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“God gave me a gift. I got the chance to use it.… I didn’t think I deserved what people were saying. My talent is just more visible than theirs.”

– Grete Waitz

– Grete Andersen (before she married and changed her name to Waitz) at Bislette 1976 after she set a new world record in the 3000 meter event – (Photo: ScanPix)

I found this inspiring article (yes, you men will enjoy it too) about Waitz’s first marathon on marathonguide.com.

Who is Grete Waitz? She is one of the most acclaimed long-distance female runners of the century. She set world records in the 3,000 meter event (1975, 1976) and became the world women’s marathon champion in 1983. Waitz won the women’s silver medal in the marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games. In 1978-1988, she won the New York marathon nine times (I repeat, NINE!) and was the first woman to finish that race in under 2.5 hours. Beat that.

– Grete Waitz gives Lance Armstrong some last minute tips before the ING New York City Marathon 2006. Waitz, who is battling cancer, thanked Armstrong for his support since her diagnosis in 2005. – (Photo: ING New York City Marathon)

Sources: “Grete Waitz.” Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2006, “Grete Waitz.” Quotations. Quotations Book, 2005. Answers.com 15 May. 2007.

Elite runners probably know their bodies so well that they know when to push harder, slow down, run longer, or stop. For the novice runners, it will take some time to listen and learn to what their previously indolent bodies have to say (I’m speaking for myself, really). For all types of runners though, it’s been said that monitoring your heart rate is still the best way to go to determine your pace, maximize your training runs, and track your progress.

For the longest time now, I’ve been using my hubby’s hand-me-down stopwatch that he received as a giveaway in a company sales conference. It’s not very attractive—it has a high-tech cum alien look to it—but it’s free so I don’t mind looking like a martian at all during my runs. Then, last week, Mayi and Jamike ran with us and Jamike was sporting his Polar. He even had the foot module on to track our distance and pace.

Oooh, I thought, I want one.

No, that’ll cost you, my conscience tells me.

You’ve worked hard and you deserve it.

You’re spending way too much on accessories.

Shut up, conscience, I said. Maybe my hubby can get me a second birthday gift? The following day, I drop by Time Depot at Festival Mall and pick up a Polar brochure. That evening, I show the Polar RS 200 to my Hubby and exclaim with much excitement “They are more affordable than I thought! I should’ve asked for this on my birthday instead of the ipod you gave!” Biting the bait, he replies “Yeah, if the budget permits then why don’t you get one?” I want to tap myself on the back for a job well done, but before I can celebrate my victory, my authoritarian conscience whispers “Isn’t it preschool enrollment next week?” Shucks, I nod in forced surrender.

So being the good mother that I am (don’t laugh), I shall patiently wait for the right time (read: Christmas) to buy my Polar Watch. In the meantime, I shall drool over and dream of the Polar that shall be mine.

– the Polar RS 200 with the option to connect to the foot module (when I get it for my birthday 2008 haha!) –

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommies out there!  Motherhood is the most fulfilling experience in the world, but at times it can also be the most arduous, pull-your-hair-out-in-frustration, maddening act yet.  One hug from our little ones though and all the difficulties simply melt away. If only baby fat could evaporate as quickly…

After giving birth to my second child in 2004 and breastfeeding her for 15 months, I set on the task of losing weight. My goal was to get back to my pre-wedding weight—wishful thinking I thought but it was worth a try. So there I was walking at least 3x a week on my treadmill, eating the least amount of food I could (when I had enough self-control to stay away from my waterloo: Munchies and Stick-Os), and doing 2 sets of crunches and leg lifts 3x a week. By my daughter’s first birthday, I managed to lose a fair amount of weight, but I was stuck with the oh so popular last five pounds. Well, mine was actually 8. I owned this weight for more than a year—then I picked up running.

By the first 6 months running, I lost 2 of those dreadully stubborn pounds, but it was such a major effort on my part. One weekend of partying and bingeing would pull my weight back up instantly. I constantly had to watch what I was putting in my mouth or else all my exercise would go to waste.

Everything changed when I started training more seriously with Coach B. It’s just been 2 weeks and I’ve already lost 4 more pounds. In fact, the weightloss is too quick for me that I now have to increase my food intake—woohoo! Coach B says that, to prepare for our 10k run this coming Sunday, we have to carbo load. So in my mind I already have a list of the pizza and pasta places we just have to visit this week (On top of the list is Bravo for Chef Tiziano pizza and salmon penne.) After years of dieting and starving, “forced” eating to maintain my weight is certainly a welcome change!

