Category Archives: Bullish Insights

Funny how I feel like I’m starting anew right smack in the middle of the year.  Amid the chaos caused by H1N1 and the storm Feria, I sit here typing with a sense of stability, fortitude, and an eagerness to move forward with my running.

For over 6 months (yes, it was that long), I dealt with runner’s knee, ITBS, post-tib tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis all on my left leg due to my flat feet.  And, all that time, I felt like I was in limbo.  I could not commit to any training program nor plan for any race.  I didn’t know what problem would crop up next.  The physical pain from injuries were easy  to take.  It was the emotional stress that was pure torture—having a dream marathon stolen from me and worse not knowing when I could lace up again without worries.  

That’s all over now.  There hasn’t been any pain for over a month.  I’ve got a race in mind for the end of August and I have a running program that will prepare me well enough for it.  It feels good to adhere to a running program again (I started this week)—pencilling in a weekly plan into my journal and ticking this off with a pen once accomplished; it’s been too long since I’ve done that.  

While it’s raining outside, the skies are bright on my front.  I can once again dream of how far I can go with my feet.

What happens when The Bull Runner’s masahista gets sick and she is forced to avail of the services of the neighborhood home service spa?

A. New masseuse’s ultra light touch does little to loosen up any of TBR’s muscles

B. New masseuse is taught by TBR how to massage the ITB

C. New masseuse’s foul breath (especially more potent as she massages the face) makes TBR feel more ill

D. TBR wishes she just saved her P250 for Starbucks and pastries

E. All of the above

If you chose LETTER E, you are correct in guessing what happened to me last night.  

YOUR PRIZE: Free home service massage from the new masseuse.  Wish you the best of luck!

As we prepare for the release of the 2nd issue of TBR Magazine, I thought of sharing some behind-the-scenes shots from our very first issue last April 2009. 

The photos should show you how serious we are about giving you all runners an informative resource on all things running, while inspiring and motivating you to reach your respective goals.  For this issue, we shot at various locations on different days. For our cover story, we shot Sen. Pia Cayetano at the polo field in Alabang Country Club.

– Sen. Pia being prepped by Ben and her assistant, Che –

– Sen. Pia ready for the shot –

– End of our first cover shoot for the first issue of TBR Mag.  Ben, Sen. Pia, myself, my kids and hubby, and Marga –

For the PR section, we asked my good friend Annie Agoncillo to run through the empty lots near Temple Drive in Pasig. And, for the training article, we asked Coach George to run up and down the steep hill behind Ultra.

– Annie being prepped for her shot.  (She’ll kill me for posting this) –

– Ben and Coach George near Ultra –

It is serious work, but most of the time, it doesn’t feel like it for me.  Working on TBR Magazine is probably the best job in the world. I get to work with talented people who are masters at their craft, plus they are runners, too.  (They should be, right?!)  Our photographer, writers, and down to our talents for each article are all runners.  Even our printer at that time considered taking up running when she read through the drafts!

Our July issue will be out in the next couple of weeks.  Expect a thicker (almost double the pages) and better (we listened to your comments!) TBR Magazine.  I’ll let you know where and when we’ll be releasing them. Thank you once again to the wonderful team behind TBR Magazine – March Issue 2009:

• Photographer: Ben Chan of Photovendo (Photographer on the Run)
• Writers: Marga Deona (The Changeling Child), Hector Yuzon (Second Wind), Coach Rio de la Cruz (Finish Line), Armand Mendoza
• Illustrator: Smith Herrera (The Lone Runner)
• Talents: Carmen Feliciano, Coach George, Annie Agoncillo, Jun Cruz
• Consultants: Jun Cruz (Sole Mates), Janice Villanueva (Mommy Pages)

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.  The only time I managed to smile was when the hubby tried to carry me out of the bed and down the stairs.  He almost broke his back and dropped me back onto the bed.  I literally crawled down our stairs and slithered like a snake towards our garage door.

I was wheeled into the emergency room of Asian and brought directly to the patient’s rooms.  There, the doctor checked me and declared that I suffered from gastroenteritis which triggered a severe case of hyperacidity.  He asked me to stick my tongue out and discovered that I was already dehydrated.  After a stool exam, it was discovered I had slight amoebiasis too. (A friend says the latter may have been from the green water at DLSZ pool…kidding!)

They fed me medicine via IV and tablets as well.  I fell asleep for a couple of hours while the hubby waited patiently by my side.  When I awoke, the pain had subsided.  Thank God!

The doctor ordered me to drink a lot of Gatorade (which I fortunately have tons of at home) and continue taking paracetamol and other medicines.  For now, I’m on rest mode.  All the work (which are plenty, I tell you) will have to wait while I recover and regain my strength.

No running nor gym training for now.  I’ll probably sleep in on Sunday and pass on Men’s Health too.  Rest and recovery are top priority for the next few days.

PRESS RELEASE:

The first state-of-the-art concept store for running opens its doors on June 12 on Bonifacio High Street.  RUNNR is the first and only specialty store of its kind with all manner of runners in mind.

It will have the best running gear from all the top brands such as Adidas, Asics, Fuelbelt, Hammer, Mizuno, Nathan, New Balance, Nike, Polar and many more.  It will also be the first to launch the revolutionary line of Newton Running Shoes and CW-X compression apparel in the country.

RUNNR will feature an exclusive Footworx Fitting process that leads customers thru a comprehensive series of tests such as our Footprint Scan and High-Speed Video Gait Analysis. Plus we will be the first to offer Custom Insole Moulding in the store, while-you-wait.

RUNNR, thru the vision of its founder and avid runner Toby Claudio, has enlisted the services of the best in the fields of retail and running. Andy Niven, an elite runner who is an Ironman triathlon finisher is the man leading the team from RedGoods, a Hong Kong based retail entertainment design firm who did the design for the store. Niven has had more than 20 years’ experience managing broad-based retail and commercial design throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for such clients as Disney and New Balance.

A team of highly trained and passionate staff will be equipped to analyze foot morphology using the Runnr Podoscope, which uses two combined features: a themodynamic scanning system for viewing the foot print and direct measurement of foot and arch dimensions  which determine foot type. The store is also equipped with the Professional High-Speed Video Gait analysis system to determine a person’s precise gait characteristics as he/she runs on a treadmill.

The RUNNR staff is also capable of recommending the proper footwear to suit the individual’s foot type, leg axis, and gait pattern based on the results of the video analysis. These customized services ensure that whatever one’s requirements as a runner, the shoes minimize foot instability for better absorption of shock, and minimize fatigue while maximizing energy transfer. There’s also the option to create a custom insole using the exclusive RUNNR “FlashFit” process that uses heat to create special insoles molded to the exact shape of any foot in just 10 seconds.  This machine won an innovation award for being the most creative invention for the running market in 2008.

Other running gear available at RUNNR include Fuelbelt and Nathan hydration packs, Polar heart-rate monitors, and will be the first to market the revolutionary line of Newton running shoes in the Philippines.

RUNNR specialty store is the only one in the country and in the world to incorporate all these products and services under one roof.

For more information, you may visit the RUNNR at building B3 of Bonifacio High Street or log onto www.runnr.com.ph.