Category Archives: Bullish Insights

The hubby is sailing on a ship right now somewhere between Phuket and Singapore.  I, on the other hand, went on solo flight this morning.  I ran alone for the first time in weeks.  10k under the 8 to 9 a.m. heat.  It was sublime.

For the past months, I’ve been running with a group.  It has its advantages.  Long runs seem shorter with never ending chatting and bits of chismis.  Bangus with sinangag after a run also tastes better when shared over laughter and cheer.  But, like my Dad told me over and over, too much of anything can be bad.

In this sense, it wasn’t bad at all.  I just needed a change of pace. (No pun intended.)  Just like any training program, where you have to combine tempos, intervals, and long runs to achieve your best running performance, I realized that a healthy mix of solo runs, couple runs, and large group runs every week works best for me.

I didn’t realize how much I sorely missed my solo runs until today.  When I run solo, there’s a heightened sense of awareness over everything around you: your shoes hitting the ground, the people you pass along the way, the birds chirping, and the steepness of the ascent you’re currently climbing (uh oh).   I viewed the roads in a different way (I never noticed that new house across the street). I listened to everything and anything around me.  And, best of all, I used the time to think away.  There’s no better way to get my ME time than through a fast 10k run.

See you at the 3rd Bull Circle tonight!  It starts at 7 pm in ROX, Bonifacio High Street.

We’ll be discussing important topics tonight: Hydration for Marathoners by Dr. George Canlas and Nutrition for Marathoners by Armand and Mitch Felipe-Mendoza.

As a bonus, one of our sponsors for TBR Dream Marathon, Omron will be there to provide free body fat monitoring and blood pressure monitoring.  They’ll also give free massage using their Omron TENS Massager.  The talk is free and open to the public!

For TBR Dream Marathoners, you may claim your FREE ticket to The Galloway Method.  Tickets may also be purchased there.  For more info on The Galloway Method in Manila, click HERE.

See you tonight!

Backgrounds of our speakers:

Dr. George Canlas is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is a member of FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Medical Commission. He was once a member of the National Track Team.

Armando “Armand” Mendoza Jr., PTRP is a licensed physical therapist, an ACE-certified personal trainer and lifestyle & weight management consultant for 10 years. He specializes in weight loss programs that integrates exercise training, healthy eating, lifestyle coaching and behavioral modification. Armand is also a full marathon-running coach and a certified sports nutrition counselor. At present, Armand focuses on lifestyle modification/weight management coaching for private/corporate clients and is currently the weight loss columnist for Men’s Health Philippines.

Mitch Felipe-Mendoza is a lifestyle & weight management coach, fitness trainer and runner who has helped her clients manage weight and improve running performance by combining her background in psychology, exercise, nutrition, and injury prevention. She is a licensed physical therapist (DLSU), holds a masters degree in psychology (Ateneo de Manila University) and also certified by the American Council on Exercise. She is also a regular wellness contributor of Philippine Daily Inquirer, a weight loss columnist for Women’s Health Philippines, and nutrition contributor for The Bull Runner Magazine.

For complete sched of TBR Dream Marathon events for January 2011 click here.

Just a few more days until the 2nd Cebu Marathon.  I won’t be flying in this time, but my thoughts will be with all the 6,250 participants (including over a thousand marathoners!) who have registered for the race.

– Thanks to race organizer, John Pages, for sending me this long lost photo just today! This was taken last year with Bea behind me.  Read more about our story here –

I feel all warm and fuzzy when I remember Cebu Marathon 2010.  It was truly one of the best races I had run for the entire year.  Race organization was professional and close to perfect.  But, it was the warmth and hospitality of the locals that set it apart from all other races.  Now, that’s something not just any race organizer can plan for nor fabricate; it comes from the heart of the city and the soul of the people.

Good luck to all those running Cebu this weekend. I can only pray you have as much fun as we did last year!

To Maxi and my dearest Bea, I do hope you’re both joining the race again and that you do great!

This was a post written last June 18, 2009…

I thought I was giving birth yesterday. From 6am to 12nn, I was suffering from extreme stomach pain accompanied by high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The hubby took the kids to school, but I called him a little before lunch begging him to take me to the E.R. I didn’t know how much longer I could endure the pain.  By the time he got home, I was in fetal position and could barely move. It took me a full 30 minutes to get dressed.

