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New York City Marathon was my dream race ever since I started running seriously. When I wrote the ABOUT page on this little blog over 3 years ago that NYC Marathon was on the top of my wish list of races, it was a distant and impossible dream. Now, as race day draws near, I constantly have to pinch myself to make sure it’s all for real.

That dream used to be all about running. My training. My goals.

It was even about visiting New York. Taking in all the city had to offer. It’s energy, art, and culture.

But, after meeting Rina Lopez-Bautista, New York took on another meaning. A deeper one. Now, it is also about helping kids.

Through Rina’s Knowledge Channel, I’ve been given an opportunity to help raise funds for the Knowledge Channel’s Karunungan 2010 Fund and reach “42-for-42”. For every kilometer that I will run, I can accept pledges from friends, family, and even strangers with a good heart.  If you would donate $1 for every kilometer I run in New York, I can collect $42 for the entire marathon. The $42 (around Php 1,850) will help Knowledge Channel provide and widen access to quality educational media in the country.

– with Rina and her son, Daniel, at Knowledge Channel’s New York Runners Acquaintance Night which I came terribly late for 🙁 –

Interested in helping? Please pledge donations for my ING New York City Marathon run at www.karunungan2010.com or www.knowledgechannel.org/karunungan/.

Click HERE to go straight to the PLEDGE FORM.

Thank you in advance for your generosity! This will go a long way in helping children become finishers of their own race.

“I want to train for Southridge Run.” That’s what my son told me several days ago. Oh boy, you should’ve seen the smile on my face!

The thing is, I have no clue how to train a 9-year old.  Initially, when TBR Jr. would sign up for fun runs, we would run/walk around the village a week or two before the race. The hubby and I just wanted him to experience races without any pressure, to have fun, and, of course, to love running the way we do.  Deep inside, we hoped that he would eventually want to get serious about running.  Well, I guess it worked!

I went ahead and sent an SMS to the best person in Manila to ask about training kids for runs/triathlons: Ironwoman Ani de Leon, the coach of the Super Tri Kids and Alaska Iron Kids. She advised me that we should train him by running 1k, then 2k, and finally 3k thrice a week.  This is something we’re definitely doing…uhm, in between training for New York, that is!

Hope you can join the Southridge Run…just as our family is doing.  Proceeds from the race will be used to buy 30,000 books to be donated to public schools in Muntinlupa.  Registration is on-going.

WHAT: SOUTHRIDGE RUN
WHEN: Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 6:00 AM
WHERE: Westgate complex in Filinvest Corporate City Alabang

DISTANCE | FEES | PRIZES:

• 10k | P400 | Medals & prizes for top 3 male & female finishers
• 5k | P400 | Medals & prizes for top 3 male & female finishers
• 1k | P350 | Medals for ALL finishers 13 years old & below. Plus prizes for top 3 finishers in 2 age categories: 10 to13 years old and 9 years old & below

REGISTRATION:

• Bonjour, Total Gas Station, Filinvest Corp. City (near West Gate entrance) – ongoing until Oct. 8, 2010, 9pm (extended). Open 24/7
• Onsite registration on October 9 from 5 am to 5:30 am

WHAT: Corregidor International Half Marathon
WHEN: 19 December 2010
DISTANCE: 21 km
PARTICIPANTS: 800 runners

For the serious and competitive runner who’s keen on testing his/her strength and endurance in Corregidor, registration is now open for Corregidor International Half Marathon.  Below are the details:

Registration Venue and Period:

• all weekends (Saturday and Sunday only) of October and November, subject to slot availability
• RUNNR (Boni High Street ) Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 9pm
• Second Wind (Maginhawa) Saturday only, 1pm to 6pm
• Second Wind (Ortigas Home Depo) Saturday only, 1pm to 6pm
• on-line registration facility (for participants residing abroad and outside Metro Manila) will be up on Oct 9

Registration fee:

• P2,500.00 – until October (early registration)
• P3,000.00 – until November (late registration)

(more…)

I met her for the first time a couple of days ago. She’s slim, fast, and beautiful. Looks like we’ll hit it off when we start training together after I return from NYC Marathon.

Meet Contessa…

– with Leroy, part-owner of The Brick Multisport Store, and my new bike –

I ordered the bike a month ago at the new multisport store, The Brick, at McKinley Hill. When I learned from Leroy and Noy that she arrived last week, I was nervous and excited at the same time. After months spinning at the gym, I can finally take off on the road. The thought of learning something new thrills me. It’s not that I’m leaving running behind, but I’m taking on new adventures to challenge my body and hopefully make me an even better, stronger runner.

For now, Contessa is parked at our living room. I stare at her every now and then resisting the urge to train outside with her. With NYC Marathon a little over a month from now, I am trying my best to avoid any little mishaps that may ruin my chances of running at my dream race. The thought of learning how to ride with cleats gives me butterflies in my tummy–much like the way I felt at my first 5k at Pinay In Action. Ack!

Contessa, see you more often after New York! I cannot wait.

Thanks to Noy Jopson and Leroy of The Brick.

The Brick Multi-Sport store is at Unit 1, Woodridge Apartments, McKinley Hill, Taguig City (across Venice Piazza, just at the bottom of that deadly hill we all dread at races!)

Open Mon to Sat, 7 am to 9 pm

For runners, The Brick offers the following:

• running apparel, shoes, gear and accessories
• treadmill for rent (P50 per 30 minutes)
• clean shower and locker for rent

I am pleased to announce that 338 runners (and counting) have officially been accepted as TBR Dream Marathoners. Congratulations to all you future marathoners!

Registration closed last Tuesday and we are consolidating our records to determine the exact number of slots that will be opened to wait listed runners. We ask for your patience since, even as I type this, runners are faxing or emailing deposit slips (dated Tuesday) to confirm their participation in the race.

We will announce re-opening of registration for the remaining slots by next week. Most likely, registration will be on October 9 & 10, 2010, Saturday and Sunday, at ROX, Bonifacio High Street. Stay tuned!