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In one of our previous contests, I posed this question to runners:

What is the single most important gift that running has given you?

The answers were so varied, from improved health to self-respect, yet all with equal and significant importance.  Isn’t running just so amazing?!

This little exercise reminded me to be thankful for the gift of running (especially in this heat when every single step is like 10x the effort…grrr!).  You are blessed to be able to run.  Don’t forget that!

Photo: Levi Lacandula

Sharing with you the great answers from the contest.  Thanks to everyone who sent them in!

Matet Magpantay
The most important gift that running has given me is the life full of motivation that I CAN do everything.

Linno Carlo
Running has taught me to be more patient in every challenges that comes my way.

Rina Galzote
Running gave me that positive outlook in life to be ready for anything knowing that pushing ourselves to the limits of what we think we can do is so much more rewarding.

Russell David
I never thought that running would bring back the confidence within myself because every time I’m facing challenges, my heart speak-up and always said “Nothing beats my willingness to win the race of life!”

Chek
Running made me stay healthy and introduced me to people which I can also call my 2nd family.

Joan Victoria
Runnining resuscitates every delibitated chakra within myself.

John Paul Lipardo
Running teach and gave me Indefinite Resolve!

Engels Precillas
A new perspective in life, that we should not be bound by limits if we want to be victorious in every step we take to a never ending road called life.

June Real
The single, most important gift that running has given to me is the gift of feeling alive and strong.

Joseph Nebrida
My first dead toenail was the most important gift that running had given me, it marked my entry to the 1% of the population (I am a marathoner).

Doty D.
There are three words to remember how running changed my perspective in life–Do Not Quit.

Mildred P. Jocano-Tormes
Running has given me a new definition of strength – it is the the ability to overcome any challenge with the hope that victory is waiting for me.

Marriz Agbon
A second life.

Jah Villa Santander
The single most important gift that running has given me is the true friends I’ve made and the people I’ve come across with who all share the same passion as I do.

disquskraft31
It has given me the confidence that in whatever I do, I can go beyond my limits – to go outside my comfort zone, overcoming big goals by small, but strategic steps.

Cente Man
The single most important gift that running has given me is the incomparable feeling of satisfaction, relief and excitement after finishing a run.

Des Oquendo
Passion is the right word that gift of running has thought me, if you put your mind and heart on running everything will follow.

Calvin Lester M. Leorna
Running taught me the value of being courageous to take on life’s challenges, regardless of the outcome, instead of running away from them.

Charles
Friends and more friends…

Rae
Running’s apparent solitude gives me and my husband a deeper intimacy that surely strengthens our marriage.

Yvonne Urbina
The most important gift that running has given to me is that running teaches me how to live a healthy lifestyle and be the best version of me.

Macky
The most important that running has given me is an exciting and healthy opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

Jharo Villaruel
To become physically fit and have a healthy lifestyle.

zhiella1
The most important gift that running has given me is the ability to start a small community with the sole desire to stay fit and healthy while having fun.

Joy Cerame
RUNNING gave me the truest friends i could ever be with,no faking or anything we’re just united with our passion for running and for that i would always be thankful for.

Maan Hamis
Perseverance & Self Confidence.  I’m 44 yo and was able to finish strong in my 1st 21K. I used to think that people running at 10K are such a jerk but cant believe I, myself are now running 21K.

Odie S. Cacho
Running has given me strength of heart and character.

Goldy dela Cruz
Running let me discover the beauty of life that God had given me.

Colleen De Guzman
Perseverance to finish strong, as never in my mind have I thought I would be able to run 21K continuously (now wanting to join TBR2015) from a feels-like-forever-to-finish 5K before, and (perseverance) to become a better version of myself.

Allan Gregor Bulos
Running has given me self-respect.

Dennis De Castro
Running helps me realize the greater appreciation of life.

Yñiguez Yoel Uy
Life – the further appreciation of being alive, and doing and being the most that I can for myself, family, loved ones, friends, and strangers while I’m alive.

Val
Running constantly feeds and satisfies my competitive edge, against other runners, the clock, and especially myself!

Mike Janeo
The opportunity and privilege to bless others through running, by helping them in their journey towards reaching their goal of finishing a marathon.

Mark Cayetano
Endless supply of difficult but fun challenges to look forward to

Deanna
The greatest gift running has given me is the camaraderie of the running community.

Cheryl Golangco
Confidence. Running has made me believe that I can do anything I set my mind to. Practice, training and discipline are all I need.

Joe R. Soledad
Self-assurance, running has given me more confidence in myself.

Dennis P. Mascardo
Humility.

cflchoa
For the past 8 yrs I’ve been tied up with my kids and my work… Running has been the only thing that was able to make me leave them!!

Cyn David Icasas
There are so many wonderful things that running has given me — discipline, health, fun, friends, achievement and a few awesome medals.

