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If you’re free next Thursday, I suggest you drop by ROX for Running Aid 3.

I was pretty impressed with the wealth of information provided at Running Aid 2. According to my sources—okay fine, it was Pinoy Ultra Runners team principal and speaker of this session who informed me—that this session will be even more interesting.

They are bringing in treadmills to have lecturers comment on the running form and technique of some Pinoy Ultra Runners. If there’s time, you might be one of the lucky few who get your form critiqued by the experts (and audience as well). Hmm…now I’m not so sure if I’d like that.

Hope to see you there!

P.S. Don’t you just love their posters? Bayani Fernando should hire their designer.

Hospital duties left me feeling bloated and cranky. I missed days of running, consumed every little thing in sight due to sheer boredom (from Boy Bawang to butong pakwan), and temporarily lost the ability to sweat within the four walls of that tiny air-conditioned room.

The only training I got this week was a measly 30 min run on the treadmill (which I abhor) last Tuesday. So, today I woke up with a mission: to get the most out of my training during the little time I had this morning—the time between dropping the two kids at school until my little girl got out.

There was no time for dilly-dallying; I was not willing to waste even a minute of travel time that could be used for running instead, so I parked my car at a convenient location, Festival Mall. For the first time, I explored new territory crossing the main road towards Palms Country Club.

Woooah, it was like discovering a new track behind my backyard. I know a lot of runners and bikers who frequent the area, but I never felt the need to run here as I was quite satisfied with my regular running route. Now, I know I can try this route once in a while to spice my training up a bit.

This area has wide, clear roads lined with trees to shade you from the sun. Traffic is low with some roads impassable to cars where one can actually run on the middle of the entire street. It isn’t as secure as running inside a village, but there are security guards all over the place. Most roads are flat so you can practice speedwork here or run easy, but if you’re craving for hill training, just run towards Palms Country Club for a long, challenging uphill climb that’ll leave you feeling exhausted.

I ran around this area for a satisfying 10k with a time of 57.40 at an average pace of 5:46 min/km. Then, this runner-on-a-mission dropped by SOS Village to register for the Hope in Motion 10k race this Sunday. I jumped in the car and proceeded to the village pool where I managed to squeeze in a quick 400m swim in 14 mins before showering and picking up the little girl.

Mission accomplished. Now for my next goal: a massage. That should be a whole lot easier to achieve.

We all know someone—a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, colleague—who has/had cancer. But, for me, this week, a great big cancer scare never hit this close to home.  Suffice it to say that I spent much of the week at the hospital caring for this relative; waiting with bated breath for the biopsy and colonoscopy results; and praying endlessly for a successful operation that would remove the mass—at that time, we weren’t sure if it was benign or malignant—that blocked his colon.

Thank God the operation went well yesterday. Initial results showed that the mass is benign and my relative is on his way to a smooth recovery. Phew, nothing like a big scare like that to shake up your world and almost mandate you to reassess your life.

In the physical aspect, good nutrition and exercise are key to cancer prevention.  I hope you can say YES to these questions below:

• Are you conscious of your health?
• You do know that running alone isn’t going to cure you of all your health problems, right? A 21k doesn’t give you the license to eat all the junk in sight. 
• Have you been eating your fruits and veggies (specifically great cancer fighters like grapes, melon and broccoli) just like mom taught you? 
• Do you eat skinless chicken or fish more often than red meat?
• Do you use olive oil instead of butter?
• Do you enjoy home-cooked meals more than dining at McDo or Jollibee?  
• Do you drink tons of water?
• Have you already quit smoking? Or, you never smoked at all, right?
• Do you get a regular massage not just to relieve the aches and pains in your legs but also to alleviate stress?
• Do you put sunblock before a run?  Yes, it’s sticky and slimy but it’s worth the trouble, guys!
• Have you been running (or exercising at all) and not just sitting here reading this blog?
• Do you know what you just stuffed into your mouth?

Speaking of cancer, there’s an upcoming 8k race called Run Against Pain on October 18 at the Quirino Grandstand, Roxas Blvd.  This is celebration of Global Day Against Cancer Pain, for the benefit of the Pain Society of the Philippines.  

I’m still choosing between Run Against Pain, Takbong May Yabang at Alabang, and Paa-Bilisan on the 19th. (Click List of Races for more info)  Or, maybe I’ll just enjoy a long slow run on Sunday.  Let’s see.  

Last September 25, my Little Miss Bull Runner turned 4.  Mommy Bull Runner was busy with birthday preparations, which is why I didn’t post as often here. (This belated post is due to my playing catch up to all my missed workouts during the busy week.)

– She’s 4 already?! –

Little Miss Bull Runner shows potential for becoming a great runner. Every single day, she beats me at our 50m race. When I pick her up from school—as soon as we head out the doors—she yells out to me “Let’s race!” So, we take our starting positions then I’ll dictate “Ready, Get Set…STOP!” at which she’ll tentatively take a few steps, laugh at herself for her mistake, and scream “Mama!”

As race official, I restart my countdown “Ready, Get Set…Go!” and we take off. She wins by a step every single time! I never let her win (parents aren’t supposed to do that); she does it on her own. However, I am considering revising race rules soon as I believe my frequent losses are a result of my heavy load: I carry my shoulder bag, laptop, her lunch box and school bag during the race!

The unique thing about Little Miss Bull Runner is her running form; that’s why I know she has a special talent for running. I can already imagine her as a varsity track star leaving all competition in the dust with scouts enlisting her for scholarship due to her patented, aerodynamic running style.

You see, Little Miss Bull Runner runs with her right arm outstretched, whirling about like a propeller. She always, always runs this way whether she’s racing with me or Kuya; she’s running at school; or playing at home.

– Notice the right propeller arm –

When we interviewed her about this, she replied in her own words that running that way would make her faster. How so?  She has no idea; she said it was the famous mouse Jerry (of Tom and Jerry) who runs this way when he’s being chased by the mischievous cat Tom and he never gets caught. Don’t argue—my little girl has a point.

Mommy Bull Runner is hoping (and praying) that she will end up having the same passion for running as I do. But, if not, I just want to see her grow up to be happy and healthy in her chosen path.

To my Little Miss Bull Runner, happy 4th birthday!

Who’s joining this one? I’ll definitely be there. Yet another race climbing up the wonderful hills of Country Club Drive…

Click to download registration form and  race mechanics.