Bong Pagong

A Sunday Morning Run in the Rain

2011-08-07T18:31:00.006-04:00

Wow! It's been like forever since I last wrote on my blog. The last couple of months were quite stressful with a loved one getting ill, ending up having surgery in the hospital, and coming home to rest and recuperate with new mechanical parts in her body. I jokingly call her the "Bionic Woman". Seriously though it was hard to see her gradually change before my eyes from a healthy, robust, active, bubbly, cheerful, talkative, assertive person to one dependent on somebody just to get off bed, weak (physically), always feeling tired, sentimental, emotional, with a distorted sense of humor ( always joked about haunting me if she dies). I always reminded her not to renege on her promise for us to grow old together. Occasionally, I would joke her back by saying only the good die young.

On the home front, I still keep myself abreast with what is happening in the home country. I closely follow the controversy about an RH bill in the Congress, I read and listen to the pros and cons. Personally, I think it is about time the Philippine Congress enacts and passes an RH bill into law. It just makes sense. With our limited land area, diminished natural resources, uncontrolled population growth, a sputtering economy not helped by a world economy still reeling from the recent recession, an RH law is a must. For survival.

I was amused by PNoy's use (or overuse) of the word "wang wang" to make his points in his SONA. I like and am sold with the idea though. It is about time to rid ourselves of this wang wang mentality. If everybody is equal before God, then every Filipino should be treated equally irrespective of his status in life. Masyado tayong status conscious. It is obvious sometimes that some people from the rich and powerful class have this false sense of entitlement. Some think they are over and above the law. We need to get rid of these "wang wang" and "suntok" mentality for us to be able to compete with the Japanese, Koreans, Singaporeans. Our workers should feel they're treated with dignity and respect, and valued. Instead of saying to himself "nakakahiya" his mindset should be "kayang kaya ko ito". If our ordinary worker continues to unjustly get a "batok" or "suntok" from some powerful person without getting justice, we will not produce the confident and proud worker we need to propel the country to greatness. We will always remain the butt of jokes in Asia.

Now, on the running front. My mileage is way down.. In the last few months, my weekly mileage has averaged 15ks or less. That means 3 short 5k runs a week if lucky. Unlike when I was just starting to get serious with running in 2007 when I ran to lose weight, this time around, I have been running mostly to de-stress.

This morning was no different. Other than waking up early at 8 and preparing breakfast ( toasts, omellete, cream cheese, coffee, slices of orange, blueberries) for the whole family (Denise decided to leave her Toronto condo temporarily for the month to help her sick mom), I decided to lace up my running shoes for an early Sunday morning run. To de-stress.

Started my run on a warm and humid morning under overcast skies, no wind. Began my run slow because of the heat. Even with my slow pace I felt uneasy with my breathing. Everytime I tried to increase my pace, my breathing became more labored, so had to content myself with exceptionally slow pace. As I looked around my surroundings, noticed that plants and trees were much greener now than more than a week before. Understandable, because we just had rain in the past few days after the driest and hottest July here in Markham in years. As I passed by the nearby park and fields, I saw the grass and vegetation which were dry and brownish only days ago were now looking more lush and green. At the 1k mark, I was sweating like crazy. It was hot. Had to remove my hat everynow and then and wipe my face with my sleeve. I started to whistle to get some breeze. No luck. Mad at myself for not carrying any hydration. If only it would rain, I thought.

I looked up the gray sky and wished for rain. At the 2k mark light rain started to fall. I took off my cap again looked up and prayed a second time, "Lord, let it pour, please". And then it did. It rained so hard that by the 3rd k I could hardly see with my eyeglasses all wet and cloudy from water and sweat mixed together flowing down from my head and cap. Like a young kid playing in the rain, rejoiced, looked up, opened my mouth, stucked out my tongue as the cool rain water wet my dry mouth and thirsty throat. In a few minutes, I was completely drenched wet, including my shoes. I saw puddles of water in uneven portions of the asphalt road. I then noticed something. Big droplets of rain sometimes create bubbles as they drop in the puddles while most droplets don't. Amazing.

By the 3.5k mark it was still raining and as I looked ahead I could see 500 meters afar the woods which was part of my favorite walking/running route. The woods looked fuzzy from that far , maybe I thought from the rain, or the humidity because although it was raining it was still warm.

Was feeling tired, but enjoyed the moment, listened to my breathing, the squishing sound of my wet feet in wet socks inside my soaking wet shoes, the sound of my steps as my feet landed on the asphalt road or puddles of water. Felt the refreshing cool rain water mixed with my sweat trickle down my forehead, my face, my arms, legs. Felt my wet clothing get heavier as they hugged closer to my skin. A bird chirping. The beautiful music created by rain dropping on leaves, branches, flowers, my skin, my hat. And then my 5k run was over. Walked for another 500 meters with the rain still falling hard. Arrived home completely drenched but refreshed. De-stressed.

Peace and love.

Markham's Spring Flowers

2011-05-29T21:53:00.034-04:00

Lately our weather here in Markham, Ontario has been wet and gloomy. The month of May so far this year is the rainiest ever if my memory serves me right. Actually, as I am writing this blog it is drizzling outside again.

Yesterday, I took advantage of a lull in the rain in the afternoon. I did a 7k run in 50:18 minutes, a fast time for my standard. That run gives me a little bit of confidence in completing the Alfie Shrubb 8k on June 5 (in exactly 1 week) under 1 hour. Last year, I finished the race in 54 minutes and change. Plan A is to finish the race under 54 minutes.

This morning was a different story though. I woke up late and when I opened the door to our backyard, was pleasantly surprised to see a bright sunny day and heard birds chirping as if celebrating for such a rare beautiful day. I knew that the day's forecast was for rain later in the day, so I got dressed, picked a banana, filled 2 containers with gatorade and water, and rushed out of the house with a camera for a long solitary walk around my neighborhood (while the weather was still nice).

I took some pictures of Markham's spring flowers and other plants/trees (some wild) that I was blessed to see this time of the year along my running/walking route, and I am happy as always to share them with you.

From Runner to Birdwatcher

2011-05-16T18:47:00.009-04:00

A week ago I decided to register to run at least one road race a month starting in June to force myself to continue to run during spring and summer. I am running the Alfie Shrubb 8k Classic in Bowmanville on June 5, the Dawn at the Don 8k Run at Sunnybrook Park in Toronto and the Acura 10Miler at the Distillery District in Toronto on August 14.

About the same time as I was searching for and choosing which races to run, I happened to observe a brownish gray bird with orange colored breast building a nest on our outside window ledge facing the backyard. I learned by browsing on the internet that the bird is a robin, a wild bird species that inhabits most of the US and parts of Canada, particularly southern Ontario where we live. At first I wanted to remove the nest as it may damage our window, but a few days after the nest was built I saw four light blue eggs in the nest. Seeing the mother bird sitting on the eggs made me change my mind. I decided not to touch the nest.

Three days ago, I was happy and excited to see four newly hatched pinkish little baby robins in the nest. Since then, the robin chicks have been taken cared of, fed, groomed, protected by two adult birds, the mother and father that alternately foraged for food, carry them on their beaks to their young and drop/guide the food to the chicks wide opened beaks.

Yesterday afternoon, I went out to do a 10k LSD run. I ended up doing 7k in the rain afterwhich I spent the rest of the day at home by the window birdwatching.

My Toronto Sporting Life 10k 2011 Run in Pictures

2011-05-01T20:47:00.014-04:00

Had a fun time running the Toronto Sporting Life 10k with friends and more than 12,000 others in downtown Toronto on a cold, windy, overcast Sunday morning. Proceeds of the race go to a worthy cause, Kids with Cancer. A truly blessed day, considering it did not rain despite weather forecast to the contrary a day before. It was one of the best organized races I ever ran, safe course, enough marshalls, police officers, volunteers, hydration stations, bands playing music along the race course, food and drinks after the finish, a nice finisher medal, festive atmosphere.

Peace and love.

A 10K Run in Markham in the Sunset

2011-04-12T22:04:00.021-04:00

After a restful 3 hour nap , I decided to lace up my running shoes and get out for a solitary 7k run in this cool but sunny late afternoon. About 600 meters from my house is a small pond where geese congregate but they seem to be somewhere else at this time. Not even a kilometer into my run, passed by the nearby golf driving range where I used to hang around when golf and not running was still my fave activity 5 years ago. With winter over and warmer weather here to stay, construction of new housing close to home has resumed like this new development. Close to 2 kilometers into my run is a Petrocanada gas station and the sign shows how much we pay for gas here in Markham per liter, a whopping $1.27 per liter. Considering that Canada is one of the biggest oil producers in the world, the price we pay for gasoline is absurd. Dry grass remain standing upright even with all the snow, wind, and rain the past autumn and winter. The fairways of the nearby Angus Glen golf course will be abuzz with golfers in a months time when they turn to lush green. The Angus Glen golf course still brownish at this time of the year once had Tiger Woods and other PGA golfers walking its fairways and greens to play the Canadian Open. Passed by this quiet neighborhood along Major Mackenzie after Mc Cowan Road, with the sun slowly setting in the northwest. Met this solitary walker at the corner of Major Mac and Kennedy Road., as I waited for the pedestrian light to turn walk. We eyed each other, me thinking , what is this goose doing in a place like this alone when geese are supposed to be in a group, while the goose must be wondering what is this fat man doing running like crazy when he should just be walking. Played once in this golf course for a discounted price of $125 years ago. Not worth it when you score over 100 and wins the most honest scorer award.

Something about wooden bridges and streams that make me feel serene, peaceful, prayerful.

While the sun begins to set on the horizon, trees barren of leaves with their branches reaching up to the sky as if praying and praising the Creator create a breathtaking sight .

A small stream winding its way down to where I was.

Running back after reaching the 5k point.

Felt my hands get colder while the sun was setting, so had to wear my thin cotton gloves. The temperature at this time must have gone down to 5 above zero. I thought, I made the right decision to wear my Runningroom jacket on top of 2 layers of technical shirts.

For God so loved the world.....

Peace and love.

Did a total of 10ks (got carried away and added 3ks to the 7k i initially planned to run)

My next race is the Toronto Sporting Life 10K on May 1, 2011.

My Condura 5K Run in Pictures

2011-02-07T18:13:00.019-05:00

If pictures speak louder than words, then everything that the organizers of the Condura Skyway Marathon races promised proved to be true, plus more. I was quite impressed with how organized the race I ran, the 5k was. There were sufficient race staff to help participants find parking, guide them to the start area. The race announcer kept the crowd up to date and pumped up while warming up minutes before the race. The race started on time. There were more than enough water and gatorade in cups in the hydration stations (3 in the 5k).

The post race festivities were as much fun as the race itself. In addition to the finisher medal and loot bag, runners were showered more freebees. Fruit drinks, spring water, bananas, popsicles, powerbars were given out. I saw group of friends, whole families of runners, individual runners lining up to the numerous booths offering goodies or meeting famous celebrities. We enjoyed hot breakfast of tapa and tocino, garlic fried rice, eggs, hot coffee. Some people sat on the grass while eating like having a picnic.

My brother Lino, and his son, Kevin who ran their first ever roadrace had so much fun like myself believe the Condura run just converted them to be runners for life.

Overall, the Condura , based on my own experience is one running event that Pinoys should be proud of. The Concepcion brothers, Patrick and Ton did an excellent job showcasing to the country and the rest of the world that the Pinoy is capable of organizing a running event equal to or even better than some of the more prestigious races in the world.

Peace and love.

Who's that Man with a Big Belly Running the Condura 5K?

2011-02-01T23:00:00.012-05:00

Me minus the big belly.

I dunno.... he he he.

Today is Tuesday, February 02, 2011, exactly five days before I am to run my first ever road race in the home country the Condura 5K. I am so excited and pumped up, like my idol Manny Pacquiao in the boxing ring trying to win his eight title in a higher weight division. I think of this race every minute of the day and even dream about it.

This morning I jumped on the weighing scale to a whopping 203 lbs.. Jojo even joked me, saying I look like a letter S with my big bum and belly from a side view. What a wife, eh?

Today, I found out is also Yuki's birthday. My pet dog is so adorable, she is the joy of my life. She just turned 2 and is now healthy, playful, friendly, cute, a far cry from the thin, nervous, malnourished puppy we adopted from the animal shelter a year and a half ago.

Back to running, I also registered to run the EDSA 5K Run on February 27. I feel sentimental joining this race because Jojo and I were in the frontline together with hundreds of thousands of people protecting the rebels at Camp Crame during the People Power Revolution that ultimately installed our beloved late President and hero Cory Aquino to the presidency. Was thinking about wearing the Iamninoy shirt but it is just too tight and my wife tells me that I look like a "butete"wearing it. Now, hopefully I find a yellow XL or XXL t-shirt in one of the running stores back home that will fit that I could wear for the race.

Realistically, my goal in the Condura 5K is to finish close to 30 minutes, and finish uninjured to be able to run another race. Breaking the 30 minute barrier is almost an impossibility. With a big belly like mine, finishing the race in less than 30 minutes would be nothing short of a miracle.

Peace and love.

Running in the Snow with Condura in My Mind

2011-01-06T19:03:00.020-05:00

For the first time this new year, I got out of the house for a run. The temperature was not too cold, around minus 3 Celsius, with light snow falling and about 3 inches of snow on the ground. Had a chance to wear my Asics trail shoes and my winter running pants and top, which remained unused since last winter until now.

Before lacing up my running shoes for the run, I finally did what I have been planning to do for a long long time since taking up running in 2007. I registered online to run my first road race, the Condura 5k in my home country, the Philippines. The date is February 6, 2011, exactly 30 days from now. I am so excited. I heard that the Condura Skyway Marathon is one of the best if not the best organized race in the home country. Proceeds of the races will also go to a great cause, the protection of dolphins in Philippine waters.

Passing by my favorite running route, most of the ground without tall grass and trees were covered by white snow. The ground was quite uneven but not slippery, and my new running shoes performed great showing good grip as I plodded on the snow covered pathway slowly. There was nobody around, and all I could hear was my heavy/labored breathing, the howling of the wind and the sound of my slow/heavy feet hitting the ground. Running alone and loving it, the serenity, simplicity, peacefulness, purity of the surroundings engulfed my heart with so much joy.

As I passed by the playground in the nearby park which was empty, I thought of the Condura races, which have attracted more than 4 thousand runner entrants as of today. It would be so different from this, as I imagined myself running side by side with thousands and thousands of runners (most of whom look like me, :))in the warm sunny day of early February, instead of the freezing, gloomy weather we have here now. This race will also be special because I am running with my baby brother Lino and my nephew Kevin, both of them running a road race for the first time.

A happy thought or maybe a wish popped in my mind. That during the run, I see or meet some of my favorite Pinoy blogger runners, whose inspirational posts I have been following in the last few years. I have not met anyone of them personally and it would be icing on the cake when I meet one of my idols. I know with thousands of runners participating the likelihood of being in the same place at the same time with the people who most inspired me in the sport of running is remote. But one can always dream. Imagine, running side by side with the Bullrunner, Baldrunner, Runningshield, Ninjarunner, RunningDiva, High Altitude, Secondwind, Sheerwill, In a Nutshell, Jet,Nora, Try Athlete, Run Unltd., Succulence Unleashed, Jinoe, Doralicious, Hotlegs Runner, Ani, Pia, Scientist Runner, Runner for Christ, JRunning, Gingerbread Report, Kulit on the Run, Kastilyong Lapis, Rick Gaston , Fr. Amado - the list can go on and on. Wow!!! The who's who of Philippine running.

The snow started falling harder late into the run and I felt my hands getting really cold.

These white dots are snow falling that were illuminated by some street lights. My legs were feeling heavier at this time around the 4-5 k mark, but my breathing was good considering the cold wind, that was making my nose, ears and hands feel cold.

Did a total of 5.64 ks. Felt good.

Will try to run 7ks on Saturday.

Peace and love.

Fall Colours

2010-10-25T20:04:00.015-04:00

After working this weekend, it was time for a well deserved day off for me today. Slept long last night. Walked Yuki in the morning with parts of the pedestrian walkway and the grass in the park still wet from 2 days of rain. Did some catch up reading of newspapers from the home country and then had a $15 haircut. After a hearty lunch of sinigang na baka with white rice, went to play chess on the internet. Won more than half of my games. By around 1, was tired playing and felt sleepy. Went upstairs for a nap with Yuki following me. Woke up at 5 with Yuki still snuggled beside me. An ideal day except for one more thing lacking. A run.

As I laced up my running shoes Yuki was looking at me pleading to take her, but not this time . The weather was perfect for running, around 16 degrees, breezy, cool but comfortable. Just wore shorts, short sleeved shirt and carried as usual my camera and a plastic bottle of water.

A few steps from my place, some of the shrubs are starting to change color from green to red.

I passed by my favorite trail and found that most trees were bare of leaves and the pathways were just covered by dry leaves.

"Yellow" trees. Their leaves are green during late spring and summer but turn to yellow during fall before they finally fall off making these trees bare of leaves in late fall.

It was so quiet and peaceful running late afternoon in my neighborhood. So different from the noise, traffic, people in the streets of GSIs Village in Quezon City where I grew up. For the more than 5 kilometers I ran, was lucky to see more than a dozen people total walking the streets.

Another part of my neighborhood. My walk break. Had to take a sip of water and snap some pictures. This time, I was sweating despite the cool breeze, but overall, felt good, relaxed, serene, happy.

We can find beauty in the simplest of God's creations, like these reddish colored trees starting to shed off their leaves.

I ran on a winding pathway close to a pond, I was all alone, it was so quiet all I could hear was my breathing and the sound of my shuffling feet.

On solitary runs like this, I always feel a oneness with my surroundings, a closeness to the Creator, a peaceful feeling, living in the moment, forgetting about everything other than my being the center of the universe . I wonder if every runner experiences the same feelings on his solitary runs.

On the way back home, it was starting to get dark.

I could see the sun slowly setting in the horizon as I increased my pace in the last 2ks. I try to ran faster the last 2 kilometers of my training runs to simulate that of an actual race. I still don't know if it is a smart thing to do. All I know is I haven't been injured running slower during training and then faster the last few ks.

Arrived home safe, sound and happy. Took a shower, took Yuki, my baby for her last walk of the day around the block.

I think I'm ready for a 7k run on Wednesday. :)

Walking 101

2010-09-30T09:51:00.003-04:00

After more than a week of rest and medication (and not running at all), I think I'm well enough (the coughing is almost gone) to go back to training again for my next road race.

So, this morning and the next couple of days, I will try to do 30 minute walks at the least to get the feet and leg muscles working again. After this, I intend to walk run,
and then by the weekend, a 5k run should be easily doable.

Missed running the Scotiabank Toronto half marathon on September 26, but these road races are always there, and my running life goes on.

Thinking about running the 5k race at the Toronto Marathon weekend in October or the 10k Zoo run. The shorter distance races should get me into the groove again.