– Me, Coach B, & Annie after our Super Heavy Run yesterday. I think I lost 2 lbs. after that! –

Many runners use a treadmill to get a good workout. It is one of the most effective ways to burn those calories without having to confront the outdoor elements—the harsh heat of the sun, torrential downpours, strong winds, dogs with no rabies shots, muggers—you get the point? The information provided by most treadmills such as calorie count, distance, time, and heart rate is an added bonus to runners who track their runs. Personally, I find that it’s a great way to watch The Today Show or Oprah without turning into a couch potato.

When I got home from my 45-minute road run early this morning, I realized I hadn’t touched my treadmill in two weeks. Mind you, in treadmill time that is pretty long considering they just sit there all day waiting for someone to hop unto them. Poor treadmill, I thought, it had seen more productive days when it was all I knew in the early days of my running.

– my treadmill gathering dust this summer –

With our running group meeting regularly four times a week, I have absolutely no time for my treadmill nowadays. Don’t tell my treadmill but I’m pretty happy about not using him because I’m completely thrilled with my road runs. (By now you should be saying “Oh that’s why she entitled this ‘The Velveteen Treadmill!'”) My worry is, when the rainy season starts and school begins, will I have the patience to cover a 1-hour run on my treadmill? Without the scenery, the wind, the chatter, how will I survive?

Oh wait, I forgot, there is always Oprah.

I woke up as giddy as a schoolgirl at 430 in the morning of March 18, 2007. It was the day of my first ever run at the Pinay In Action 5k/10k Fun Run in Fort Bonifacio Global City. There were a lot of questions in my mind: what do I eat for breakfast? (I had half a cup of coffee and graham crackers anyway), what do I wear? (I had my usual sports attire with a new training bra underneath—woohoo!), will they have a restroom in the area? (me and my uncontrollable bladder), and last but not the least, will I finish?

Thankfully, my 6-year old son expressed his interest in joining the 3k just the night before. So he and my hubby (my son’s guardian for the race) were coming along. (If you’ve got kids, let me tell you that fun runs can be a great bonding experience for the family while teaching your kids about the value of exercise and fitness.)

– My son and I before the race –

We arrived in the scene to see hundreds of people (most of them were women since this was a women’s run) getting ready for the race—others were warming up, some were still registering, and all the rest were chatting away in groups. The place was charged with positive energy and enthusiasm. I whispered to my husband, “I could get used to this.”

After a brief speech by Sen. Pia Cayetano about women’s health and empowerment, we were off.

– Sen. Pia Cayetano leads the start of the run –

Knowing my husband and son were way in the back, I concentrated on my run. I found a comfortable running pace and safely stayed with this throughout the race. Since this was also a walk event, I was running past a lot of women who were just strolling and this gave me a lot of confidence (Thank God I definitely won’t be the last to finish! Hah!)

– Can you see me? I must be there somewhere –

– Girl Power: Women runners finish the race –

I reached the finish line at 33.38 minutes. I was surprised to hear that this was a great time for beginners. I was proud of myself. After all, my only goal was to finish!

LIST OF WINNERS, PINAY IN ACTION 2007:

5-KILOMETER RUN
19 Years Old & Below (Rank-Name-Time)
1st Place – Kim Mangrobang – 22.25
2nd Place – Amelita Arcilla – 23.39
3rd Place – Michelle De Vera – 24.31
20-29 Years Old
1st Place – Maria Fe Dumandan – 24.12
2nd Place – Lou Andrea Sison – 30.51
3rd Place – Juliana Bennison – 32.15
30-39 Years Old
1st Place – Genevieve dela Peña – 23.19
2nd Place – Margaret Malewski – 28.26
3rd Place – Jessica Vaughn – 28.28
40 Years Old & Above
1st Place – Ma. Luisa Dulnuan – 26.39
2nd Place – Susan Lafferty – 28.02
3rd Place – Elma Naval – 28.05

10-KILOMETER RUN
19 Years Old & Below (Rank-Name-Time)
1st Place – Cinderella Agana – 40.32
2nd Place – Gabrielle Marie Santos – 1:00.03
3rd Place – Andrea Marie Santos – 1:16.19
20-29 Years Old
1st Place – Ailene Tolentino – 40.32
2nd Place – Jennifer Deana Baldonado – 41.42
3rd Place – Marilou Arevalo – 42.03
30-39 Years Old
1st Place – Rizzo Tangan – 49.22
2nd Place – Merlyn Lumagbas – 49.35
3rd Place – Ellis Boray – 52.43
40 Years Old & Above
1st Place – Rose Milagrosa Fercol
2nd Place – Bess Regler
3rd Place – Elenita Dans

* Photos (except Anton and I) and List of Winners courtesy of Companero Rene Cayetano Foundation