Category Archives: Bullish Insights

So much for downtime. Or rest. Or slowing down. Those days are over for this bull. (I believe it lasted for all of 2 days!)

You see, last week, in the middle of packing for the beach (I told you I was on vaca mode, didn’t I?), I got an invitation from Renze, brand manager of Newton and CW-X, to join the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon this June 27, 2010.

Uhm, that’s next week! But, who the hell cares, of course I said “Yes!”

I registered for the half marathon, browsed through the race website, checked my running journal (just to see how much panic training I have to do), and almost instantaneously I felt the fire to run fast again. KL was more than enough to yank me out of my rest mode and get me back into serious training ASAP.

And serious training I’ve been doing. Last week, I got back into regular programming: I returned to the gym for twice a week core and strength training, ran tempos and hills again, and I joined spinning classes or swam on days I didn’t run. Just two weeks of that and I’ve dropped a couple of those nasty, stubborn pounds that have clung on to my thighs and belly for God knows how long. (Wait till next week when my good friend Harvie fixes my diet. Right Harvs?) Hopefully, I’ll be a lot lighter come race day so my knees won’t have to complain.

Along with Renze and myself, Mary Grace, an elite runner from Cebu, will be sponsored by Newton and CW-X as well. I haven’t met her, but I was told that her winning time at Cebu Marathon was faster than last year’s first placer at KL Marathon.  Cool. We’re crossing our fingers for a podium finish for her.

KL Marathon, here we come!

I was invited to the Run Rhymes with Fun party last night at Taverna Verde on the other end of my world.  But, the trip was well worth it as I finally got to meet Alf Pena-Reyes, one of the masterminds behind Run Rhymes, along with his partner and a friend, Jody Jacinto.

– with Jake, Jody, Drew, Coach Rio, Alf, and Bic –

Alf and Jody through Run Rhymes offer free plyo-run workout sessions in Philsports Complex (Ultra), Pasig every Tuesday.  Alf said that they started with only four friends and now the group has ballooned to over 40 members.  I was a witness to such a big (and fun) running group last night.

Aside from the food, drinks, more drinks, and a raffle prizes (grand prize included round trip tickets c/o PAL to Naga-Camsur, Bora, Cebu or Bohol…wild!), Run Rhymes had an informal forum on all things running.  I, along with other guest panelists: Coach Rio dela Cruz, Drew Arellano, Jake de Guzman, Javy Olives, Hector Yuzon, and Coach Jody Jacinto, answered questions from the curious audience. Well, most technical questions were handled by Coach Rio, Jody and Hec, while the rest of us were there for entertainment and inspiration. Right Drew, Javy, and Jake? hah!

It was great to meet old friends again and to see new faces in this ever growing world of running.  May more running groups like Run Rhymes continue to inspire and motivate more people into our beloved sport!

For more info on Run Rhymes with Fun Sessions, contact Alf (0918-3026302) or Jody (0917-5288767).

Woah, Milo is pulling out all the stops to hype up the upcoming marathon on July 4, 2010. To be honest with you, it’s working for me!

As a graphic designer, I’m a sucker for well thought out and creative concepts, even more for incredible and eye-catching designs. If you’ve got both, plus the budget to have the world see it, then that’s wonderful.

I posted the Milo Marathon poster last week.  Click HERE to view.  Notice how the two posters are related?!  Awesome.

Only yesterday, their website was launched as well…

– Click HERE to visit Milo Marathon website –

– What a pleasant surprise. They asked me to write a short note and I found it posted on the website –

I vote for Milo Marathon website as the best race website so far.  Followed closely by Condura Run 2010.  Any other good ones you liked?

GREAT TV AD…AND ADVOCACY

And, they have a TV ad, too!  Love how the TV ad tugs at your heart strings.  One can actually feel good just registering for the race knowing that you’re giving shoes to school children by running.

