Pinay In Action ‘08

I just thought of a great way to celebrate Women’s Month. Gather a huge group of strong, beautiful, driven, and dynamic women for a race. Tell them to take their husbands, children, friends and other relatives who wish to honor the importance of women in their lives. Maybe set up an expo showcasing health, wellness, beauty, and fitness products especially for women. It will be great! The perfect way for everyone to truly celebrate the strength and spirit of a woman!

Oh, wait a minute. Someone beat me to it. Sen. Pia Cayetano just celebrated the 2nd Pinay In Action this morning. It was the biggest and only all-women’s race in the country. It was definitely a success with over 2,000 participants (according to Mon D.) signing up for the 1.6k, 5k and 10k runs.

- Starting line for 5km runners at around 7:15 am. 10km runners had started earlier a little after 6 am –

I definitely could not miss this race. PIA makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside—like treating myself to a fat-laden Twix bar after a long run without worrying about my thighs—because this was the first ever race I joined last year. After finishing my 1st 5k, I remember telling the hubby “I like this. I could get used to this.” And that perhaps was the birth of The Bull Runner within me.

So, this morning, my son, Anton, and I arrived at NBC Tent a little bit too early for the 1.6km race we signed up for. After warming up and stretching (I told you I am a very good girl now), we waited and waited and waited…

- Please pause in silence to commemorate this special event. It had been way too long since I last pinned a race bib on my singlet so this was a momentous occasion. -

- Anton looks like he just woke up but he’s super excited over his upcoming run -

Perhaps out of boredom (and maybe in an attempt to get a new toy as a reward), Anton told me that he’d like to run the 5k instead which was going to start ahead of the 1.6km. Within the next few minutes, we were off. We ran for the 1st 5 minutes strong and cheerful. I cheered Anton on and he smiled back enjoying every minute. Like a stage mother (or maybe a road mother), I even taught him a few things I picked up from Ige Lopez such as keeping the arms low as if you were striking drums. But, he smartly replied “Mom, you can’t play drums while you’re running!” So, I shut my mouth and just enjoyed the run.

Within the next few minutes, we slowed down to a jog and shortly after we slacked off to a walk. By that time, Anton could hardly talk anymore. His smile had disappeared and was replaced by a blank stare. He was too pooped to even reply to my questions “Do you want to start running again?” or “Isn’t this fun?” or “Are you still breathing?” The only time he spoke again was after he drank a bit of water. By that time, I had decided to just head back and call it a day for his sake.

- 56 bottles of beer on the wall 56 bottles of beer, take one down pass it around, 56 bottles… -

We ended our run at 2.5km. A little bit more than Anton’s initial 1.6km goal and half of his 5km dream. Pretty good for my little boy! After a bit of socializing with Happy Feet friends (Anton was still not talking at this time), we headed home to meet hubby and daughter but not without a stop for a Jollibee kiddie meal as his reward. (Note: Anton gets a real toy if he finishes 5km. Maybe next time, baby!)

PIA wasn’t a PR race for me. But, it ranked high up there as one of the races that I’ll just never forget. See you there next year and the year after that…

- Pinays (and Pinoys) in action -

- Sen. Pia runs towards the 10km finish line -

- Super strong mommy runner doesn’t mind the extra weight -

- Women in unity! Same hair. Same outfit. Same shoes! -

- Best friends? Or mother and daughter? Maybe both -

- My friend Beni (left) and her friends run together with their friend, Mila, who is now a quadraplegic after suffering an embolism during childbirth. -

– with Sen. Pia and Happy Feet -

Posted on 03.09.08 to 1 Bullish Insights. Tags: Pia Cayetano, Pinay In Action, Races, Run. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 18 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

« It’s Over

Mizuno Infinity Run »

18 Responses to “Pinay In Action ‘08”

1. Yeah, this event was really fun. Its also a great event to spend with our family. My wife ran with our baby in the 1.6K. Sayang lang and I didn’t see you and Anton.