It might as well could’ve been written today.  I had another gastroenteritis attack yesterday.  Just like that time in June 2009 and in January 2010 after Cebu Marathon.  The scenario was exactly the same.  The pain just as hellish.  It’s the kind of pain that I hate remembering and pray to God I won’t have to undergo again.

At the moment, I’m still feeling awfully weak. My blood pressure yesterday was 100/70.  I feel like I’ve just run 3 consecutive marathons, that’s how tired I am.  There will be no runs this week and just a whole lot of sleeping (and a bit of working…ack!)

Okay. That’s the corniest way to start the new year.

But, yes, I’ll channel Madame Auring for this post—not for the entire year, mind you!—and make some predictions for our new, exciting year of running:

(1) Back to basics. From gadgets to races (to even P-Noy as President), runners will opt for simplicity rather than extravagance.  Runners will purchase equipment for running, but will focus on the essentials, e.g., the right running shoe.  Runners will not give importance to LCDs or fireworks in a race (those are just bonuses), but will demand for ample hydration, safe route, and the like.  There will be greater interest in simple, natural approaches, such as Chi Running and yoga.

(2) Barefoot shoes will be all the rage. Barefoot running is still a controversial topic, but more runners are seeing (and feeling) the importance of going barefoot at least once in a while (this runner included). I don’t think Pinoys are quite ready to go completely naked down there (in the foot, silly) so we’ll go conservative by purchasing Vibram Five Fingers, Terra Plana’s Evo barefoot shoes, or Nike Frees (still my all time favorite!)

– Nike Free Run+ –

(3) Compression is in. As if there weren’t enough brands of compression tights in the market! Despite the high price and the hot weather, expect more people to purchase compression tights or socks as they go for longer distances. With the great demand, even smaller, lesser known brands may come in.

– A page off of TBR Magazine – October/November 2010 –

(4) NUVALI will be the new BHS…at least as race venue.  Runners know Bonifacio Global City’s route like the back of their hands and we are looking for new courses to conquer.  NUVALI’s fresh air, traffic-less roads, and challenging route will be a refreshing venue for more races this year.  Don’t forget that it can also host muddy trail runs.

(5) Coach Rio will be the star of a new teleserye. As if he’s not doing well enough with race organizing, I predict Coach Rio’s star will shine brighter this year. He’ll be the favored race organizer for those with big budgets…and okay, maybe he won’t have his own teleserye, but we’ll see him more often in the boob tube. This guy deserves all the good karma that’s coming his way.

(6) Runners won’t just run, they’ll stretch and strengthen. It used to be that runners would just run, run, and run, then get injured.  Now, we’re much smarter. We know that it’s important to strength train, do core work, and stretch, not just to avoid injury but to become better runners.  See stability balls, dumbells, TRX Suspension training, foam roller, and other equipment flying off the shelves. See more runners in yoga classes too…and not just the ladies.

(7) Runners will run slower…by choice. It’s still cool to run fast, but it won’t be an issue if you run slow either.  Runners will give more importance to running really slow during their long runs and will even learn the value of run-walking intervals.  Jeff Galloway’s arrival in February should help encourage slow and safe running.

(8) Runners will pay more attention to diet. Sure, we run so we can eat more.  But, runners this year will pay more attention to eating more of the right food to get proper nutrition to fuel their runs. Expect to see more sweaty guys in singlets requesting for non-fat soy milk lattes from their baristas.  Nutrition experts and dietitians will be just as popular as running coaches.

(9) Everyone will be coaches and race organizers. Well, not exactly everyone, but a number of runners without proper credentials nor experience will hope to cash in on the running boom.  This is NOT good for the community.  Think twice before signing up for a run clinic or a race. Do your research on the background of a “coach” or a “race organizer.”

(10) New York Marathon will be the new Singapore Marathon. Two years ago, every runner wanted to run Standard Chartered Singapore.  Now, everyone wants in on New York.  It’s quite costly, but it’s worth every penny.

Did I miss any? What’s your Madame Au-Run-ning prediction for 2011?

Happy New Year to you!