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Last 2011, Michael Sandler and his wife Jessica, best-selling authors of Barefoot Running and Barefoot Walking, visited Manila to promote their books and barefoot running.  I met them that evening at R.O.X. and learned that they had only recently gotten married and that trip was actually their honeymoon.  That same year, Michael wrote an article for TBR Magazine – Jan/Feb 2011 on Barefoot Running.  Last year, Michael and Jessica produced their own DVD on Barefoot Running and were kind enough to send me a copy.

THE ACCIDENT

This week, I received this shocking note from Michael:

Dear Friends and Family,

Many of you know I recently had a very serious accident.

This year I went on tour for Barefoot Walking. While on tour, I had incredibly bad “luck” with a rental RV. First the heater went out leaving me freezing for 2 days straight and a fever for 6 days. The electrical system went out repeatedly. The serpentine belt cut the wiring harness as it shredded and broke too. Then there was a break-in with all of my electronics and cell-phone stolen, plus 2 car accidents later the same day. And last, after picking up Jessica to return the lemon back to the dealership early, the transmission died, leaving us stranded for nearly a week. These were strong signs we needed to do things differently.

Then while returning the RV to the dealership, we went for one last hike. And after swimming in a snow-melt waterfall, I put on my leather moccasins to stay warm on our return. I should have stayed barefoot. Unfortunately, the moccasins didn’t have any traction and I slipped in a stream crossing, landing on a pyramid-shaped rock, shattering my leg on impact. I thought I might die, and it was the scariest 2 hours of my life. But it was also life-changing. I was stuck in freezing snow-melt water, bleeding internally, but with Jessica by my side. At first I stopped breathing, then forced myself to breathe, half-here, and half-not for 2 hours until search and rescue stabilized me and helicoptered me away.

I’m expected to make a full recovery, but it’s been incredibly challenging. I can’t travel at the moment, and all of our savings went into our book tour and inventory for it. Plus we’re facing massive medical bills, and costs to help me recover. So we’re having to simplify our lives and downsize.

However, we’re incredibly thankful. We’ve learned so much from this and Jessica calls it “the best thing that ever happened to us”. So, as good writers, we’re writing a book about our healing adventure, and what we’ve learned which can help others overcome massive hurdles in their lives as well.

– Michael’s first time out of the hospital –

Thank you for your love and support.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Michael

BREATHE LOVE

Michael and Jessica didn’t let this accident get them down.  Instead, they took the lessons they could gain from it and wrote a book entitled Breathe Love.  They then created a crowdfunding site to raise funds to publish the book.  To know more about it and if you would like to help, click on the link below:

Breathe Love

To Michael, I wish for a speedy recovery for you.  May you and Jessica continue to be an inspiration to others in living life with optimism, courage, and love.

Attention TBR-ULAH Dream Marathoners! Here are the dates to remember for September and the rest of the year!

If you aren’t a registered participant of the race, you can still join us for Bull Circles (running talks) and Bull Sessions (running clinics) which are free and open to the public.  Come and join!

• SEP 6 TO 17 AND SEP 19 TO 30: WELCOME KIT REDEMPTION at The Athletes Foot,Unit 7 G/F Two Parkade, Bonifacio Global City (along 30th St.).  No claiming of Welcome Kits on Sep 18 due to the 1st BULL CIRCLE.  For more info on Welcome Kit Redemption, click HERE.
• SEP 18, WED: BULL CIRCLE 1, “THE MARATHON DREAM” Introduction to Marathoning and TBR Dream Marathon Program and Pacing. Speakers: Jaymie Pizarro, Jim Lafferty, Lit Onrubia, Neville Manaois. Venue: Henry Sy Auditorium, St. Lukes Med. Ctr., Bonifacio Global City. Assembly and claiming of Welcome Kits: 6PM.  Talk starts promptly at 7PM.
• SEP 30 TO OCT 6: Marathon Training Begins!!!

I recommend you print the PDF File below and post it on your fridge so you don’t forget any of our upcoming events.  Here’s the full schedule of all our BULL SESSIONS and BULL CIRCLES from now until February 2014!

PDF File: Dates to Remember – Dream Marathon 2014

See you at all our events!

This begins a series of posts under the Quaker Supermom Series about the quest that my kids and I have to achieve our new fitness and sports goal.

There are only three foods that I obsess over: peanut butter, salmon, and, oatmeal. If you asked me to eat just these three everyday for a month, I’d probably look you in the eye and reply: “Make it a year.” Rawr.

