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Don’t forget about Running Aid for Women tomorrow, 7pm, at ROX, Bonifacio High Street.  I’m working on my presentation as I type (talk about multi-tasking!)  

Click here for more details.

See you there!

– Clockwise: TBR, Dindo (RunningDATcom), Wayne (SFRunner), Doray (Doralicious), Gene (Barracuda Running), Eric (Run for Change), Bards (Banana Running) and Jay (Prometheus Cometh). Not in photo: Marga (The Changeling Child) –

Last Monday evening, a few of us running bloggers had dinner with Wayne, who is on a 10-day vacation here in Manila, at Sentro, Greenbelt.  

Truth be told, Wayne and I are not very close. Even online, we are not the best virtual pals with only a few comments exchanged between each other’s blogs. But, I was so curious to meet this man who has such a strong online presence in the local running community via blogs and egroups—even if he doesn’t have a single drop of Pinoy blood in his body.

When I first met Wayne at VSO, it was hi and hello.  During dinner last Monday, I was fortunate enough to have conversed with him longer and to finally get to know more about the SFRunner.

Wayne shared the story about how he serendipitously got chosen by cross-country and track coaches in high school after he ran the fastest mile at PE class.  Since then, he has run almost 60,000 miles with 900 races under his belt. With all that experience, you would think he would go on and on about his achievements in his running career, but he doesn’t; this guy is as humble as you can get. 

At one point during our conversation, he even gets serious as he shares his dream for our Filipino elite runners to join the Olympics and the need to uplift running here in the country.  Wayne seems to be more Pinoy than most of our fellowmen.  I think that if there is anyone who should be given honorary membership into the Filipino running community, it should be Wayne aka SF Runner.  

Hope you enjoy your stay here, Wayne!  10 days is too short.

To the running bloggers, it was fun!  We should do it again.  Next time sana may chicharon bulaklak at si Jay ang magbayad ng lahat 🙂

Click here to visit Wayne’s blog: SF Runner.

Okay, this is doubly late news. I’m talking about The Robinson’s Fit & Fun Buddy Run that was featured in Maurice Arcache’s Without Batting an Eyelash column last Wednesday, November 5. It’s doubly late because we all know that the Buddy Run was held last July 27.

Here’s the funny thing: the hubby and I were featured!  Judging from our appearance below, this was definitely way too long ago—to be exact, a full 6 lbs. ago for me (as I had just returned from injury) and 7 lbs. for the hubby. We were not “fit”, but we were definitely having “fun.”

Before the roosters crowed, at around 5 a.m. yesterday, a large number of giddy runners, including myself, had gathered at NBC Tent for the VSO Bahaginan Run. After two short trips to the rest room, I made my way to the assembly area in search of my training group for our 15km run.  JunC, Jay, Dindo, Dra. Doray, Levy and I had agreed to run together at a relaxed 6 min/km pace for this run.  At such an early time, I wondered if I’d ever find them in the dark.  Good thing Levy is a runner/triathlete stuck in a basketball player’s body so I caught sight of him first. Pretty soon, the others appeared; we were complete. 

I almost regretted waking up early for this race, as it started 20 mins. late at 5:50 a.m. instead of the 5:30 call time. However, the long wait gave me the opportunity to finally meet Wayne (who just flew in from SF), Nora (truly the golden girl because her mere presence lights up the room, or in this case, the road) and other runner friends that were just everywhere!

The course was similar to Mizuno and Nike Human Race’s course; in a word, it was challenging. By now, most of us know that when McKinley Hill is included in the map, one should take extra steps to train well for the race, plus make the Sign of the Cross soon after the gun is fired.

When the race started, our group stuck like glue running out of Bonifacio Global City.  As soon as we made our way to Lawton, however, we had split into two.  For the most part though, we managed to stay within our goal pace running at around 6 to 6:20 all throughout the run.  Running with a group made the entire 15km more enjoyable and a lot less gruesome.  Chatting was light and free-flowing with exceptions in the uphill portions and last few kilometers of the race where all talk had stopped (either we ran out of stories or energy—you decide.)

The organizers did a good job as well to make the race as pleasant as possible.  Water was overflowing as is always the case when it’s organized by Coach Rio.  Half of the road was closed so there was less traffic than usual to contend with.  Large and accurate mile markers were also placed along the road to remind us 15km runners that we still had a long, long way to go before we reached the finish…hah!

As for me, everything went smoothly.  The only nightmarish incident I (and other squeamish runners) faced was the last kilometer’s veritable obstacle course where hundreds of higads hung from trees waiting to pounce on our sweaty faces.  Aaaack!  Thanks to good samaritan Mark Parco who warned us all about our entrance into higad territory.  I was ready to get run over by a car rather than have a higad land on my face!

According to my Garmin, I ended my 15 km run (exact measurement from organizers…great job) at 1:33:14 with a pace of 6:11 min/km.  After crossing the finish, I took a few gulps of water, had a few photos taken with Nora and Bald Runner, and run off to the comfort room for a quick change before our 2nd portion of the run.

– With superfast women, Annie (3rd place 15k) and Lala –

– With my favorite coach, Coach JoAr. You have to check out Photographer Ben’s cool photos of him here –

Within 5 to 10 mins, JunC, Jay, Dindo and I began our next run at a slower 7 to 7:30 min/km pace.  My goal was to run a total of 22 km and initially I thought I could do it.  However, after one loop around Market! Market!, with the sun beating down on us at 7:40 a.m., I decided to call it a day a little before 2km.  My total for the day was 17km.

When I got home, I wanted to slap myself in the face for making the impulsive and foolish decision to quit with only 5km to go before I reached my goal. Argggh.  Sayang!  Oh well, I stopped beating myself up for it this morning when I woke up with a sore left thigh; I guess it’s good I got some rest in preparation for NB 25 next week.  As for how I’m going to finish 25km with only 20km as my highest mileage ever is a question that I have yet to answer…gulp.

– Nowadays, once you take out a cam, everyone just comes running! In this photo: (FRONT ROW L to R) Coach JoAr, Vince, Coach Rio, Mark P., Master John Ting. (BACK L to R) Taki, TBR, Jaimie, Zinnia, Philip, Glenn, Tiffin, Mon, Ipe, and two other running friends. –