Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, yeah they were all yellow - Coldplay must have foreseen this yellow revolution.
Today, I just ran the Toronto Sporting Life 10K, the biggest race in Ontario, with close to 12 thousand other runners. In the background is the Toronto skyline with the famous CN Tower, once the tallest standing structure in the world.
A day before the race, I was just relaxing at home, resting my feet in preparation for tomorrow's race, when Yuki tapped me on the leg. She wanted a walk.
Put on my sandals and off we went out in this gorgeous, warm afternoon.
Yuki seemed to get attracted/distracted by what is happening in our neighborhood, just like what's happening in the home country.
Yuki's seemed to enjoy the sprouting yellow wild flowers everywhere. A yellow revolution in the offing.
Passed by my neighbor's yellow tulips and couldn't help snapping a picture.
I've been obsessed with yellow for a long time now, since the passing of our beloved President and hero, Cory. I think yellow will be good for the home country, a necessary and welcome change. The pink flower represents my favorite senatorial candidate, who in my opinion, not only is the hardest working member of the Senate, but also an accomplished runner, triathlete, mother and advocate of the rights of women and underprivileged.
.
Fresh, pure, untainted, honest, a gift from God - that is who our next leader should be.
How can I not think yellow, when these flowers are sprouting all over our place.
It's not a bad idea to include a pink flower with all our fresh, beautiful, bouquet of yellow flowers.
On the day of the race, the shuttle bus that took us to the start site was slowed down by traffic. Since there was a long line up to the portalets, and I had to go badly, I ended up joining mostly latecomers way back at the end of the pack.
Was hypnotically mesmerized by the yellow color again, passing by the yellow corral at the race start area, shortly before our time to start. This race had five different start times depending on your estimated time of finish, around five minutes interval for each corral.
And off we went( all 12 thousand more or less runners), running southward along Yonge Street (the longest street in North America) in downtown Toronto. Tried to get my rhythm and was on pace the 1st 3k (less than 6min. per k) for my goal to finish close to 1 hour.
Who looks like a turltle, runs like a turltle?
Knowing that my goals were all out of reach ( due mainly and only thru my own fault, that is, not training enough, and not dieting as I should have), I just ran the rest of the second half of the race leisurely, taking pictures here and there. This picture says it all, this was about 500 meters from the finish line. While slower runners like me were trying to make a dash to the finish line on the left) faster runners (on the right)who already finished and got their finisher medals were walking on the other side of the road.
If there is any consolation, slow as I was, I looked back, and there were a lot more runners behind me. Out of almost 12 thousand runners, my time was better than more than 1500! Yehey!
I thank the good Lord for this beautiful day, a race well run, free of any injury, and just sharing and celebrating all the good things that life offers with my fellow runners. To the food station I went for my bagel, banana and fruit juice. Hey man, this yellow color madness and obsession of mine keeps popping up in my head every now and then. Look at this man on the right in yellow t-shirt, he he.
Click! click! Had to get a hit, took a picture of this yellow plant.
Overall, a fulfilling weekend. Had a fix for my addiction to the color yellow - which I got more than enough of these 2 days and the other addiction, running - which, slow as I am, I know I could never be cured of.
Fresh, pure, untainted, honest, a gift from God - that is who our next leader should be.
How can I not think yellow, when these flowers are sprouting all over our place.
It's not a bad idea to include a pink flower with all our fresh, beautiful, bouquet of yellow flowers.
On the day of the race, the shuttle bus that took us to the start site was slowed down by traffic. Since there was a long line up to the portalets, and I had to go badly, I ended up joining mostly latecomers way back at the end of the pack.
Was hypnotically mesmerized by the yellow color again, passing by the yellow corral at the race start area, shortly before our time to start. This race had five different start times depending on your estimated time of finish, around five minutes interval for each corral.
And off we went( all 12 thousand more or less runners), running southward along Yonge Street (the longest street in North America) in downtown Toronto. Tried to get my rhythm and was on pace the 1st 3k (less than 6min. per k) for my goal to finish close to 1 hour.
Who looks like a turltle, runs like a turltle?