Kuya Freddie

2010-09-25T21:42:00.010-04:00

Kuya Freddie with Ate Chi and his sisters Jeric and Jojo in his favorite part of his house, the kitchen

Today, I was supposed to be preparing my running shorts, shoes, socks, shirt, Garmin 305, hydration belt, gatorade/water and containers, bib number, timing chip, gels for tomorrow morning's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront half marathon race. I entered this race about 2 months in advance and did my homework, I mean did enough training runs, rest. I was ready for it and was actually tapering from 10 days ago. Instead, I am home resting with a cough, runny nose, , too sick even to do anything physical, much less run. I am also very sad and grieving because of the untimely death of my brother-in-law and friend Kuya Freddie. His funeral service was held this morning at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Markham.

Before my family left the home country for Canada, I was a struggling young lawyer with a low paying government job. Previous to that,I had the chance to practice. I remember my first client was a poor bus driver who brought me a live but very thin and sickly looking chicken in my father-in-law's house. My father-in-law, also a lawyer who is a succesful practitioner in his own right, let the man in and with a grin in his face called me from inside his house to meet my client. Another time, another poor client handed me an old,dirty, crumpled 50 pesos bill during his trial, but come court recess, I asked him to join me for lunch, but he wouldn't because he didn't have money. I ended up giving back to him the 50 pesos and also paying for his lunch. After similar episodes where instead of earning a living I was giving charity, I knew my career as a practicing lawyer was over. I joined the Department of Justice but the pay was not much. So, Jojo and I agreed to give it a try in Canada.

I first met Kuya Freddie when my family arrived in Canada in the late 80s. He and his family immigrated to Canada in the early seventies. He was a tall, handsome, meztizo looking guy who looked physically strong and fit with well toned arms and upper body. He was into basketball , fishing, camping, and golf. He was also a handy man who did most home repairs, plumbing, electrical, carpentry work himself. I found him genuinely friendly, hospitable, cheerful and helpful with us. He was a happy fellow with a good sense of humor. He was fairly succesful professionally, working then as a junior manager in a bank. He went to work always looking sharp in a business suit. He was also an outdoors type of guy who owned a trailer and a boat.

He went out of his way to help Jojo and I find jobs. He enrolled my kids to a nearby Catholic school. When we finally found jobs, after staying for free for a month in his Markham home ,we decided to move out and rent a cheap apartment in Toronto. We ended up inheriting his old sofa and love seat. When one of his friends bought a new living room set, he asked for the sofa (which was to be thrown away) and delivered it to us.

Nevertheless, after one year of working odd, low paying jobs , I was ready to call it quits here in Canada and go back to the home country where my old job was still waiting for me ( I only took a leave of absence for a year). He convinced me to wait another year before making a final decision of going back home. A few months after, I luckily got a government job, which I still hold up to the present.

Kuya Freddie's helping me to adapt here never stopped there. He included me to join his basketball team, recruited and sponsored me to be accepted in his religious/service organization. He taught me how to play golf. He made sure Jojo and I joined him and Ate Chi in social gatherings where we were introduced to his friends who then became our friends. In golf tournaments where his golf buddies became mine .

His house became the center of all family gatherings, where he would tirelessly man the barbecue, cook Chinese cuisine and made sure everybody took home left over food. Made us all laugh to tears with his jokes. He would embrace and carry on his lap grandnephews and nieces, affectionately called his adult daughters, my nieces, as his babies. He would terrorize the younger children with pranks, jokes. He would discipline (with words of wisdom)his children, nephews and nieces including my children when they needed to be. He'd answer our calls jokingly with "Pizza, pizza, how can I help you." He arbitrated and settled fights, misunderstandings between and among his siblings (3 sisters and 1 brother), Jojo included. He installed new light fixtures and did needed repairs in our house. He fixed my screen door. Helped me put up new kitchen cabinets . Gave us an electric drill. Put up flower pots holders and planted plants in our front porch with Ate Chi.

He liked telling stories , funny, inspirational and amusing about his struggles, like selling bras for a living to support his family early into his marriage. About his love for and being protective of younger brother Art, who when they were teenagers went home crying after getting bullied by bigger guys. Freddie took his father's gun in the storage place, went back with Art to confront the bullies, who seeing Freddie with the weapon all scampered away scared. About standing up to and challenging a group of bullies to a fight in a Toronto bar when the latter made fun of his Pinoy group.

Last Sunday, September 19, Kuya Freddie and Ate Chi came to visit us at home. He brought Jojo a gift of a kitchen knife set for no reason or occasion. He just said he saw it on sale so he bought it for Jojo. We shared a hearty lunch of Peking duck (which Kuya Freddie cooked and prepared with lettuce and hoisin sauce), sinigang, fried plapla, fried shrimp. We then had a scoop each of Selecta queso ice cream and then just relaxed in the family room and watched ASAP on the Filipino Channel. He joked and laughed with his niece Tin, my daughter. He told us of his excitement to see the new condo they bought in the home country which will be completed and be ready for occupancy in December this year.

As I watched Kuya Freddie walking to his car as they were leaving our home , I saw him smile and greet my neighbor who was tending her garden in her front yard. She smiled back at him.

Later that same afternoon Kuya Freddie had a heart attack in his home. He passed away at a young age of 57.

A Major Major Improvement.

2010-08-28T22:44:00.006-04:00

Today is the sixth day of my one week vacation leave. I should have been in Paris or London today doing last minute shopping before our flight back home. That was the plan, a European vacation this week, until Jojo talked me into buying new furniture, a flat screen LED TV, dining set 2 months ago. Pooff!! there went our European vacation. So instead, the last few days we've been busy fixing things in the house, painting our front door and garage door, replacing the humidifier filter, cleaning the electrical air filter, mowing the lawn, gardening, walking Yuki. Not the typical things somebody on vacation would enjoy doing.

The truth of the matter is , I am enjoying it ( the vacation) so much, I wish our vacation were longer. Love the long afternoon naps after my chores. Love the time to connect with long lost friends thru the internet, again after finishing my chores. Enjoyed looking at our teenage pictures at FB found by a friend from a "lumang baul". Read my favorite running blogs. Enjoyed pictures of my favorite triathletes at Camsur Ironman. Finished reading a book.

Well, come this Monday, the worker ant (that's me) will be back at work again toiling and saving for the rainy day ( and a vacation in some exotic place in another continent).

At the Philippine front, felt pride in our own Venus for almost winning the Miss Universe title. Her "major major" Pinoy fans (the 4 friends on youtube), whose video of them celebrating was viewed by millions around the world, are typical of all Filipinos. We supported Venus with all our hearts and minds and prayers that it was like a whole country willing her to win. That is so true specially also with our boxing hero Manny Pacquiao during his fights or CNN Hero Of the Year Efren before he was announced the winner.

On the subject running, my next race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon is just 29 days away. This week gave me 3 quality training runs so far, the last was tonight, a "fast"
10k in 1:16:10. Previous to this, my last two 10k training runs were in almost identical times of 1:19 and change. Considering that my last 10k race (Vaughan 10k) was in a slow race time of 1:17, my time in tonight's run is a major major :) improvement.

This week, I did my solitary runs mostly at sunset, with the orange/pinkish sun gradually disappearing in the horizon. The weather this time of the year here is ideal for running , cool, breezy, serene, peaceful.

Everything is good.

Later.

A Most Relaxing Sunday Run - the Acura 10 Miler

2010-07-11T16:43:00.018-04:00

I just ran the Acura 10 Miler in the Distillery District of Toronto this morning, a most relaxing Sunday run . After backbreaking work to renovate our kitchen the whole day yesterday, Jojo suggested to me not to run the race so I could finish our project, including repainting the kitchen . As always, she was unsuccesful. My run day is never negotiable. Nobody can take it away from me (even under the threat of sleeping outside the kulambo, :)) , unless I give it up on my own. To keep the peace, I promised to complete everything after my run. As I am typing this post with my two fingers still dirty with paint, I just finished painting the whole kitchen. If I were back home in Quezon City, I would have just hired laborers to do the job for me. Here, their (carpenters/painters) services are too expensive.

The start area at the corner of Trinity and Front Streets in Toronto, the CN Tower in the background. The morning was sunny with the temperature just above 20 degrees Celsius, for me a bit too hot for comfort. This race also introduced a new thing in running, the timing chip on the bib numbers instead of placing the chip on the runner's shoe or around the ankle.

The yellow brigade of young volunteers were hard at work early preparing to assist runners in the race with hydration (gatorade or water).

A young and cheerful volunteer ready to answer all kinds of questions about the race from runners and their friends and loved ones.

Shortly before the 8:30 am start, more than 2,000 excited runners await the starting gun for the 10 miler and the 5k run.

The race is on, I ran at a leisurely pace of between 7 -8 minutes per k at the early part of the race, and after the warm up, ran even much slower. The winner finished in 48 minutes.

More runners, around 75% ran the 10 miler, those on the right and the 5kers on the left.

More volunteers serving the runners at the water stations,which were strategically located every 2k with more than enough cups of cold water and gatorade. Runners were also treated to tents with showers to cool them down.

It was a joy to see the the skyline of our beautiful city, Toronto basking in the sun this bright Sunday morning.

Another view of the Toronto skyline farther away just behind these yachts /boats in the lake.

Wild flowers and plants abound everywhere along the race route.

At the end of the run, a sight I always look forward to, the smiling faces of volunteers handing out the finisher medals.

Sweet!

My next long race is the Toronto Scotiabank half marathon in September.

Markham's Wild Flowers

2010-06-19T22:22:00.026-04:00

Went out for a solitary run on Thursday at the nearby trail and woods. Carried my camera and took some pictures of wild plants and flowers that abound this time of the year among vegetation that grow along the trails and woods of Markham. While clicking my camera, I thought of blogger friends Lidj, crownofbeauty.blogspot.com and Caloy, secondwind.blogspot.com, the former for her superb photographs of everything from flower to dew, and the latter for reminding me again that "the best things in life are free", for his post and pictures of his new running route.

My next race is on July 11, 2010, the Acura Toronto 10 Miler.

Get inspired, visit 365ultra.blogspot.com and runmoretalkless.blogspot.com, two great posts on the San Diego 100Miler. These ultra runners are the toughest.

Alfie Shrubb 8K Classic- Running in the Rain

2010-06-06T20:41:00.019-04:00

I woke up early this morning, around 5:30 only to find out that it was raining and the temperature was at 12 degrees Celsius, too cold for my race at 9 am, the 8th annual running of the Alfie Shrubb 8K Classic in Bowmanville, Ontario . Over breakfast and coffee, I thought that going back to the warmth of my bed would be the easier and more comfortable alternative to running on a Sunday. But ultimately, I decided to go for it (I adhere to my coach Isaac's teaching that running races in the worst weather conditions builds character) and drove 32 miles east to Bowmanville, population 80,000 plus, a small rural town east of Toronto. The race was to raise funds in support of the Claringdon Museum.

This race is named after an English runner, Alfred Shrubb (1879-1964) who at one point in his prime owned world records in running from 1,000 yards to 11 miles. His most famous rival was the native Canadian, Tom Longboat, winner of the 1907 Boston Marathon (2:24:24), whom he beat a number of times . Later in life , he made his home in Bowmanville, Ontario, until his death in 1904.

These records were accomplished by Shrubb without the help of modern technology, training techniques, cross training methods, technical shirts, non-blister socks, nor different types of modern running shoes (stability, motion control, trail, cross trainer, etc) that we runners of this generation enjoy. I stand to be corrected here, but I believe, when the official result of this race is released, none of the participants posted a faster time than the 24:33 he did in 1904.

I proceeded to the start area 5 minutes before the race hoping that the rain would stop. Most runners who were there wore jackets, some carried umbrellas, while some stayed under Runningroom tents. I wore a Lady of the Mist (from going on a boat under the Niagara Falls) rainbag which was handy as it protected me not only from the rain but the cold wind as well.

At almost start time, I positioned myself at the very back. The sky was still overcast, rain was still falling but no longer as hard as earlier in the morning. I was only wearing a shirt and shorts under my rainbag and the cold wind only made matters worse. My fault. When you train running in the winter, you become too cocky. Lesson learned, it's ok to be overdressed, never underdressed.

The one good thing about running big races (where participants number in the thousands) is you finish faster than a few hundred even if your time is slow. In small races , and in very bad weather too, I find that most participants are hardcore, seasoned runners with fewer slower runners participating. In this race, I saw the back pack thin to a few dozen runners in no time after the start. I entertained the thought of the possibility of finishing last in this race if I run this race like the Vaughan 10k the Sunday before.

From being last in the pack, I started to look at runners in front of me who looked out of rhythm, out of shape or just plain slow. I then aimed at catching up and then passing each runner I picked. First, I observed his/her leg turnover and then I made sure that mine was much faster and the strategy worked. When I experienced breathing difficulty or heaviness in my legs, I slowed down a bit and looked at the beautiful surroundings to distract me from it. I discovered and now know that one does not need to be elite to enjoy running. As I passed one runner after another, I felt a combination of joy and excitement, and looked ahead for the next one to pass. I finished strong as I passed about ten runners in the last k. Can't wait to see the official results to find out how many runners I passed.

At the small gym of MJ Hobbs School we congregated after the race for the award ceremonies. I was glad to see some oldies, in their 60's and seventies receive awards in their age groups. They inspire us to continue running, and also give us hope that someday, some where, God willing, any one of us could go up to that stage to receive our own.

A couple of runners were wearing 2010 Boston Athletic Club (Boston marathon) jackets. It turned out that both are elite as each won his age group.

God, please help and guide me to become a stronger and faster runner, so that someday, I may have the privilege of wearing a Boston Marathon jacket similar to what this young man in front of me was wearing.

Truly, I feel blessed being healthy, able to run (in the rain), and receiving this medal today. I thank and praise Him for another wonderful, memorable, and injury free race.

Can't wait to run the next one.

P.S.

The winner of this race posted a time of 25 minutes plus, slower than Alfie Shrubb's 1904 time for the same distance.

I was 163rd out of 189 finishers, posting a turtlish (is there such a word?) time of 56 minutes and change. Yehey, I passed and beat 26 other runners! Babaw ng kaligayahan, no :)

Run for Vaughan 10K on a Manila Like Hot Sunday

2010-05-31T21:02:00.015-04:00

I just ran the Vaughan 10K yesterday, the hottest day of the week (reminded me of the same hot weather we have in Manila). The race was to raise funds for Vaughan's future hospital. It's admirable how a small group of simple ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things and make life better for the whole community.The start area was at the Islamic Mosque in Jane Street, Vaughan and the organizers and volunteers appear to come from the very small Moslem community in this town of just over 200,000 people.

The beautiful structure from another angle.

The race started at 8:30 am with the temperature already around 23 degrees Celsius. We, numbering a few hundred, started running along the streets of residential areas close to the mosque. Water stations were strategically located almost every 1 and a half k, and young volunteers enthusiastically provided the drinks, some of them I noticed wearing bib numbers on their shirts for their 3k run at 10:00 am. It was a gorgeous day other than the heat, and I found myself early on having some breathing difficulty. (I always find an excuse finishing slow in a race, he he)

As always, I ended up at the back of the pack, and again took out my camera to take a picture of the faster runners on the right, one of them even pushing his child on a baby stroller.

The race route covered parts that are mostly huge farmlands north of the mosque, we had to turn around a loop 5k into the race and retrace the exact same route. At around 3 and a half k, had to take a picture of the runner leading the race who was running all alone, the 2nd placer about 400 meters behind. His form and physique reminded me of myself thirty years ago, that was when I was 60 pounds lighter , he he.

At the 5k turnaround still smiling and having a fun time, although suffering from the heat of the sun and the absence of any wind or cool breeze, so very like the warm weather in my homeland, the Philippines which I miss so much.

A barbecue at the end of the race , no wonder I can't get rid of the extra pounds despite my running.

With run club friend Ben who also ran the race. Other than my slow finishing time which is always a given, another blessed day of sunshine, beautiful scenery, smiling people, sweaty runners huffing and puffing all around me , picture taking, food, my kind of day.

My next race is the Alfie Shrubb 8k Classic on June 06, 2010 at Bowmanville, Ontario.

Mississauga Half Marathon - My Sunday Long Run

2010-05-18T10:14:00.015-04:00

Friday, May 14, I tried to change my race to 10k instead of a half due to my problematic left knee . Was told the 1ok was closed, so early Sunday morning, I was here (not even sure of completing the race) at the start line with thousands of other runners doing the half and the full marathon waiting anxiously, stretching, warming up before the start.

I ended up waiting just in front of the Runningroom store in Mississauga.

I was so happy to meet run club friends Grace and Julia who were both running the full marathon waiting in the same spot.

With Julia, my 5k clinic coach in 2007, who basically taught me how to run.

Let the celebration of life, good health, friendship, race begin!

This sight makes me love running more and more. Although only a small percentage of the adult population are runners, during a race, we (runners)own the roads.

Running events bring out the best in people of the community. These young people spent their Sunday helping runners by volunteering in the water stations. There was a hydration station at 2 kilometer intervals in this race and I noticed gels being handed out at the last few ks of the race.

I tried to keep my pace around 7 minutes per k at the first few kilometers and my heart rate at about 80% of my maximum heart rate. The day was just so beautiful though, the temperature perfect at around 14 Celsius and the surroundings so clean and scenic that my supposed race became more of a recreational slow sightseeing run. The funny thing was, I could have run faster if i wanted to because the knee never bothered me.

With 15ks to go, and with no pressure to finish fast, I still looked fresh and happy here.

Our heroes, the young volunteers who unselfishly give their time and energy for free to make life easier for runners and make this race a complete success. Hurray to all volunteers!

In the middle of the race I decided to stick with the 2:45 race bunny to make sure I beat the 3 hour barrier. I tried to run just slightly ahead of the group just to make sure I was always close and i was successfull until the last kilometer and a half, when I had to take walk breaks because of recurring cramps on my right leg muscle.

I had a good time running with this group, the pacer was encouraging, cheerful, consistent pace wise, and would tell people to slow down when the pace was getting too fast. The group finished a couple of minutes ahead of me.

I finished the race smiling, upright, raising both hands in the air (in thanksgiving and praise of God) in 2:45 and change beating more than 500 other runners. Don't ask me how many runners did the half marathon, he he.

My next race is the Vaughn 10k on May 30, 2010.

2010 Sporting Life 10k in Pictures - a Yellow Story

2010-05-02T13:12:00.032-04:00

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?

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

3 Short Runs and Marathon Walks

2010-04-22T10:57:00.026-04:00

Just came back from a 2 week vacation, and just like any good and memorable vacation, it's always not long enough.

My plan was to do at least a one hour run every other day to prepare for the Toronto Sportinglife 10k I am running on May 02, but I ended up doing 3 short runs averaging no more than 30 minutes each in the entire duration of the vacation.

But, I think I made it up (my not doing enough runs) with marathon walks with Jojo and daughters Denise and Marie who literally "forced " me to visit most of the theme parks in Orlando in the 3 days we were there. My feet were of course.hurting by the end of each day. Realistically, one needs at least a full day to get the most out of each theme park.