I registered last week for Milo half marathon and training has officially begun! (If you read my post last week about slowing down, whoops, disregard it.  I knew I couldn’t stop running for too long.  Perhaps many of you knew that, too!)  Milo, here I come!

OLD DOGS

I think it’s great that Milo Marathon is showing an attempt to innovate not just with the promotion of the race, but with the race itself.  Last year, they implemented timing chips.  This year, they have qualifying times per age category.  And, F-I-N-A-L-L-Y we all don’t have to travel all the way to Greenhills to register!

Last year, pleased with the Milo Marathon Finals, I had this to say about Milo “You can teach an old dog new tricks.”  I believe I was right.  Perhaps by July 2010, I may just call them “The new old kid on the block.”

Read my archived posts about Milo Marathon:

Milo Marathon Finals – November 11, 2009
Milo Manila Marathon – July 22, 2007 (This is when I fainted on the eve of the marathon! Memories!)

Life is moving at a snail’s pace lately, well, relative to the breakneck speed of activities the past month due to TBR Dream.

Finally, there’s breathing space. More time to stop and smell the popcorn from the microwave (and munch on this while watching iCarly with the kids.) More time to catch up with friends via Yahoo or Starbucks. More time to run…

But, I haven’t been running much. Mileage has significantly dropped to 20km a week the past couple of weeks (while the numbers on the scale have been climbing up! Insert panic face emoticon here) For the first time since I called myself a runner 3 1/2 years ago though, I don’t feel guilty. At. All.

With the last few days before school starts, I’m thrilled to stay a little bit longer in bed. To spend an hour or so spinning at the gym (I’m hooked, I tell ya!) or swimming solo. To work on my abs with my trainer…okay, maybe not this one.

As June ushers in the rain to sweep the roads clean, so will it give me time to unload, detach, and recharge. I’m embracing the downtime and I’m not letting go…just yet.

Come next week, serious training begins. That’s when I forge ahead, ready to embark on new adventures. (Hint: Milo on July 4.)

P.S. Have you seen my new running calendar lately?  I’ve included schedules for all running events, not just races but also clinics and talks.  Click HERE to visit.

Once upon a time, in 2007 to be exact, there were only several hundred runners joining races, which were more like mini weekly reunions.  There were no timing chips, lootbags, or even clean water to drink sometimes, but, for some reason, everyone always came home happy and fulfilled.

Once upon a time, all runners were friends.  If you didn’t know one’s name, you at least knew them by face…or by their shoes.  You saw the same runners at every race.  You would get chased down by the same guy who attempted to outrun you the last time, and again, you would cross the finish line first and give him a charming smile as consolation. Haha!

Once upon a time, there was only a small group of running bloggers.  And, we spent hours each day, exchanging stories on our newest adventures and commenting on each others’ posts, while building strong friendships along the way.  The closest virtual friends I had at that time were Banggi, HitMe, and U.S. based ultramarathoner, E-rod.

Recently, E-rod came home to visit.  For the first time, we met face-to-face and, not surprisingly, it felt like seeing an old friend.

– with E-rod (Habang Tumatakbo) –

– with my favorite Happy Feet people (L to R): Joms, E-rod, Banggi, me, Smith, Mon, and Renz –

E-rod was the guy who started our Virtual Runs, where running-bloggers from all over the world—from Newport Beach to Quezon City—would run together all at the same time.  I remember waking up at 4 a.m. just to run solo but with all of them at the same time.  E-rod was also the guy who teased us with his beautiful photos of his runs in the U.S…and all the super-sized food he’d eat after.  Of course, I’ll always remember him for his bird’s-eye view shots of his running shoes wherever he was in the world.

Meeting E-rod that evening was a nice way to reminisce about the good ol’ days.  Good thing, all these good ol’ friends are always just a blog post away.

Read archived posts of my Virtual Runs:

Virtual Run No. 5 – A Horror Story
Virtual Run No. 2