By the 5th k, checked my time at 31:38. Breaking the 1 hour barrier or even being close to it, I thought was no longer attainable when I started to have heavy legs. I was gradually running slower and was stopping to do recovery walks more often than I needed. Lessons learned, can't eat like there's no tomorrow on your holidays and not train properly and expect to do a PR relying solely on muscle memory. Rogers Centre, in the picture, is where the Raptors play their home games.
Knowing that my goals were all out of reach ( due mainly and only thru my own fault, that is, not training enough, and not dieting as I should have), I just ran the rest of the second half of the race leisurely, taking pictures here and there. This picture says it all, this was about 500 meters from the finish line. While slower runners like me were trying to make a dash to the finish line on the left) faster runners (on the right)who already finished and got their finisher medals were walking on the other side of the road.
If there is any consolation, slow as I was, I looked back, and there were a lot more runners behind me. Out of almost 12 thousand runners, my time was better than more than 1500! Yehey!
I thank the good Lord for this beautiful day, a race well run, free of any injury, and just sharing and celebrating all the good things that life offers with my fellow runners. To the food station I went for my bagel, banana and fruit juice. Hey man, this yellow color madness and obsession of mine keeps popping up in my head every now and then. Look at this man on the right in yellow t-shirt, he he.
Click! click! Had to get a hit, took a picture of this yellow plant.
Overall, a fulfilling weekend. Had a fix for my addiction to the color yellow - which I got more than enough of these 2 days and the other addiction, running - which, slow as I am, I know I could never be cured of.
My next race is the Mississauga half marathon on May 16, 2010
Nice pics Bong. I always wanted to snap some during my races here but I always end up with vehicles left and right(LOL). Congrats and good luck on your coming half. The yellow will be decided here in a week time.
ReplyDeleteoh wow I was just in Toronto a few weeks ago!!! Feels like a life time ago now but I enjoyed seeing your photos of that beautiful city...
ReplyDeleteOf all the places I visited, that was the one place I could see myself living in.....
nice pictures bong! great recap too. great a yellow dri-fit shirt (i have 2 hehehe)
ReplyDeleteThanks Vener! Streets here that are part of a race route are always closed to traffic so no vehicles. The other thing is, I enjoy not only to run races but to savor the sights and sounds and remember them thru pictures from my camera (unless I'm close to a PB,then the camera stays unused in my pouch until the race is over). The yellow shall prevail, I feel. Sana naman.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot! Checked your blogs too. They're cool. Love your photographs (and subjects too), so original, unique,truly works of art. Nice feeling to connect with a runner like you from another continent.
ReplyDeleteHi Jet! Thanks!I was thinking about wearing a yellow shirt to make a statement but changed my mind at the last minute and wore black. Reason- I looked fat in the yellow shirt, he he. Black tends to hide my big belly.
HEY how are you ? hows the weather in toronto? must be kinda warm this past months. i can see the flowers are in full bloom great ! take it easy and keep on running . - patrick concepcion / runningshield
ReplyDeleteHi Patrick! Glad to hear from you. We've had a really warm April but May is another story, it's too cold for comfort in the early morning and evening. Read your post and impressed with your fast times. I wish I were a strong runner like you and the rest of our elite Pinoy runners I admire and idolize.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 10K run. I noticed the date of your next one, and it was last Sunday here. Hope to see another post and pictures soon.
ReplyDeleteI loved the pictures you posted of your vacation in Florida, and the cruise to the Grand Caymans, and the tour of the Mayan village. Truly interesting including the rare birds. What a beautiful place heaven must be like because I believe all the beautiful things and places and animals here on earth are eternally more beautiful in heaven!
And the yellow pictures, as well as a few pink ones... well, you are obviously a Noynoy fan. I'm sure you are glad he won.
I was for Eddie Villanueva, but I do not mind Noynoy winning. I am very sure he will be a good president and I will support him and pray for him to succeed.
Dropped by your place and was happy to find two new posts!
I love dogs and gardens, so seeing Yuki on some of the pics was also a delight.
Blessings to you my kababayan,
Lidj