Scrooge this.

I wanted to say ’screw this’ but whatever.

These are my own thoughts on Christmas. Please bear in mind that I am not a huge fan of the season. Thanks.

1. Traffic – seriously, traffic in Metro Manila is really worse during this season. Is it because of all the shopping, visits to godparents/godchildren, road trips, vacations, etc? You can visit your godparents or godchildren anytime of the year. Heck, I see mine at least once a month. So I see no reason why Christmas should be any special.

2. Expenses – I probably spend the most during the days before Christmas because of all the obligatory get-togethers by my friends. Most of us probably have our own set of childhood friends, grade school friends, high school friends, college friends, past colleagues, OFW friends, etc etc etc. Why do we always get to see each other during the season, when we could meet up anytime of the year? I see my college blockmates about once in two months, and my high school friends once every two weeks… I mean it’s not that hard to meet up, right?

3. All that eating – Grr.

*to be continued.

down with the flu.

It all started last weekend. A late night drive to Punta Fuego, Batangas Saturday coupled with an early morning run the following morning gave me the chills late afternoon Sunday. And then my auntie, who was already sick, kept coming near me. I was starting to cough on Monday afternoon, and then the body aches came on Tuesday morning. I was so sick that I left the office on Wednesday afternoon to rest… It’s Thursday and I’m back at work and now I also have colds. Fantastic!

Nope I’m still not feeling well. But I’ll be alone in my department since the others have clients to visit and such, and according to our HR, “nobody will answer the phone” so that’s why I’m back. Pshh.

My dad said it’s all because of the run. Well. I lacked about 4 hours of sleep but I managed to run almost 10k around hilly Punta Fuego, but I slept the whole day after that so it wasn’t a big deal. I think it’s too much aircon. The house where we stayed has centralized air conditioning, which doesn’t really help.

So that’s why I couldn’t run this week. Sigh.

Aiming high! 21k Condura Run 2010!

A few minutes ago I was checking out the half marathon training program by Nike+ and the last day coincidentally falls on February 7, 2010. And that means one thing: I’m joining the Condura Run 21k!

Err okay I know it sounds really steep. I mean, I’m still a newbie but whatever. I know I can do it. (wow. Too many I’s.)

Anyways I started the training program last week. It’s mostly three times a week – TThSa – and the total distance varies for each week. Last week I was supposed to run 6.43 km on TTh and 9.65 km on Sa… but because of work schedules I had to run on WFSu, for a total of 22.51 km.

First run: 6.43km. When I arrived at the ULTRA I forgot to double check the distance, so instead I ran 6.2km. I thought, 0.23km isn’t a big deal, I could just catch up on the next run. It felt okay, although I got dizzy after 4k.

Second run: 6.43km again. Actual distance: 6.53km! I ran with a friend at the UP Diliman campus. It’s my first time to run in UP coz it’s far from my office and I don’t know where to leave my stuff. Wow lang ah, ang daming tumatakbo! There must’ve been more than a hundred people running around the oval. It made achieving the target distance easier. Lesson number one: although I enjoy running alone, it’s actually easier to run with loads of people around, and also with a friend. Of course someone with the same average pace as yours!

Third run: 9.65km. FAIL. Only managed to run 7.48km. We went to the Haribon Million Hectare Walk event (since my friend works there and I let myself be bullied by my other friends into joining). And since it’s a walk, I couldn’t run kasi dyahe and the asphalt pavement was kinda slippery. I woke up with bad vibes, thinking if I should just ditch the event and run at the ULTRA instead, but I promised to go so I did. When we got there I was always thinking that the road was slippery, I might get injured, I might slip, etc etc etc… My left foot hurt a lot which made my run painful.. And for the first time since running I had a stitch on my right side. Argh. Anyways, lesson number 2  is not to think negative thoughts while running coz negative things will happen to you.

Fourth run: 6.43km yesterday. Ok so the day before I stumbled upon Lance Armstrong’s Run Longer running mix, which promises higher endurance if done on a regular basis. I got curious and decided to run with it on my fourth run. Oh wow, another fail. It was a series of 4-minute tempo runs with 4-minute rests in between. I was doing okay on the first and second tempo, but after the third tempo run I just had to walk it. The stitch on my right returned, making the run painful again. Argh. Worst part was I only ran 5.92 km. Hahaha. I couldn’t push myself anymore after the mix coz I might just collapse hehe.