But the single most important one is time with my hubby, where it’s just me and him and the distance we want to run. We’ve watched more sunrises and sunsets together since we started running together, and I would never replace those moments for anything.

Jhunie Oro
To believed in myself that I can do what I think is impossible before.

Joshua Felix Tadena
Being an offspring from both parents having hereditary diseases, running gives me a chance to live a healthy life and keeps me confident that I will not acquire those ever.

Clarissa Rebulanan Almeida
As a diabetic, the single most important gift that running has given me is a healthy lifestyle. 🙂

Gabriel Felix
I started running to get in shape and be healthy, BUT I kept going because I found myself and a renewed passion for life.

Marvin Tiu
I earned Respect.

Rena Loves the Queencity
The best gift that running gave to me is teaching me to celebrate life everyday and face it with fearlessness.

Jun Buensuceso
running has given me a healthier lifestyle

Sherwin Tiglao
Running made me realize that things i thought i could never accomplish in life, i can and i will with perseverance, focus, determination and a good pair of running shoes. Hehe 🙂

Snailrunner
Running gave me more confidence that I can complete tasks and finish what I started, and because I am ready for anything I am traveling to Wisconsin to pursue additional training in my chosen field in medicine and running my first international Half Mary in Marathon City.

It’s DAY 2 of our TBR CINCO DE MAYO Contest!  Read why we’re celebrating and giving away all these prizes on this LINK, then come and have fun with us!

What can you win: 1 pair of TELIC FLIPFLOP, 1 pair of TELIC SLIDE 

Telic footwear is perfect for an active and sporty lifestyle. After a long day of demanding workout and sports activities,  Telic recovery sandals will help you get back on your feet and hit the ground running.

Telic is an excellent sports recovery sandal. It has maximum energy absorption and return to ease joint pain after strenuous activities.  A light heel rock off-loads heel pressure and accentuates the arch support.

How many winners?  Two (2) winners each win one (1) pair Telic recovery sandals

– Telic Flipflop (color of prize may vary from photo) –

– Telic Slide (color of prize may vary from photo) –

HOW TO JOIN?

1) Follow The Bull Runner on Twitter

2) Follow The Bull Runner on Instagram

3) Like The Bull Runner Page on Facebook

4) Post a comment on this blogpost with the answer to this question:

WHY DO YOU RUN? 

Answer must be strictly be in 1 TO 5 WORDS only.  If you use more than 5 words you will automatically be disqualified.

Also include:

– your Name
– Name used in Twitter and FB
– Shoe size
– Gender

HOW CAN I WIN?

• Deadline for submission of entries: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 8:59 p.m.
• All entries submitted within this period complying with directions above will be evaluated by TBR.  10 entries will be shortlisted (I expect to have a hard time choosing among all your answers.  I’m such a softie!) and these entries will then be will be eligible for a raffle to be conducted by TBR via random.org.  There will only be two winners.
• All entries will be moderated and will be approved upon closing of the contest.
• Only one entry per runner. Submission of more than one entry leads to disqualification.
• Winner will be announced on the bottom of this blogpost as an update and will be advised via email on how to claim the prize.  Winner must claim the prize at the venue advised by TBR.  TBR will not ship prizes to provinces or abroad.

May the best runner win!

UPDATE: Congratulations to the winners!  Gryf Olfindo wins 1 Telic Flipflop and Leo Tugade wins 1 Telic Slide!  Please expect an email from me on how to claim your prize. Thank you to everyone for participating!

It’s that time of year again!

If you’re a loyal reader of TBR (and I must thank you for that!), you know that over the past years, I throw a little contest over here in the days leading up to May 5.  It was called the “5 Days to 5/5 Contest” but, this year, I’ve decided to rename it to “Cinco de Mayo.”  It evokes more happiness and, er, it’s less of a tongue twister.  From now on, I hereby declare that it’s not just Mexico and the U.S. that shall celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but festivities shall also commence in this tiny little blog of mine!

WHY CELEBRATE TBR CINCO DE MAYO?

First, it’s my birthday.  I turn…gasp…38.  Some would panic about this, but it’s not that big a deal to me.  Mainly because when people ask me how old I am, I’m still stuck at 27.  Seriously.  I sincerely believe I’m still 27 sometimes.  Other times I think and act like I’m 12.

Second, it’s my 7th blog anniversary.  Yep, for people who don’t know how TBR started, I created the TBR logo and uploaded the first few blogposts on the day of my 30th birthday on our dining table in all of 30 minutes.  I clicked that upload button and thought that no one would ever read the blog (hence, if you read the archives, I disclose high school crushes and completely embarrassing and unnecessary information there).  Lo and behold, after a few years, I actually fooled a number of you into reading…and running. Hehe.  Now, it’s been a full 7 years of writing about running!  (That is so freakin’ long that I’m actually excited for you to see the changes that are coming for TBR.  Come back next week!)

