2010

This year is about to end, and it's about time to make some reviews, recollections and recalls of the year that was.

• First stop, I conquered my very first Pikermi, half-mary, half marathon or 21K race.  My race time of 2 hours and 45 minutes was kinda disappointing after all the effort and training. But I guess, I have to be happy with this result since this is my very first 21K.
• On my dad's first marathon attempt, he DNFed! He suffered severe cramps on the 37th km on both legs! He had muscle spasms, too! My dad never admitted that he had a trauma after his ordeal. But I secretly plan to join him on his marathon redemption by 2012.
• A separate blog site. Yup, I used to blog my running misadventures along with my personal blog. But I have to separate what is personal to what is running, so I came with this blogsite as my running blog.
• Dailymile and other social networks. Thanks to the Dailymile and other social networks (I'm quite notorious on twitter!) I was able to meet with runners. Although, I haven't introduce myself in real life. I am planning to ditch my "shyness" by 2011.
• I am actually overwhelmed of having 13 runner/blogger followers! Thanks for following my blog!
• I am also overwhelmed by runner bloggers for posting links to my blog on their blogsite! Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!
• Who would have thought that after suffering a major injury, I had a podium finish. Yes folks, I ran the SSS Fun Run and placed third!
• This year, I suffered ITBFS or iliotibial band friction syndrome which made me miss the Cebu and Dumaguete legs of the Milo Marathon.
• And aside from ITBFS, I also suffered severe and intermittent pangs of TAMADITIS! Yes, I must confess, I am quite of a lazy arse, especially in mid-training.
• DNR, DNS and DNFs. This year, I did not participate in three races that I already registered. Reasons that ranges from not waking up early, to family reunions to having a bum tummy. As for DNS, I had two. One was the Planet Sports Run last June and the Heart Run last September. The first one was due to my answering nature's call, while the second one was an almost DNR because of the lack of transportation available. The second race was on the Alay-Lakad weekend. My DNF came just recently at the Cebu Bankers Run.
• This year I also joined the "barefoot" running revolution by purchasing a Nike Free 5.0 version 4. But I still have qualms of purchasing yet another "barefoot shoes".
• This year marks the 10th year since I graduated from high school (Now, you guys better do your math on how old I am!). And who would have thought we get to have an impromptu reunion during races! I will blog on it very, very soon. And with photos, too!
• Aside from running, I am also featuring the world's beautiful game, football. Or soccer to us. I also featured our Philippine National Football team amiably called, the Azkals! I already purchased their kit (or jersey) from Mizuno. And will have it's debut on next year's first race. Watch out for it!
• I learned to appreciate our delapidated and wrinkled Cebu City Sports Complex (CSSC) track oval (aka Abellana), and track workouts. I used to loathed these.
• This year, I also joined  the Energizer Night Race! It was my first night race.

• In Memoriam: Let's remember the lives of Alexander Landero and Remus Fuentes, who met their untimely demise while participating in the sport they love. May they rest in peace.
• Witnessed an Ultramarathon!

So 2010 was a crazy year! But I am looking forward to a better and brighter 2011. But that would be another post! Happy New Year, runners!

Oblation Run: The Naked Run of Protest

The Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Fraternity and Sorority's annual Oblation Run is one of those quirky traditions in the University of the Philippines. This is usually held every 16th of December,which is the anniversary date of APO's establishment.

The Oblation Run started in 1977 in protest of the human rights atrocities during the Martial Law regime. Since then, the Oblation Run serves as the fraternities way of protest to some social and political issues in the Philippines.

Why run naked? Well, since Alpha Phi Omega is one of the established fraternities in UP, the frat boys give tribute to the "Oblation", the iconic symbol of the University of the Philippines.

I have friends who are members of this fraternity. I wonder if they already joined the Oblation Run.

Azkals and it's Many Interpretations

Tomorrow, Dec. 16 (Manila time) and on Dec. 19, the Philippine National Football Team aka the Azkals will face the Indonesian National Football team aka the Garudas for their semifinal tie of the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup. My country's "home" game will be held in the opponent's territory. For those who have not known yet why my nation's football team (That's soccer team to us Filipinos!) is affectionately called the Azkals, click on this link.

Since, it's the fans who concocted the moniker, the Azkals do not have an official seal.

 The photo above is what the fans consider as the "official" Azkals seal.

 Here's a rather a sinister looking Azkals logo.

 This one screams "Kick ass", in my honest opinion. But the dog looks like Balto.

 Here's an Azkal doodle.

And this is t-shirt makers, Team Manila's interpretation of the Azkals' logo.

So which of these do you choose to be our team's logo? 

Go Azkals! Go out and fight...and BITE!

Quote for this Post:

"It took me a long time to decide. Obviously every boy's dream is to play for England at the highest level. But I thought, why not play for the Philippines? It's mum's side of the family as well."
—Philippines' goal keeper Neil Etheridge, on his decision to represent the Philippines

DNF

DNF! 

In runners' lingo, that means, "DID NOT FINISH". This is my first DNF that's because I paced a new-found friend.

Since I missed last Sunday's race, I made a "lagare" to the scheduled weekend races, and that included the Saturday race. I was planning to run 15K in both races. You read it right? 15K on each race that I am going to run.

I finished the Saturday race drenched, but I was able to get a PR at 1 hour and 44 minutes. 

So, in today's race, I promised one of my dad's staff to pace her. If my dad were here, he would pace Jenny. But my father is in Bacolod to man the bank there. Jenny will be running the half-marathon this January, so this will be her training run. And as for me, the Bankers' Run will be my recovery run.

