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Finally, runners are getting the attention and care that they deserve…

To promote the love for running and to help those who are already in love with it, Nike is starting a training clinic for runners. The NIKE RUNNING TRAINING CLINIC offers a 16-module training for beginning as well as advanced runners, free of charge! There will be two training sessions every week, plus scheduled rest days and run-on-your-own assignments. The sessions will be supervised by Coach Rio de la Cruz, himself a passionate runner and an inspiring teacher.

Each training session will have a maximum of 100 participants. So registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.  

REGISTRATION STARTS NOVEMBER 7, 2008 (That’s today!)

CLASSES START NOVEMBER 14, 2008

To sign up, click here to visit its cool website.  Remember: You have to SIGN UP for a session even after you REGISTER.  I’m the 2nd registrant for the Nov. 14 Orientation…I can’t wait!

Great job, Nike!

Last October 30, 2008, my dearest Daddy went to sleep and never woke up again.  He passed away at 78 in his own bed with half of the family at home with him.  We are still grieving, but there is comfort in knowing that he left with peace in his heart and a gentle smile on his face.

How ironic that I found myself in the Happiest Place on Earth just a few days after his death.  I woke up at 5:30 a.m. in HK Disneyland’s Hollywood Hotel, laced up my shoes, and prepared for a run which would pay tribute to my Dad’s life; it wasn’t going to be a “grief run” but a celebration of his life and his legacy.  It was—in a spiritual kind of way—a kind of prayer as I offered this run to God and asked him to care for my father and welcome him with open arms.

I stood at the start of my favorite jogging path, the same one I ran last summer, which faced the sea and offered a breathtaking view of Hong Kong.  I took in the cool breeze, switched my ipod on, and started with a slow jog.  

The first track that played was Mariah Carey’s “Bye Bye” and—with all the tiny hairs on my arms standing as well as a small shiver up my spine—I knew that this was not sheer coincidence.  Trying my best to keep the tears from falling, I took in the lyrics of the song and thought about Daddy:

…I never knew I could hurt like this
And everyday life goes on like
“I wish I could talk to you for awhile”
Miss you but I try not to cry
As time goes by
And soon as you reach a better place
Still I’d give the world to see your face
And I’m right here next to you
But it’s like you’re gone too soon
Now the hardest thing to do is say bye bye…

…This is for my peoples who just lost somebody
Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady
Put your hand way up high
We will never say bye (no, no, no)
Mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, friends and cousins
This is for my peoples who lost their grandmothers
Lift your head to the sky ’cause we will never say bye

I ran like a madwoman thinking of nothing but my Dad through the run even as I reached Disneyland Park on one end and Inspiration Lake on the other.  I felt I could’ve gone on forever but decided to end at 12k to make it to my flight home.

It was the interment for my Dad yesterday morning.  I am the youngest of 7 children and I was asked to give the eulogy in behalf of the family.  It was the toughest talk I had ever given, but it was also a release of a multitude of emotions, and my last chance to tell Dad how much I loved him.  Somewhere in the lengthy speech I had stayed up all night to write, I told Dad that we loved him, we would miss him, and with my head lifted up to the heavens, I said to my dearest Daddy that we would never ever say goodbye.

– Love you, Dad –

Thank you to all the runners who sent their condolences and offered prayers, especially those who took the time out to come to my Dad’s wake.  Truly appreciate it.

A reader of this blog, Mikey, posted an update about fellow Filipinos (including himself) who ran New York Marathon last Sunday.  Big thank you, Mikey!  Here’s what he wrote:

Greetings from New York!

Just wanted to report to you what had just happened in Barrio Nueva Yorka.

With Paula retaining, dos Santos regaining and yes no Kenyans this time, a good number of Pinoys made walastikish sub-4 performances, Franchesca Carpo of Makati – 3:48, Leonardo de Ocampo Jr. of Muntinglupa – 3:55, Dino Paolo Pison of Bacolod – 3:40, Jon-Jon Rufino of Makati – 3:42 and Achtung, Achtung: MICHAEL MESINA – a bumubukol na 3:12 – HE IS BOSTON BOUND!

Other kabayans garnered fairly good bragging rights of overrunning the five boroughs, Roman Azanza – 4:25, Rosanna Kristine Cruz – 6:43, Ana de Ocampo – 4:16, Margarita Beatriz Locsin – 4:50, Rishi Mirani – 5:57, Gem Padilla – 5:02, Genea Padilla – 6:01 and Vicente Rufino – 7:17.

Her Royal Highness Jamby’s taray on Senadora Pia Cayetano may have been a distraction, as she finished 4:10, two minutes off her last NYC. Her ading Direk Lino Cayetano finished with a 4:38.

I had a crappy 4:22, having hit the wall at Mile 23, and literally dragged my feet around the peripheries of Central Park. No excuses though, I went to a gunfight armed with a butter knife.

This is one karera which one real runner should do before allowing themselves to die!

By the way, the digits above were made by silly Pinoys who travelled half way around the world from their respective sitios, not included are Pinoy yuez citizens, grin card holders or even TNTs.

Another tidbit from Mikey:

Of the three Carpo sisters, both Manda (3:39) and Leica (3:40) qualified for Boston. Unfortunately, Franchesca fell short by 8 minutes. Sayang!

Wooah, congratulations to all the NY Marathon runners!

To the Carpo sisters, you make us proud.  Bow bow bow!

The hubby and I started our run last night at exactly 7:46 p.m. At 7:47 p.m., just as we exited the gate of my in law’s home, it started to drizzle. Hubby asked “Rain or shine?” And, I replied with a smile “Yup!”  Before we even reached a full kilometer, it was pouring. Hubby offered his cap, but I declined wanting to feel the rain on my face. (How dramatic!)

Our first few kilometers was almost serene. We were talking in the beginning, but once the rain got stronger, we both fell into a comfortable silence. Sounds of the rain falling on rooftops, the croaking of frogs, and our shoes hitting the pavement was like a celebration of nature.

Never mind that I almost stepped on two bullfrogs and played patintero with a third, or that I had to squint to avoid the rain from hitting my eyes, or that both of us ran as if we were in an obstacle course avoiding puddles and holes.  Never mind if we ended with our shoes, socks, and insoles completely soaked and hubby worried that my wet top had already gone transparent (which it had but thank God for sports bras!)  

Who cares if I’m typing this now with a runny nose and an aching throat?  Last night’s 7k run was well worth it. It had the makings of a perfect run, or at least it would be up there on top of my list of favorites.  

Now let me just go get my Vitamin C + zinc and drink a dose of Berocca.

Mark your calendars: November 13, Thursday, 7 p.m. is the next date for Running Aid 3 at ROX, Bonifacio High Street.  This time, however, it will be for the ladies!  Guys are welcome to attend as long as they behave and pretend to be interested in girl talk.

Speakers will be: Elizabeth Siojo, founding member of Pinoy Ultra Runners, and The Bull Runner (who the hell is that?!)  Seriously, I will try to my best to give a comprehensive guide on everything women need for running and attempt to answer questions that I myself was afraid (or embarrassed) to ask a male running friend or coach.

It should be yet another informative and entertaining talk. If not, let’s all just go out to BHS and run…tsk tsk. See you there!