Why I Chose The Happy Walk Over The "Run of the Century"

Ten years ago, my heart was torn to pieces when I discovered that my daughter had Down Syndrome.

I almost died when the Chromosomal Test confirmed that Eia had Trisomy 21 (her 21st chromosome split into 2, giving her a total of 23 pairs of chromosomes plus 1 = 47, instead of only 46).

Worse, not only was my little angel born with Down Syndrome but was also born with serious heart ailments which required an open heart surgery before she turned 1 year old.  She also had other physical disorders commonly associated with that one extra chromosome caused by a genetic accident that strikes in 1 out of 800 births.

Anger.

Pity.

Remorse.

I was sooh angry with God for choosing me to be the mother of a special child. In my desolation and pity for Eia, I begged God to take away my daughter's life while she was still a baby to spare her of the "abnormal" life ahead of her.

Yes, I cried a river just like everybody else. I cried and cried until there's no more tear left to shed for my daughter's fate.

After one whole month of grieving myself to death, I had no choice but to move on and face the challenge of raising a child with Down Syndrome.

Yes, I still cry my heart out to God until now, though no longer in desperation but in EXALTATION for giving me my daughter Eia. I am still alive now because of my child with Down Syndrome. Eia gave me the strength to rise above all the adversities that came into my life. I've been through a tumultuous 5-year marriage and seemingly endless battles with my only son who had to undergo psychotherapy to correct his ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder).  Thank God those days are over. Gio is now an active servant of the church as lector and psalmist.

At a tender age of 2, Eia could already sense that I was deeply troubled, when I was struggling to keep my family together.  Eia would often hug me and pat me at the back saying "Are you sad, Mama?"  Although I would answer her that I was not sad, she would hold my face with her tiny hands, look into my eyes and ask again —"Are you happy Mama, not sad?"  That would just melt my heart and cast out all my aches away.  Then Eia would give me her sweetest smile, embrace me, and pat me at the back with her "It's okay Mama, it's okay" expression.

Thanks to Eia, I managed to survive the storms.

Eia was a blessing not only to me but to the whole family.

Nothing and no one moved my father. Not his wife . . . Not even his only daughter.  Only Eia.  It took a child with Down Syndrome to soften my father's hardened heart.  With my daughter's loving ways she patiently taught my unyielding father how to hug and kiss, how to say good morning and goodnight and most importantly, how to say "I LOVE YOU!"

And so every year, my family joins the Happy Walk to Stand Up For Down, together with the members and friends of the Down Syndrome Association of the Phils. Inc., therapists, medical practitioners, teachers and students who support our advocacy.  This year, it was held last February 21, 2010 at the Skydome, SM North EDSA.

So now you know why I had to miss the much-raved Run of the Century.

While waiting for the Happy Walk to start.

 

Taken before the Happy Walk proper.

Along the Skywalk's beautiful garden.

With EDSA as background.

 

Inside the Annex. The Happy Walk then passed by The Block then back to Skydome.

 

One last photo before heading home.

See you all at the Globe Run for Home this March 21!

The Condura Race 2010: An Unsurpassed Record of Firsts for Me

Pinch me. Slap me twice. Kick me at the butt.

I'm still in Cloud 9.

Until now, I still can't believe that after 1 & 1/2 years of running, I finally had the courage to squeeze myself into the elite pool of Half Marathoners who conquered the Skyway last Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.

I finished no. 1,310 among the 1,500 21K runners but I'm not whining. In fact, I'm elated.

What used to be an unimaginable dream is now a fulfilled reality (let me pause for a while to dry my tears) . . .

Pardon me for being melodramatic. But for someone who ran her first 5K race at 50, this moment is simply overwhelming.

So, what's so memorable about the Condura Race 2010?

I have 21 reasons:

1. It's my first race after graduating from my 3-month stint at the PT-Rehab.

With Mark, my dedicated physical therapist during our last PT-rehab session. Free at last!

2. It's my first race for 2010.

3. It's my first 21K race.

4. I met Patrick Concepcion for the first time!

Patrick is everything I imagined him to be -- cool, warm, and very accommodating. He's so humble he was even the first to greet me, as I was engrossed in searching for the tent where I could claim my race packet.

Seeing Patrick 2 days before the great race was a dream come true for me.

Imagine me jumping up and down, hugging him and screaming like a 13-year old avid fan (I wonder what the people there were thinking during that time hah hah . . . )

With Patrick and Sis Mila who was so kind to accompany me to the Fort. Thanks, Patrick for sending me our picture.

