anymore when we left Las Pinas City but when we were about to park the car in front of the Globe tents in BGC, strong winds crashed the Globe tents down to the ground. At first I thought they were the claiming booths. I asked the person who seemed to be the one in charge and he informed me that I could just walk and proceed at the back of the building near Nike. I could claim my race packet at the Globe tent situated in that area.

I saw the sign "Fitness First Registrants" and gave my coupon to the lady in front of a laptop. The other lady wrote my name on the race envelope and asked for my size. I told her "Medium". She placed my singlet inside and I was off in less than 1 minute. Wow! That was fast.

It started to rain again so I had to run back to the car. I braved through the muddy field in my newly bought bakya, inflicting wounds on my feet. But I didn't mind. I was too happy to look at my race bib and disposable timing chip.

Race Day:

Left the house at 4:50 AM and proceeded to the the same parking area where we parked the day before. No trouble getting a space. I made a quick stop at the portalet, missing the pre-race warm-up by Fitness First.

I then searched for familiar faces but saw no one I recognize. I guess everybody I know left already at 5 AM. Quennie's running in U.P. My cousin Jun couldn't make it. Oh no! That meant I'll be running alone (sigh).

Race Proper:

I positioned myself in the middle of the pack, beside the 16-year old Jennica. I started talking to her but I remembered Roselle's blog that some runners don't like to chat during races so when we crossed the starting mat, I slowly drifted away from her.

I'm used to train alone but I'm not used to be running alone in races. I needed a friend to talk with. I tried to talk to myself but it didn't work. It was a terrible, empty feeling.

The route was the same as that of the Mizuno Infinity Run last June 7. I should be able to handle it better this time.

Sadly, I didn't.

The first half went well. I crossed the mat at 32 minutes in my watch (although this wasn't reliable 'coz I forgot to start my stopwatch right after I cross the mat at the starting line).

On the way back, I had to stop for water before reaching the Buendia flyover. Something I've never done in a race. As I climbed the flyover, I felt pain on my upper thighs I had to stop and walk a few steps. I've never walked in a race either. Also, my left foot was killing me. I had no idea how I managed to ascend and descend the flyover.

When I saw the next water station, I again stopped and quenched my thirst. My, my, my. This race had a lot of firsts. The idea of not finishing the race was about to play in my mind when I heard the Marshal say "1 km for 10k runners". I said to myself: "I only have to run from the house to the guard house. That's all I have to do to finish this race." And so I went on to finish the longest 1 kilometer run I've done so far.

As I approach the finish line, the clock read 1:20:30.

I had a better time at Mizuno!

How could that be? I didn't run for 5 months and yet I finished at 1:20:01 in Mizuno.

Now that I had proper training, I clocked 1:20:30! I couldn't think of any logical explanation to this reversal of outcome.

I would gladly welcome your opinion on this matter if you have any.

Nora at One

As I write this, I'm still in a state of heavenly shock. I couldn't believe that my tennis idol Roger Federer finally reclaimed his world no.1 position by winning back the Wimbledon crown last Monday at 1:27 AM (Philippine Time).

After 4 hours and 27 minutes of marathon with Andy Roddick, my dearest Rog is now recognized as the Greatest Player Of All Time having won 15 Grand Slams in just 7 years.

My first year anniversary of running couldn't be happier. I thank God for this wonderful gift--something I've been praying for since the Fed lost to the Spanish conquistador last year.

Yes, it's my first year anniversary of running.

July 6, 2008: I ran my first 5k race during the Manila Half Marathon Challenge exactly one month after my 50th birthday. I clocked 38:27.

I could have joined the MILO race to celebrate my first year anniversary but I didn't. Instead, I opted to test myself how long I can possibly run if I push myself to the limit.

For once, I dared defy the 10% rule (not to increase your time or distance by more than 10% a week in order to avoid injury). I know it's crazy but it's my own way of celebrating this memorable event.

The result? I ran for 1 hour, 59 minutes, 58 seconds--for the very first time in my life. And I thought I could no longer move when I wake up the following morning but in my excitement of Federer's historic achievement, I felt I could still run for another 2 hours! But of course, I didn't. I gave myself a rest, simply played tennis for 1 hour.

I joined the Mizuno Infinity Run last June 7, 2009 after 5 months of not running. I finished 10k at 1:20.

This July 19 at the Run For Home, I wish to do better--hopefully I WILL!