Category Archives: Bullish Insights

I can almost hear my Wise Tooth speak this Chinese proverb below:

The runner who runs 26 miles must rest his weary legs.

Okay, no such proverb exists. But, pretty much every serious runner will agree with what my Wise Tooth said.  After a brutal marathon, one should rest and recover.  The type of recovery varies depending on the runners’ experience and preference: some run easy, others cross train, others do nothing at all for weeks, but the key is to take it easy and listen to your body the week after the marathon.

This Wise Tooth of mine has been speaking proverbs since he got yanked out of my mouth yesterday.  You see, two months ago my dentist delivered awful news: I had an impacted wisdom tooth that had to be pulled out.  I cringed in fear as I could still vividly recall the pain from the last time they removed another wisdom tooth seven years ago.  Then, she dropped an even bigger bomb: After the procedure, no strenuous activity would be allowed for a full week.

No way.  I could not skip running for over two days!  To make matters worse,  I was in the middle of Singapore Marathon training and nothing—not even all my teeth falling out—could stop me from messing up my program. (Of course, I’d have to shut my mouth lest I scare people with my toothless grin.)

Suddenly, I had a brilliant idea. I could schedule it the week AFTER the marathon when rest from running would actually be good for me.

And so, yesterday, after two months of stalling, I finally went forward with the procedure.  I went through three injections and several minutes of twisting and tugging before the dentist proudly showed me the wisdom tooth: my Wise Tooth.  I nonchalantly dropped old Wise Tooth into my pocket and asked the most important question there was for me (in case the answer changed): “So, no strenuous activity for 7 days?”  Sadly, the dentist nodded.

Today is the second day of my exercise ban and, surprisingly, I am loving every minute of it.  I thought I would get antsy and I would spend half the day quelling urges to run or cross train.  But, nope, it’s quite the opposite.  I’m enjoying this time when I have no concrete goals yet no injuries to worry about.  I feel like I’m just…floating.  Yes, seven full days of peace, enlightenment, and relaxation thanks to the Old Wise Tooth.

In a couple of minutes, I’ll be packing for Singapore. Hubby and I take the earliest flight out tomorrow morning and head back to Manila Sunday evening. The kids will enjoy a 2-night slumber party at the Grandparents’ with their cousins (so hopefully they don’t even miss us!)

How am I feeling? Excited and Nervous with a capital N. My heart skips a beat when I think of the full marathon, but my palms also get all sweaty and I forget to breathe for a couple of seconds when I think of my knee.

Just a couple of days ago, I felt minor knee pain and some tightness in the ITB, same ol’ injuries that have plagued me whenever I train long and hard.  I have been stressing over it for what feels like a year (when it’s really just been less than 48 hours).  My poor hubby is probably even more anxious as he’ll have to hear about all this on the 3-hour flight tomorrow.

Despite my concerns, I’m trying to stay optimistic.  Happy thoughts! Positive thinking!  Think: light and loose muscles! (A friend says if I think my ITB is tight, they’ll get even tighter!)  I remind myself that I’ve been here before, I’m a fighter, and I’m smart enough to know what provides relief: foam rolling, stretching, and ice on the knee thrice a day. Laugh all you want, but I’ve even been talking to my ITB, begging the muscles to give me a break, while I gingerly massage them with my hands. Tonight, I’ll spare them no mercy; I’ll give them a deep tissue massage and hopefully get them out of my life for good, or at least for the next few days. If all this doesn’t work, then…uhm…I am seriously screwed on race day. Pray for me, will you?

As I’ve said, I’ve got to pack for my first official marathon. Check out my next post on what to pack for a race abroad.

For quick updates on my Singapore trip (in case I don’t have time to blog), follow me on (click on the link below):

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Now you see me, now you don’t. That’s how this blog might act for today as my friendly web people test a new blog design I want to apply.

I’ve been wanting to shift to a new look for months now and there’s no better time than now—just a few days before the biggest race of my life.  It should symbolize a shedding of my old skin (and nasty injuries), a rebirth, and the beginning of a new chapter in my running life…and blog!  How deep!  (Truth is, the web guys are just going to test a new template and if successful, I will be scratching my head over a hundred times tonight trying to figure out how to navigate through the new look.  Hopefully, it will make things easier for you and make this blog more pleasing to the eyes in the days to come!)

Bear with me please!

I wish I could tell you all about the disappointing Del Monte Fit ‘N Right race I joined last Sunday (and my not-so-disappointing 2nd best time for a 10k…51.20mins…woohooo!)  Or, the three pairs of shoes I use the most when I’m NOT running, or the Second Wind gift registry, or updates about the upcoming New Balance race, and so much more…

Unfortunately, I can’t.  My beloved laptop decided to shut down over the weekend. And, since then, life has been stressful with work left undone, blog posts unpublished, and uhm facebook accounts left unchecked.

For now, please be patient with me and entertain yourselves with old posts and controversial comments (heehee).  Please say a little prayer for my laptop so that I don’t have to shell out too much cash to resurrect it.  Hopefully, I’ll be back before the end of the week.

Oh Corregidor, how I wish I discovered you sooner! I wanted to yell this out from the top of the cliff towards the vast sea before me as I, together with Edward Kho, Conquer Corregidor Race organizer, my husband, and photographer Levy, ran down the meandering trails to end our run through the island.

As online media partner for the Conquer Corregidor race, I was fortunate enough to have been invited by Edward to run in Corregidor last Saturday, while he plotted the race course for the December 6 race. I decided to pass on Pasig Marathon and chop my 28km mandated long run into two just to run in Corregidor, and am I glad I did.

The race course is 10 miles or 16km. For this day, since we started running at 11a.m., I only covered a total of 11km alone (ran the balance 17k Sunday) while the others rode the motorcycle and van (Edward was busy plotting, the hubby had a headache due to heat and exhaustion from a busy work week, and the photographer thought I was insane for running in that heat!) It was an awesome run! The kind that made me smile from ear to ear while my heart wanted to burst out of my chest due to extreme happiness. I’ll let the photos below do the talking, but I do hope you experience it for yourself.

– 1.5 hr ferry ride to Corregidor. with Li’l Bull Runners and Edward, race organizer for Conquer Corregidor –

– Kiddos try to get shut eye during the ride. They were ecstatic over the trip, especially my boy who is taking up Philippines’ scenic spots in Civics –

– My first time in Corregidor. Awesome view. I was itching to run –

– Dec. 6 race starts in Malinta Tunnel. How cool is that? –

– San Jose Church –

– I shall return! –

– One of my favorite portions of the route with the strong breeze from the sea blowing against my face. As you round the corner, you’ll be in for a surprise…should I tell you already? Hmmm –

– Okay, this is the surprise! A long, steep, lung-busting climb uphill. The photo makes it look short. Believe me, it was much longer. Runners will run this twice over in the race. Woohooo! –

– I couldn’t resist running along the shore. This isn’t part of the race course though –

– Niiiiice! I wanna go back already! –

– It was around 12 noon already here. I was exhausted and out of breath, but I was having the time of my life! –

– Running past the barracks. Spooky but a great historical sight –

– The view in the middle of the run –

– Race will take you through a 500 meter trail course! Another one of my favorite portions! –

– And the trails begin –

– The lighthouse is the first thing you see when you step out of the trails. There’s a small sari sari store and toilets too –

– Another trail portion near the finish. This is at the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea. It’s beautiful up here –

– So beautiful I had to stop and act like a tourist –

– Aaaah, Corregidor! I shall return!

NEXT POST: Running in Corregidor – Trip Details