So, when Quaker Oats invited me to be a Quaker Supermom, I said “Yes!” like a giddy school girl. After all, how often do you get to endorse a brand that you’ve obsessed over since high school? (Yes, that’s how long this love affair with oatmeal has lasted.)

– I’m a Quaker Supermom! Kulang nalang cape –

– Couldn’t be happier to be with these other two Quaker Supermoms: my dearest sister, Janice Villanueva of the popular Mommy Mundo portal for all things mommy and Kris de Guzman of OC Mom in Manila –

On top of that, Quaker Oats posed a challenge for the kids and myself. They asked me to target a goal for us and to try our best to achieve it. When they asked if I would accept, I replied with a grin: “When do we start?” Double rawr.

QUAKER GOAL

The Quaker Goal I came up with is this: For the kids and I to swim, bike, and run more together.

Sounds easy, right? Well, not exactly. Anton, my 12 year old, trains with Coach Norman for his triathlon sessions every Sunday. He only has time to train once a week because he has Debate Club and Painting Lessons on top of schoolwork. Meanwhile, Nia, my 8 year old, has adamantly refused to join her Kuya (although she relented once) for triathlon and only chooses to swim. She took Aqualogic classes with Total Immersion Coach Ria Mackay over summer, but we have yet to sign up for regular classes during this school year. Oh, we also need to teach her how to ride a bike.

– Anton and Nia during one of Coach Norman’s trikids training sessions –

So, let me tell you, even The Bull Runner has got some serious work to do when it comes to living the active lifestyle on the home front. While I’m pretty serious with my own running and triathlon training and I always encourage my kids to be active in sports, I’m also the kind of mom who never believed in pushing my kids into sports or any other activities they aren’t interested in. Fitness should be something they want for themselves and, oh yes, it should also be loads of fun.

– Bonding with the kiddos for an easy bike and run morning at Filinvest City –

The good news is: the kids are quite excited over this goal. It’s a challenge that they’re willing to take on as well. For me, it’s an awesome opportunity to get them outdoors and away from Minecraft and a great chance to bond with them, too.

THE PLAN

The Quaker Goal comes at the right time for me. Now that Ironman 70.3 Cebu is done and I’m on off-season mode, I’ll have more time to swim, bike, or run with the kids. The plan is to bring them out for an easy ride or run on weekends. Anton will continue his triathlon training on Sundays while Nia gets started on swim classes after school.

Can you please cheer us on and hope that we do get to accomplish this goal we’ve set for ourselves? I’ll be writing about our progression in the weeks to come! Stay tuned!

Below is the official list of participants for TBR-Unilab Active Health Dream Marathon 2014. If you’re name is listed below, welcome to Dream Marathon!  This is your first step towards becoming a marathoner!  We look forward to running with you soon.

DOWNLOAD: OFFICIAL LIST OF REGISTERED RUNNERS – DREAM MARATHON 2014

Should you have any concerns, please contact Macel at tbrdream@gmail.com  or Dream Hotline 0942-477-6099

WHAT’S NEXT?

Now that you’ve registered, these are the next steps to take for September:

1. Collect your Welcome Kit.  See Welcome Kit Redemption details below.
2. Attend the Bull Circle on SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 at 7:00PM, Henry Sy Auditorium, St. Lukes Medical Center, Bonifacio Global City.  We will talk about the marathon, Dream Marathon, and your marathon program.  You’ll also meet your batchmates!  You can also claim your Welcome Kit on the same evening.  We open redemption at 6:00PM.  More details will be released as this event draws near.  Visit www.tbrdream.com for details a week before this event.
3. Get ready for training – mentally and physically.  The formal training of our Dream Marathon program starts on the week of SEPTEMBER 30 to OCTOBER 6, 2013.  The program will be included in your Welcome Kit.

• NOTE:  For beginner runners, we included a 2-week walking program to ease you into running.  So, your program starts earlier at SEPTEMBER 16 TO 22.  If you fall into this category, we suggest you pick up your Welcome Kit before September 16.

WHAT’S IN YOUR WELCOME KIT?

The Welcome Kit will contain the runner’s Marathon Program, Messages from the Founders, Event Calendar, Dream Marathon discount card and its benefits, Official Drifit Training Shirt from New Balance (you get another Finisher’s Shirts after you cross the finish line in Feb2014), and TBR Bumper Sticker.

Shirt sizes are available until supplies last.