At Orlando, it was always bright and sunny. No wonder, tourists and vacationers flock there to enjoy the theme parks, playgrounds, beaches, restaurants, excursions and beautiful sights.

It was a joy to be in Disneyworld with my daughters, their first time in Orlando, although they'd been to Disneyland in LA when they were younger.

With Denise

Shark!!! (Jaws)

Then we went on a 7 day cruise to Grand Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Mexican Riviera in Mexico, Roatan Island, Honduras and Belize in Central America. I had a chance to shoot some hoops and had fun joining in a free throw contest. The basketball court was on the uppermost deck so I had to check the direction of the wind (like in golf) to have a good chance of making it. A 14 year old Pinoy American won it. I was among the last four. I did 3 short 30 minute runs around the jogging oval at the ship for that one week, and all but forgot about my runner's diet.

It was so peaceful being close to the sea, and whenever I felt the warm sunlight and cool breeze gently touching my face , I became emotional and found myself praising and thanking God to no end for all His blessings and all beautiful things I see around me he created .

Close to the beach in Playa del Carmen is the Mayan ruins of Tulum, a 10th century Mayan center of civilization in Central America. More than 500 years before Magellan discovered the Philippines, the Mayans were already building temples , palaces , houses of stone and bricks. I noticed that most Mexican inhabitants in the area look more native than meztizo, so I presume they must have descended from the ancient Mayans

Tulum

Roatan Island

Belize

We toured the Belize Zoo, which showcased some birds and animals not seen anywhere else in the world.

Another rare bird in Belize.

With another 5 extra pounds gained during my vacation, I have to change my goals for my May 2nd 10k run. Whereas before, I always went for a PB, this time I'll have Plan A - to finish close to my PB of 1:00:16, Plan B - 1:05 or less , Plan C - finish in less than 1:10, Plan D - take up walkathon instead of running if i finish longer than 1:10. :)

My 14K Winter Run Route in Pictures

2010-03-01T15:44:00.021-05:00

Kilometer 0, what a difference a day makes, in front of my house, the street and pedestrian walkway were clear of snow and ice when the temperature went up to 3 degrees above zero.

Had to slow down at 8oo m, obviously not too many have traversed this pathway.

At the 3k mark

Corner Main Street and Bullock, 3.5 k

It's been more than 20 years since I last attended a meeting of the Katarungan Lions of Q.C., 4k

Music to my ears, the sound of water flowing down a stream or brook, 4.7 k

Around 6k into my run

I have the whole park and tennis courts to myself.

Summertime, this was always filled with young children playing and running around, 6.8 k.

Passed by this Heritage area of Markham around 8k into the run.

I took some pictures of old houses, this one looks at least century old.

While most new homes in Markham are built with bricks, houses here are made of wood, I like the the white painted wooden railings on the patio.

Another nice looking old house

Passed by this church around the 10k mark, took this picture, said my prayer and continued on.

By the 12th k, I knew that Canada won the Olympics men's ice hockey finals against the U.S. when people in cars honked their horns and shouted at the top of their lungs while waving at me, it was a coincidence I was wearing a red jacket.

Almost home at close to 13k, legs were feeling heavy, would have stopped if not for the temperature going down to about freezing at this time.

Did 14.25 ks in 2:03:44. My next long run - 16k next Sunday.

A 14K Winter Run

2010-02-28T14:24:00.003-05:00

The temperature was too cold and we received a lot of snow in the last few days before today, all the running I did was chase after my pet Yuki in my snow covered deck and backyard.

This was how my street looked, not safe enough to run on the roads or walkways, so today is ideal for a long run with the temperature above zero .

It's been awhile since I wrote my last post. Been too busy with other stuff, and enjoying being on the sidelines, or way at the back just watching, observing and enjoying anonimity. Love the rest, love reading all the interesting running blogs,running races and politics in the Philippines, admiring pictures of my favorite politician and pictures of runner/bloggers, reading books(Obama, Ataturk,Marco Polo). After almost six months of hibernation, the complacency, laziness must end. I must and should do serious running again.

So,I am thinking about running 14k, not on the treadmill, but out on the road today in about 15 minutes time. We are in the middle of our winter season here, and we had much colder temperature and a lot of snow falling the last few days, that today, with a temperature of plus 3 Celsius would be the perfect time to run a longer distance.

My first marathon in September was one experience that I will always cherish. It gave me pride, happiness, a sense of achievement, euphoria but at the same time was so painful (physically) that I had to slowdown,cutdown on my mileage and basically just take it easy for the next few months. I only ran 3 races after my marathon, and they were all 10k races. I dreaded to run long.

Last Sunday, I ran my longest training run, a 12k.

Today, I will try 14k.

Oh, and I will take my camera to take some pictures of the route to share with you.

And, hopefully the roads are clear of ice and snow.

Some Vacation Pictures

2009-12-12T22:35:00.017-05:00

Brought enough running clothes for me to run every day, but guess what, ran 3 times in 12 days, total mileage - no more than 25 k.

It was nice to have a vacation in countries with the same tropical climate as the Philippines. Some of them beaches remind me of our beaches, except ours are more pristine and beautiful specially the white sands of Boracay. Missed fixing the date on my camera though, it was more than 2 weeks behind (the date).

The hot and humid air always reminded me of the home country. I used to avoid the sun and opted to stay in the shade back then, but now, I relish the warmth of the sun, even only for a week or so, knowing that winter weather here in Ontario does not end till April.

Did snorkeling in deep water ( 20-25 feet deep)for the first time. Never thought that my "langoy aso" swimming style would work until I was thrown into the water and had no choice but to try to stay afloat.

My friend and his loving wife feeling the heat of the sun, I started with 2 friends, ended with more than a dozen, including Filipino workers and crew. I always get excited meeting fellow Pinoys and I took the initiative (as I always do in all my vacations) trying to be friendly with them, whether they're vacationers like us or workers/crew/entertainers. Love to hear their stories, about their families back home they support, their dreams and hopes, the same ones I (and millions of other Filipinos working outside the home country)nurtured when I was younger and trying to make it in a foreign land.

My Runningroom watch was just perfect for swimming, snorkeling as it is water proof. The Garmin is supposed to be waterproof too, but it's too much of a risk to use it underwater.

Tanned , looking more Pinoy than Chinese again, a few pounds heavier, it's time to get back to my old running routine (better said than done). With the snow , rain , the cold temperature, and slippery roads we're having here in Ontario, I would have to rely on my old but reliable treadmill instead of running outdoors, until the roads are clear of snow and ice and safe enough to run on.

Whitby 10k In Pictures

2009-11-27T16:45:00.011-05:00

It's been a while since I last wrote in my blog. The historical achievements of two of our living heroes, Manny and Efren I followed very closely and with pride and hope that they inspire us specially the younger generation to follow their good examples.

I also closely follow the the most popular Filipino past time, the soap opera that is - politics, with the May 10 , 2010 presidential elections 6 months away. It was quite a surprise for me to hear about Chiz leaving the NPC and deciding not to run for election either as president of vice-president. More surprising was Manny Villar's accepting and including Bongbong Marcos in the NPs senatorial slate. With some senatoriables of the NP coming from the left, and Pia too, who admires the late Cory Aquino so much, having a Marcos in the same stage seems to be an odd sight.

Running wise, I had very few training runs before I did the Whitby 10k run last Sunday, November 22. I did 1:00:14 for the race , my fastest ever on a 10k but still short of breaking the 1 hour barrier. I thank Isaac, my 10k clinic instructor and friend for the pictures.

I'll be out of the country for a vacation with Jojo for 12 days, will try to get some mileage on the ship. I pray for the situation in Maguindanao to improve and justice and the rule of law prevail.

On Being Sick And Not Being Able To Run

2009-11-10T13:52:00.008-05:00

Always felt strong, fast, sleek, unstoppable in my twenties... (yabang, no :), He was probably saying, don't be too proud my son, you'd be a humbler man in your old days) )

And truly, now in my fifties, I am humbled because inspite of all the hardwork and training I've been doing I still am a slow runner.

I am down with the flu, luckily the mild ordinary one, not the strong swine flu that killed so many around the world in the last few months. I remember my last run last Thursday was supposed to be a 10k but after a little more than just 5k into it, I had to stop and return back home because of some breathing difficulty and feeling extraordinaly cold even though I was dressed warm. By the evening I started coughing, felt cold, and took the first of many tylenols. I called in sick and stayed at home, rested the whole day but the fever, coughing continued.

A visit to my family doctor the next morning confirmed what I feared of, the influenza. The doctor gave me strong medication for the flu, cough syrup, a puffer to relieve breathing difficulties and recommended for me to stay away from work till Friday the 13th ( woohoo! free vacation days for once). Except it sucks to be very very ill, 'cause I couldn't do anything else but rest in bed or the couch, and even sitting and facing the computer to read my favorite blogs for a longer period made me dizzy. So, had to use the couch in semi-lying down flat on your back position.

The other thing that I hate about being sick here is nobody takes care of you unless you're seriously sick enough to be in a hospital. Oh, how I miss my late mother, who used to baby me even when I was already an adult whenever I was very sick. She'd prepare me the best food and served me home made soup, sinigang, tinola or tahong with luya and sabaw, while wiping my face and arms with cold wet face towel every now and then. She was like Florence Nitingale personified. When I say nobody takes care of me, I mean nobody like my mother. My wife and daughter just go about their business once food, medicine and my basic needs are within my reach.

But the one thing I miss most is doing my training runs, solitary at least twice in the weekdays and with my running partner Nette on the Sunday long runs. I missed 2 training runs so far. How I wish I get well enough to once again feel the cool breeze, smell the scent of fallen leaves on the ground, and hear the quack quack of migrating geese flying overhead and see the mists created by my heavy breathing as I plod along during these runs. The last few days, I was just feeling like s__t, excuse me for the language, couldn't come up with the appropriate word.

Until this morning. I woke up at around 8 feeling a lot better than the previous days. I slept well enough last night and didn't remember coughing that much. Was strong enough to make my own breakfast and enjoyed a 30 minute slow walk in the park with Yuki on a beautiful, cool, sunny autumn morning. I even had a chance to walk Yuki in the woods where I used to run in the spring and summer, noticed trees bare and fallen leaves covering the pathways. Hmmmnnn... the sweet smell of autumn .

At home, took advantage to visit and catch up with reading my favorite blogs and commenting on some of them. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories about their experiences in the PIM , Jovie,the Baldrunner, never thought that he'd ever post a slow time in a marathon, very brave for him to finish despite a calf muscle strain. Sam, the Ninjarunner, who walked the last few ks of the marathon due to cramps, who finished with Jovie, and Ronnie, I mean Super Ronnie for running and finishing all these races despite injuries and many more. And I almost forgot, this young guy, Jayson, aka Kastilyong Lapis, whose story of his first marathon was like watching a movie, who posted a sub 4 hours time despite a bad knee. We Pinoys, never run out of heroes. It was really a very inspiring day and productive of course to read all these feel good stories about Pinoy runners.

It's been more than 3 years, if I remember right when I last had been sick this bad. And running to a great degree contributed to my being healthy and not being sickly all these last few years.

Running in the meantime will have to wait until I am completely well. The weekend is a reasonable bet for me to resume running again. I miss it so much I hope I don't come across any runners while I walk Yuki in the park in 2 minutes. Pray that I recover from this illness soon enough for my 10k race on November 22.

A 10K Race A Day After Halloween

2009-11-01T18:01:00.012-05:00

Trick or treat! 6 days before Halloween Yuki tried on this Minimouse dress that she wore last night. :)

I'm here at home just relaxing after running the Angus Glen 10k , a day after Halloween. My left knee (just below the kneecap) is sore and so is my left foot, and I don't know the reason why. I am one runner who always has something in my body hurting after a race, unlike other"natural"runners I know who could run another marathon a week after running one. Just like all my other 10k races, I went all out again to break the elusive 1 hour barrier. I failed again. I was however very much contented and happy with the result.

The last few days, I've been reading other runner bloggers' posts on their recent race experiences. I was very much touched by runners' accounts of poor organization in one supposedly international marathon in the home country and their courage, perseverance, resourcefulness to survive and finish despite the darkness, lack of marshalls and volunteers to guide runners and the absence of water/drinks in some water stations at the crucial distances of the race. I heard that some support vehicles for individual runners had to share their supplies to runners without support crew but others had to literally beg water from kind hearted spectators along the way. They ( the people who went out of their way helping the runners)deserve praise and admiration for being angels to our suffering runners. For a marathon, which generally has a cut off time of 6 and a half to 7 hours, hydration is very necessary and important. Lack of hydration to replace lost water in our system could lead to dehydration which in turn could lead to serious injury or death in more serious cases. Organizers of marathon races should understand this as basic in the sport of long distance running.

To go back to my race this morning, I woke up at 8 am after entertaining last night my nephew, his wife and their young children , who by the way just arrived from the home country a month ago to live here as immigrants permanently. The children have not experienced trick or treating on Halloween, so my daughters Marie and Denise accompanied the children around the neighborhood to knock on doors on Halloween night. The practice here is for every home to prepare candies, chocolates, chips, toys, children's books, other goodies and give them all away to children visiting your home on Halloween night. The children and even some parents or adult companions accompanying who watch over the kids dress in Halloween costumes. My nephews kids dressed as a pirate, Cleopatra, and a ninja (there were 3 of them). My pet Yuki joined them dressed as Mini mouse :). I stayed with them as a good host should be until 10pm when I said my good night, have to sleep early coz of my race tomorrow. Jojo took over and I could overhear the laughter of the kids and the adults downstairs as the kids checked their shopping bags overflowing with goodies. I slept like a log.

Back to this morning, I had breakfast with Jojo, Denise and Marie and in between sipping coffee and munching on my toasted whole wheat pita bread with cheese, we all looked at Denise's pictures of her travel to Istanbul and other parts of Turkey.

By 9:30 am, was thru with all the pre race preparations. Checked the temperature, plus 6 Celsius, so changed to shorts, one undershirt, one long sleeved technical shirt and a wind breaker vest. Decided at the last minute not to carry any water/gatorade bottles and hydration belt. Picked up smallest plastic drink container and filled it with gatorade. Then drove to the site.

At the Angus Glen clubhouse by 9:55 am where I picked up my timing chip. Noticed free Tim Hortons hot coffee, timbits on 2 long tables and about 20 pitchers of iced water on another side with disposable cups on the side (and the race had not even started for us yet). Julia, my 5 k clinic teacher from more than 2 years ago said hi. I shook hands with Francois and hugged Sylvia, 2 other runner friends. Had a chat with Jason (Boston qualifier) about his last ironman race and noticed his unique black casual Rockport shoes (which looked more like dress shoes)that he said he and a dozen other runners were to run with. He said he got the shoes for free and tried it on an 11k run and it felt comfortable. Shoes must be alright because Jason finished 13th out of 623 in 40:35. Greeted Keri and Deborah, ex-half marathon clinicmates, then Nette (Hanneli)(my running partner, who beat me by 25 minutes in our last marathon, got her this time around by a minute more or less, babaw ng kaligayahan no, :) joined us with her husband Fidel who was to run the race too.

10 minutes before the race, Nette, Fidel and I did a warm up run at the back of the clubhouse. Visited the washroom one last time as Nette and Fidel proceeded to the start area. Gulped in a cup of cold water as I saw by the clubhouse window runners already running after the start gun had fired. ran to the back of the field of runners and the race was on.

Ran the first 2ks in 11:45, 5k at 29:05 and faded (again) around the 7k mark. Water stations with plenty of provisions and volunteers were strategically located in the entire race course. Did not need to carry a bottle of gatorade. Ended up finishing in 1:01:21, another failed attempt to break the one hour barrier. High fived Deborah (51 minutes and change) and Fidel (59:58) and gave away my bib number to Nette for another friend to use for free lunch as I had to pass and go straight back home to have lunch with Denise, who was just staying with us till the afternoon.

Disappointed initially, but at the same time happy to improve my time over my last 10k race (the Francorun 10k) which I did in 1:05:59. Contented to better my time on my second Angus Glen 10k. My first was on a time of 1:02:42. We runners could always twist a failure into a triumph, ha ha.

My next race is the Whitby Waterfront 10k on November 22, 2009.

A 10K Run And Random Pictures Of Our City And Autumn

2009-10-18T15:48:00.027-04:00

With the temperature close to 0 degrees Celsius, 10k Franco Run runners lined up to receive their bibs or register as early as 9:00 am at High Park, Toronto. I arrived past 9, big toe still sore, but after taking 2 advils , I was ready to go for a PR.

High Park, in the center of Toronto provides residents, visitors, nature and sports lovers a venue for picnics, rollerblading, biking, running or leisure walking with its hilly terrain and well maintained gardens, trees, lawns and trails.

I took some pictures of the beautiful surroundings, while looking for a portalet as I had to pee, but there was none, and the nearest washroom was a mile away, so did what runners are famous for in times of adversity/emergency, followed some other runners to the bush and did our thing.

With my co-worker friends Sarah,Shanna and Khalid, all running their first 10k race 7 minutes before the start. Missing in the picture is my friend and mentor, Monty who came and ran with his loving wife after a long lay off from running due to an achilles heel injury.

Running is a great equalizer, young or old, rich or poor, male or female, short or tall (Haile, the world record holder in the marathon is vertically challenged), everybody enjoys it's benefits, a healthy lifestyle, a fitter body and mind, the appreciation and enjoyment of nature and the friendship of good people with the same passion for the sport.

Toronto our main city in Ontario is a melting pot of races, on the drive home took a picture of a corner Mexican taco restaurant with a red tree on the right, only in Toronto.

Stopped by a traffic light at Bloor Street West, took a picture of two pedestrian ladies wearing different autumn attires.

Some Toronto buildings kept and restored their unique older architectural designs.

Another "old" building in Toronto.

Skyscrapers in the background while teams play soccer in a Toronto park. notice some trees starting to change colors.

Another part of the same park with big trees, thick vegetation, trails between it and the downtown Toronto skyline. We need one like this in the center of Manila so running enthusiasts, walkers, picnickers and nature lovers could de-stress themselves after the hectic, fast and stressful work week in the city. Central Park in New York City serves this purpose.

Finally got out of downtown Toronto, and while driving along Don Valley Parkway took some pictures of trees and vegetation changing into fall colors.

A relaxing and easy drive on the hi-way after an intense 10k run is a bonus plus of course listening to easy rock music from the 60's, 70's and 80's.

Residents of these condo buildings must be enjoying nature as these woods and trails are just right in front of their doorste

Enjoyed the sights and sounds of Toronto but Markham, my small but beautiful town is still my home and haven.

The entrance to my secret running trail in the nearby woods was very inviting but, have to be home for Jojo's sinigang, lumpiang sariwa and fried fish with chopped green mango, tomatoes, and onion waiting for me at the dining table.

P.S.

