On the Heels of a Dream: One Run at a Time (Week 16)

Monday, 4 November 2013  |  Running + Triathlon

On The Heels of a Dream is a weekly column by guest writer Obbie Suguitan who is currently training for his first marathon, The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, on February 16, 2014.

Depleted. This is what I felt at the end of my 80 minute long weekend run. I never meant to be hard on myself but with so many of my batchmates joining 21K runs in a few weeks, I guess I’m entitled so some envy and a smidgen of doubt. I am, after all, human.

Even as I was busy deciding where to do my longest run yet, again my friend Joanne suddenly invited me to do the LSD with her in BGC. With no better plan, I said yes. A finisher of the previous Dream and a few 21Ks herself, she one of a handful of people I can expect realistic advise from and not doubt. If some time in the future, I am asked for advice, I would tell runners-to-be to have a running guardian angel.

By the way, earlier in the week, I did my two maintenance runs and one extra with a friend from work named Jino. Training is hard but I’ve developed a liking for it. Now I want my friend, who’s a Muay Thai fighter, to be in TBR Dream 2015. Online, I saw that numerous batchmates took advantage of the long holidays to go on vacays. Even away from home, quite a few still trained at the destination of choice. Among them was new friend Resty who still did his LSD up north, and Jah who ran from Lukban to Lucena. There’s also batchmate Catherine who ran in Nice, France! Im sure there were others in different places – Nothing stops a Dreamer!

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– Batchmate Resty in Vigan! –

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– Batchmate Jah ran from Lukban to Lucena –

Back to my weekender, I really wasn’t looking forward to finding out how hard an eighty minute run is – even partly walked. This is hard work. I know I was properly warned but still… Anyway, we were here for a reason and there wasn’t anything else to do but go run. So we did. I suppose it was a good thing we started a shade past 7 am because it would at least simulate the time of day of the real run. Again, the sun took its severely unwanted toll. For me, heat is a big enemy. But it was one to be conquered. We went left, right, straight – pretty much through most of the roads of BGC. My bud and I agreed to do 2:1 and at certain points she pushed, cajoled, clapped, and urged me on while I ran, jogged, walked, trudged, and zombied forward. She had the wisdom to set small destinations to push me, “Hanggang kanto, kaya mo yan”, “fast run hanggang kanto!” and various other methods.

Finally, after countless street corner turns, stretches of what seemed to me like a scorching sun, and thousands of heavy-legged steps, we were notified via watch that our 80 minutes was done. Taking a few cool down steps, to be perfectly honest, I was trying to recall WHY I WAS DOING THIS. What’s an out of shape, middle-aged Dad doing trying to run this? Right now, because my mind’s too tired to be rational, the answer seems simple: Because I still can. Quite frankly, I still can’t imagine being on my feet for 7 hours ( it’s not a sin to be optimistic). But, I’m willing to do it one run at a time. On to the next!

Wk16Obbie
– I did it! –

On the Heels of a Dream: Bull Session 2…check!

Thursday, 31 October 2013  |  Running + Triathlon

On The Heels of a Dream is a weekly column by guest writer Obbie Suguitan who is currently training for his first marathon, The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, on February 16, 2014.

One month – this is how long the 2014 Batch of Dreamers have been ‘officially’ training marked by Bull Session 2. At this point, the training has been supposed to allow us to run-walk continuously for 70 minutes. After chatting with some of my batchmates and engaging them in some form, I found out that a lot of them have been running for years already. They’ve done 10Ks, 21Ks, and in-between distances. For a lot of them, this 70 minute run isn’t that much of a challenge. For me, it’s a big one. I’ve let my health degenerate over the years that being on my feet for 70 minutes under the sun is a feat. Those thirteen or so years of smoking 3 packs a day have taken their toll and I’m hard-pressed to reclaim what’s been taken away.

Wk17D

The two maintenance runs that preceded the Bull Session weren’t any different from the other maintenance runs but they were two more points on the board in scoring for consistency. It’s not that they were negligible but rather just doing them added a little bit of uniformity in the effort and keeping the calories burning and the muscles stretched and conditioned. A small variation was that I ran them on the road along a declined/inclined circuit in my neighborhood. My previous place – Capitol Commons – had become too short. Hah! Too short! I never thought I’d say that about any route I’d take! Even as the term maintenance sounds too perfunctory I’d like to think that each and every run adds confidence however small. When I coached basketball decades ago, I remember always telling my team that games are won in practice. This time I get to take my own advice.

At the Bull Session, this one was markedly different from the first one in that the air was lot warmer, friendlier, more festive. Batchmates who’ve kept in touch online got to chat face-to-face and establish an actual connection to the faces. Even with my bad eyesight, I got to respond to several greets. A lot of the batchmates I’d met only digitally even volunteered in person to pace me.

For this session, I was in Group 6 – the second 2:1 group. After the pack As I am wont to do, I fell back in the pack but didn’t stop at any point. I got to meet and chat during the run with several people – two of whom were a 6-ft tall Luis Manzano look-alike named Chal, and a fellow named Arvin. They were the sweepers of the group who provided a lot of cheerful encouragement. At some point I lost my running buddy Joanne but there were Ms. Jo and Jojo – lovely ladies who distracted me with chat – enough to keep my mind off the minutes that lay ahead. There was also Mr. Evan who people referred to as Smiley and Ms. Macel who kept pace with everyone on her trusty Segway so she could visit with virtually all the groups.

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– Joanne and I –

Wk17C
– with Joanne, Chal, and Arvin –

After what seemed to me longer than 70 minutes, the pack was herded by our sweepers back towards where we started. Surprisingly, it was over. Ms. Jo chatted me into the home stretch and we found ourselves putting our 2nd Bull session behind us. Chalk one up for persistence. After post-run hydrating, the whole group went through a pictorial where everyone was in very high spirits. The mood was still in high energy – as if most still wanted to do another 70 minutes. Maybe next time. Bull Session no.2 – check. Two sessions down, three more to go.

