Category Archives: Bullish Insights

Last Thursday, in the middle of all race preps for TBR Dream Marathon—and right after fever and before another gastroenteritis attack (probably all due to stress)—I get a call from a sports columnist named Rick Olivares who was interested on writing an article on TBR for Business Mirror.

– Thanks to Rick for the photo –

We met the following day for what I thought was going to be a brief interview, but it turned out to be a long chat over coffee with a blogger/celebrity/journalist who has sacrificed much in the name of truth.  We exchange stories on running (he was a track guy in his college days), blogging, and common friends.

This guy is fearless. And he only inspired me to stand by the truth even more.  Admittedly, I have lost a friend or two due to my much too honest reporting (particularly my TBR Race Reviews).  While it saddens me to think about the broken friendships, I am comforted by the fact that what I did was right (and I will continue to do so until God knows how long.)  If I have to lie about a sucky race to please my so-called friends or rave about horrible shoes to appease the sponsors, then I might as well shut down this blog.

Rick’s article on myself is entitled BORN TO RUN.  I love it because it makes me feel like one of the Tarahumara Indians in one of my favorite running books.  (That’s as close to them as I can get! hah!)

Click HERE to read Rick’s article on BLEACHER’S BREW.

It’ll be published in Business Mirror May 17, 2010.  Click HERE to read online.

RACE PACKET REDEMPTION SCHEDULES for TBR DREAM MARATHON: (REVISED!)

• DATES and TIME:
  • Sunday, MAY 16, 1 to 8 PM
  • Wednesday, MAY 19, 1 TO 4 PM
  • Thursday, MAY 20, 1 TO 4 PM
  • FRIDAY race redemption has been cancelled.
• VENUE: 2nd floor, ROX, Bonifacio High Street
• Look for Angela

Please note:

• If you haven’t submitted your medical certificate, 2×2 photo, and waiver please bring it to claim your race pack.  Race pack will not be released to runners with incomplete documents.  This will be strictly implemented.
• You may claim your free Cecon Tablets as well
• Please send authorization letter if you cannot come to claim your race pack

DREAM CHASERS/ PERSONAL PACERS/ HYDRATION STATION VOLUNTEERS:

• If you received a note from Edward Kho confirming your acceptance as Dream Chaser/ Personal Pacer/ Hydration Station volunteer, please drop by ROX to claim your materials.
• Same schedule as race pack redemption above.
• For Personal Pacers, your runner may claim your race pack for you.  But, you will have to submit the volunteer waiver to Edward Kho on race day.

—————————–

TBR Dream Marathoners claimed their race packs at the 4th Bull Session yesterday after their one hour run led by Neville of Secondwind Running Store at Bonifacio High Street.

The queue was long, but these marathoners remained calm and patient. (Thank you guys!)

This is the TBR Dream Marathon race pack…

On the other end, Edward Kho briefed our Dream Chasers, personal pacers, and race volunteers on their respective roles and responsibilities.

We have 5 days to go until the big day!

Last Wednesday, we held our last Bull Circle in preparation for marathon day on May 22, 2010 at ROX, Bonifacio High Street.

– with speakers Dr. Canlas and Mitch Felipe –

To warm up the audience, Pam Panaguiton of Timex gave a brief talk on their new Timex Tap Watch…and gave a Timex watch to a lucky TBR Dream Marathoner.

Mitch Felipe, a wellness coach, nutritionist, and columnist, started with an informative talk on nutrition for marathoners.  She also spoke on psychology for marathoners: thinking positive and staying focused to cross the finish line.

Below is a sample nutrition plan from Mitch taken from her presentation:

BASED ON A 2,500 CALORIE EATING PLAN, 120-pound male runner (60% carbs=375 grams carbs, 20% protein, 20% fat)

BREAKFAST: 600 calories (70 grams of carbs)
1 cup of oatmeal or ¾ cup of cereals with milk or 3/4 cup rice with sardines OR 2 slices of bread with jam
1 banana and 1 glass non-fat milk

SNACK: 300 calories (65 grams of carbs)
1 banana
2 slices of bread or 2 pcs pandesal w/ peanut butter or jam or granola bar OR 1 pack wheat crackers

LUNCH: 700 calories (105 grams of carbs)
2 cups rice or pasta
Viand (chicken or fish or pork or beef)
Apple or pear