Third, as I’ve said in the past, it’s my time to thank you all for the support, friendship, kind words, screams of encouragement during a race, or just a simple “Hi TBR!” when we bump into each other.  Thank you for clicking on these pages and reading the crazy things that I write because it’s great to feel acknowledged, fantastic to know that someone is making use of what I’m sharing, and, best of all, it’s just awesome to connect with other people in this sometimes mad and lonely world.  Thank you to each of you for allowing me keep TBR and this bull in me alive so that I can continue to do what I love doing and, hopefully, touch even more people’s lives through running.

PARTY TIME!

So, as my way of thanking you all, I spend the next five days trying to make you guys happy!  Now, what makes runners happy…apart from breaking PRs? hahaha.  Fantastic running gear and shoes to make their run even more fun!

From May 1 to May 5, the next five days until my birthday and 7th blog anniversary, I’ll be giving away loads of stuff worth in total over P30,000 to more than a handful of lucky runners!  Each day will have new prizes, new contest mechanics, and new winners.

Thank you so much to our generous sponsors who have donated prizes for our contest!  Mwah!

Shall we begin?

DAY ONE: TBR CINCO DE MAYO

What can you win: 1 pair of SAUCONY GUIDE 7 (color of prize may vary from photo below)

How many winners?  One (1) winner

– Saucony Guide 7 for Men –

– Saucony Guide 7 for Women –

HOW TO JOIN?

1) Follow The Bull Runner on Twitter

2) Follow The Bull Runner on Instagram

3) Like The Bull Runner Page on Facebook

4) Post a comment on this blogpost with the answer to this question:

WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT THAT RUNNING HAS GIVEN YOU? (Answer should only be in one phrase or sentence.  Using more than 1 sentence leads to disqualification.)

Also include:

– your Name
– Name used in Twitter and FB
– Shoe size
– Gender

HOW CAN I WIN?

• Deadline for submission of entries: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 6:59 a.m.
• All entries submitted within this period complying with directions above will be evaluated by TBR.  20 entries will be shortlisted (I expect to have a hard time choosing among all your answers.  I’m such a softie!) and these entries will then be will be eligible for a raffle to be conducted by TBR via random.org.  There will only be one winner.
• All entries will be moderated and will be approved upon closing of the contest.
• Only one entry per runner. Submission of more than one entry leads to disqualification.
• Winner will be announced on the bottom of this blogpost as an update and will be advised via email on how to claim the prize.  Winner must claim the prize at the venue advised by TBR.  TBR will not ship prizes to provinces or abroad.

May the best runner win!

UPDATE (May 2, 7:30AM):  Congratulations to ALLAN C. LIM for winning 1 pair of Saucony Guide 7!  Love all your answers guys!  Thank you to everyone for joining!  Now, on to Day 2!

Why hello there, stranger.  Okay, okay, I know. I’ve been the stranger.  I haven’t been able to blog for over a week.  Gaaah!

The reason?  It isn’t because I’ve been busy because, well, er, I just always am.  But, mainly because this blog was under construction.  My web people told me not to go near it AT ALL.  And so, I obeyed the rules, laced up my shoes and ran, put on my swim suit and did laps at the pool, took off with my Shiv and rode loops over and over, and worked myself to death…which brings me to my next point…

Since I’ve been working really hard, it’s time I took off on a real vacation.  Not a destination marathon.  Not a business trip.  Just time away with the family.

I fell in love with Tokyo when I was there last February for the Tokyo Marathon.  Half the time I was thinking “Anton will love the sushi here.” or “Nia has to see this!”  And, so, tomorrow, we’re flying off to Tokyo (just like the rest of Manila LOL!)  It’s going to be a trip for the kids: Disneyland, skiing, museums, zoos, and a Pokemon Center.  But, of course, while they all sleep, I plan to explore the city in my running shoes.  Be back soon!

For now, follow me on Instagram where I’ll surely be posting photos of the trip.

Hey hey hey, Brooks Run Happy is back! This time with a twist. The race will include obstacle courses and uphill grinds incorporated in a nature inspired route. With a mix of on and off road terrain and the scenic view of Tanay Rizal, this race is expected to be one epic event!

Event: Brooks Run Happy
Date: May 11, 2014

Here’s what they have in store for you in your race kit…

Race Distances and Registration Fee:
5k = P600
10k = P950
16k = P1,450
24k = P1,600

Take advantage of this 5+1 Promo too…

Transportation and Hotel Accommodation:
Runners could avail of the Transportation and Hotel Accommodation upon registration. For more details please visit www.brooksrunning.com.ph/runhappy

Race Kits
Race Kits are inclusive of Race Bib, Race Shirt, Gloves, and Whistle.
16k and 24k will receive a Fitletic Race Bib Holder on the race day.

Medals and Prizes
Finisher’s Medal will be given to 16k and 24k runners.

For more details and race updates like us on facebook and visit www.brooksrunning.com.ph/runhappy