Author Archives:

Funny how I feel like I’m starting anew right smack in the middle of the year.  Amid the chaos caused by H1N1 and the storm Feria, I sit here typing with a sense of stability, fortitude, and an eagerness to move forward with my running.

For over 6 months (yes, it was that long), I dealt with runner’s knee, ITBS, post-tib tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis all on my left leg due to my flat feet.  And, all that time, I felt like I was in limbo.  I could not commit to any training program nor plan for any race.  I didn’t know what problem would crop up next.  The physical pain from injuries were easy  to take.  It was the emotional stress that was pure torture—having a dream marathon stolen from me and worse not knowing when I could lace up again without worries.  

That’s all over now.  There hasn’t been any pain for over a month.  I’ve got a race in mind for the end of August and I have a running program that will prepare me well enough for it.  It feels good to adhere to a running program again (I started this week)—pencilling in a weekly plan into my journal and ticking this off with a pen once accomplished; it’s been too long since I’ve done that.  

While it’s raining outside, the skies are bright on my front.  I can once again dream of how far I can go with my feet.

For those who sent in questions regarding online registration for Run for Home, here’s a note from Vince Mendoza of Finish Line, the organizer of Run for Home:

Hi Everyone,

Good new, we’ve already sent out all online registration confirmation email. For those will do the online registration (which was fixed already a couple of days ago), please expect the confirmation email within 24 hours. We need to wait for the bank to confirm the payment first before we send out your confirmation. This means that transaction made on weekend will have to wait till Monday to get their confirmation emails. Thanks

Gig Run race packs for June 28 are disappearing quickly.  For those who ran out of registration forms, here’s a note from UPM member Leorence A. Amaville forwarded by Hector of Second Wind (thanks Hec!):

There will be a special registration of the remaining kits that will be pulled out from reg sites.


Where: UP diliman AS parking lot


When: 4pm, 6/27/09


For questions, just contact Leorence:  09274217827

I was invited to the press conference for Run For Home, Globe-Ayala City Run For Habitat for Humanity slated for July 19, 2009 last night.  Speakers included Angelo from Globe and Vince Mendoza and Coach Rio de la Cruz from Finish Line.  

– Globe Team –

I took down notes and came up with the following reasons why you should NOT join this race:

1. Disposable champion chips will be used for all race distances.  No need to squeeze into crowded assembly areas and crawl your way to the front line.  Your time starts when you cross the starting line, not when the gun fires, so it doesn’t matter if you start a few seconds or minutes late.  See, there’s no reward for being an early bird at this race.
2. You can’t use thirst or dehydration as an excuse for your slow time at this race.  For the 21km, Coach Rio said that he plans to have water stations at every kilometer.  Sponges will be available too.
3. The race course includes Ayala Avenue, an area that is rarely used in races, and will turn around Ayala Triangle.  If you’re a regular racer, you’ve memorized all the bumps, humps, and cracks on the usual race roads of Bonifacio Global City, so running in this new uncharted territory may be quite a challenge for you.
4. There will be live microblogging (Twitter and Plurk) during the race.  Everyone—even non-running friends and relatives—will get live updates on your run.  Pressure!
5. Results will be provided with RunPix, the exact program used at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon last year.  (Click here to get a visual)  So, you’ll know how many runners outpaced you, exactly where you were when the first runner crossed the finish line, your place among all the other finishers, or—if you’re male—your worst nightmare yet: how many women finished ahead of you.  Are you ready to face the truth?
6. PixLink and Tattoo blogging at the race area may be too entertaining and you forget to run.
7. You’ll have a memorabilia of the race depicting a drenched and exhausted version of you when you claim your FREE race photo available for download at PhotoVendo.  
8. The scrumptious food at the bazaar ala Salcedo Market after the race will make you gain back all the calories you lost during the run.
9. 6,500 runners are expected to show up.  More people to chase after.
10. This race promises to be one of the best races ever held in Manila.  If the organizers are successful at pulling this off, then all other races you’ll join in the future will pale in comparison.

I’ve registered for the 21km already.  I’m ready to take all the risks I’ve mentioned above if only to experience this one-of-a-kind, well-planned event.

REGISTRATION AREAS (only until JULY 3, 2009):
– all Globe business centers
– all Fitness First branches (Metro Manila)
– Runnr, Bonifacio High Street
– online at www.globe.com.ph/runforhome

– Vince of Finish Line –

– Vince, Jay, Vimz, Coach Rio, myself, Raymund, Taki, Marga, Dingdong, and Jun –

Botak has announced that it will only hold the BOTAK Paa-tibayan Takbo 100KM Ultra-Marathon Race this Sunday.  All other race distances—the street mile challenge, 5 miler, and 10 miler—-has been postponed to August 23, 2009.

Official memo from Botak: 

The Ultra-Marathon Races – 100K and 50K solo shall proceed this coming weekend but due to the pressure from our school participants we are re-scheduling the date for our Street Mile, 10 and 5 Miler Race this coming June 28, 2009 to Aug. 23, 2009 in the UP Campus Diliman.

We had received a number of requests from our school participants who had been affected by the recent virus scare also. BOTAK has been tapping grass roots participants (kids and students from various schools, public and private) to participate however a lot of schools had been closed or either cancelled. The bulk of our registrants came from the corporate and schools category.

With all this we had painstakingly considered a changed of schedule.