I finished the race in 1:05:59, my slowest ever in a 10k race (this is my 4th). No, not because of my sore left big toe. Can't give that for an excuse. I felt a little pain but not enough to affect my time. The steep hills did it. The route was quite "easy" and simple . Run the same 5k route twice, that was it. The only problem was the first 2 and a half ks were steep downhill, and I ran them in less than 6 minute pace per k. The next 2 and a half ks were brutal, just continuously steep uphill climbs. I finished my first 5ks at 31 minutes and change. From then on, I knew that a PR was next to impossible, so just ran the best I could. Happy, contented, fulfilled, blessed, after finishing another race and seeing the joy in my friends' eyes for finishing their first 10k race.

My next race is on November 1, the Angus Glen 10K in Markham.

After My First Marathon, What's Next?

2009-09-28T09:55:00.017-04:00

Some of the 17,000 runners congregating at Nathan Philips Square in downtown Toronto before the start of the 5k, half-marathon and marathon races

Thousands of runners, relatives and friends in front of the twin Toronto City hall buildings

Excitedly confident with 13 minutes to the start gun

Made a last ditch effort to beat to the finish line the bald, fat and shirtless runner in front of me but missed by 2 seconds .

Happy to earn my first marathon finisher medal with wife Jojo and daughter Denise in the picture.

Finally at age 55, a marathoner. What's next?

As I sit down here and think about what to write on this post, my whole body is aching, the most pain that I've had since the all night hazing I received on my initiation night for membership to the Tau Lambda Kappa Fraternity of the UE College of Law more than 2 decades ago. It was even worse yesterday, after the race. I could hardly walk, occasionally had thigh muscle cramps, felt so weak, without any appetite, felt like throwing up and just slept like a log when I got home.

All morning also today, Jojo and I have been watching the Filipino Channel for news about Typhoon Ondoy, the floods in Metro Manila and other areas, the casualties, devastation and the return of Bayanihan spirit among all Filipinos, living in the Philippines and outside. Although in the past weeks, it seemed like the soap opera that is politics in the Philippines was the favorite topic in our homes and in the news, the sad aftermath of Ondoy saw all Pinoys irrespective of different and opposing partisan views and persuasions all come together and help each other in dealing with rescue operations, providing victims with the very basics like food, clothing, drinking water, shelter, and collecting relief goods and donations . There is still a lot of work to be done to rescue people trapped in their homes in flooded areas and making sure relief supplies, food and medicine reach needy people in time. The bad news is, there is another typhoon brewing close to the Philippines that may pass the country in the next few days. May God save us from another strong typhoon.

Below is the story of my first marathon.

Felt strong and confident at the start. Did 5k in 34 minutes, 10k at 1:14; half marathon mark (21k) at 2:42, and then as always slowed down in the second half, reached the 30k mark in 4:01. After passing the 32nd k, I was on unchartered territory. Begun to entertain negative thoughts because of pain on my left toes, left hip joint, quads. Chanted instinctively quietly, Tau ! Lambda! Kappa! to make me oblivious of all the pain. Thought of Rick, Mark (Tanaka), Jerry, Ronnie, Jovie, Jo-Lynn, all ultra runners, and said to myself , 42k is nothing.Passed a middleaged white male runner massaging his right thigh and gave him an e-load capsule (for electrolytes). At 33rd k passed another Asian looking middleaged runner who was limping while walking, offered and gave him an e-load capsule.

Felt weaker and weaker by the 34th k, (ran out of gels ,shotbloks, e-load by this time) and decided to stop by a variety (sari sari) store and bought a Cadburys nuts and raisins chocolate bar which I munched and finished in no time. I was so hungry. Where were Vener's saging na saba or Rico's hopia cubes when you needed them. A kindly resident offered fresh red watermelon on a tray and I picked one, and oh was it ever sweet. At the 35k heard my name being called, and saw my sports doctor, Dr. Natalie Labelle, a marathoner herself cheering on the side with her husband holding a poster with names and pointing at one name - Bong.. Stopped for a few seconds to shake their hands. She told me "you can do it Bong!"

By this time, I think I was walking more than I was running. All the runners who I passed, who passed me or were within my sight were either limping, stopping and stretching or massaging a thigh or leg, puking, walking, trying to move forward in what barely looked like a running motion. Negative thoughts came back and for a second the words quit and rest came to my mind. I prayed.

At the 37th k, just as I was walking and at my lowest low (physically and mentally) in the entire race, I heard a fat runner behind me yelling (what I thought of then as swear words), and ran pass me. The guy was no lighter than 260 lbs, I bet. He was shirtless, with his shirt tied around his big belly. This middle-aged, fat, foul-mouthed (I was mistaken here, I learned later), big bellied guy would never beat me, I told myself then. :)

From then on it became a chasing game between a used-to-be fat 55 year old wannabe marathoner trying to catch up with this shirtless, big bellied, bald guy. :)

With 400 meters to go he was still ahead of me by 100 meters as I tried to pick up speed to catch him. This time, all of a sudden a female spectator came out of the crowd of spectators to hug him (must be the wife) and he stopped for a moment. This gave me the oppurtunity to close the gap between us, and then he started running again. I was about ten feet behind him with 100 meters to the finish line and could hear him yell something like Go! Scott (his name) go! (not swear words that I thought I heard before). Gave it my all to catch and pass him before the finish line but missed by a few feet.

I crossed the finish line 2 seconds behind Scott (thebald, fat shirtless runner) in 5 hours 51 minutes.

So, what's next for me, if I'm asked today. No more marathon! I'd probably take up power walking or concentrate on the shorter distances, the 5k and 10k at the most. Or maybe just be content with walking Yuki in the park.

P.S. My running friend Nette recovered in time from her glutes injury to finish the same race, her first too, in 5 hours 26 minutes. Congrats Nette!

7 Days To My First Marathon

2009-09-20T22:08:00.007-04:00

Thirty years ago, I ran regularly at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City to help me get better at playing my sport then, basketball. Never crossed my mind that 30 years after, I would be a runner and try to finish my first marathon 7 days from today.

My first try to finish a full marathon is just 7 days away .

I am excited, anxious but confident at the same time.

I think I've done everything physically and mentally possible to prepare for this race.

Today is the first day of the 18th and last week of my marathon training program. Yesterday was my last LSD training run, just 16k in 2:03:45, that was part of tapering period. The last 4 Sundays before today, I did weekend long runs of 30k, 30k, 32k, and 23k successively, the most mileage I'd done since I took up running seriously in 2007. I did a slow 6k recovery run this morning, and would be running 10k on Tuesday, 10k on Thursday, 3k on Saturday and then the big day on Sunday.

In all my long runs 30k or more I felt like I had nothing left in the tank the last few ks. I know that the real test would be from the 32k mark on because that would be new territory to me, I've never run longer than 32k. I read that most runners with a DNF result in a marathon were unable to continue because they "hit the wall" after the 32k mark but before the finish line. I pray that I be given the physical and mental strength to cover the last 10k and achieve my goal of finishing my first marathon.

I also hope and pray that my friend and running partner Nette, who'd been with me through thick and thin in most of the past 17 training weeks of the marathon clinic, heals and recovers from her glutes injury so she could still run the race with me on Sunday.

So, the next few days would be time to rest, relax, take it easy, try not to get injured.

What one helpful advise would a marathoner or an ultra runner give to a first timer like myself?

My next post will be my race report after the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday. I wonder what the title to my post would be?

An Ankle Sprain 14 Days Before My First Marathon?

2009-09-13T20:07:00.006-04:00

Are you walking me to the park today?

Yuki sleeping and using my foot as pillow

Yuki, my pet puppy, looking more confident now.

It was 8.70 kilometers into our long Sunday run this morning when it happened so unexpectedly. Nette, Sandra and I were running on a narrow asphalted walkway in a nearby trail when we saw an overweight man walking in our direction. We did a single file, and continued running, and as I was trying to move to my right trying to avoid colliding with a fat guy like myself, half my right foot landed on the edge of the walkway and the other half on grass that was too soft and gave way. Before I knew what happened I was down on the grass, holding on to my right ankle. I was understandably worried and angry at myself at the same time for being so careless so close (14 days to be exact) to my first marathon race.

I stood up, put some weight on my right foot, and thankfully, on a scale of 10 the pain or discomfort was only a one. I told my lady friends I would try running and see how it was, and lo and behold, the pain gradually disappeared as we covered more and more mileage.

Finished 23ks in a slow time of 3:12:17.

Took 2 advils when I got home iced it and took a 3 hour nap.

Woke up around 4pm , took my puppy Yuki to the park , tested my ankle by playing a chase game with her and found out that the supposed injury was nothing but a mild ankle twist and not a sprain as I initially thought.

Thank God, it's still a go in two weeks.

Also, my puppy Yuki (snow in Japanese) is with us for exactly one month now. Yuki is a bichon frise that we got from a dog adoption agency. She was with the breeder for 6 months living in a cage most of the time until a foster home got her to live there with 6 other bigger dogs. My daughter Marie got her from the foster home for a few hundred dollars donation.

Yuki was a pitiful dog at first. She was thin. Scared of people, her tail was always between her legs and her ears were always down. She got startled by any kind of noise, the closing of the door, turning on the computer or the TV. Coming home, I would see her hiding in one corner cowering in fear. My wife, Jojo even suggested for us to take her back to the dog adoption agency. This was Yuki a month ago.

Now, Yuki is a different puppy. She's getting more comfortable with people and she actually greets us cheerfully with her tail wagging. We used the services of a dog trainer who gave us some helpful information on how to potty and crate train her. We enrolled her to obedience school and every now and then take her to a dog care centre. A dog walker comes every now and then on days when all of us are at work. We exposed her to people by taking her to the park whenever we could. I'm reading a book by Cesar Millan titled A Member of the Family, Guide to a Lifetime of Fulfillment with Your Dog which I think could help me be a good dog owner.

I found out one day that Yuki, with her boundless energy was a great runner. I happened to be walking Yuki close to a nearby football field when I met a friendly lady with her pet Maltese. She suggested to me to let Yuki off leash and let her play with her dog. I did, and what a joy to see Yuki running fast chasing after the other dog (who is an adult dog) .

In all the days that I took Yuki to the park since then, we'd run and run in the grass until I could continue no more due to fatigue.

Yuki is my newly discovered running partner, baw waw waw!

My Longest Run Ever!

2009-09-06T21:23:00.004-04:00

This morning, Sunday, September 6, 2009 was the first day of the 16th week of my marathon clinic program. The distance for this morning's long run was 32 ks the longest training run in the marathon program. It's only 21 days to the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, my (and six others in the clinic) first marathon, and the excitement of every runner in our run club entered in the event could be felt during our clinic sessions and right after the training runs.

I ran again with my running buddy Nette, this time around, I had with me tissue paper (toilet paper) inside a ziplock bag just in case of emergency. I got lucky the previous Sunday when I had to rely on Nette to provide me with tissue paper when I had to relieve myself in the woods for the first time also in my running career.

Unlike the previous Sunday when I kept up with Nette till the 22nd k, this morning, she started pulling away from me by the 14th k. And this was not because I was running slower, it was because she's getting stronger and stronger as we get closer to the race. So proud of her.

Reached the 21st k in 2:49. Started feeling tired, legs heavy the next few ks. By the 27th k, was in pain everywhere, my feet, leg and thigh muscles, my right pelvic joint, as if all parts of my running body were conspiring to make me quit. This was the time when I asked myself, why am I doing this? Why am I punishing my body like this? Is it worth all this pain?

The good thing about blogging is you get to know the accomplishments of other runners and athletes that far surpassed in a great way the best you've ever accomplished. When I was beginning to doubt myself and all these negative questions popped up in my mind, all I had to do was think of Ronnie, Jerry, Sir Jovie and everybody that finished the BDM 102k ultra in the heat of summer (blistered feet and all), Rick Gaston being tossed like a rag doll in the mountain trails in his 100 mile races, Iron ladies Pia and Ani doing their hours and hours of swim, bike ride, plus a full marathon. All these great athletes compete in events that require them to test their physical and mental limits in more than 10 hours some closer to 24 hours in difficult and sometimes extreme conditions. What is a 32 k? A piece of cake.

I completed 32ks in a slow time of 4:28:58, the last 3ks at close to 9 minutes per k average.

Next 3 weeks is tapering period, the next Sunday long run at 23 ks, the Sunday after next at 6 ks and then marathon race day on the 27th.

With my longest run ever under my belt, I now believe I can.

Three Napkins, Priceless!

2009-08-30T18:09:00.005-04:00

First time this ever happened to me in my more than 2 years and a half of serious running.

Last night, I ate a big serving of spaghetti with meat balls to carboload for this morning's long run.

I woke up late at 6 this morning, had to eat breakfast quick (had whole grain pita with peanut butter, some cherries, a cup of coffee, and a glass of lactose free milk). Took a quick shower, tried to use the washroom with no success (however hard I tried :)), got dressed and drove to the Runningroom homebase to meet my running buddy, Nette on the agreed upon time of 7am.

We were to run 29 ks this morning, in this the 14th Sunday long run of our 18 week marathon training program. This morning, I had 4 energy gels, 2 bars of shotbloks, gatorade , and 500 ml spring water, enough I thought for a 29k run. I also brought $10 cash just in case.

Nette and I agreed again to run the route that our clinicmates were to run and started off 30 minutes ahead of them. The morning temperature was cool, about 15 degrees Celsius, the sky was cloudy, hardly any breeze or wind, ideal for a long run. That was what I thought at the start of our run.

It soon became obvious 3ks into our run that this was nothing but an ideal long run, when I started to have a stomach ache. I kept quiet and hoped it would go away. By the
6th kilometer we passed the last public building , the Markham Stoufville Hospital, and we continued on with my stomach still grumbling. At this point, we would be running along a wooded area and then miles and miles of farmlands and vacant space until we stop at Tim Horton's on the 17th k.

At the 7th k, I knew the inevitable. I wouldn't be able to hold it any longer. I would have to go to the woods and relieve my self (simply, poo :)). Was so embarrassed to tell Nette, that she must have been wondering why I was so quiet the last few ks. Now I know how it felt when Paula Radcliffe had to pee in public at the 2005 London marathon which she won, and our own distance runner PC who crossed the finish line in a marathon sockless after he used his socks for a good and natural purpose.

Initially, I thought I should lie and tell Nette that I'd stop and go to the woods to take a piss. But, had to change my mind knowing I'd have to use leaves or twigs or even my socks and instead asked her if she brought with her some tissue paper, napkin, anything. When she said yes, (I shouted in my mind Woohoo!!), and when she asked why I was asking, I had to confess that I had to go poo (with a red face :)) . She, trying not to laugh, handed me a clear plastic bag with three white napkins. So embarrassing. Thank God I was running with a female friend.

Anxious while at the woods that my faster clinicmates may catch up with us and find me sitting and with my pants down, bum showing, while answering the call of nature in the woods. But the sidetrip to the woods was a complete success,with only squirrels, rabbits, skunks as likely witnesses, thanks to Nette's 3 napkins. A few pounds lighter, I felt much better and it translated into a faster more comfortable pace from then on.

The first 5 of our faster clinicmates caught up with us at the 10th k. Nette and I stopped over at Tim Hortons for water refill at the 17th k. More caught up with us at the 22k mark. At this time, like our previous long runs, had to decrease my pace and Nette had to go ahead, as she gradually disappeared in the distance. By the 24th k, everyone from my clinic passed me. Was a solitary runner once again. Decided to add one more kilometer to the 29 to psyche me up. Very tired at the finish and so thankful to Him for another good day and safe long run.

Completed 30 ks in 4:09:48.

Next Sunday's long run is for 32k.

28 days to my first marathon. :)

A Funny (Or Maybe A Comedy Of Errors Describes It Better) 30k Race Story

2009-08-24T09:00:00.016-04:00

Marie took this picture at 3:32 pm. I was all ready and set to be driven to the race site (or that's what I thought, not noticing I wasn't wearing the timing chip on my shoe)

Waiting for Marie to arrive with my race chip at the shuttle bus pick up area at 5:09 pm, 21 minutes before the race started. Didn't have any other pictures after this. Just read the story below and you'll find out why :).

Have you seen the movie Run Fatboy Run? It is a funny movie.

My 30k run (the Midsummer Night's 30k Run)on Saturday evening was not only funny( a comedy of errors is the more appropriate description), it was full of suspense, drama, agony, unexpected twists and turns, happy ending , just like a typical Pinoy movie.

First thing in the morning Saturday, I woke up early and excited. I prepared my shorts, running shirt, drifit socks, shoes, Garmin watch, headlamp (for night running), 2 eload tablets, 4 packets of chocolate flavored gel, hydration belt with gatorade and water, and my race bib number and timing chip, set on the table ready to be worn and picked up before going to the race site.

Denise, my daughter who drove from Toronto and Jojo (the wife) would drive and accompany me to the race. Marie, the other daughter would stay home to babysit Yuki, our dog. The plan was for us to leave the home at 3pm to get to the parking spot and then ride the race shuttle bus to the start area. The race was scheduled to start at 5:30 pm.

Just relaxed the whole morning,rested the feet and legs. At 1pm Denise asked her mom to help her buy a business suit at the nearby mall. I told both of them to be home by 3 so we wont be late. By 3 they weren't home yet. I was dressed to run, prepared 2 small bags one with an extra shirt, shorts, sandals, camera, my wallet and the other white plastic bag with a towel, bananas, 3 bottles of water, 2 multigrain round pita bread.

By 3:15 I was nervously walking in and out of the house to the front porch hoping that they arrive soon. I clipped on my race bib number in front of my orange shirt and was about to tie the timing chip to my shoe when the phone rang. I put it down on the table and answered the phone. Jojo said they're delayed by heavy traffic. I said they better hurry coz driving to Toronto (where the race is) would be slower because of traffic.

At 3:35 I decided to drive on my own (I could not wait for them) picked up one bag with the camera (of course :) ) and left the white plastic bag with food and water. As I was to drive out of the driveway, Denise and the wife arrived with a guilty smile on their faces, saying sorry for arriving home late. Reasoned heavy traffic, but I know they got so immersed in shopping, forgot about the time.

So, no problem, we still had enough time. Got caught in traffic from Hi-way 41 to Eglinton Ave. , but still arrived at the pick up area at 4:25 pm. lots of time for the 5:30pm start. Asked Denise to take a picture of me lining up with the rest of the runners to hop in the shuttle bus. Smile, click click!

Sat on the first seat behind driver and looked down on my shoes. Where is my timing chip?

No!!!!!!

I forgot my timing chip!!

Rushed out of the bus, Denise, Jojo and I frantically tried to phone Marie who was at home. No answer. God, she must be taking the dog for a walk. After a few minutes (that seemed like hours) she answered. Told her to take a look for a timing chip on the table with a white plastic thing and drive it to us as soon as she can. Denise then took over from me to give her directions and I heard Denise say, hurry up, yes , bring that plastic whatever.

Now, the long wait for Marie, Denise, Jojo and I waited at the street corner, with Denise on her cell phone to give Marie directions.

Finally at around 5:10 pm saw Marie's car coming. " Where's my chip, give me the chip!". She handed me the white plastic bag with the towel, bananas, pita bread, bottles of water. The chip?
"Isn't it inside the white bag Dad ?", she asked.

