Too Lazy to Lace Up

Ever since finishing my second half marathon, my weekly mileage is down to a big, fat egg. As in NIL, ZERO, or whatever you call it! Partly because I was limping for a week after the race. My left calf muscles were sore, that I have to take pain killers to kill (The pain, that is.) it. Plus the weather has been wet and dreary that I wore every jacket that lay dormant in my closet for most parts of the year. Injury + Cold and Wet weather= Recipe for the lazy arse runner.

To be honest, I enjoyed this "off season" mode. Maybe because I don't have to wake up in ungodly hours just to run, or this "off season" mode made me save my hard earn money from a race registration. Also I am cutting off my risk of getting the dreaded respiratory viral infection. Also, I have time to watch the Asian Football Confederation-Asian Cup and cheer for the Samurai Blue (That's Japan, my friend.) on their quest for their 4th Asian Cup title. What's worst, I did not bother to write my second breaking of a previous PR on my second race of the year!

But this madness must end! And it MUST END, ASAP! So will someone kick me back to my RUNNING senses?

Quote for this Post
"Not all runners want to take days off. They fear lost fitness. Miss too many days and it will. But fail to rest and you will suffer more."- Hal Higdon

A Shuffle and a Chicken Soup

Even if Santa did not deliver most of the things on my wish list, but boy, I feel blessed with all the goodies I got. I am going to feature only two for this post.

First is the I-Pod Shuffle.

I unabashedly declared my notoriety in Twitter in one of my previous posts. It is through Twitter where I earn this little musical gadget. Commission on Elections (ComElec) commissioner, Gregorio Larazzabal tweeted on what will be your New Year's resolution, and win an I-pod Shuffle. I gave it a shot, and replied my New Year's resolution to his tweet.  And they say, the rest was history. I won. Commissioner Goyo send me a direct message (DM) asking for my mailing address. The gadget arrived in office via a courier.

I already uploaded songs that I love on this shuffle. But sad to say, I will never use this on a race or any long run (Or I might, who knows.). I am more of those "zen runners".


For those interested to follow my notoriety, twitter.com/Ling2x.

Photo taken from Amazon.com

Yup, there is "Chicken Soup for the Soul for Runners"! This is the latest, hot-from-the-press book of the Chicken Soup series. I never thought that this book is already here in the Philippines. When I asked the friendly crew of Fullybooked Ayala Center-Cebu if they have this book. They were chirpy that they have this book, and it just arrived. I immediately bought this book. This book, along with Haruki Murakami's "What I Talk about, When I Talk About Running", are my running inspiration books. I just had a salary raise. So this is my little token.

I haven't read this book. I have to finish Stieg Larsson first.

Personal Best January (Part 1)

RACE: 1st Sinulog Fun Run

LOCATION: CSSC Track Oval

DATE: January 2, 2011 5:00-8:00 AM

RACE CATEGORY: 5K

TIME: 31:13:08 (My Time)

My very first race of the new year was the day after the New Year's Day, January 2. This was the Sinulog Fun Run to kick off the festivities of the feast of Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu (Child Jesus). It was rather a short race, only 5 kilometers. The route of the race is actually the route that is used in the Sinulog Grand Parade this coming Sunday, January 16. 

For this race, I was paced by my father, who last paced me in the Pinay in Action (PIA) last March 2010. My father pushes me to the brink that I will either cough or about to puke, but that's how he is. He likes me to push myself. That's the reason why we argue, but in the end he'll always win!

The first 2 kilometers was about running uphill to Imus Road away from the burgeoning crowd of students. We even overtook our city mayor once we got out of the track oval. But we greeted him as a sign of respect, though.

On the third kilometer, I took a very brief, as in 10 seconds of walk, then my father barked not to stop running/jogging, so pushed jog. Then, it's up to the rolling hills of Mango Ave. (also known as Gen. Maxilom Ave.). Oh, the hills were alive. I kept a steady pace, then run up to the hills.


On the last kilometer, I was literally running. I was already coughing, but I said to myself, "It's almost the finish line, run like you are chased by a pack of rabid dogs!". So when I crossed the finish line, I checked my watch, whoa, a personal best 5k! 


I am looking forward to run more 5Ks this year to break this PB. Hopefully next time, it will be a sub 30! 


Oh, my high school batch mates and I had a mini reunion. We even "modeled" for a sardines brand, as requested by the girl on their booth. The sardines brand was one of the sponsors. Sad to say, we did not ask where they posted the photos.


Hey, I'm on TV. One of my uncles watched the broadcast of the local evening news the Monday after, and saw me ran past the mayor! He even told his beer buddies about my exploits. Does this means that I am already a celebrity? Hahahahahahaha!

 Review:

It was a fairly well run race. There were marshals along the route, ample water station, and post race food and drinks. It was a turn off that they used the water from the fire hydrant as our "drinking water". We had foreigners and balik-bayans who joined the race, like Jappy and her friend Michelle. 

This race saved me from purchasing my "annual" Sinulog t-shirt. Instead of singlet, they gave away a t-shirt from local manufacturers, Kulas!

Hood to Coast-The Movie

Or should I say, "The Documentary". 



I hope this will be shown in our local theaters.

Power Balance bracelets-Bogus!

Photo taken from this site: http://www.kakatech.com/power-balance-silicon-wristband-bracelet/

News have been circulating around the web this week that the Power Balance bracelets do not have any medical benefits as promised. Read on this link to know more about the issue.

It's a good thing that I did not purchase this product, which was THE "IT" product last year. Celebrities are wearing it, even runners. There are bootleg versions of these being sold in tiangges. It's a good thing I did not purchase these. Thank God for my intuition!