Overall, the training thingy isn’t half bad. It just feels totally different than when I was with a team back in college.

six weeks and counting

Six weeks. 3 races. 60.18 kilometers. Personal best: mile 8′58″; kilometer 5′25″; 5k 29′56″. And a lot lot more.

Six weeks - that’s how long I’ve been running. It feels just like yesterday though.

3 races - the number of races I’ve joined. The very first race that I joined is also my first day of running – Takbo Breast Friends fun run, for the benefit of cancer patients. It was a 5k event and I wasn’t prepared AT ALL. I didn’t know my time, and I was so tired that I slept for 7 hours after the race. Talk about exhaustion. But I was really happy with my run, and the euphoria lasted for a week. That same day I registered for the Adidas KOTR 2009. At the end of that day I was tired and 500 pesos poorer but I didn’t mind. While training for the KOTR I signed up for the Timex Run and wanted to win the 3k coz I really wanted the Ironman watch. LOL. Well I didn’t win but I had fun anyways.

60.18 kilometers – the distance logged by my Nike+. That isn’t accurate coz I didn’t use it during the Timex Run, and maybe a couple more times when I ran in the morning. Tomorrow I’ll add around 9kms more.. I hope.

Personal bests – it’s on my iPod and on one of my previous posts. I’m happy with my 5k PB, it didn’t happen during a race. It just happened

And a lot more – meaning, the benefits that I’m getting. For one, I’ve drastically lessened smoking (from 15 sticks to 3 or 4 a week). My night life is slowly becoming non-existent. Because of that I’ve also lessened my alcohol intake – obviously I don’t know how much exactly, but the difference is significant. I’ve been avoiding coffee and softdrinks too. Believe me, I didn’t plan on any of these. It just happened. Mostly it’s because it’s really uncomfortable to run if I’ve had a drink the other night, or when I had coffee in the morning and pop in the afternoon. I’ve been getting more sleep too. I could run farther than my usual 5k; yesterday Margie and I ran 6.5km around the UP oval and we only had to take one walk+water break. 2 weeks before today it was a struggle to finish 5k without walking! Woot!

From soccer to basketball to photography to running, I’d say this is my cheapest hobby yet

Timex Run 3k: fail.

I had a goal: to finish a 3k race in 15 minutes. It was so easy… I was already running 5k at a consistent pace, and I trained at least 3 times a week. Apparently everything I worked for could be lost over a series of bad decisions:

1. Kasi naman. We partied last Friday! Gaah. I knew it was a bad decision, but I haven’t seen my friends in over a week. So I promised myself 3 beers. I got much more: 3 rounds of cocktails and pareng Marl. Tsk tsk. Got home at 1:30 am and woke up at past noon the following day.

2. And then Saturday night the whole family went out to dinner. Needless to say I loaded up on rice and chicken and lumpiang shanghai and kare-kare. By 11 pm I was getting sleepy but I was still so full, so I slept at around 12:30 am.

3. I woke up at 4:30 am and ate a single piece of pan de sal and drank a glass of water. No Gatorade or any sports drink before the race. But I thought that Fitness First will surely open at 6 am so I didn’t worry about it.

4. My warm up was just one lap around the space at the back, near the portalets and the baggage counters.

5. My starting point was near the front. Oh the stress! I felt pressured to run faster than usual… and so I did.

The whole race was painful for my legs, my lungs, and my ego. I felt heavy and sluggish, and the worst part was I walked several times. Understandable if I was doing a 5k right? For the first time in a long time, I had a hard time breathing. I couldn’t swing my arms even if my brain was screaming the command. I couldn’t even push my legs. Every step was excruciating. What was happening? I felt like I was already tired.

After we passed the first (and only) water station, I walked from that point until the next corner. TERRIBLE. And then I did a series of jogs. I swear I wanted to give up already, but I didn’t want to waste all the effort. Plus there were lots of PhotoVendo people, I wanted to have a decent running shot hehe. Oh vanity.