No!!!

Marie left the timing chip at home!!! (like father like daughter :) )

"What do I do now?" Decided to drive back home, picked up the timing chip myself and drove back fast to the shuttle pick up area. Arrived back there at 6:25 pm. Was driven to the site by a kindhearted driver with me alone as runner passenger.

Asked the organizer in charge of the clock and timing chips if I could still run or just return the chip to them and forget about it. He said, go for it, enjoy,but I was so late starting for the 30k race that he recorded my start time manually.

So off I went, the solitary runner starting an hour or so later than the last runner in the 30k race to leave the starting line before me. The first few kilometers, my heart was still pumping fast and I was doing a faster pace than usual as my instinct was telling me to try to catch up.

I slowly caught up with some slower runners in the 15k race, who started at 6:30 (an hour after the 30k start), but then slowly got tired and slowed down my pace to a comfortable one.

Finished all 4 gels, 2 eload tablets by the 21st k. Started to have cramps on my legs and thighs by the 25k., passed the last two 30k runners (they were walking at the time due to fatigue or injury) by the 26th k .

Two race volunteers riding bikes gave me directions where to go as it was dark and nightime (the headlamp helped a lot).

At the 28th k, I had to stop almost every few minutes just to stop the cramping on my quads and calf. This was when I noticed a police car started following me from behind with it's light on high beam like it was escorting a superstar runner, he he :). I was reminded of the movie Run Fatboy Run, where the main character although suffering from an injury still persevered to cross the finish line for the girl he loves so much. Did this officer see that movie, I wondered as I limped/walked every now and then.

At the 29th k, had to turn right on an intersection with police cars and an ambulance (no it's not me who'd need one), again the police officers stopping traffic and encouraging me to go on, and telling me that it was just a kilometer to go. (hey, you don't get this special treatment when you're in the middle of the pack)

Tried to run the last k but again felt cramping and stopped with 300 meters to go. Wiped my face and mouth (have to look good at the finish line :) ) with my shirt sleeve and started running again towards the finish line.

I crossed the finish line tired but upright, smiling , with hands up in the air and looking up the sky in thanksgiving.

Shhhhh, Please Don't Tell The Wife.

2009-08-21T12:49:00.005-04:00

From the time I woke up this morning till now, all I've been thinking of is my 30k race tomorrow. I am excited like a kid playing his first game in a basketball tournament. As my faster runner friend once told me, he felt like a race horse nervously waiting for the start gun at the starting line, just before a race. With me, I feel like a donkey among race horses aiming not to win but just to cross the finish line. Just the same, I've been continuously thinking (more like imagining) of myself running a strong, fast, and PR breaking race. And I've also been massaging my leg and thigh muscles every few minutes (like a trainer massaging his boxer before a title fight) in addition to stretching every now and then. My co-worker partner has been eyeing me with a questioning look maybe thinking if I'm going crazy or if I took some speed medication today :) .

The other thing that bothered me earlier this morning was tomorrow's date, August 22. I just couldn't stop thinking about August 22. My wife's birthday is August 16. My daughter, Marie is August 10. But what is it about August 22 that is too important that I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Until, I finally recalled that when I was 17 years old, my childhood girlfriend Ina, on her own made the day as our "anniversay day". That is it. That was the day she said yes to me. Did any of you guys have this anniversary day with your childhood girlfriend or boyfriend, or is it just me?

Please don't tell the wife, I beg you. I love her more than 100 Inas. I don't want to be turfed out of the bedroom and sleep in the couch with my pet dog, Yuki, after a 30k run :) .

6 Days To Midsummer's Night 30k

2009-08-16T19:25:00.004-04:00

It's just 6 days away from my next race, the Midsummer's Night 30k Run to be held in Toronto on August 22, Saturday at the historical Old Distillery Area and the streets along Lake Ontario. the race is to start in the evening, at 5:30 pm. Cut off time is 4 hours and incidentally, my best time in this distance (I only ran one 30k race, the Around the Bay 30k in March this year) is 4:00:16. So simply, I have to shave off 16 seconds off my best time to even see my name in the official result. What pressure, eh?

This morning I joined my running buddy, Nette at 7am on our long Sunday run. Our run club group was supposed to start at 7:30 am and the 2 of us decided to start earlier due to the hot weather forecast for the day. So, we actually had a 30 minute headstart from our other clinicmates. Nette did a total of 32ks while I did 25.27ks with a time of 3:32:48. At the 15th k, Paul (whose a Boston finisher) passed us, then Edward and Ric Kong (6 minutes off Boston qualifying time) passed us close to the 16th k. By the 21st k everybody from my run club passed me (Nette was way in front of me by this time). Overall, I was happy with my run. A lot of positives. My calf muscle held good. Except for my middle toes that bothered me at the 21st k, didn't have any pains. It was just too hot and humid, had to drink lots of sports drink and water.

I was initially thinking to run this coming race as a regular Sunday LSD (Long Slow Distance) run in preparation for my first marathon in September, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, but with the 4 hour cut off time, I have to be aware of my pace and make sure I don't run too slow and end up finishing in more than 4 hours.

I ice bathe my legs, thighs, feet after the long run and the next 6 days is tapering down, 20ks at the most divided into 3 training sessions, the last around Thursday. It'll be a good test for sure on how I will fare in my first marathon.

It's a happy time here at home tonight with my wife's birthday party ongoing now, with the karaoke machine at full blast, my wife's siblings , friends dancing and getting tipsy, my daughters and their cousins joking around and laughing out loud, and here I am typing away at what topic - running. While most people here are drinking wine or beer, I am content with cold water, lots and lots of it to replace all the water I lost in my more than 3 hours morning run.

Everbody here thinks I'm crazy and obsessed with running and running blogs.

I'm not ashamed to admit it, I actually am.

Just Earned My Badge Of Honor As A Runner

2009-08-09T14:54:00.006-04:00

It was time to rest the sore feet, legs and thighs after completing 25.27 ks long run this morning in a time of 3:34:27 (washroom , water refill, walk breaks included). So happy and thankful that there was no sign of any discomfort or pain in the left calf that forced me to stop my training for a month when I had a muscle strain during one of my training runs. Thanks Lidia and my other friends for the prayers. Congratulate me for earning my badge of honor as a runner, as one of my toenails (the fourth toe on my left foot) finally turned black. I wonder if this is quite common among us runners. Have you had a black/dead toenail?

Early afternoon was the exact opposite of the start of our run at 7:00 am this morning, when it was cloudy and foggy/misty the first one and a half hours of our run. It rained lightly intermittently during the rest of our run and it refreshed as a bit, because the air was so humid. It turned sunny and nice this afternoon, just ideal for relaxing at my deck with my feet up . Sat on the bench, read my National Geographic, and just savored the beautiful sunny day (we haven't had much this summer, it's turning to be a rainy summer season here)

Right after the long run, I had a hearty lunch of paksiw na ulo and tiyan ng bangus, that my wife bought from a Filipino restaurant in Scarborough, the Golden Valley Restaurant. It was so good, with the talong and hot green pepper, I had to have a bowl of rice (no dieting today after the long run) with it. Then, to replenish the sugar I lost during the run, I had 2 pisngi of ripe sweet mango (we buy mangoes at a nearby Chinese store) and left over ube (from our family halo-halo gathering last weekend).

Before all of the above, I treated my tired feet, leg, thigh, butt muscles to ice bathing, something I learned from elite Pinoy ultrarunner Rick Gaston (365me). First, I filled my bath tub with cold water, high enough to reach my belly button when I sit on the tub. Then, I added about 10 big round blocks of ice just enough to get the water very very cold. Then I got myself a magazine to read and jumped in and sat on the bath tub. Brrrrrr. The trick was to have my legs, thighs and butt under the cold water, and it's supposed to aid in faster recovery of sore running muscles. It is amusing to note that as soon as I sat on that freezing cold water every part of me shrank! I mean my toes, feet, legs ,thighs . Wrapped my upper body with the dry towel to fight the cold feeling, all my sweat pores must have closed and had the immediate urge to jump outof the bath tub as my skin felt the freezing cold water. Stayed there for 10 minutes, out for 2, back again for 10, 3 repetitions total. Please try it and let me know if it works for you as well as me. :)

21k With Sandra And Nette

2009-08-02T16:13:00.025-04:00

I decided to run with my clinic group this morning under a cloudy and overcast sky with the forecast for some rain in the morning. The group was to run 33k for some and 29k for the others. I would be doing just 21k at the most, while Nette and Sandra were to do 29k.

Our clinic teacher Ray led around 25 of us to this long run. Out of all clinic participants only 7 have not completed a marathon yet, one of them is me.

Runners on our clinic run at different speeds. The elite, those who've qualified for or ran Boston started as usual in front, most were middle of the pack, and myself and a few others ran at the back of the group.

I joined my happy runner friends Nette and Sandra on a 7:30 to 8:00 minute per k pace.

It was still overcast almost an hour to our run. I prayed that it would not rain and it didn't.

After more than an hour on the busy streets of Markham, we headed to Reesor Road going northward where all we saw were vast farmlands and miles and miles of low vegetation and vacant space.

If you're wondering where your wheatbread and wheat cereals come from, this is a wheatfield, as far as the eye could see.

We passed by this beautiful stream that provides water to the farmland.

Saw an old buggy in front of an old farmhouse.

I love having a walk break to rest my tender left calf.

Priceless! Nette and Sandra had to take a washroom break and I could buy my donuts.

Felt guilty, so had to settle for timbits instead. Hmmm. the chocolate timbits were the best. Then, got nagged by the 2 ladies for eating "unhealthy". Reasoned, that I needed some sugar, ha ha, still they both snubbed my timbits. So, had to continue running with this box, no wonder I couldn't lose weight.

Took the 2 of them to my secret trail at the woods where we continued our run.

Since Nette and Sandra had to do 29k, we had to go on our own separate ways at the corner of Mccowan Road and Bur Oak Avenue. They continued west at Bur Oak while I turned left going southward to Mccowan towards homebase.

Completed exactly 21k in 2:58:58, after which I just walked for another 3ks to homebase.

I just could not avoid taking a picture of these fruits that look like our guayabano or atis.

Next Sunday's long run is for another 29 ks, I will try to do 25 ks. My target is to catch up with the marathon clinic training run schedule in 2 weeks. As Vener advised, "hinay hinay lang" (just take it easy).

My Sunday Long Run (In Pictures)

2009-07-26T17:13:00.043-04:00

After enjoying watching the last stage of the Tour de France , having my daughter Denise visiting on this weekend, I asked myself, to run or not to run? It didn't take long to find out, I laced up my running shoes, grabbed my hydration belt with water, and took my camera out of the house and saw this. Rain and thunderstorm!

With my camera getting wet from the rain I tried to take a picture of lightning in the sky but was not quick enough, noticed I was doing 5:30ish per k from my Garmin, so had to slow down,couldn't risk reinjuring the left calf injury. I stayed closer to the houses mostly running the pathways instead of the road. I didn't want to end up a roasted/barbecued runner in case there was lightning nearby. :)

Saw this father and son walking in the rain on the road, camera shot was blurry because it was really raining hard and the sound of thunder and lightning in the sky was becoming a cause for concern.

I decided to run in the nearby woods to avoid getting hit by lightning while in the open. I started reciting, "the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go..." It's so funny how this old poem is retained in my sub-concious after being buried there since high school.

It was so peaceful, quiet, with just the sound of raindrops falling on the leaves and ground, and occasionally the faint sound of thunder from far away. Brought back fond memories of my Tata Leon, (my Nana Eleng's farmer/fisherman husband)when I was a young boy vacationing in his rural farmland, holding his buri hat, smiling with his blackened teeth showing, looking up the dark sky , taking a deep breath at the smell of rain watering his dry rice fields.

As the rain fell harder poodles of water started forming on the pathway.

And more water!, I noticed both my shoes, including the inside were soaking wet, and it was so uncomfortable, with my socks all wet too, and hearing "squish, squish" every step I took. This time, I decided to change course, go home to change shoes and socks.

After a short return to my place to use the washroom, refill my water, change shoes and socks (didn't bother with the wet clothes) and consuming a banana, off I went out again and noticed that the rain had stopped although the sky was still gray.

Passed by a pond where people could watch geese, ducks and birds that frequent or live in the place.

It seems like wild flowers bloom in bright colors right after a rainfall.

I have to confess now, this where I go surreptitiously when I crave for hamburgers when the wife cooked only "healthy foods", vegetables , fruits, nuts. The trick is, to put gas in your car at the nearby gas station, and eat as fast as you can so you'll not be missed. :) Have to stop this, if serious about losing weight.

Markham is one of the older communities in Ontario, so in some areas, the architecture and design of buildings and homes go back to the 18th century.

First time I ran this street, in the interior, it was all quiet except for a few homeowners I saw tinkering with their plants in their front lawns..

Ain't this house so beautiful, it's front lawn and garden so simple and well manicured, that if it goes on sale now, I'd risk losing face and borrow money from my father in law so I can buy this house (ha ha, just joking)

Passed by the Main Street GO train station that goes to and from downtown Toronto. It had been more than 2 hours from the time I started running and the legs seemed to be holding good. Maybe, it's the photo taking that's keeping me unaware of the time and distance. I was starting to feel fatigued though at this point.

The sun and blue sky after the rain, only made it hotter and humid, I had to decrease my speed. Also, noticed I was breathing harder because of the humid air. The legs were feeling tired but otherwise no pain (no injured pain I mean).

Passed by a dentist's office in his home, with the rent of professional offices so high, this is practical specially in this recessionary times.

Ran out of water at this time. also felt hungry, as had my breakfast at 8 am and had only a banana during this run. This time all I could think of was food and water, and Jay and his boiled saba and Rico's hopia cubes crossed my mind for whatever reason. Must be missing Pinoy food . :)

So, more than 2 hours into my run, had to stop over at Tim Hortons for chocolate marble donut and an orange drink.

Going!

Gone!

And it was a good decision to have a bite and a drink as it went warmer and warmer as the minutes went by. I was now running back home but even much slower because of fatigue. It was my intention to just run 15k today. But at this point I was pretty sure I would cover much more than that.

Saw this couple on a late Sunday date in their front yard gardening.

Yes, so right, I was just having the most peaceful long Sunday run at this moment, and my body (including the injured calf) seemed to be in harmony with the mind, spirit, surroundings and the whole universe. Hallelujah!

Amazing how an hour or more can change the color and sights in this same woods.

The poodles of water on the ground seemed to have all but disappeared.

Yellow and white wild flowers appeared to be rejoicing and praising God for giving them much needed rain in this hot summer day, like the runner who was passing by, feeling so blessed for his continuous recovery from his injury and getting more distance in this run than what he was hoping for.

Sorry, my friend I'm just too tired to play one on one at this time.

I figured out, I was so close to home anyway, might as well shoot some hoops with this friendly fellow. I tried a few three point shots, none went in. I tried medium range shots, maybe 1 out of 10 went in. I tried a few lay up shots and most missed, that's when I called it quits. Too late for a basketball comeback. I'll stick to running.

The picture says it all. I was so tired I just had to sit on the concrete floor on my front porch for a few minutes. Too tired even to stretch (I did it afterwards). I completed 19.3 ks total in 3:02. Thanks Dr. Labelle, and thanks to all the prayers and good advise from my friends, the Midsummer's Night 30k Run on August 22 is looking more and more like my next long race, God willing.

My Sunday Long Walk In Pictures

2009-07-12T18:25:00.043-04:00

A beautiful sunny day, perfect for a long walk, thanks for all Your goodness and make this long walk a safe and enjoyable one.

This time around my running clinic group would be more than half way finished with the 19 k LSD (long slow distance) run on the first day of our 8th week in the 18 week marathon training program. Instead of sulking and feeling depressed by my calf muscle injury problem, I decided to do a long walk (one activity that does not cause pain in my calf), at least 3 hours. Let's see if I'll be able to do it.

I'm turning right to Castlemore, and thinking whether to walk in the nearby woods and trail or the park and recreational place. I think the latter is better as I'd been to the trail the last time. I brought some cash with me just in case I run out of drink. I only have 2 containers of gatorade with me.

I'm passing by the sales office and model home of one of the home builders here in Markham. Prices of homes here have remained steady despite the ongoing recession in the US and Canada, because of its good location, cleanliness, reasonable property taxes, parks and recreational facilities, well maintained roads and infrastracture, low crime rate, and fiscally conservative municipal government, among others.

When I was a teenager I and a couple of friends volunteered as "pulot" boys at a tennis court in a neighboring subdivision (Paradise Village) for minimal pay. We were allowed to play afterwards, and we took advantage. I'm sure the 3 of us played poorly in those rare moments we were allowed to use the court and tennis racquets, but in the heat of the moment, I would imagine myself as Jimmy Connors as I tried to make a service ace or return a serve with a two handed backhand. Any Federer's among you who'd challenge me to a tennis game?

It seems like it was just yesterday, when we enjoyed taking our kids to the park to play. Now that they're young adults with their own independent lives, we have more time to indulge in our own individual interests, my wife with volunteering in church and myself with running.

Beside the children's playground is a full basketball court that I visit once in a while. I remember last year, I and another middle aged friend, Celso, who also used to be a good basketball player, and my ex-team mate in a Senior's Basketball League here, were just shooting the ball, when two 15 year olds , who told us they play for their high school team ,challenged us to a two on two game. They were both taller, their skills were still lacking and raw. but they were overly confident. So, we gave them a lesson in basketball, Pinoy style, "konting gulang" but still clean. They lost all three games against us. After the game, we gave them some fatherly advise and little tricks that could help them as basketball players. Basketball gives me fond memories. My father played it. My older brother Mike too, and my youngest brother Lino, who played varsity ball with the UE Warriors in the UAAP.

It's not the wisest idea to do a long walk at this time of the day with the heat of the sun beating down on me. The sunblock I applied on my skin surely is helping. Now, with my dark brown skin, nobody will mistake me for Chinese.

This school carries the name of a Filipino saint, I think the only school in Ontario that is named after a Filipino. It is so fitting that I just live not even 2k away. What a coincidence.

A grandfather and his grandchild sharing quality time on a beautiful Sunday morning. If I get lucky to have one in the near future, I'll be at the basketball court more often.

This morning, all I had was half a bagel and a glass of milk. I'm passing by this Srilankan Restaurant for some food, carbs, to sustain me in this long walk. They prepare the best South Asian food I've ever tasted here in Markham. The one good thing about living in Markham is it is like a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities, and this is reflected in the best Markham restaurants, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Southasian, Italian, Greek, Canadian, American.

