Category Archives: Bullish Insights

No time to spare today. I’ve got design projects, a magazine, a marathon, and a talk tonight to work on.  I’ve gone on less than 5 hours of sleep for the past week or so.  My face has broken out with acne and my kids refuse to kiss me because they think it’s contagious (perhaps this is the worst part of it all!)  I feel like a teenager again but with a lot less energy.  I’m cranky, tired, and stressed. Aaack!

The solution? a 5-km run this morning.

When do I do it? Drop off the kids at school. Run to the gym from school.  Shower at the gym. Head to Starbucks to work.

That should be enough to put a smile on my pimple-infested face for the rest of the day.  Don’t you just love how running can easily fit into our busy scheds?

See you tonight for our BULL CIRCLE talk at R.O.X., 7pm. Click HERE for details.

Hubby and I spent our Valentine’s Day morning, just like thousands of other runners, at The North Face Thrill of the Trail at Nuvali.

– Start for the couples run –

This was an 11k and 22k trail run which I desperately wanted to join, but I didn’t because of three words: No, not “I love you” (you’re so cheesy) but “Hong Kong Marathon!”   I thought it was best to avoid any potential strains, sprains, or little accidents on the trail before marathon day on February 28.  (Read: praning!)

While hubby ran the 11k race, I went ahead and ran on the road.  The air was a bit chilly, perfect for a nice morning run.  There were a lot of people strolling by the lake, biking, and even resting inside their tents on the grass. I loved every minute of that 5k run.

– The road I ran on. The same road TBR Dream Marathoners will pass –

– So peaceful here –

By the time I got dressed and went back for hubby, he was done. And so were other running friends who showed off all their battle scars.  Hubby had a swollen pinky, Aljo a scraped knee, and Marga bruised palms. Mark and Tiffin Parco had no scratches, but they did demonstrate Mark’s show of affection this Valentine’s Day.  When they crossed the river, Mark offered to carry Tiffin to the other end exactly like this…

– I heard Aljo asked Mark to carry him too. Unfortunately, he was rejected by Mark –

Despite the bumps and bruises, the runners were all smiles and enjoyed the new trail experience.

– with Edward, Raymund, Bards, and Dingdong –

– with Meek Runner and her hubby, Tiffin, and Francis M. –

– with Me-Anne and her husband –

– with Jun –

– Mai Mai and Miguel. I predict non-runner Miguel will be lacing up in 3 months –

Congratulations to TNF and the entire team, especially my favorite technical consultant Neville Manaois for staging another unique and exciting trail run!

My best running buddy is back!  She came home from Singapore to run the Condura Run and to spend time with family.

Would you believe that the first time we saw each other since she got back was on the Skyway during Condura Marathon?  It was shortly before Magallanes when I spotted her a few meters ahead of me. I ran faster and managed to catch up with her; I tapped her on the shoulder and we laughed as if we had never been apart.

This was a rare scene. Annie and I running at the same pace in a road race.  You see, she’s much faster and stronger than I am.  But, crazy and stubborn Annie girl insisted on running Condura 42k despite a nagging injury, which started to bother her even before we hit the turnaround.  Still, she was the same Annie who, despite the pain, was laughing and smiling every now and then and still managed to finish with a respectable time.

– Annie and I were lucky enough to bump into our favorite photographer Ben Chan of Photovendo. Thanks Ben for the photo! –

Today, we met up at our favorite meeting place, the same place where we used to meet every Saturday for our long runs.  So many things had changed.  Annie lost her way.  She now wears earrings, shades, and even wanted to take a hydration belt along.  So different from the purist Annie I used to know!  But, as soon as we started running, everything was the same again.

We talked about Condura. How from the moment we saw each other, we started to compete with each other.  From Magallanes to Bicutan, we were outrunning each other. I would leave her behind only to find her pop out of nowhere in front of me.  And vice versa!  We’re such good friends and we’re alike in so many ways that it’s this kind of healthy competition that sort of binds us together.

– Race Mode on the Skyway. We can be friends again after the finish line hah! –

For the next easy 5kms this morning, we filled the road with laughter talking about anything and everything just like the way we used to.  Aaaw, it’s nice to have crazy, competitive Annie girl back.  Can’t wait to run with her again this Saturday.

February is marathon month in my life. I’m running Condura 42k this Sunday and Standard Chartered Hong Kong 42k on February 28.  (I know, I shouldn’t be doing it, but a bulls gotta do what a bull wants to do!)

For the past few months I’ve been living in denial.  Excited but more nervous about what I signed myself up for.  Today, after I picked up my race kit at Condura, there was no more denying that this is all for real and that Condura is a mere four days away!

At the Condura race kit redemption, I was one of the first ones who showed up to claim my Condura race kit.  Registration opened at 3:00PM and I was there at 3:05. (Talk about excited eh?)

– Hot hot hot! By tomorrow, more tents will be set up –

– We distributed free TBR Magazines at redemption tables. Hope you get a copy! Warning: they quickly run out –

It was extremely hot. The lines were slightly long when I was there.  But, fortunately, I heard from Ton and Patrick Concepcion that, by tomorrow, they will put up 30 more tents aside from the 30 currently onsite and deploy a total of 150 people to ensure that race kit redemption will be quick and hassle-free.

When I got home, with my race kit in hand, guess what greeted me: My Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon certificate!  Love it!

So, forget about Valentine’s Day.  February is marathon month in my home.

Two weeks ago, Alvin and I were running around Bonifacio Global City when I tripped and surged forward almost falling flat on my face.  In those 3 seconds, it wasn’t my life that flashed before my eyes, it was Condura Marathon.

Last week, again with Alvin, we were warming up for our tempo run when a car popped out of the Serendra gate and almost crashed into me. Again, the first thoughts were: Condura!

And, just this morning, during my last long run, a 21k around Bonifacio Global City, my foot slid off of the gravel along Burgos Circle and I exclaimed: “Nooooo, nothing can happen before Condura!”

As with many of you who are gunning for your respective goals for Condura, I am hoping that all things go smoothly in the next few days leading up to the race. Eat well. Sleep well. And, please watch where you’re going if you still have easy runs in your plans!  (I should listen to my own advice!)

See you all at Condura on Feb. 7, 2010! It’s going to be a good one!