I turned right after Fully Booked and saw the big FINISH sign. That did it: I did small, quick strides and managed to pass at least 10 people. I may as well have sprinted. As soon as I stepped on that red mat, I felt like the happiest 3k participant just because I finished the race The time I read was 17′45″ but I don’t know my official time yet.

Major blooper: I didn’t press ‘begin workout’ on my Nike+! My iPod wasn’t able to record my run! Huhu. Major FAIL.

So… there. There were so many lessons that I learned today. And the realizations that I may have to give up my nonexistent night life and all the booze and second hand smoking. Do not run on a track oval all the time, you’ll get used to the comfort. Get enough sleep. Don’t binge carbo load unless you plan on doing a 21k. Stay away from competitive people up front, you won’t enjoy the race as much. Drink Gatorade 2 hours before a race! (well that works for me.)

***

Takbo.ph posted the results on Twitter this morning. And whaddya know, I finished 37th overall! And I was the 6th woman to finish! Surprise, surprise

Personal Best!

1. Appalled at Edu Manzano’s decision to run! For VP! As Gibo’s running mate! Geez. I know our political system sucks but do we have to add more insult to it? Shame. But oh well. Erap ran, won, and got himself impeached. Maybe Edu will try to be smart. Whatever. As Julius Babao said, actors are people too. We’ll see. The presidential elections in the Philippines always gets better and better!

2. Ran 12 kms for the past 2 days. The ULTRA track oval is now open (although I wonder where the poor refugees are now). I ran a nonstop (ok more like no-walking) 5k on Wednesday and surprised myself later that night by achieving a sub-30!

Best 5k: 29'56"

So ok I had 4 seconds to spare, but it’s a definite start! I recall mentioning to Coach Noel that I wanted to achieve a sub-30 during the Adidas KOTR, and all he said was ‘good luck’. LOL. I may have achieved this 2 weeks too late, but at least I did!

3. I’m losing interest in photography. It’s a really good thing I didn’t buy a DSLR before. But we’re going to Batangas next weekend and I’m bringing my camera, tripod and running shoes there. Will try running on day 1 and shooting on day 2. And will probably post some photos on here or on my Multiply site.

4. The Timex Run 2009 is going to be on Sunday!!! So excited for it, even if I’m running a 3k race and not the 5k. Reg fee for the 5k was just too expensive

5. Edited my blogroll today. I’m not sure about any blogging etiquette but I posted them on here anyways…

My Races

1

October 4, 2009 | Takbo! Breast Friends | 5k | Pasig

Actual distance is 5.28 kms.

***

2

October 25, 2009 Adidas King of the Road 2009 | 5k | Taguig

Actual distance: 6.56 kms.

Official time: 47:34

Results are already posted on the Adidas page on Facebook. Just do a search on it, he he.

the ultimate junk.

We went to visit a client and had McDonald’s for snacks afterwards.

A Big Mac meal for a big appetite <3

This is what I love about this company. Food is their number one priority!

(apart from saving the environment, of course)

swipe happy

It’s great having a MasterCard to buy stuff when you don’t have cash. This month I’ve bought plane ticketSsssss, a pair of runners, Nike+iPod thingy, a wrist wallet (for running), and most recently, 4 roundtrip tickets to Cebu City and a pair of Havaianas.

 

 

my 4th pair of havies at 30% off!

 

I love how I was able to get those roundtrip tickets for Php388.80 – that’s roughly US$8! Fan-TAS-tic. The trip’s set in June 2010 though so we still have A LOT of time to save up for the trip

…

 

And then I realize how my statement will look like a month from now. Pshhh.

 

First post.

So I was at the office, doing my shitty job when the keyboard conked out and wasn’t working anymore. After 30 minutes I had a new keyboard, courtesy of CD-R King.

courtesy of cd-r king.

So there. My third best highlight of the day.

Second highlight of the day – my Cookies n Cream donut from Krispy Kreme! Unfortunately I forgot to take a pic coz it was simply tempting. I finished the whole thing in less than 5 minutes. Sheeeesh.

The first – and best! – for today: My daily 5k!

and –

The first was my warm-up run, and the second is the actual. It wasn’t bad, especially since my last run was last Thursday morning. Guess I couldn’t finish the whole 5k since I had way too much to eat during the long weekend!