We runners need carbs to sustain us during a long race or a long run. I bought 3 small samosas and 2 of these donut like bread which are both vegetarian. I think these are more than enough for my projected 3 hour walk. As I am eating, I am reminded of the different food choices that some of the runner bloggers consume during their races or long runs that I find quite unique and interesting, as they mention them in their posts. examples are, Pia's bake products from Leona's Bakeshop in Cebu, Jovie's (Baldrunner) hard boiled eggs, Jay's boiled saba :) (if this is his secret to a fast time, I will have to import some here to help me with speed), Rico's hopia cubes :) (Pinoys can help Rico introduce the hopia cubes to marathon runners here in Canada and the US to replace energy gels ,eloctrolyte tablets, or shot bloks) and the many more examples of individual choices as to the food that will help them achieve the goal to finish. Can you imagine watching Haile Gebrselassie on a world marathon record run peeling off a boiled saba in the middle of a race he is leading or the best American marathoner, Ryan Hall, opening a hopia cubes pack with made in the Philippines printed on the packet. :)

Delicious!

These wild berries remind me of the duhat in the Philippines, except ours is purplish and bigger.

Passing by a small cemetery, and reminded of MJ. Hopefully he's at peace now.

Residents of interior homes have a way to get to the main road thru this pathway.

This vine reminds me of the upo and patola vines that my Nana Eleng (my Dad's sister) planted in her rural home in Sto. Cristo, Nueva Ecija where I used to go on vacation in the summer months when I was in elementary school. I learned to ride a water buffalo (carabao) there too, as my aunt and her family were farmers.

I prayed, please don't let me see runners, but this lady runner is showing what I'm missing.

And then another runner greets me good morning. How lucky these healthy runners are.

Maybe it's time for me to try another sport.

I think I can do that.

I tried stepping on it with both feet and I almost killed myself . So, on second thought, no, I'm gonna stick with running. :)

Decided to buy a 649 ticket at a nearby variety store.

The nearby soccer field , but the game just finished.

God, it's getting hot and I'm feeling tired.

Before becoming a runner, I'd be there rather than here.

Finally, a little shade.

Let me see what's inside the Conservation Park .

Can somebody please help us translate the Chinese characters on the lower righthand corner.

Meets a very friendly couple originally from Trinidad who are bird watchers. They tell me that variety of Ontario birds make this Conservation park their home and haven. It turned out that Robert is a runner too and is considering running a marathon in the future. I ask if they know of a bird that has a bright orange color that I saw while walking on the other trail.

They show me this, a picture of the bird I saw.

I say my thank you, and off I continue with my solitary walk. Didn't notice the time passing by, it's more than 2 hours since I left the house.

Both my girls are competitive volleyball players. Whenever we go to family picnics at a park, we set up a net, and we play volleyball just like this group. I suck at the game though.

This is just a gorgeous day to spend the lazy afternoon reading a book or relaxing close to the water where it is much cooler with a breeze.

Or frolic in the sand close to the water. At this time the camera battery goes dead. Any way it is time to return back home. It has been more than 2 hours since, my feet are starting to hurt, but I enjoy the walk so much that I hardly noticed it until the battery went dead.

I take the same route walking back and arrive home 4 hours and 20 minutes after I started, covering a distance of 18.3 ks, fatigued but otherwise okey. The time includes all my stops, to Babu Restaurant, visit to the washroom, replenishing my water/drink, stopping by the skateboard playing ground, buying the 649 tickets ,and my constant stops to take pictures. I constantly had the urge to do the slow jog even for a few seconds as I was not feeling any pain on my left calf, but I succeeded in not falling into the same trap again.

I am scheduled to see a sports injuries doctor to look at my calf on Tuesday. If all things go well the next couple of weeks, I know I'll finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A Miracle For My First Marathon

2009-07-10T06:16:00.007-04:00

A miracle for my first marathon (the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) scheduled for September 27 this year is what I need. The way things are going, with my calf muscle strain injury not getting any better and not being able to do the mileage to prepare for the marathon, I feel at this time, with a little more than 2 months away, I may not be able to do it.

Yesterday, I attended my marathon clinic session full of optimism. My calf muscle injury seemed to be healing quite well in the last week with me applying RICE (rest, icing, compression, elevation). I also felt good after getting some valuable advise from people who are quite knowledgeable about my type of injury. Our clinic teacher and the group discussed about hill training and reviewed the training program we did the first 6 weeks. We were supposed to do 10k and 4 hills but I decided to try for a 10 k without the hills. Close to 2ks into my run, I felt tightness and then pain in my left calf again. I stopped and walked back to home base.

I signed up to run the Acura 10 Miler on July 19, 9 days from today, and that is down the drain now. Have to find out from the organizers whether they'll allow for another runner friend of mine to take my place. Anybody interested to take my place and run the Acura 10 miler for free?

What now with me? I have another race (the Midsummer's Night 30k Run) on August 22, and that is a big question mark now. In the meantime I cannot sulk and wallow in self pity and not do anything. I know I am the only one to blame for this situation. I cannot allow the success of other people to influence me in rushing myself to complete running form again. Have to listen to my body. The mind sometimes works at cross purposes with the body.

My daughter suggested swimming, my wife thinks I should just stay at home and use the treadmill or stationary bike at the basement.

I made up my mind to do 2 hour walks in place of my weekday runs and a 3 hour walk on Sunday to make up for not being able to do the long Sunday run, until I could run again.

With exactly 2 months and 17 days to go , will I be able to run my first marathon?

Come Walk/Run Main Street With Me

2009-07-05T15:56:00.053-04:00

How are you my friend? This morning, you have to bear with me again. I still don't know if my calf muscle strain has completely healed yet, so I'm thinking doing a walk/run, around 10 k of Main Street, Unionville, one of the oldest villages in Ontario, 1794 was when it was founded. Same as the last time, I brought my camera with me, so if you wanna come, brace yourself for a slow and long walk /run. One thing I know for sure, we're never gonna hit the wall.

As one of the older settlements in Ontario, founded in 1794, you'll notice that some old structures along Main Street are kept unchanged including century old homes and buildings. this house loooks like one.

We're now turning right here on Main Street.

The church service for this old United Church apppears to be 10 am, so we're too early to see any churchgoers hanging around in front of the church.

This old blue house has a white wooden fence, so very like the wooden fence that my father built in our house at GSIS Village when I was a young boy. I thought then that it was ugly, because all our neighbors had high concrete fences, not knowing how beautiful it was, as I appreciate the simplicity of this house in front of me now..

I have not seen any place with more flowers than Main Street in Unionville.

Another old building with its unique design and architecture.

Main Street is not only famous for old structures dating back from the 1800s, it also attracts local and foreign tourists for its excellent restaurants, bars, European style cafes, in addition to hosting jazz and Celtic festivals. I just love running this street with my running group on our training runs. For now though, I can only wait. Let's go try a 1 minute jogg/run, okey?

It's a good decision for us to take this side of the street, at least it's shady, the sun is getting higher and it's getting hot.

The front of the old firehouse (bricks and all) were built as part of the front of this confectionery store. Sorry, my friend, if I sound like a tourist guide, but you're new here, so I'm giving you a favor by providing you with all the information I know from living close to this area. For once, let's not talk exclusively about running, okey? (woo, my imagination is really working good, like I'm schizoprenic, ha ha ha)

We just passed Carlton Avenue, and now we turn left and take this pathway to Too Good Pond. I've been to this place a few times. It's like the Luneta Park of Markham where people can relax with family, friends or love ones, or even enjoy fishing alone.

I see some geese on the water but they're too far to take pictures of.

Now, here's a group feeding in the grassy area close to the water, we can't get close though, see that dominant bird with it's head up on the right, it can attack if we get too close for comfort. a runner friend of mine had the experience of being attacked by geese (specially if they have young offspring with them).

Would you rather fish or run? I'm a running addict so you know my answer. What about you? Maybe a day after I complete my first marathon, I could spend the whole day fishing, not alone though, with my runner friends who also ran the marathon, so we could talk about our run the day before. But, don't fish swim away when people talk loud. A friend of mine who likes fishing told me that when there is too much noise the water vibrates and the fish swim away.

I was asked by 3 young ladies to take their picture, so they offered to take my picture too. Couldn't wait for you any longer, where were you anyway? I've done some 1 minute runs in between longer walks and the calf seems to be doing fine.

This very friendly dog reminds me of our dog Danny Boy when I was young. My Dad bathed Danny Boy as often as he could and then I remember him putting the dog on his lap, wipe him dry with a towel and just tinker with his stomach (which Danny Boy liked so much). It's funny how sometimes one is reminded of memorable events that happened a long time ago by a simple gesture, a dog, flowers, a face.

We have to walk faster or run more often because the sun is getting high and it's getting hotter and hotter as the day goes by.

Hi cutie little dog. Having fun walking this morning? No, don't worry, I'm not dangerous. I'm not a bear, although I weigh like one, ha ha.

This Dad fishing with his boys reminded me of my late Dad and my older brother, Mike, but instead of fishing together on a weekend, we used to play basketball together during my childhood and teenage years. We even got to play together on one team in a basketball tournament in our village when I was seventeen , Mike was 20, my Dad was 39. What a fun year that was. Now, I know my Dad (and my Mom too) would be very proud of me if they were still alive to witness me finishing my first marathon. It's getting close, September that is.

Since you're my friend, I got to tell you this. Flowers remind me of my humble beginnings. I was from a poor family until my Mom won a house in a lottery when I was 11 years old. I remember when I was attending elementary school, I would sometimes go to school hungry and without lunch (baon). So, during recess time when my classmates brought out their baon, I would ask permission from my teacher and pretended to go use the washroom. Instead though, I would drink water from the faucet, and then walked the neighborhood around the school just to kill time. I would be praying all the time and wondered at the beauty of local flowers like gumamela, bougainville, sampagita and then time my going back in the classroom at the same time recess was over. And then, my prayer was answered. So, I believe in the power of prayer. That miracles do happen. That, if one has faith, nothing is impossible.

Now I feast my eyes on beautiful flowers as soon as spring and summer come along.

And I praise God for creating so much beauty in this world that we sometimes just take for granted.

I guess it's time for us to head back home.

Just like that, it's been more than an hour since we started our walk/run.

Let me take some more pictures of beautiful flowers. It looks like every house and building along Main Street has a flower pot or flowering plant worthy of being photographed.

Wow! Just lovely.

These yellow flowers border a white wooden fence.

It is quite a treat to visit but we're getting tired.

Will this house still be here when I do my long runs with my future grandchildren?

I am getting really tired but, I can't let this beautiful thing be forgotten, it's now saved for posterity (at least in a picture)

Hi, nosy little squirrel, thanks for saying hello to us.

I'm going to try to do more running than walking on Tuesday. I think without feeling any pain at all after this long walk and run, I could maybe do 1 minute walks and 5 minute runs for an hour at the least.

On Thursday, if things all go well on Tuesday, I will try to do a slow 10k continuous easy run.

I should then be ready to do 15k LSD on Sunday.

Thanks my friend for staying with me for almost 2 hours of slow and boring walk/run. I know you'd rather go for a run today, but bear with me for a few more days, and then, we'd be off and running again full throttle. It's maybe 3 minutes away from the parking lot if we run it, 6 minutes if we choose to walk it. Run or walk?

Walk it slow of course, can't get too excited.

Rubbing Elbows With Elite Runners

2009-07-02T22:21:00.013-04:00

Tonight I attended my marathon clinic session with 2 elite runners, Amos Munyua (from Kenya) and Danny Kassap (originally from Congo) as speakers. They shared with us their life stories, the hard life in their countries of origin, the long run or walk to and from school, the loneliness of being away from family and the trials, hardwork and joys of being on top of the game as elite runners.

Danny Kassap, winner of the 2006 Montreal International Marathon (2:20) and 2004 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (2:14) . His times are not really that far from my best time of 2:23 (except I ran the half marathon, he he he)

Amos Munyua, on the right ,specializes more on the 1,500 meters (best time-3:34) but is slowly training for longer distances. On June 17, 2009, he won the Toronto Night Crawler 5 Miler in a time of 27:08. I ran the same race last year, and without bragging, my time was just a few minutes behind him at 48 and change, he he.

The room was jampacked with people, and I arrived a little bit late, so had to listen from row 5 .Have to plan a strategy to rub elbows with these elite runners whatever it takes. Maybe, just maybe, they could give me their "secret" other than genetics on how to run fast.

A little bit of Pinoy talk and jokes, and, ola! Amos is now converted to the Bongpagong way of slow but fun running. In reality though, had to patiently wait before I even spoke to him. I am surprised at how humble and friendly these elite athletes really are, and they share the same of the things we ordinary runners are concerned about, like stretching, diet, cross training, running injuries, hydration. I would have liked to talk to him longer but he had to go run 8ks with our running group.

From left to right, run club members Julie, Jack (A Boston Marathon veteran), Amos and trail walking veteran :) Bongpagong

Danny signing some autographs after the presentation

Except for me, everybody on the picture are marathoners, from left, Ray, my clinic teacher with 64 (and still counting), Victoria (1 marathon), Danny (winner of several marathons), myself (trail walking expert :) and Jack, a Boston Marathon finisher a number of times.

Overall, it was a very productive evening, with the two elite runners providing as much information one could get about running in general and a little bit more to be good at it, coming from people who are actually almost always in the lead pack in all races they've run. The only regret I have is not being able to go out there with Amos and my marathon clinic group to do the 8k tempo run. It would have been nicer to run side by side with an elite runner rather than just rub elbows with him.

Come Walk The Trail With Me

2009-06-30T10:58:00.033-04:00

This is the entrance to the trail we love to run on our Sunday LSD sessions. I'd rather run it with you my friend but because of my injury you'll have to walk this trail with me.

This is the first wooden bridge we're crossing, I like the sound of my feet pounding on that wooden floor during our runs.

To the right of the path is a smaller pond, farther away
is a bigger one called Too Good Pond(how it got it's name, I have no idea)

I like going on the right instead of the left only because it is more traveled, we get to see some runners from our run club coming back the opposite way from their long run.

I wish we brought some fishing gear and see if we could catch some for lunch, he he.

Another two way pathway, let's take the left.

This wooden bridge is almost covered by trees, look at the shade.

It's kind of getting hot, you could see the ground getting dry from the heat of the sun.

This is just a never ending, winding and long trail, that is much nicer to run than walk, but we have no choice today. I know my injury will be fully healed sometime soon, so we'd hit this trail with a vengeance.

It's good I brought a camera with us so we could take some pictures of the flora and fauna here. Maybe we could play this game of giving a name to some wild plants and flowers we discover . I name this yellow flowers peoplepowerville.

Sampagita like white wild flowers

Whew, it's getting hotter.

The shadow of the injured runner turned solitary walker

The path we won't be taking, looks like not too many take this route.

No brave soul here other than us because of the hot , humid and

sunny day.

Wild but gorgeous.

Didn't expect to find a wild rose here, but here it is in its magnificent glory, thorns and all.

God is the genius of all creation, the source of all things beautiful, pure and free.

The town of Markham takes care of this trail, and it does an awesome job of making it clean, pristine.

This snail was trying to migrate to the other side, I'd like to tell the creeper it's the same vegetation on the other side, you're just wasting your time, and it's getting hot, you might not make it. So like many Pinoys who try their luck out in other countries.

Leaves are so ordinary until you pay attention and see the beauty in them.

Isn't it so peacefull listening to the quiet sound of a flowing stream.

The water gives life to every creature close to it, plants and animals.

It's getting late, have to go back, I got to go to work and earn a living too.

But, before ending our walk, can't pass this up, this is just perfect, bud, flower or fruit?

And, this unique wild plant, is beautiful in its own right.

Not to be outdone, these blue wild flowers show off their beauty in the bright sun. Would like to walk some more but have to earn my living and go to work. Maybe next time we'll be able to cover more mileage and see more. I enjoyed your company, even though I have to dig into my 7th sense (my imaginative sense). I prefer the real thing, running side by side with you and in person ,listening and conversing rather than talking to myself.

Happy and safe running to everyone!

Injured Again, It Sucks!

2009-06-28T08:50:00.003-04:00

Today is the start of our 6th week of the 18 week training program of my marathon clinic. I woke up early to join my training run partners, Nette and Sandra for a 16k LSD run at 7:00 am.

In our last Sunday's run, I stopped running after only 3 ks due to pain in my left calf muscle. I checked on the net what this injury was all about and found out that it was a calf muscle strain, an injury that can take from a week to 4 weeks to heal depending on the severity of the injury. I then applied RICE (rest,icing, compression, elevation), a treatment method I read on the internet for a week, which I think worked. I was still limping Monday and Tuesday but by Wednesday I was walking good, by Thursday and Friday brisk walked (with no pain at all) and yesterday the slow run/walk routine for around 30 minutes, again with no pain.

I got to our meeting place at around 6:55 am excited and looking forward to getting some much needed mileage. Sandra and Nette arrived almost at the same time around 7:00. I noticed that we were all wearing bright colored shirts, Sandra in red singlet, Nette in yellow green and myself in red, all set and attired for the day's hot temperature. Everybody was wearing a hydration belt with enough water/gatorade for the long run. I myself had 2 packets of gels in my pouch just in case.

We decided to hit the trails instead of the roads as they were both concerned about my leg. They said it would be better for my leg to run on softer surface, which was well and good for me. We set out on our way around 5 after 7, the day was warm, around 20 degrees Celsius, cloudy, no wind, just a perfect day to do a long run.

We brisk walked to the entrance of the trail for maybe 100 meters, and after synchronizing our Garmins, we went off on a slow run towards and into this beautiful trail. This trail has lots of trees, vegetation, wild flowering plants, wooden bridges, ponds, birds (I even saw one unique small bird colored orange, the first time I ever saw one, have to find out what bird it is). I always tell myself to bring a camera and take pictures but I always forget. I know that I should before the summer season is over. I have to take pictures of this trail next time and share them to everybody who loves to run in trails before it gets cold again and the beauty of the place disappears for some months during the colder season.

Oh, and I also observed a few little slimy snails creeping on the dry sandy/pebbly pathway from some wet vegetation on one side trying to cross to the other side. A thought entered my mind, these are very like many of my Pinoy countrymates who try to migrate to other countries to look for greener pastures when sometimes our country could offer the same or better oppurtunities for them.

Like all other long runs with my two lady runner friends, I was having an enjoyable time just talking about running and life in general in this lazy beatiful morning, and I felt great with no pain the first kilometer. Nette even asked me how I was doing and I said I felt fine, the leg was holding well.

At exactly 1.57 ks into our run, I just suddenly felt another shooting pain in the same area of my left calf muscle and I had to stop and tell the girls. I asked them to go on with their run while I stopped, massaged and stretched the left calf muscle. I reinjured it again and it sucks! I walked back to my car and drove home feeling low and dejected.

Right now, I am icing the left leg again and contemplating on what to do next. It seems that whenever I am making progress in my running, feeling stronger, more confident, aiming for longer distances, and knowing that my best is just around the corner, something like this happens. I am so frustrated I do not know what to do.