5. My first time to wake up at 2:30AM for a race. My alarm was set at 3:00AM but Mark texted me at 2:30AM for a change in meeting place.

6. My first race in the Fort with my therapist Mark. Our first race together was in MOA, followed by the BF Pasko Run (which I still have to write about).

7. My first race that started at 5:00AM.

Taken barely 5 minutes before gun start.


8. My first time to run with Coach Rio. I normally see him as the organizer.

(Coach, thanks for the message which until now I'm still thinking whether it's true or just a joke -- but I truly appreciate it)

9. My first Condura Race

Last year, I remember Patrick C. inviting me in this blog to join the Condura. I don't remember anymore why I wasn't able to join but thank God I made it this time!

Awesome display of fireworks before the race.

10. My first time to run for the dolphins. I'm almost tempted to fly to Bohol and swim with them.

11. My first race in my new, short, highlighted hair.

12. My first race wearing my bold name at the back.

(Note: Please direct your eyes on the new, short hair and personalized name, not on the kilometric hips. Thank you for your cooperation.)

I'm glad I had my name at the back of my shirt. I was constantly cheered, urging me to go on.

13. My first race wearing my new Nike sports bra. Sorry, I can't show you pictures of my scarred breasts caused by my old sports bras. I had to suffer a number of blisters on my breasts before I compelled myself to buy 2 Nike sports bras which fit me perfectly.

14. My first time to pass the Skyway! I have never been to the Skyway by car and so I had no idea how long the Skyway is. At the turnaround point, I switched my watch back to zero, with the objective of finishing the remaining 10.5K in 1 hr. 10 mins (I can dream, can't I?)

15. My first race to be entertained by 3 sets of bands along the route. Though I pity the band members on my way back. They sounded more tired than the runners!

16. My first time to stop 7X along the race route.

Thanks to takbo.ph for this picture. ( I wonder what happened to my shot with Queenie taken by Jinoe?)

17. My first time to run in the middle of 2 long queues of bananas, courtesy of the takbo.ph and Amado's Reinier Pacific volunteers. Thank you, thank so much!

18. My first time to eat in between a race (yummy banana!)

19. My first time to run for 2 hours, 55 mins. and 42 secs.

At the end of the Kalayaan Flyover was the last 1 km mark. When I checked the time in my watch, it was already 7:50AM.

I was aiming for a sub 3hr finish.

Will I ever make it?

I whispered: "Lord, pag hindi ako dumating before 8AM, hinding-hinde na ako uli tatakbo."

That settled, I ran with renewed energy until I could almost see the finish line.

I passed by my cousin Jun Muego and company happily cheering for me and that gave me the needed boost to even run faster.

Taken right after I handed my bar code. Again, no picture of me approaching the finish line (sob).

20. My first 21K race with Anna (the Meekrunner).

Sayang di tayo nakapag-usap. Nagsabay sana tayo. I ran alone, sometimes I ran side by side with Jess of Happy Feet.

21. My first 21K finisher's medal.

True to the organizer's word, I received my medal this morning. I held it long in my heart and magically, all the aches in my body disappeared. Ah, the sweetness of victory.

Last Sunday, though, I borrowed Mark's medal for picture taking. He had no trouble claiming his medal for he was only the 246th finisher clocking at 2:07:21 (galing talaga ng coach heh heh . . . )

To my support team: Ate Ella, Jenny, and Mark -- thank you very much guys. It was a great sacrifice for you to be there for me. Luv yah!

Need I say more?

Two Months After

A few days ago, Kassy (the Flexitarian Runaholic) texted me that she's been checking my blog and there was nothing new. I told her I have been very busy (I still am!).

I cannot believe it's been 2 months since my last post. I recall telling my friend Tess before that blogging is therapeutic for me. Yes, it was and it still is. But given my situation now, how I wish I'm blessed with more than 24 hours a day (and sometimes, I even wish I have a husband or had 10 siblings I could turn to).

Anyway, I just dropped by to say that I'm still very much alive and hope to see everybody in the Condura Run where I already registered for the Half Marathon (inhale . . exhale . . .).

There are so many stories to tell. Hope I can squeeze some time soon to write about them (hopefully before I completely lose them in my memory).

Take care, everyone!

First Race After Colles Fracture

3 months after I lost my balance on the tennis court and suffered a wrist injury(Colles fracture in medical terms), I dared to fly again and once more savor the unexplainable "high" that only running can possibly give.

