Archive for December, 2009

Joy Rojas is back! It wasn’t too long ago when Joy announced her daunting dream of running across the USA after running across the Philippines in 2005.

Now, Joy Rojas can proudly say she is the first Southeast Asian woman to run across the USA!  She ran 16 states in 169 days, from Los Angeles to New York, running over a marathon daily, covering 5,000-kilometers for Takbong Pangarap Trans-USA Run 2009.

– Joy running across the USA, accompanied by trainer Mat Macabe –

I was fortunate enough to be one among the many friends, family, and press invited to welcome her back from the USA yesterday.  Truth to tell, I was eager to hear about her experience and share this on the blog, but I really came as one of her biggest fans who just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her how much of an inspiration she is to everyone, myself included.

I’ll be posting an interview with Joy soon about her Takbong Pangarap Trans-USA Run 2009. Check this blog again in a few days.

– with my idol Joy Rojas and Li’l Bull Runner (counting the confetti she collected from the floor) –

– I hope Li’l Bull Runner learned a thing or two about girl power that day! –

What a great way to end my racing year! I’ve signed up for 21k at philstar.com’s Christmas Celebrity Run. A good friend (you know who you are!) insists I aim for my elusive sub-2 half marathon goal, but my body tells me it’s not the right time. I’m in the mood for a slow, easy, and fun Christmas-y run!

I’m thinking I should squeeze some bibingka into my compression tights, pour hot choco into my amphipod bottles, and keep an eye out for some great friends to celebrate a Christmas picnic-on-the-run! I could also hide a mistletoe under my cap in case I bump into Piolo! Hah!

See you at philstar.com’s Celebrity Run!

Disclaimer: My body may tell me otherwise within the next couple of days. If I go beyond picnic pace during the run, then that means I’ll be gunning for the sub-2 instead. We’ll see!

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PRESS RELEASE

A Run before Christmas is one way of welcoming the yuletide season with a healthy lifestyle. This year philstar.com is proud to invite all online community members, race and sports enthusiasts, lifestyle aficionados to join the Christmas Celebrity Run on Dec. 20 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

This event was organized for philstar.com’s online community to communicate and interact with their favorite celebrities who share the same passion for running, online literacy and charity work, promoting a healthy lifestyle. Stars like Piolo Pascual Mark Bautista, Christine Jacob-Sandejas, Dianne Castillejo, Coach Ani de Leon, Rovilson, Tessa Prieto Valdez, Maricel Laxa-Pangilingan, Anthony Pangilinan, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Fernando and Kit Zobel de Ayala will be joining the event for a cause.

More than the social and healthy benefits of running, philstar.com’s Christmas Celebrity Run 2009 will also help fund the computerization program of Gilas (Gearing up Internet Literacy and Access for Students), a multi-sectoral initiative spearheaded by the Ayala Foundation program.

The philstar.com Christmas Celebrity Run 2009 is sponsored by Adidas, Yahoo! Philippines, E-Games, Brazilian Agaricus, Crocs, Nutribar, Smart, Coppertone, Aqua Blue, Sport Beans, Timex, Chris Sports, Vitwater, Mizuno, Paul Calvin’s Deli, McKinley Hill, and One Tagaytay Place, Action and Fitness magazine, Men’s Health Philippines, Women’s Health Philippines, Magic 89.9, AXN, Jack TV, Jobstreet, Chikka, People Asia, The Philippine STAR, NU 107 and takbo.ph.

Registration runs until Dec.18 at the ROX, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig; 2nd Wind at 88 Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village, Quezon City; Crocs Stores (SM Megamall, Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia), Chris Sports (Glorietta, Festival Mall) and Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association office, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Registration fee is P350 for the 3K, 5K and 10K runs and P450 for the 21K. More information: www.philstar.com

In the middle of work, last-minute Christmas shopping, and of course, running, some of us running friends spent time to celebrate the holidays together.  Last night was an evening of bountiful Pinoy food in Kabisera, live entertainment from Atty. Raymund and Tiffin, and endless chit chat and laughter with friends that I’ve met through running. Just another wonderful gift that running has blessed me with.

– Christmas Class Picture –

Check out our Christmas Get Together 2008 here.

For those who “Conquered Corregidor,” click here to view your race results. Congratulations!

Exercise ban my foot. Last week, I told you all about how I was enjoying the R&R after Singapore Marathon, how the down time made me feel like I was happily “floating” along with life.

Well, it’s been 6 days of 0 physical activity and I’m floating all right; I feel like blubber on the underside of the whale, or that film of fat that climbs up on the surface of a deadly Bulalo bowl.

The past week, I’ve gained over 2 lbs. doing absolutely nothing. I can barely breathe in my favorite jeans and my cheeks have gotten all puffy. I’ve turned all cranky and angry, almost Scrooge-like in nature. My kids love it though since Mom has turned into Frosty the Snow-woman practically overnight.

Who was that woman who finished a full marathon just 8 days ago? I have no clue. Hopefully, with the Dentist giving a one-day advanced go signal to start running again (I twisted his arm just a few minutes ago to allow me already), I get to find that woman soon. For now, Frosty has a scheduled 10k run in the afternoon to burn off all the fat.