From 5K Runners To Ultramarathoners

2009-06-24T08:14:00.008-04:00

I was browsing on the internet my past race results when I came across one of my more memorable runs, a 5k race, the Whitby 5000 of July 2007. It was the graduation run for the Markham Runningroom Learn to Run and 5k clinics. I was from the 5k clinic, while my runner friends Francois, Sylvia, Sonia, Greg and Jason were from the Learn to Run. Another friend, Eileen was from the 5k Women Only clinic. I was quite surprised to see our individual finishing times with Francois, Sonia and Sylvia finishing in 28 minutes and change, while most of us followed within a minute or two behind. It was particularly amusing to know that Greg beat me by only 25 seconds and I crossed the finish line 45 seconds faster than Eileen.

After running this race, we all then moved up to the 10k clinic where we were very fortunate to have one of the best running clinic instructors in the Markham Runningroom in the person of Isaac, who in his early 60s had completed more than 15 marathons and just recently an ultramarathon. It was in this clinic that I met Nav, another new runner and Nette, my training run buddy. For around 5 months of sun, heat, rain, snow, hale, cold most of us ran together in Isaac's clinic, my clinic mates showing improvement in their speed and endurance as the days went by while, I struggled to keep up, always trying to belong and be as fast and strong.

Fast forward to today, Francois and Nav both have ran races as long as half marathons but are more into triathlons (they've completed a few). Sylvia, Sonia, and Jason have likewise done as far as half marathons. Nette and I did one 30 miler in addition to shorter races and are both running our first marathon in September.

If I mentioned earlier that my friends Eileen, Greg and I were so close in our Whitby 5000 finishing times, look at where they are now. On Saturday, June 20, 2009 Eileen and Greg finished their first ultramarathon at the Niagara 50k Ultramarathon Race together with our mentor, friend and former 10k clinic teacher, Isaac. Both of them were also the only ones from our batch of 2007 to have completed full marathons. So, from 5k runners to ultramarathoners.

I am happy for Eileen and Greg for this great achievement. I am extremely proud of them too, like all of us in our run club. At the same time I am a little envious :).

We're into the 5th week of our marathon training program but I am nursing a minor (I hope it's nothing serious) calf muscle strain. Have been icing and babying it for the last few days. I am gonna give the leg a try tomorrow evening on an 8k group tempo run. The total mileage we're supposed to do this week is 46k, but with this injury, have no choice but to reduce the mileage and slow down. What else can I do?

Underwear 10k Run, Anyone?

2009-06-15T08:54:00.009-04:00

As much as I am hooked to running, I have to confess that I have another addiction, reading running blogs. The few precious hours I have before or after work or the days I'm off work and not running, I would rather be facing a computer and reading about the experiences, training, races, inner feelings of other runner bloggers. It gives me a special feeling of being part of a tight group of people, like a fraternity that breaths the same, feels the same and aspires for the same hopes and dreams whether it be a PR, running a dream race, getting faster times, running longer, trying trails or road running, dealing with a running injury, cross training, diet and nutrition and just about anything to do with fitness and the sport.

My complete enjoyment of this new passion of mine (reading running blogs) is somehow hampered by my being technically challenged in using the computer. Like for example just the simple act of giving a comment to some blogs,say the Baldrunner or Takboph., can't even do it. It won't allow me to. So, with my kids and wife tired of teaching me forever how to use the computer, I suffer alone and just be contented with reading some blogs that I really follow and not be able to comment on their posts.

This brings me to the subject of Jinoe's (of Takboph.) last post about the increasing number of weekend races in the Philippines and the question that he posed as to how many races a month does one run. I used to run a lot after I did my first race in 2007. Then, the injuries (none of them serious enough for me to stop running for a long stretch of time) followed, from knee,other joints, muscle pain to pain on my feet, IT band. Running too many races sometimes results in injuries because one tries to run the fastest he could and with much more intensity, specially when one is trying for a PR or even trying to win a race. Now, that I am a little wiser, I try to limit my races to one a month and only as part of my training for my main goal race for the year. And, it's only helped because now I remain injury free and could concentrate more on my marathon training.

This year in September, I am signed up to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront marathon. I just did a 30k race, the Around the Bay in Hamilton in March, one 5k race, the Legacy 5k in April and the Sporting Life 10k in May. I also signed up for the Acura Toronto 10 Miler, July 19, to be run in the Old Toronto Distillery area and along the lake (quite scenic and historical, heritage site old buildings and a nice view of the areas along Lake Ontario) and another 30k race , August 22, A Midsummer's Night Run also in Toronto which is one of a few races run in the evening in Ontario. By running these two races, I would be able to determine how well I am doing with my marathon training, and maybe help me make adjustments as to the ideal pace time I should adopt come the big day, the marathon.

Talking about motivation, I overheard one of the pillars of our running club, Jack , a fast 69 year old runner who is a Boston marathon veteran, while in a group run the Sunday before last, mention jokingly to another runner about a unique 10k race coming up in Toronto. I thought he said, for the race, he would borrow some "underwear" from his wife Alice (also a Boston finisher). :) What? My curiousity awakened, but just kept quiet. Got to check this out.

Turns out that there is a race called the North York General Hospital Underwear 5k walk and 10k Run scheduled on August 29,2009 on the streets of Toronto where participants (for fun) are encouraged to wear underwear attire ( was told by my runner friends who participated last year that runners may opt to wear the underwear on top of shorts and singlets, wheww , I thought it is strictly underwear only) and a lot of the more adventurous and I may say liberal (or liberated) runners did indeed wore their underwear only in last year's race. Just for fun, let me ask you this, would you or would you not participate in a race with your friends where the running attire required is for you to wear underwear only? If yes, why and if it's a no why not?

By the way, the money raised in this event goes to a very worthy cause, to fight cancers below the waist (like prostate, colorectal, cervical, ovarian, kidney, bladder, testicular and uterine).

And not to forget, please, please, I know that it's summer here in North America and it's always hot in the Philippines, don't get the idea that because we have this unique and fun one of a kind race here in our part of the world, that you could do your training run in this comfortable but skimpy running attire. I do not want anybody having a PR from being chased by the police. :)

The New Pride And Joy Of The Filipino Running Community

2009-06-08T08:30:00.006-04:00

I just finished reading the initial race report of California based Pinoy ultramarathon runner Rick Gaston on the recently concluded San Diego 100 Mile (almost 4 full marathons) Endurance Run, one of the most difficult ultramarathon races in the world held at the Cuyamaca Mountains, San Diego, California, 12,300 ft. elevation gain, June 06-07. It gave me goosebumps just to know that he placed 6th with a time of 20:00:25 in this race where close to half the participants fail to cross the finish line as last year's race results show. I am still waiting with anticipation for this year's race results and Rick's complete race report and pictures.

There is no doubt in my mind now that Rick Gaston with this crowning achievement is arguably the new pride and joy of the Pinoy long distance running community. Anybody disagree? And he will only get better and better as his race times show. What's admirable about Rick is not only his achievements in long distance running, but also his generosity in helping new people just entering the sport by giving them sound advise and imparting to them practical knowledge he's learned from his long years of running experience on top of doing valuable assistance to long distance races either as volunteer, pacer or crew. Cheers to Rick!!

Now let's all go back to our own "little" training run programs. I'm into my 3rd week of my marathon clinic training program. Tonight is 6k easy, Wednesday 10k tempo, Thursday 6k easy, Saturday 6k easy and Sunday 13k "long distance" ( I hope Rick doesn't read this, ha ha ha, call 13 k long distance?) :)

Row Four Memories

2009-05-30T13:00:00.011-04:00

I just attended my marathon clinic's first meeting on Thursday, May 28 at the Markham Runningroom as a repeater (I did not fail the last one, I just want to master the training :)). Our instructor is the same guy, Ray Lim, early 60s, who in the last clinic's first meeting impressed all of us when he said he'd done 57 marathons, one each month after he did his first in 2004. Five months after, his credentials have improved, now with 62 marathons under his belt.

Same as the last time, Ray, spoke about the clinic's training schedule, training days, training logs,types of training, duration, graduation race, run club days, running goals, speakers, topics of discussion. He again introduced the clinic's group leaders who are all accomplished marathon runners in their own right. A few of them are past and present qualifiers and finishers of the Boston marathon . Some of them were former marathon clinic instructors themselves, while others are not only into running but also into triathlons.

Of the more than 20 runners signed up for the clinic, I was one of a few who have never completed a full marathon. Most of the runners there are repeat clinic members who have completed marathons before and are just training for another race or trying to improve their times. Two people said they plan to run an ultramarathon in less than a month's time. Some have just run Boston, while others have times that are close to Boston qualifying times.

As we heard from each runner in that room about his/her running experiences and goals, Nette (my LSD running partner), who also has not run a marathon before looked at me with a smile and whispered in my ear, " Bong, are we in the right clinic?"

My mind then wandered back to my elementary school days in the Philippines, and I still recall vividly while in a classroom during a written test, the teacher saying, " Pinis or not pinis, pass your papers!" :) I was then always in row four or farther from the front row, always wondered how and why my row 1 classmates almost always passed the papers ahead of us and still got the highest marks. :)

Now I know that for me to achieve my goal of finishing a full marathon in September, I have to think positive and rid my psyche of "row four" memories.

A Fun Sunday Walk/Run With Jason's Learn To Run Group

2009-05-24T20:16:00.022-04:00

Jason leading his Learn to Run Clinic group out of homebase with friends Nette and Annissa.

Walk!

Run!

Jason looking strong and showing good biomechanics

Second to the left is Alice, a Boston marathon finisher in her late sixties who's a great inspiration for all new runners at Runningroom running club.

Nette, Jason and I hit a nearby trail for our 10k run after the nice warm up with the Learn to Run group.

Jason, myself (notice my six pack, lol), Annissa (my half marathon clinic teacher) and Boston finisher Alice

We had a blast enjoying the warm weather, the shade of the trees,wooden bridges, birds chirping, other runners, and lots of talk about running.

Behind is one of several wooden bridges that we passed on the trail during our run.

This beautiful,sunny Sunday morning, I had the privilege and good fortune to join my runner friends Jason and Nette do the Sunday walk/run of the Learn To Run (LTR) Clinic group on its 2nd Sunday session. Jason, who teaches the clinic started running almost the same time as myself 2 years ago and was a member of the same half marathon clinic that I attended a year before. Nette, on the otherhand has been my ever reliable LSD running partner, who's also joining me in the new marathon clinic next week.

I was also happy to meet the always smiling Annissa, my half marathon clinic coach last year, who I am very fond off (coz she was so nice to tolerate my slow pace and ran side by side with me on the LSD runs in her clinic last year). Also joining us in the LTR walk/run was Alice, a Boston marathon finisher a few times, who at 67 is a great inspiration for all of us new runners at the Runningroom running club. When I see the words courage and determination, I think of Alice. She was hit by a vehicle more than a year ago during an evening training run that caused her serious injuries that prevented her from running the 2008 Boston Marathon (she ran it the year before) , for which she qualified for. Slowly, from being comatose, and then bed ridden for a time, she's bounced right back thru sheer will to walk and run again. I won't be surprised if she qualifies and runs Boston again in a year or two.

After the nice warm up walk/run with about 20 or more very enthusiastic and quite happy group of new runners, we returned to homebase. As I look at the new runners' tired but contented faces, I smiled, remembering that I looked and felt the same 2 years ago after our walk/runs. Next week, the runs in this LTR clinic will be increased to 2 minutes and every week thereafter, 1 minute is added until they are able to do 1 minute walks and 10 minute runs. Then, they can apply what they learned from the running clinic by running a 5k "graduation" race at the end of the clinic. From this new batch of LTR runners, some you'll never see again, but some will have a small spark in their hearts that will turn into a continuously raging fire that will make them runners for life.

Jason,Nette and myself then hit the trail close to homebase for another easy 10k. Overall, it was a very fulfilling day.

Dealing With Runner's Burnout

2009-05-20T23:39:00.014-04:00

Just a couple of months ago, my neighborhood looked like this during my winter training runs.

Now, my place is slowly changing into this.

Appreciating wild flowers in one of my leisurely runs.

On my runs around my neighborhood I enjoyed taking pictures of spring flowers everywhere.

These tulips stopped me for a minute, had to savor the sight coz they don't last very long.

More tulips of different colors

These trees were barren of leaves barely a month ago. I love running this trail close to my house.

Because it is now warmer here, it was refreshing to run in the rain in this trail.

I rested my tired feet by trying this nearby high school track one lazy afternoon.

The ground in this track is much softer than asphalt or concrete, my feet, muscles and joints love it.

How does one deal with runner's burnout? After continuously running in all kinds of weather in the last 2 years and increasing my distance from 5k races to a 30k race, I succumbed to what running experts call "runner's burnout". In the last few months, while attending a marathon clinic, I had been used to running between 15k to 25k long runs on Sundays and 10k runs 2 or 3 weekdays. But after my last race, the Toronto Sporting Life 10k on May 03, I started to feel sluggish on my training runs and I gradually reduced my mileage and speed to the point that I've never run more than 6ks in any one day since then. I also felt pain on different parts of my body everytime I tried to run faster or longer. I do not know if my body was just fooling me, but the moment I increased my speed or intensity I would feel some discomfort or pain either on my feet, knees, lower back, ankle, hamstring, calves, or anywhere. What's puzzling is it doesn't come from the same spot, and it (the pain)disappears as soon as I slow down or walk. It is funny but true. As if my body has a mind of its own and just decided enough of this hard training already.

Anyway, to stop all these nonsense coming from my "lazy" body (I know it's just laziness because the pain (imaginary or not) is not caused by any injury), I decided to sign up to run my first full marathon, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 27, 2009. I also signed up to repeat the 18 week marathon clinic at the Markham Runningroom to prepare for this race. The clinic starts on May 28. That's next week, Thursday.

In the meantime, these past few days, my mind/psyche had to allow the body to not work hard and just rest. My last few runs were quite short, slow and leisurely. No more than 6ks. And just around my neighborhood, where spring flowers most notably tulips adorn the front gardens and yards. I tried the nearby high school track which I found easier on the feet and legs. I also ran on a trail close to a park in my area. So,for now, the body can take it easy and have its way. Next week will be a totally different story.

Toronto Sporting Life 10K In Pictures

2009-05-03T16:38:00.020-04:00

Runner #4810 celebrating life with more than 10,000 runners at Yonge Street, Toronto.

It was cold, 7 above zero in the morning before the race.

Runners started arriving early for the 8 am start time.

Volunteers were busy, what with more than 10,000 participants.

Runners were assigned a corral depending on estimated finish time, mine was blue - for 1 hour or less.

I like being early to drop off my bag, take pictures and enjoy the sights and festivities.

The start line area 45 minutes before the race.

Yonge Street, Toronto shortly before the start of the race.

This lady devised a good way to find her runner, a stick with a red plastic shopping bag.

Finishing uninjured to run another day is a blessing, plus the medal of course.

With more than 10,000 runners, it was anarchy to find your friends or relatives waiting outside the finish line.

With no more than 4 hours of sleep last night (from watching and celebrating Pacman's win against Hatton), I ran the Toronto Sporting Life 10K Run with more than 10,000 other runner participants along a route that was mostly downhill starting at Yonge Street south of Eglinton Avenue, turning right to Front Street and finishing at Fort York, Toronto. The annual charity run raises money for the support of kids with cancer.

It is considered the fastest and biggest 10k race in Canada because of the relatively downhill race route and the most number of participants. This year more than 12,000 people registered for the race. I was aiming for a new PR, a time faster than 1:02:01, my previous best in the 10k distance that I did in the Oasis Zoo Run last year. My other target goal was to go below 1 hour for the first time. I gave it my all to achieve both goals and was happy and thankful to finish in 1:00:16 a new PR in the 10k. It was so close and yet so far to break the 1 hour barrier as I missed it by 16 seconds. The thing is, when I crossed the finish line, my Garmin 305 gave me 10.61 kms. total. So, if my Garmin was working good I got shortchanged by more than half a kilometer , which when converted to time is about 3 minutes and change. Oh well, you can't be too greedy. Tomorrow is another day.

Sharing The Sights On My 15K Running Route

2009-04-29T15:19:00.020-04:00

Had to take a short breather when I discovered this small stream during my run.

A short trail beside Angus Glen Golf Course

Soon these barren trees will be lush green.

I passed by my golf driving range 1k from my house.

I saw this guy cutting a log into smaller pieces.

North of my residence are huge farmlands (along Major Mckenzie)

Angus Glen Golf Course around the 3k mark of my run

It's refreshing to run with the Angus Glen Golf Course on my right.

I did my washroom and water refill break inside the centre.

Around the 5k mark close to Warden Ave., I saw million dollar homes that I dream to own someday (when I win the lottery, ha ha).

Not quite a million, but still a beautiful house

I chanced crossing paths with 2 ducks but they weren't too friendly.

Another nice house I saw around the 6k mark.

After daydreaming about houses, it's back to work at Warden Ave. going south.

But had to stop to take a picture of dandelions sprouting all over

A friendly goose, I took this picture a few feet away, the goose unmindful of me.

Retraced the same 1st half route and passed Angus Glen on the way back.

I decided to treat myself today to a leisurely 15k run on a new route that I knew I would enjoy considering the beautiful sunny weather were having for the day. I call it a treat, because for the last 2 days (I'm off work for a week), I and Jojo (the wife) have been working non-stop from morning to evening to clean up our basement of junk, old clothing, shoes, Christmas decor stuff. We decided to get rid of extra stuff and at the end, we had at least a dozen bags of old clothes ,jackets and shoes going to our church's charity, on top of the 10 bags of garbage piled in my garage.

Early this morning, Jojo suggested to me over coffee that today would be a good day for us to buy garden and potting soil so we could start to plant flowering plants in our front and backyard. Of course I said no, asserting that this was run day for me. She tried to persuade me for a bit but in the end accepted the inevitable. I laced up my running shoes, grabbed my hydration belt and camera and off I went out the door and into the warm sunshine and cool breeze of the most beautiful day in Markham this year.

A New PR In The 5K Will Have To Wait

2009-04-26T22:52:00.026-04:00

Race day was sunny and beautiful with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, ideal for a fast time in a 5k race. The race course - flat and easy. I eased my way towards the front of the the start line feeling excited but very calm inside knowing that I trained hard enough for this race. As the gun went off, I started slower than the elite runners in front, but my aim was not to compete with these runners but with myself, to break my old 5k time of 26:33 at last years Toronto Challenge 5k Race. I checked my Garmin 305 for my average pace, about 4:45 -5:00, heart rate at 150, and so far going to the first k, I was doing ok. I maintained the same consistent pace until the 4k mark when I slowed down a bit for the final push to the finish. With 300 meters to go I gave it my all running faster ,and passed a few runners as I crossed the finish line in a time of 25 minutes. A new PR!

That was the scenario I had been dreaming to happen in the last few days before the Legacy 5k Run ,a race I did this morning with my co-worker friends . And, it didn't happen.

This morning was the exact opposite of what I was hoping for. The weather was bad, with the temperature dipping to 9 degrees Celsius. The forecast was for cloud and showers in the morning, and it even felt colder because of the wind. I woke up at 7 for my breakfast and usual pre race preparations. All my friends were supposed to congregate to my place at 8:45 am, after which we were to car pool together and proceed to the race site for our timing chips and kits (for the ones who didn't get theirs yet).