I would have wanted to run side by side with Papa Piolo at the Fort but opted to shy away from the limelight for the time being hah hah . . . (It was 4 months since my last race and I was still in PT rehab)

After a series of utmost convincing and prodding, my rehab therapist Mark finally agreed to join me in my comeback race. He was already jogging 45 minutes 3X a week for 1 year before we met but had no intention of joining a race. Had he said YES before the Adidas KOTR, I could have "defended my crown" (sob).

I picked the Animo Run because he's an alumnus of DLSU. I figured he won't say NO to my proposal and I was right. With Nov. 15 as our target date, Mark religiously followed the one-month running program I made especially for him. It was an easy-to-follow weekly schedule that included a tempo run, a speed interval workout and a long run.

Pre-Race:

The day before the race, we attended the birthday party of my uncle in a nearby subdivision. I may have eaten more than my stomach could handle or something alien that caused me to heed the call of nature 5X from 8PM to 9 PM.

Thanks to Gatorade, I didn't feel weak nor exhausted with my successive trips to the rest room.

By 10PM, I was already lost in dreamland. Then I was jerked by the startling sound of alarm early in the morning. For a while I wondered why I set my alarm at 4:10 AM. After some thought I realized it was race day and I was supposed to meet Mark at the Petron station fronting McDo Macapagal at 5:10AM.

As usual, Mark was late again but forgivable for he still fetched his darling Elena who will be his official photographer. Mine was Ate Ella. (Actually, I thanked God that he was late 'coz I still had to do my business in the rest room. Twice.)

We were lucky to find 2 parking spaces fronting San Miguel by the bay. From there we jogged to the starting area.

A commemorative pose at the starting line upon arriving at the race venue, only 20 minutes from Las Pinas City.




While waiting for the start of the race, in front of IMAX Theatre.


Then out of nowhere my friend Anna (the Meekrunner) appeared! I was simply overjoyed in seeing her. We're supposed to run 16k last September but I got injured in August.

After a while Anna had to join the 10k runners who'll be running ahead of us.


Race Proper:

We waited for another 10 minutes after the 10K runners left and we were off.

Mark and I ran slowly together until the first right turn, where he disappeared in a flash.

I took my own sweet time, reminding myself that I just got out of injury and still recovering. Sometimes I set my eyes on someone (a young hunk or a sexy female runner) and try to reach him/her. Then I pat myself at the back for still having the strength to run faster than athletes half my age.





Mark, finishing strong in less than 24 minutes (galing ng Coach hehe...). Not bad for a first timer (he was aiming to overtake the PNP in front of him but just couldn't make it . . . he vowed to seek vengeance next time around).

That's me walking to the finish line. After 34 minutes, there was already a queue of runners ahead of me. I didn't break PR (clocked 31:27 at the 2008 Adidas KOTR) but I'm just glad to be back on track again.

All smiles with our certificates and free t-shirts (given only to the first 50 finishers).

Post-Race:

While waiting for the awarding ceremony, I glanced at my right and saw Takicutie and his lovely wife Meg! (Good luck Meg on your 1st 15K this Sunday).

I thought the Animo Run will be better this year but as before, there were problems again in the compilation of the list of winners.

We would have stayed longer but we had to stop the uprising in our empty stomachs.

One last pose with Ate Ella and Mark's sweet honey pie, Elena before we left at @9:30 AM.

Now that I'm back, see you all in future races!

85 And 10

85 years ago today, a baby boy was born in a humble home in Naic, Cavite destined to be the father of an only child.

75 years later, a special child was born to his only daughter who would change his life forever . . .

Yes, my dearest father and only daughter are both celebrating their birthdays today, November 11, 2009.

Tatay is 85--old enough to be my grandfather, and Eia is 10--young enough to be my granddaughter.

Strange how things turn out the opposite of what we planned them to be.

My father fantasized of marrying an only daughter and having 10 children.

He ended up marrying the eldest of 10 children and had only 1 offspring!

As for me, I run away from marriage whenever I can.

I ended up embarking on the "last trip" 5 months before I turned 39.

Then I prayed for an only child.

But God had other plans.

He gave me a boy. And a girl.

When I was 5, I begged my mother that we leave my father.

After 52 years, my father and mother are still together.

When my son was 5, he begged me to accept his father's plea that we live together again.

It never happened. I filed for Petition of Marriage Annulment and it was granted in 2007.

Who would ever think that exactly on my father's 75th birthday, God will grant him a granddaughter who would melt his hardened heart, teach him how to express his love, and give him joy beyond imagination?

Ah, God may sometimes not grant our prayer. But He sure gives us something better!

Thank You, Mark!