Jenny and I were at pace. We took a brief pee break at The Gallery since she cannot contain her bladder. It was in kilometer 4, when Jenny felt a sharp pain on her lateral side of her right knee. Oh no! ITBS has struck Jenny! I told her to slow down or just walk. I also taught her the stretches my physiatrist taught. 

When we approach the 10K turning point, I suggested that we should do a 10K instead. But Jenny thought she could still run the 15K. So we pushed through. But her ITBS went from bad to worse at the Fuente Osmena rotunda. So from doing the Galloway method, we just walked towards the 15K turning point. We tried to run back, but the niggling pain still bothered Jenny. So We just walked our way up to Lahug, were Jenny suddenly felt hungry. I sprinted towards the Brgy. Lahug market to buy bananas. Jenny kept apologizing, thinking she was a bother. I told her there's no need to apologize, I mean, I am her pacer and besides I already logged more mileage than my usual weekly mileage.

We decided to DNF in order for Jenny not to suffer an embarrassing situation being the last person to cross the finish line. I suggested that we should take off our race bibs when we were already a kilometer away from the finish line. We went straight to her companion's car to get our stuff, and let her stretch.

Even if it was a DNF, I gained a lot...a gained a new friend.

AZKAL

I have to make a segue blog post on football. I must write something about Philippine Football. Why? Because for the first time since it's inception, the Philippines are heading to the semifinals of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Football Federation Suzuki Cup (then known as the Tiger Cup), for the VERY FIRST TIME!

I haven't watch a single game except tonight's goalless draw with Myanmar (or Burma). But I after watching this game, and that impressive draw against Singapore and THAT win against defending champion, Vietnam, I have to say, the Azkals is the team to recon with. I mean, who would have thought, even if our lads are grouped into the "group of death",  they were able to deliver the improbable.

In a country where basketball is king, and that athletes and sports programs always get entangled with the tides in politics, the Azkals (the Philippine Football team's nickname baptised by fans) proved that in this sport (football or soccer), we can be a powerhouse.  The Azkals did not have any major corporate sponsor/s that funded their trips, training, and even their kit or uniform. Take a look at Manny Pacquiao's shorts? There are at least 10 brands embroidered on it.

The Philippines will play host to Group A winners, Indonesia in their first game in the semi-finals. Go out and support our team!

DNR: Run for BB2

As early as 3:26 AM (Ph Time) I decided not to run today's race, "Run for BB2". Since 12:57 AM (Again, Ph time.) I am already awake and I am nursing a bum tummy. I think I got this from the half-cooked rice that I ate for lunch, (or something even more sinister...ROTAVIRUS!). I'd rather swallow my pride and withdraw, rather than suffer some embarrassment or any untoward freak incidents. 

I hope I can run a 10 miler maybe in the afternoon today, though! To the runners for this run, I am with you in spirit! I hope this tummy ache will be gone soon, very, very soon! Now, off to another trip to the...

Views from a Bystander: The Cebu ULTRAMARATHON

Guess where was I during the Cebu Ultramarathon last Nov. 27? 

Sirit?

I was at the clinic where I am currently working. The clinic is situated in one of the those tiny roads along Gorordo Ave. in Lahug. It is more or less 1.5 km away from the Provincial Capitol. In the morning, I was busy attending to the walk-in patients, giving there much needed vaccination, dewormers and treating one against blood parasites. I asked one of the tanods stationed in a n outpost to call my attention once runner are starting to pass by the area.

At around 10:30 in the morning, Mendel Lopez, the winner of this event, passed by. And one by one, the elites are on the homestretch. I am already done with my duties for the morning, and already ordered for McDonald's to deliver my lunch. It was around 12 when I saw Steve Ferraren speeding down the hill across the street. He ran against the traffic.

From 12 noon to 2:45 in the afternoon, I was just standing in between two VECO poles at the corner of Sunset Drive and Gorordo Ave., witnessing what would be an elusive dream of mine. To run an ultramarathon. I was a mere bystander, taking photos at some runners, giving them words of encouragement (e.g., Hey, it's just 1.5 kilometers aways! Kaya pa!), or give directions especially the out-of-towners (e.g., Ultrarunner from Manila: "Miss, saan ba ang UP Cebu?" Me: "When you go down this hill, that's already UP.")

It was a good thing, that I have no patients during that time. Good thing they arrived at 3.

Here are some photos that I took. I apologize for the poor quality, I totally forgot my camera (face palm!), so I only use my mobile phone.

Merlita Arias Dunkin, 2nd place Lady's Category

It's good to see students gave back to their mentor by pacing and supporting with him towards the finish.

Bald Runner gamely posing for me.

Mr. Front Runner himself, Jonel Mendoza.

Band of Brothers

Mr. Nemesio Escasinas (partly hidden)

With his better half, Mrs. Tessie Escasinas closely behind.

Gabby Lariosa of Cebu Daily News

Tinago Barangay Councilor Joel Garganera with a friend.
He took his oath after crossing the finish line. 

Conquering 50 kms. in Vibrams? Why not!

Add caption

Tito V. ad his flock of Ungo Runners

Head Master Ungo, Max. I barely recognized him because he had his "bangas" shaved.

BDM veteran, ultramarathoner, and broadcast journalist, Haide Acuna.

 Ms. Twinkle Ignacio, Cebu's running muse.