– Front of Dream Marathon Official Training Shirt –


– Front of Dream Marathon Official Training Shirt –

WELCOME KIT REDEMPTION

Participants who did not opt for delivery of kits during registration may pick up their Dream Marathon Welcome Kit. Pick up dates and venues below:

WHAT TO BRING DURING WELCOME KIT REDEMPTION

1. Claiming stub (for on site registration) or printed transaction receipt (for online registration).
2. Personally signed TBR and NUVALI waivers. No signed waivers, no welcome kit.  You may click HERE to download waivers to speed up the process.  Waivers will also be available at the desk.

CLAIMING OF REDEMPTION KIT BY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

1. Authorization Letter signed by the Registered Runner
2. Claiming Stub (for on site registration) or Printed Transaction Receipt (for online registration).
3. Photocopy of Valid ID of Registered Runner with Signature
4. Photocopy of Valid ID of Authorized Representative
5. TBR and NUVALI waivers SIGNED by the Registered Runner. We will not accept those signed FOR the runner. To be verified with the ID submitted. No signed waivers, no welcome kit. You may click HERE to download waivers.

For inquiries, contact MACEL at tbrdream@gmail.com or Dream Hotline 0942-477-6099

Wow.  So much has happened the past two weeks and I don’t know where to begin!  Let me start by telling you why I was absent from the blog the past couple of weeks:

1) MARING.  Oh yes, this storm literally hit all of us hard last week.  Some much harder than others so I hope we’ve all done our part to help.  Thankfully, we were safe here at home and I hope you were too.  During the storm, I didn’t feel like posting anything about running on this blog in consideration of those who were severely affected.  Despite the bad weather though, I still continued to ride on my trainer and hit the treadmill for my run.  No excuses, right?  How about you?  Did you continue your work out or turn into a couch potato?  I hope not!

2) PORK BARREL.  Okay, okay, I can’t blame Napoles for my absence on the blog.  But, I did feel—again—that writing about running and triathlon at this point was so shallow compared to the country’s bigger issues.  I did make my stand though: NO to Pork Barrel!  And, while we’re at it, NO to chicharon, too!

2) SERVER DOWN.  For a while now, my blog has been unstable.  It shut down on the day we released the first list of reserved runner list for Dream Marathon.  It shut down again last Saturday and only went live again this morning.  This has all been due to server problems from my host.  All beyond my control. Gaaaah!  For a control freak blogger like me, it’s been a total nightmare.  I’m hoping that all issues will be resolved within the next couple of weeks.

3) HOMESCHOOLING.  Due to Maring, the kids classes were suspended all week.  One would think life would be easier without having to shuttle two kids back and forth from school.  Oh no.  The teachers emailed a weeks worth of workload for the children to work on.  I felt like a homeschooling Mom that week!

– Loads of work for both kids. I almost wanted to send them back to school! –

4) WORK.  Loads of work on my table, baby.  From TBR Magazine to graphic design to Dream Marathon to school (yes I enrolled in Nutrition School just because I want to! Hah!), I seriously have way too much work on my hands.  I think it takes me an hour to jot down my To Do list every morning.  I kid you not.  Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Uhm, okay, maybe I would hope to sneek in a daily massage and a monthly escape to the beach, but all in all, I’m thankful that I have work that doesn’t feel like work.

Just in case I depressed you a bit, let me end this post on a happy note.  Here are photos of my 21k run at Safeguard-2XU Sole Racing International Half Marathon last August 17, 2013.  I wasn’t able to share them because Maring arrived the day after.  Actually, this race was made fun by the strong rain that hit us midway through the run.  We were like little kids happily stomping on puddles and feeling the rain pour over us.   One of the more memorable and fun half marathons I’ve joined!

– with Ton and way too serious Coach Lit (LOL), my run buddies that day. We were smiling here but, soon after, we approached the portion of SM MOA near the bay and the headwind was insane. It was almost like running in place! (Photo: RARMartinez Fotorun) –

– Near the finish line of a wet and wild half marathon (Photo: Pinoy Fitness) –


– Instagram photo reposted from Kim Atienza. Posing with the Posedown Posse Gang –

Hope you’ve recovered from Maring and the craziness of last week!  Just like this post, there are good days and bad days and we can only wait for the storms in our lives to pass until the sun appears again.  Like my good ol’ triathlete friend Kuya Kim Atienza (who is coincidentally right below me in the photo) always says “Weather weather lang!”