TBRDMFishEye

Dream Marathon 2014: Official List of Participants

Friday, 30 August 2013  |  Race Announcements

Below is the official list of participants for TBR-Unilab Active Health Dream Marathon 2014. If you’re name is listed below, welcome to Dream Marathon!  This is your first step towards becoming a marathoner!  We look forward to running with you soon.

DOWNLOAD: OFFICIAL LIST OF REGISTERED RUNNERS – DREAM MARATHON 2014

Should you have any concerns, please contact Macel at tbrdream@gmail.com  or Dream Hotline 0942-477-6099

WHAT’S NEXT?

Now that you’ve registered, these are the next steps to take for September:

  1. Collect your Welcome Kit.  See Welcome Kit Redemption details below.
  2. Attend the Bull Circle on SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 at 7:00PM, Henry Sy Auditorium, St. Lukes Medical Center, Bonifacio Global City.  We will talk about the marathon, Dream Marathon, and your marathon program.  You’ll also meet your batchmates!  You can also claim your Welcome Kit on the same evening.  We open redemption at 6:00PM.  More details will be released as this event draws near.  Visit www.tbrdream.com for details a week before this event.
  3. Get ready for training – mentally and physically.  The formal training of our Dream Marathon program starts on the week of SEPTEMBER 30 to OCTOBER 6, 2013.  The program will be included in your Welcome Kit.
  • NOTE:  For beginner runners, we included a 2-week walking program to ease you into running.  So, your program starts earlier at SEPTEMBER 16 TO 22.  If you fall into this category, we suggest you pick up your Welcome Kit before September 16.

WHAT’S IN YOUR WELCOME KIT?

The Welcome Kit will contain the runner’s Marathon Program, Messages from the Founders, Event Calendar, Dream Marathon discount card and its benefits, Official Drifit Training Shirt from New Balance (you get another Finisher’s Shirts after you cross the finish line in Feb2014), and TBR Bumper Sticker.

WhatsInside

Shirt sizes are available until supplies last.

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– Front of Dream Marathon Official Training Shirt –

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– Front of Dream Marathon Official Training Shirt –

WELCOME KIT REDEMPTION

Participants who did not opt for delivery of kits during registration may pick up their Dream Marathon Welcome Kit. Pick up dates and venues below:

Sep 6 (Fri) to 17 (Tue) The Athletes Foot,Unit 7 G/F Two Parkade,
Bonifacio Global City (along 30th St.)
Sept 18 (Wed), 6PM to 9PM During Bull Circle 1,Henry Sy Auditorium,
St. Lukes Med. Ctr., BGC
Sep 19 (Thu) to 30 (Mon) The Athletes Foot,Unit 7 G/F Two Parkade,
Bonifacio Global City (along 30th St.)

WHAT TO BRING DURING WELCOME KIT REDEMPTION

  1. Claiming stub (for on site registration) or printed transaction receipt (for online registration).
  2. Personally signed TBR and NUVALI waivers. No signed waivers, no welcome kit.  You may click HERE to download waivers to speed up the process.  Waivers will also be available at the desk.

CLAIMING OF REDEMPTION KIT BY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

  1. Authorization Letter signed by the Registered Runner
  2. Claiming Stub (for on site registration) or Printed Transaction Receipt (for online registration).
  3. Photocopy of Valid ID of Registered Runner with Signature
  4. Photocopy of Valid ID of Authorized Representative
  5. TBR and NUVALI waivers SIGNED by the Registered Runner. We will not accept those signed FOR the runner. To be verified with the ID submitted. No signed waivers, no welcome kit. You may click HERE to download waivers.

For inquiries, contact MACEL at tbrdream@gmail.com or Dream Hotline 0942-477-6099

Reservation for Dream Marathon 2014 Starts Today

Friday, 9 August 2013  |  Race Announcements

Reservation for 800 slots of Dream Marathon 2014 starts TODAY, August 9, 2013 at exactly 12:00 NN on www.run.ph.

To get to the RESERVATION PAGE, visit www.run.ph then click the TBR tab (see image below) or
click on this LINK to go directly to the Reservation Page on www.run.ph

We hope to run with you soon!

RUNPH

TBR Dream Marathon 2013: Reservation Opens Sept. 1, 2012

Sunday, 26 August 2012  |  Race Announcements

2TBRDM2013

For the first time since we launched TBR Dream Marathon, we’ve decided to announce opening of our online reservation.  This new move will allow all interested runners equal opportunity to reserve their slot on the scheduled date without being hindered by work or family schedules.

The 4th TBR Dream Marathon 2013 will be staged on February 24, 2013 at NUVALI, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.  Reservation will open on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012, 5:00 AM.  Visit thebullrunner.com.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

  1. TBR DREAM MARATHON is open to 600 FIRST- or SECOND-TIME MARATHONERS only.  (For TBR DM 2012, 600 slots were filled in 9 hours so if you’re serious about this race, we highly recommend you sign up as soon as you can.)
  2. We follow a strict first come, first served rule.
  3. Reservation does NOT mean immediate acceptance into TBR Dream Marathon 2013. The Organizer screens all applicants and reserves the right to refuse entry or disqualify a participant.
  4. When slots are filled, a master list of RESERVED RUNNERS will be posted.
  5. Reserved Runners will be given ample time to officially register for the race.  Failure to appear during registration will lead to automatic forfeiture of slot which will then be turned over to the next runner on wait list.
For more information on TBR Dream Marathon 2013, please click HERE.