Today, Oct. 24, 2009 is the beginning of a new life for me.

Exactly after one month of PT rehab, I can now drive my old, reliable Revo--thanks to my young, equally reliable therapist, Mark.

My cast was removed on Ate Ella's 64th birthday, Sept. 23. I expected that things will return to normal as soon as I let go of this green fiberglass that kept me close company for six loooong weeks.

Like an innocent child eagerly anticipating her dream toy, I excitedly waited for that magical moment when I thought life would be the same for me again.

But just like my love life, things didn't turn out the way I planned them to be.

As soon as Dr. Sevilla cut my cast to free my arm, he blurted out these words which caused me to scream in horror:

He told me: "Di ko pala nasabi sa iyo. Pagkatanggal ng cast, mas masakit pa kaysa bone fracture."

I wanted to believe my orthopedic surgeon was only joking.



I prayed and wished that he was, but he wasn't.


And so, instead of a "back to normal" life that I imagined, a life of pain and misery and agony and suffering began.



(buti na lang di nakasali face ko sa picture . . . nakangiwi kasi plus may kasama pang luha at sipon hah hah . . .)

There are no words in any dictionary that could aptly describe the pain I feel every time my wrist is mercilessly twisted, my stubborn hand fiercely straightened and each of my hardened fingers stretched beyond their limits.

I even told my therapist that when I die, I'll probably go straight to heaven for I've gone through hell already. Mark was quick to reply: "Eh Tita, di naman po ako demonyo" (heh heh . . .)

When my PT rehab started, I could only move my hand 5-10 degrees. I couldn't even flex my fingers. The pain lingered all day long that sleeping was an ordeal.

Following the advices of my Rehab Doctor and therapist, I launched my own therapy program at home in the hope of speeding up the whole recovery process.

Hot pack was my constant companion. So with the lovable squeeze ball. Later on, the powerful laundry clip (I try to close it with my thumb and 1 finger), the water bottle as weight for wrist exercises, door knob rotation from left to right and vice versa, and stretching between fingers using thick rubber band.

All these exercises were extremely painful at first but slowly mellowed down as time went by.

I'm still in rehab.

My best friend Pain hasn't abandon me yet.

But I'm happy.

I'm happy because I can now drive and . . . I AM NOW COACHING MARK TO RUN HIS FIRST 5K RACE.

Thank you, Mark.

I'm sorry I wanted to punch and kick you during our therapy sessions.

Thank God for therapists like you!

First Race at Age 75

Tennis, golf, bowling -- you name it. My mother played these recreational sports and has brought home countless trophies for winning tournaments that she joined.

Except running.

My ever dearest mother has never joined a single race for the 75 years of her active life.


Not until the Family Fun Run last Aug. 2, 2009.

Gio and Eia begged their lola to bring them to Museo Pambata then run together in the Family Fun Run after that.

Poor grandma, cannot say NO to the persistent prodding of her 2 grandchildren.

As for me, I was overjoyed because whenever she goes out with us, I leave my wallet at home heh heh . . . .

It's good that Nanay exercises everyday following the different types of aerobics video.

And through all these years, she has maintained her 36-28-36 figure and 110-lb. weight.

I always tell her that she was born without any taste buds. Her whole meal intake is only half of my appetizer hah hah . . .

She couldn't understand why we still eat sweets after eating, when we are supposed to be full already. I tell her that there is such word as "dessert" in the dictionary and it was included there for a purpose.

She would end the conversation by saying that "I only eat in order to live. You live in order to eat."

It's no surprise that the 3k race was a walk in the park for her. She ran/walked with her grandchildren enjoying every moment of it.

Sadly, we had to leave right away for Eia was already complaining of stomach ache.

The following day, I received a call from the organizer, Mr. Kenneth Montegrande, inviting me and Anna (the meekrunner) for a breakfast get together.

With Anna and her runaholic family.

Unfortunately, Anna didn't make it because of an early corporate meeting.

Sorry Anna. I was treated to a sumptuous buffet breakfast at Cafe Bocobo and had a wonderful time chatting with Ken and his buddy (whose name now slipped my mind--probably because of my recent General Anesthesia?).

Before we said goodbye, Kenneth gave me these fabulous prizes!

The envelope contained P5,000 cash.

The Crocs Prepair I chose at MOA was priced at P2,350!

I was wearing my pink Crocs Prepair when I chased the closing time of RFC last Monday, Aug. 24, 2009.

Now it can be told: Ang Crocs Prepair, di lang pang walking--pang running pa!

Thank you Ken! Take care of yourself in the U.S.