SNACK: 300 calories (65 grams of carbs)
1 banana
2 slices of bread or 2 pcs pandesal with chicken or jam OR granola bar OR 1 pack wheat crackers

DINNER: 600 calories (70 grams of carbs)
1 cup rice or pasta
Viand with cooked veggies (chicken or fish or pork or beef)
Apple or pear and 1 cup yogurt or 250 ml low-fat milk

Popular ortho surgeon and Gatorade Science Institute consultant, Dr. George Canlas spoke on hydration for marathoners and provided important tips for proper hydration on race day.  He entertained us with several images of broken bones and twisted body parts…ack!  But, he also left us with an important formula which he advised we all remember:

Weight loss during exercise per hour

+

Fluid consumed during exercise per hour

=

Hourly sweat rate

The runners were free to ask questions on nutrition and hydration, such as this runner who asked about  question that was surely in many a marathoners minds: drinking beer the week before marathon day…

I lived like a TBR Dream Marathoner for a day and I loved it.

I had fever on Monday and Friday (I was well on Wednesday just in time for my birthday) so I had ZERO mileage all week.  When Sunday came and hubby was to run at NUVALI for his training run with his marathon training buddies, Lit and Jun, I made sure I was there to join in on the running fun.  I was so thrilled about this that I went on to invite other runners: the Solemates Jun and Mariel and Secondwind peeps who coincidentally were planning to run there too along with other TBR Dream Marathoners they were guiding.

16 runners showed up for our run, majority of whom were training for TBR Dream Marathon.

The TBR Dream Marathoners were scheduled to run 21km. One batch practiced the 8:1 technique (8 minute run, 1 minute walk) while another batch ran non-stop.  I ran with the 2nd non-stop running, non-stop talking batch and enjoyed every minute, especially Hector and Mai’s exchange of trivia!  Time and distance passed by so quickly that I forgot about my 10km sick limit that day and ran a little over 12km.

Most of the runners continued with their run but I stopped at the first loop to shower and enjoy some alone time with an iced caffe latte on Mother’s Day.  I sat there in Starbucks and pondered on my learnings from that run:

• Lesson 1: Never run when you’re sick. My 10k felt like a 20k.  And, by night time, my itchy throat had worsened to a painful sore throat.  They don’t call me bullheaded for nothing.
• Lesson 2: The run-walk technique works! I noticed that the distance between the two batches, the run-walk and run group, was only a few meters until the end.  If you’re not focused on time for the marathon, then the run-walk technique truly helps to conserve energy without slowing you down too much.
• Lesson 3: Training with friends is a great way to stay motivated. Others don’t need extra motivation. I am actually a loner, solo-flight kind of runner.  But, for other runners who need a reason to lace up and run, then running with friends is the best way to go.
• Lesson 4: Running has made me a better mom. Running puts some sanity into my day.  With all the to-do lists, errands, summer activities, and work to juggle, I often feel like I need 10 more hands and another 10 hours in a day to do accomplish every task.  One hour of running (or more) gives me time to focus on me, to organize my thoughts, to find myself hidden underneath the heaps of work, and to give myself a stronger body and mind to become a better person, a better mom.  That one hour of running that Sunday made such a big difference to my entire week!

– Notice my new running gadget on my waist? That’s called the POKE-WALKER. TBR Jr. asked me to wear it during the run. It earns points for his Pokemon for every tracked step. My run earned him almost 19,000 steps to empower his Pokemon. Wait till Daddy wears it during the marathon! –

This is DAY THREE of TBR’s 5 Days to 5/5 Anniversary Contest 2010. For more info, click HERE.

WHAT CAN YOU WIN? 1 Nathan Hydration Belt from Runnr

HOW MANY WINNERS? 1 winner

HOW CAN I WIN?

1. Solve this simple problem:  I filled three 8 oz. hydration bottles with water, then drank 1 oz. at Km 5, 1 oz. at Km 10, and another 2 oz. at Km 15.  At Km 20, I shared one bottle with another runner who finished the contents.  How many ounces of Gatorade was I left with when I crossed the finish line?
2. The FIRST person to post the correct answer below wins the prize.
3. Comments will be moderated and NOT be published until May 4, 2010, 12:00 noon.
4. Winners will be published on this blog and will be advised how to claim their prizes.

Good luck!

Thank you to Toby Claudio of Runnr.