Mommy Milkshake Marathon 2010

Monday, 9 August 2010  |  Bullish Insights

The rain didn’t stop all the mommies (and grandmothers, kids, and preggy women…plus their partners) from running the Mommy Milkshake Marathon at Bonifacio High Street yesterday.

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– with organizers, Rome Kanapi and my sis Janice Villanueva and the kids –

Our entire family, including my niece, showed up for the race armed with two umbrellas.  Hubby took care of the older kids, while I accompanied Little Miss Bull Runner who chose to bike the 3k course along with her cousin.  (I gave her this option since she was coughing and I worried that 3k was too much for her.)

“Are the girls going to win?” I asked Little Miss TBR. “Yes!” she yelled. Fueled by Woman Power, we were off!

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– Little Miss TBR with her pet, Liny, who joins every family adventure –

FAMILY FUN

We raced along with other families who were enjoying the easy run despite the gloomy weather.  For a moment, I ran alongside Patricia Hizon and her kids Vicente and Paul; fast and fearless Vicente was way ahead of his mommy.

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– Patricia Hizon with her adorable boys –

I also spotted Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan with her mom and her grandmother.  Her own daughter had sped off ahead and later found a place on the podium.

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– Four generations of strong and beautiful Laxa women –

As for Little Miss TBR, she pedaled like there was no tomorrow.  With such a huge smile, I knew she was enjoying every minute.  We went for two loops around BHS.  The uphills were a bit of a challenge for her, but she enjoyed the gentle downhills immensely.  Too much in fact that I begged her to slow down!

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– racing with my little girl –

BALANCING MOTHERHOOD AND RUNNING

I thought I was going to have it easy compared to the hubby.  (This pic shows he had quite an easy time running with older kids.)

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– Coach Hubby with my niece and the kids –

Past 3km races with my daughter was always a slow and relaxed run.  But, this time, I failed to take into consideration that 1) kids on bikes go much faster, and 2) holding an umbrella while running was a skill I had absolutely no training for.

It was the ultimate test of balancing running and motherhood at exactly the same time.  While running, I had to hold the umbrella in one hand and camera in the other, caution Little Miss TBR about veering away from the course (which was almost every 5 seconds), warn her about hitting runners in front, and help her count the “rainbows” (prisms caused by the rainwater hit by the light) she spotted on the road.

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With my feet soaked in rainwater (I wore Vibram Five Fingers for the first time. More on this in a separate post) and non-stop fast-paced running, it was exhausting…but seeing Little Miss TBR’s face beam with pride when we crossed the finish made all the sweat, worry, and tough bicep workout all worth it.

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– We did it! –

LITTLE MISS TBR – A FUTURE TRIATHLETE

As it turns out, Little Miss TBR absolutely loved the race. After seeing the photos, she exclaims while jumping up and down: “Mama, I want to bike again in another race…and I want Liny (her pet lion) to join us again…and I want it to rain, too!”  Oh boy, this mama has got to train hard for the next one.

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– Yahooo! –

Congratulations to the organizers of Mommy Milkshake Marathon especially my sis, Janice Villanueva of Mommy Mundo and Creative Juice. Hope to join this one again next year!