   Taki said on Mar 09 08 at 8:59 PM Reply
   

2. anton, nice run! and nice shoes, too!

   kingofpots said on Mar 09 08 at 9:51 PM Reply
   

3. congrats anton!!!!! wooohooooo!!!!! I can see a runner in the making here.

   ben said on Mar 09 08 at 9:55 PM Reply
   

4. your little boy is such a cutie, jaymie! he’ll grow up to be one mighty fine heartbreaker… pwede ko bang hintayin? 11 years na lang.

   marga said on Mar 09 08 at 9:55 PM Reply
   

5. Super stong mommy is Janet Belarmino (one of the 3 women who climbed Everest)

   ninoylist said on Mar 09 08 at 10:08 PM Reply
   

6. Opps hindi pala hehe…but she was there with her baby

   ninoylist said on Mar 09 08 at 10:09 PM Reply
   

7. TBR – I’m sure your son enjoyed his run. It’s nice to see you back.

   Regards Mark

   Mark P said on Mar 10 08 at 8:16 AM Reply
   

8. Jaymie is it okay if i could borrow two pictures from your set of PIA pictures – one with the super mom and the one with girls with the same haircut and shoes? i’ll put in our family multiply website – will of course mention it came from TBR. is it okay?

   odie said on Mar 10 08 at 8:22 AM Reply
   

9. Jaymie,
   Great seeing you and Anton again! No more nagging injury in the future ok!? Ty for the picture with Mila and Wawel Mercado. This is also a come back for Wawel… very memorable indeed.

   -beni
   *mark P, thanks again. sa uulitin.

   Beni Ancheta-Veloso said on Mar 10 08 at 9:39 AM Reply
   

10. Good to see you there Jaymie. I’m sure it’s just as rewarding seeing Anton in his first (?) running event. It made me smile when I saw you from behind during the race, lovingly handing him a bottle of water and making sure he was ok. I’m sure if it was just you checking out your 5k pace, you would not even stop to take a sip.

    Tina said on Mar 10 08 at 11:29 AM Reply
    

11. It was nice having you back again TBR! and yey! another runner in tow!
    Congrats! See you next races?

    chaiak said on Mar 10 08 at 11:44 AM Reply
    

12. congrats on the comeback race, jaymie!!!

    e-rod said on Mar 10 08 at 11:54 AM Reply
    

13. Taki, how about you? You didn’t run? Congrats to your wife and baby. I hope she starts running races with you soon.

    Baldrunner, thanks. I detest those shoes but he loves them. He’ll be glad to know that you noticed it.

    Ben, I hope so. He said he’ll only run again if he gets a toy. Sounds like a bribe! haha

    Marga, would you want me as your mom in law?! mwahahaha such a funny thought!

    Ninoylist, everest team or not, she’s still super mommy for carrying baby throughout the run. Thanks for info

    Mark, sayang your daughter couldn’t join. Next year! Nice to see you and Tiffy again.

    Odie, nice seeing you again! Sure, go ahead.

    Beni, what a great friend you are! I think it was so nice for all of you to support Mila that way. Hope to bump into you again soon. I have to see you running the chi way next time!

    Tina, nice to see you again too! Walking with my son was fun but I hope we can both go a bit faster next time How did you do?

    Chaia, may next race ka pa ba? Baka sa Australia na ang next race mo?

    E-rod, I wouldn’t call it a comeback race. Not yet. That was just a comeback stroll. hahaha

    bullrunner said on Mar 10 08 at 3:40 PM Reply
    

14. Congratulations Anton! And to you too TBR. I think he takes after you. It seems like he too will say “I like this…” Hope your knees heal soon.

    Mayi said on Mar 11 08 at 10:05 AM Reply
    

15. Hi TBR, I ran the 10K and just paced my friend Reva. I kinda walked and ran the 1.6KM since I was the official photographer and camera man who documented the event. And yeah… part of my dream is to have my wife run with me in a marathon.. hehehe.. but thats a long shot!

    takicutie said on Mar 11 08 at 10:12 AM Reply
    

16. i think running isn’t really very appealing for kids.. it has to be made more fun for them to stick to it. you could probably entice him to run with you if you would do a lot of fartlek runs during your trainings… hope he does rekindle his love affair with running… hey, hope you get well and strong enough to be able to race during the mizuno run! welcome back!

    theloonyrunner said on Mar 11 08 at 7:25 PM Reply
    

17. thanks jaymie for sharing those two pictures. salamat muli!

    odie said on Mar 12 08 at 7:22 AM Reply