At 8;45 none of my friends arrived yet, and I received a call from Joey that his daughter would like to register to run with us. Same day registration was between 8:30 -930 am, so had to tell him to rush to my place so we can sign up his daughter. By 9:15 everybody was present so we proceeded to the race site, registered Joey's daughter, but then received another call from Omar asking if we could register his wife Jen, and that they're also on the way to the site. We did that and then rushed to get our timing chips. We all met and gathered together underneath a Runningfree tent as we waited for Omar and Jen to arrive. I then helped everybody tie their timing chips on their shoelaces properly (as some of them were doing a race for the first time).

The first timers in our group were Joey, Kevin, Denese, Renate, Christina, Andrea and Rachael. The ones who have run a 5k race before, with our previous best times- Jen (23:51), Omar (23:55), Dave (25:03), Ken (35:54) and myself (26:33).

Ten minutes before the 10 am start, we had to huddle together with other runners under a small Runningfree tent to avoid getting drenched by a heavy down pour of rain. It was windy and cold at the same time, so I tried to keep warm by jogging in place and rubbing my palms together. I don't know, but for whatever reason , friends become tighter when they experience adversity together, and I felt that way just being around friends who were as cold and a bit wet as I was.I then asked Dave, who is a Christian and our bible expert to pray for the rain to stop. I prayed on my own earlier but the rain continued and I thought I needed somebody who has greater influence over the Big Guy. It did stop after a few minutes and then we were asked to proceed to the start line .

I was told that around 1500 people registered for this year's race, more than the 1000 plus in last year's. But this morning, the number of runners huddled together in the cold and rain at the start line would have been just half the number of registrants.

As the start whistle was blown, we gradually walked/jogged to the start line and off we went, slowly at first as around 3 hundred runners were in front of us. I noticed having a problem with my breathing into the 1k mark, my pace must be too fast? I looked at my Garmin and lo and behold, it was saying - battery low- and then it just stopped working. I always relied on my Garmin to check my heart rate. As long as I maintain my pace with my heart rate not going above 90% of my maximum heart rate, I know I would finish safely.

By the 2k mark I took off my wet vest (it was becoming too heavy) , rolled it and carried it on one hand, occassionally transferring it from one hand to the other as I was running. I also felt very thirsty at this time. I saw a young mother carrying a big umbrella with her young son pouring what appears like fruit juice on a miniature table on small paper cups offering the drink to runners. I was tempted to take a cup but decided to wait and drink at the water station on the 3k mark. That was exactly what I did, grabbed a cup and gulped the water down and continued running on completely wet road. I tried to keep pace with a group of 5 teenaged runners all wearing yellow (must be a cross country school team) who were just 20 meters ahead of me. Tried my best to pass them, and actually got to about 5 meters close but was not able to.

By the 4k mark I was feeling tired (what happened to all those LSD training runs?), so I slowed my pace until maybe about 500 meters to go, when I went on a higher gear, increased my pace, and crossed the finish line in 28:42.

After the race, we all went back to my place where we had a hearty lunch.

Am I aiming for a new PR again? Yes, but not in the 5k. I am running the Toronto Sportinglife 10K Run, the biggest 10k race in Canada (as far as I know, is there anyone bigger?)on Sunday, May 03. My previous best is a slow 1:02 in the 10k distance, so the chance of bettering it is greater than me improving on my 5k best time. The only problem is I will be watching the Pacquiao vs.Hatton fight on Saturday night and if the Pacman does not knock the Briton out in the early rounds I'd be in trouble come race day ( for I'll have very little sleep).

Going For A New PR (Again)

2009-04-24T18:27:00.008-04:00

I came to work today carrying 9 race kit bags for my co-worker friends running with me on Sunday, April 26 in the Markham Stouffville Hospital Legacy 5K Run. There was excitement in the air as I handed the race kits to my friends, specially the ones running their first road race, some trying on the freebie shirts as soon as they got them. I remember this same feeling before some two and a half years ago when I was just starting to run and just before a road race . Like a 12 year old playing his first basketball game in his first basketball tournament, that was exactly how I felt on my first 5k race. To my friends, I hope and pray that they all finish the race uninjured, and for the first timers, just to savor and enjoy the experience.

If I remember correctly, I ran my first 5k in about 38 minutes. I also remember that out of more than a hundred runners, I was one of the last runners to cross the finish line. Being a former basketball player in my younger years, I was disappointed (my ego and pride were hurt) at my slow time, and from then on, everytime I ran a race , tried to beat my last PR (Personal Record). With this frame of mind, I slowly improved my times in the 5k and in June of last year, my last 5k race, I did 26:33 which is my fastest time on that distance. It's a nicer feeling now to be in the upper half of the race result list at least in the 5k distance.

This Sunday, I'm gonna go for it again. I will aim for a new PR in the 5k distance.

Is it even possible though, considering that I have been training in the last year more for endurance ( running longer distances, particularly the half-marathon or longer) rather than for speed? We'll see on Sunday.

Running The Legacy 5K With Monty And Friends

2009-04-19T13:48:00.006-04:00

In late 2006 while at work, one of my co-workers approached me and asked if I were interested in joining a contest called " who's the biggest loser?". My co-worker , in his forties, but obviously out of shape (he was fat just like me at the time) explained to me that everybody who entered the game bets $50 and the winner wins all the pot. The catch, the winner would be the one who lost the most pounds percentage wise during the holiday season.Every contestant would be weighed at the beginning, and after the new year, would be weighed again to determine the winner. About 10 of us joined the contest.

It was an eye opener for me. I never thought anybody would consider me to join a fat men contest. I thought I was just alright. I thought I was just big boned. In reality though, carrying 220 lbs. weight in my 5'9'' frame was taking its toll on my body. My waist line was at 40 plus, my knees were hurting, and constantly, I suffered from arthritis in every joint of my body. My doctor advised me to go on a diet to control my high blood sugar level , high blood pressure and arthritis. I never consistently followed my doctor's advise. At first, I thought my co-worker was joking. Then, when I realized he was not, I felt bad and depressed. That afternoon, when I got home from work, I went to the washroom, undressed (he he, not a pleasant sight) and without sucking in my big belly as I was used to do, looked at myself in the mirror. God, I was fat!

Of course I lost my fifty bucks. Do you know of any Pinoy or Pinay who lost weight during the Christmas season? I was one of a few. I lost a measly 2 lbs total, even with forcing myself to control eating too much. I tried (sometimes) removing the fat from the crunchy balat ng lechon or just reducing my consumption of fruit salad or all the home made puto brought by friends and relatives. And the kare kare, ham, turkey, etc., I tried to avoid to no avail.

And then enter my co-worker Monty at this critical period of my life. He just turned forty, around 5'8", 230 lbs., with thick football player like body frame. I overheard him talking to another co-worker about joining the Law Enforcement Games, particularly in the middle distance races. I found out later that he competed in the 5k and 10 k running events. I also learned later that as a young man he was a champion wrestler , actually completed a couple of full marathons and consistently over the years, had run middle distance road races.

One day, Monty suggested to me that I join him to run a 5k race . Of course, I said no initially, making all kinds of excuses, my knees were bad, too old for running, arthritis. This went on for a while, Monty persistently cajoling me into running with him, until one day I said to him, ok, I'd give it a try. We ran the 5k fun run at the opening of the Vaughn Runningroom store, with him finishing , if I remember right in about 25 minutes. I crossed the finish line in 38 minutes.

From then on we became running buddies, as we ran a few more 5k races together.We did some training runs after work in the park just behind our workplace and the trails along the Don River . Encouraged and motivated, I joined the Runningroom clinic in April 2007 as I looked ahead to run races longer than 5k. Then, Monty busted his achilles tendon in one pick up basketball game. He underwent surgery and was off for almost a year while I continued progressing into running longer distances. When he returned to work, he walked limping, obviously favoring the injured foot. He told me that he didn't even know if he could ever run again.

Whenever I look at my past and the people I have met, there are some who stand out in that one way or another they have changed or influenced me in a positive way and made me a better person. Monty is one of them. He was an inspiration and a great motivator. He encouraged me to try running and once I did it with him, I fell in love with the sport and then there was no turning back. I lost most of the unwanted weight, the arthritis, the hypertension all but disappeared and overall, I feel good about myself. There is no day now when I don't think of my next run .

On Sunday, April 29, Monty (my mentor), some close friends from work and I are running the Legacy Markham/Stouffville Hospital 5K Run in my hometown of Markham, Ontario to raise funds for the hospital. After the race, we'll have a barbecue at my place which is only about a 10 minute drive from the hospital, where the race is going to start and end. It promises to be another memorable and enjoyable day to share with family and friends.

A Perfect Day To Test The Ankle

2009-04-18T08:33:00.006-04:00

Outside my house

Vacant farmland along my running route

Major Mckenzie Drive close to Kennedy Road

Kennedy Road north of Major Mckenzie

A few days ago the roofs of these houses were covered with snow.

It is a sunny beautiful day here in Markham today Saturday, with the temperature at 13 Celsius (which is seasonably high for this time of the year) and going up to a perfect 22 degrees by the afternoon. So, I am gonna lace up my running shoes and go out alone for my LSD run this morning instead of tomorrow with my running clinic group. I am thinking running at least 21 ks to test my right ankle that bothered me the last LSD run and made me feel miserable for a few days.

An ultramarathoner blogger, Rick, correctly noted that my not being able to complete my last 2 LSD runs may be the result of running too fast in the early part of the run. As I was running with a group, I was forced to keep up with the faster pace of more seasoned and experienced marathoners and I suffered near the end with exhaustion/lack of energy and the last run, pain in my right ankle. Now, I am back to basics, taking it easy and slow and trying to listen to my body. I continue to ice the sore ankle and rested it till Wednesday to go for an easy 10k run which I completed in 1:07:12 with just little pain in my ankle, maybe 2 in a scale of 10.

At this moment, I am eating a breakfast of oatmeal mixed with a spoonful of peanut butter with lactose free milk, taho and 5 strawberries (can't eat too many of them fruits without having to stop for a washroom (CR) break). I hope it is enough to sustain me longer, cause I ran out of gels. I only have a package of shot bloks with 6 pieces in a pack, total calories - 180. I will carry some skyflakes that we bought from a Filipino store. I wonder though if skyflakes will do as a good substitute for gels.

I usually wait until at least an hour after breakfast to start my long run. By then , I would have finished visiting the washroom, which is a must for me. I just can't do a long run with extra baggage in my stomach. I will take this oppurtunity to read some runners blogs too, read the front page of today's paper, give the wife who's still sleeping a kiss, and off I go for 2 to 3 hours of happiness and solitude.

Forget The Marathon In May

2009-04-12T13:39:00.003-04:00

Forget the full marathon in May. I decided today not to run the full marathon in May after another lucklustre long training run that I did not complete for the second Sunday in a row.

On March 29, I ran my longest race in the Around the Bay 30k Race. Three days after the run, I got carried away and toyed with the idea of running a full marathon in May, choosing between the Mississauga Marathon on May 10 or the Ottawa Marathon scheduled for May 24. I continued doing my training runs religiously hoping that by doing so I would feel strong enough to sign up for a full marathon.

Last Sunday, on a scheduled 29 k LSD run, I was only able to complete 23 k because of feeling fatigued and leg weary. I thought by giving my feet and legs a little break I will rebound in the next training runs and become stronger due to the much needed rest. Had no problems with the shorter weekday runs. I felt strong and fresh after my 10k tempo and hill training sessions.

This morning though was quite different than the weekday short runs. I brought extra ammo in electrolyte pills knowing that our training run of 32 k (my longest ever) may cause cramping if I just relied on gels and gatorade. I took 1 electrolyte pill every 45 minutes as advised by Tony, one of our marathon clinic group leaders. I felt alright and kept up with Tony and Jack ( a Boston finisher in his late 60s) until we parted ways at the 12k mark. Tony had a commitment in his church, while Jack had to go straight to Bur Oak instead of the training run route we were supposed to take. I decided to try to run the designated route which was to go north along Hi-way 48.

By the 15k mark, I suddenly felt some cramping on my quad muscles on my left thigh. I had to slow down to avoid the cramping. I swallowed another electrolyte pill and it helped a little bit. At the 17thk mark, my right ankle, for no reason (I did not twist it ) started hurting and I had to favor the right feet while running from then on. In short, it was another disaster in this morning's run. I had to shorten my run again and just completed 22.24 ks in a slow time of 2:52:14. I drove home feeling down and walked up my house' front steps limping, with my right ankle in pain.

At this moment I am still icing the sore ankle, while I try to think and reorganize my running goals for this year. Today, after a forgettable LSD run, I am more inclined not to run a full marathon in May. Maybe the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September?

Winter's Last Gasp and Some Race Pictures

2009-04-06T14:46:00.014-04:00

I woke up this morning at around 8 still sore from yesterday's 23k long training run. My morning ritual of going down the stairs to the kitchen for my double cream no sugar coffee determines how I am feeling for the day (in terms of mileage to run or cross training to do). This morning, unlike the Monday morning after my Around the Bay 30k race, I did not have to hold on to the railing and just walked down the stairs quite normally with a little discomfort/soreness. I guess my body is getting used to the extra mileage, and I find that I don't have to do ice bathing on my feet,legs and thighs as much as I did before.

I was just so surprised when I looked out the window and saw wet snow still falling at this time of the year.. While the streets were just wet but clear of snow, the pedestrian walkways, yards and roofs of houses were all white and covered with snow that must have fallen in the evening. I did not fight the urge to take some pictures of my neighborhood, the front and the back just to show how miserable the weather here in Markham is even in this early part of spring. The past week looked promising ,weather wise , as we got a lot of sunny days although the temperature was still hovering about 2-5 degrees above zero. I think this bad weather maybe the last gasp of winter , and then we're in for a warm, beautiful spring weather which would be ideal and conducive to running outdoors. Whenever we have bad weather like this, I think about runners in the Philippines who are so lucky to be able to run in warm weather all year round. I envy them.

I decided to do light weight training in my basement for an hour, after which I read some running blogs mostly Pinoy bloggers. I'm so proud to learn from Baldrunner of the success of the Bataan Death March 102k Ultramarathon race with 65 finishers out of 81 participants. Way to go Baldrunner! And congratulations to all participants, finishers or not. You're all heroes to us new runners, just for being brave enough to try and test your physical and mental limits.

I also had a chance to download my pictures, however few, of my longest race, the Around the Bay 30k. I am quite proud to earn the orange technical shirt which says older than Boston . I took some pictures of how the outside of our house looks with the crappy weather we're having today.

Hopefully the weather improves tomorrow for my 10k tempo training run. If not, the old reliable treadmill is just a staircase away down in my basement.

Happy To Be Home Alone

2009-04-05T07:09:00.008-04:00

My wife , daughter Marie and her friends Jinkie and Michael just left the house 10 seconds ago to go shopping at the Markville Mall, Markham, about a 10 minute drive from our place. Finally, I am the king of the house for a couple of hours at least and I can do whatever I want without somebody telling me, " please get off the computer, I have to pay the bills" (what about the computer upstairs), or "what is this grain of rice doing on the floor?" or "can't you brush your teeth without staining the bathroom mirror?". Sometimes, like this time, I just wanna have a break, and be home alone. Are wives all the same?

An hour ago, Jinkie and her boyfriend Michael (who both I am very fond of and are like my own children) arrived here, the latter proudly showing me his finisher medal for the Angus Glen 10 Miler. Both of them are new runners, and it was Michael's first 10 miler. He only started running in June last year and he loves the sport so much he's done 5ks,10ks and signed up for the Ottawa half marathon in May.They were at the finish line to congratulate me when I did the Around the Bay 30k last Sunday. He was not too happy about his finishing time, like most new runners who expect too much early in their running career. I assured him that he did just fine considering that's his first 10 miler and encouraged him just to continue training and the speed would come to him in time( why didn't it come to me?, LOL). The Angus Glen race was run along the golf cart paths of the famed Angus Glen Golf Course (site of the 2006 Canadian Open), which is a short 5 minutes drive from our house. The course is very scenic but challenging because it is hilly.

Early in the morning at around 8:30, I went and joined my full marathon clinic group at the Markham Runningroom for our LSD Sunday run. I counted about 25 of us more or less. Our clinic is divided into 2 groups of runners. One group is scheduled to run the Mississauga marathon on May 10. They would be running 23k. The other group are the ones running the Ottawa marathon on May 24, they would be running 29k. The running route was entirely the same most of the time until the 21st k when the group doing 29 k would have to go west along Carlton, while the other group woud have to turn left to Kennedy Road towards home base. A small sub-group of 4 runners, all Boston bound, do their own thing. We only see them at the start of the run and then, they're gone like bullets.

Initially I thought I would do 29 k. The day was bright and sunny, except for the cool temperature of about plus 2 Celsius and the cold air blowing from the north. All 25 of us went off running along Bullock Drive, as I joined a group of runners doing around a 6:30- 6:45 pace led by Tony. I felt good and strong the first 17 kilometers, enjoyed the Markham scenery of new housing development, farmlands, woods with trees bare of leaves, but started feeling tired after a short washroom break at Tim Horton's at the corner of Major Mckenzie Rd. and Hi-way 48. I ended up running at the back of the pack with my marathon clinic coach Ray who was just recovering from an illness but would be running a marathon in Kansas this coming Saturday. I parted ways with Ray at 19k because he was to do only 21k, and I continued along Manhattan going westward. Then my quads and hamstrings started to get tight again, so, in the end I had to cut my run to 23k instead of the 29k.

I completed a total of 23.15 k in a slow time of 2:53:15 hours . Next Sundays' LSD run is for 32 ks..

Now I have to eat my ice cream, play poker on the internet (just play money), and do anything to my heart's delight before the bad guys arrive, ha ha ha.

A Full Marathon In May?

2009-03-31T21:52:00.004-04:00

It's Tuesday evening, more than 2 days after barely surviving and finishing my first 30k race, with my feet, legs and thighs hurting, my butt muscles in pain, and climbing up and down my stairs quite like climbing Mt. Everest, here I am, contemplating like a crazy fool the possibility of signing up for a full marathon in May. What is wrong with me? Am I nuts?

After suffering from painful muscle cramps on my thighs the last few kilometers of last Sunday's race, I was telling myself, this is it. No more of these crazy (too) long distance races. The 5k or even the 10 k are the ideal distances for an old, fat guy like me. Yesterday morning, as I got out of bed and slowly and in pain walked down the staircase (holding on to the railing for balance) for my morning coffee, I still felt the same way as the day before. No more running races more than 10kms.

What a difference a day makes. Tonight, I am thinking full marathon. The Mississauga Marathon a smaller race on the west end of Greater Toronto is scheduled for May 10 or the biggest marathon race in Canada, the ING Ottawa Marathon to be held on May 24 in scenic Ottawa, the nation's capital?

I am getting tempted to make my decision right at this moment, but, I will wait another day. Maybe a good night sleep would help me make the right decision. A full marathon in May?

Tomorrow maybe a different story. We'll see.