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Here’s the race map for THE RESCUE RUN tomorrow.

Remember: 100% of proceeds go to the victims of Ondoy, so the more runners, the merrier are those who were affected by the storm.

If you haven’t registered yet, you can still sign up at Second Wind, Alterra, or ROX. There’s also onsite registration tomorrow. I’ll probably be the one to collect the donations from you.

Looking forward to see you all there!

For more info, visit The Rescue Run website.

Oh boy, I’m going to miss Run Radio again tonight. Two Fridays ago, I went on leave for Little Miss Bull Runner’s Birthday. (Family first!)  Then, last Friday, it was Typhoon Pepeng’s day.  (Safety first!)  Tonight, I can’t make it yet again as I’ll be at the Philippine Blog Awards where I’ll serve as judge and presenter of the Sports Category, the same category this blog won last year. (This is a first!)

What I haven’t been missing at all are my training runs and workouts.  So, on that front, I am the perfect student. (Fine, not that perfect since there’s a bit of whining involved when it comes to those planks…argh!)

MON: strengthening and core exercises at the gym
TUE: 10 min warm up, 2 x (4×400) at 4:50 min/km, 10 min cool down at the track
WED: REST
THU: 2k warm up, 12k tempo at 5:40 min/km, 1k cool down
FRI: strengthening and core exercises at the gym
SAT (plan): TRX
SUN (plan): Milo 21k

I’m just hoping my work schedule will allow me to remain consistent with my workouts until Marathon Day.  If not, I will definitely try my best to squeeze it in!  

P.S. THE RESCUE RUN tomorrow.  Hope to see you there!

P.S.S. To Run Radio peeps tonight: Marga, Jay, Bards, and Vimz, good luck and have a great time!

Bad news to Cupid and his abs (Coach Rio), young school girls Marga and Vimz, and Lance Armstrong and his golden Christmas ball: Organizers of the much anticipated event, Shake, Rattle & Run, announced the cancellation of their fun-filled Halloween costume race.  That’s too bad since running friends and I were thinking of our costumes as early as last month.  At least, we’ll have more time to plan for 2010!

Here’s the official announcement:

Elite Multi-Sport Resources (EMR) would like to announce that the 2009 edition of Shake Rattle and Run – the Halloween Costume Fun Run has
been canceled for this year.

Originally scheduled on October 30, 2009 (Friday) at 6PM, this unique and fun event will return in 2010.

Circumstances brought about by Typhoon Ondoy have made it difficult to properly promote and produce this annual event to the standards
expected.

Please watch out for further announcements on the 2010 Shake Rattle and Run event. It’ll be a shocker!

Elite Multi-Sport Resources thanks all its friends, supporters and partners for their unwavering encouragement.

I was at Ultra track oval last night for my weekly intervals. Amidst this running boom, the sight of a half-filled track filled with runners of all sorts doesn’t surprise me anymore.  But, as I made my way towards my regular spot, I noticed something new: the Adidas Running Clinic which was on its first day.

People say that running is the metaphor for life.  Who would’ve thought it could’ve been the metaphor for corporate rivalry as well? When a runner stands atop the flight of stairs that overlook the entire track oval, he/ she can choose between two major sports brands just with one simple question: LEFT or RIGHT?  To the left is Adidas Run Clinic led by Coach Ani de Leon, right is Nike Training Clinic headed by Coach Rio de la Cruz.

Let’s not forget Team Bald Runner’s Clinic further down left led by Coach Saturnino Salazar.  Team BR has no support from the corporate running bigwigs, but the training is just as effective.

Having three training clinics all at more or less the same time (on Tuesdays) in one teeny-weeny track oval is insane, but it’s great for us runners, too.  A little healthy competition among the various run clinics should spur all of them to provide great programs and offer top-notch training for their runners. 

When I got home, I told the hubby about the three run clinics at Ultra and went on to talk about the incident as another proof of the non-stop growth of running in the country.  He agrees, and then adds “Or maybe we just need more track ovals in Manila, too.”

NEW LIST OF RUNNING CLINICS!  For a list of RUN CLINICS around Metro Manila, click on this new page.  You’ll find it on the sidebar on the upper right too.

Two months to go. Or 8 weeks. Or exactly 60 days.

Yes, I’ve got 60 days to go before I run my first full marathon: The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on Dec. 6, 2009. You didn’t know I signed up, did you?

Truth is, I registered way back in August for the Singapore Half Marathon eyeing Subic International Marathon for my first full. Then, I changed my mind (or more like cowered in fear of the tough concrete and high elevation of SCTex) so I downgraded my Subic distance to half instead and set my sights on Singapore for the full 42.195km.

Phew, I am excited, to say the least. But, I’m also nervous and overly paranoid about re-injury.

For those of you who don’t know, injury has hit me the past two times I dreamed of doing a marathon: Runner’s Knee around November 2007 then ITBS December 2008. Both times I was aiming for a February full marathon.  

It’s cliche to say that the setbacks only made me stronger. But, it is absolutely true. It didn’t just make me a stronger runner, it made me a smarter one, too.

I can look back at those two dreadful periods in my running life (tissue, please) and tell you in all honesty that I am glad I experienced them all: the seemingly endless search for the magic cure and the perfect shoe, long hours at yoga and the gym wishing I was on the road instead, missed runs, and sleepless nights pondering when I could run again. All these and more gave me the knowledge and experience to know that my body wasn’t ready to take on a full at 2008 or early 2009, that it is much wiser to wait for the right time than to rush weak legs into an event they are not primed for, that a bull (no matter how stubborn) can learn patience to become a better, stronger runner.

I started training a month ago, but when I think of it, I actually began training a full two years back when the contagious bug that is the marathon entered my bloodstream.

I’m hoping you catch the virus, too (if you haven’t got it yet). So, this begins my “Marathon Diary” (M.D.) series from now until Marathon Day (hey, it’s M.D., too!), December 6. I’ll share with you bits and pieces (or even long tales) about my marathon training, the people who will support me along the way, the gear that will help me achieve it, and any marathon thoughts that come to mind (I’m sure there will be many.) Until then…