Posts Tagged with: "Metro Manila"

The Happy Feet is a diverse group of runners who share a common love for running. We take our running very seriously… but (and this is a big BUT… although none of our butts are big) we never take it TOO seriously. We are all for beating PRs, chasing down the competition, and improving our training, but none of these should be undertaken without bouts of laughter, a couple of jokes, or great conversation among friends.

Since joining Happy Feet, I have never gone to a race alone. We register together, agree to meet near the baggage counter of every race, and end the race with anecdotes of our own race experiences. Oh, of course, we take our requisite Happy Feet photo before parting ways. Most of the Happy Feet (usually the single ones which are the majority) share their post-race meals together after each run. I have yet to join an after-run gimmick as the mommy in me holds Sundays as sacred family days for just me, my hubby, and the kids.

Here are photos of our fast-growing Happy Feet group from the recently held Fil-Mus Run For Peace. The photos are courtesy of Ben, Photographer on The Run, who is our official photographer and stylist (yeah, we need one especially after a long, sweat-inducing race!) By the way, Ben has a new 10k PR of 43:01 min. Congratulations again, Ben!

If you wish to join Happy Feet, you must meet the following conditions:

1. You must have an obsessive love for running.
2. You must post as many senseless messages in our e-group as you possibly can.
3. You must be willing to read many a senseless message in your inbox — without deleting them.
4. You must laugh at all of Mon’s jokes… you will meet him later on if you sign in.
5. You must agree to pose for each photo op as required by Photographer Ben and put on a happy face despite the fatigue from a long run.

Should you be interested in joining Happy Feet, just click here.

If you need more incentive to join us (aside from my lovely speech above), check out our soon-to-arrive uniforms…(Oh, we will just look so cool in them, don’t you think?)

It’s time for Virtual Run No. 5! By now, you should know what this is all about. But, if you don’t, slap yourself on the head first, then do either of the following:

1) Go to my archives and read the past 4 weeks’ entries on Wednesday (VR Run Invites) and Thursdays (VR Run Reports).

2) Scroll down and read the brief definition.

3) Don’t read anything here and just make sure you run on Thursday (tomorrow) at 4:30 am Manila Time.

During the Virtual Run, a group of runners run “together” at the same time wherever they may be in the world. Anyone can join!

DATE: 23 August 2007, Thursday (Manila Time)
TIME: 4:30 A.M. (Manila Time)
DISTANCE: 10 km/ 6 miles (or whatever you wish)
RUNNERS/ COURSE: (I’ll update this as more people join up)

Previous runners have been:

1. E-Rod – Newport Beach, USA
2. HitMe – Quezon City, Philippines
3. Banggi – Manila, Philippines
4. Ben – Manila to Makati, Philippines
5. Renz – Metro Manila, Philippines
6. Marga – Parañaque, Philippines
7. Caloy – Davao, Philippines
8. TRF – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
9. Steph – San Diego, USA
10. Gretchen – Truckee, USA
11. Mary – Paranaque, Philippines
12. Caloy – Davao, Philippines
13. Chaia – Makati, Philippines
14. Rick – San Francisco, USA
15. Nora – England
16. The Bull Runner – Parañaque, Philippines

Are you in?

At the very last minute (Thursday to be exact), I asked my friend Mon to register me for the Takbo Para Kay Ariel, a small race for the benefit of 2nd Lieutenant Ariel Toledo who had been diagnosed with cancer. I felt that I needed a real pick-me-upper to get me out of the minor rut I found myself in last week, so I thought of joining this 10k instead of training all by my lonesome in Alabang.

– This is what was parked in the Assembly Area. Sure way to beat your PR! –

At 6:00 a.m., I arrived at the assembly area in Villamor Airbase with the mindset that I was absolutely NOT going to race; I was going to run at a moderate pace and enjoy watching other runners huff and puff around me. I got the shock of my life when I learned that the 10k was called off. We were all running a 5k! Okay, what could I do then but employ Plan B…which was… uhm… to run as fast as I could.

By 6:15 a.m. I found myself doing—do not laugh—morning exercises alongside Anton and all the other runners at the grandstand. After jumping jacks, stretches, and jumping jacks again, we lined up at the starting line and we were off by 6:30 a.m.

Wow, I got off to a way too quick start. I was panting by 0.3 km… how pathetic! Less than a half kilometer into the run, Lance Armstrong tells me that my pace was 4.37 min/km—a pace that I knew I could not maintain unless I hitched a ride on a tricycle on the way back. I slowed down a wee bit to 4.50 min/km and maintained this pace except for times when I climbed hills (ooh, these were challenging little hills that I will be cursing until I hit the sack tonight!) and when I tried to leave competition behind.

The entire time, I set my eyes on chasing down one woman before me. Let’s call her Dark Horse because she ran with her hair down donning an all black outfit (No no no, she didn’t look like a horse! Such evil minds!) I knew there were just a handful of us women in the front pack but I had no high hopes of making it as first (perhaps only in my dreams) so my sole mission was to have this woman eat my dust. After seemingly endless attempts to catch up with her, I finally succeed and leave her behind. Aah, the sweet taste of victory! Before I can even raise my arms up in triumph, she blows in with a vengeance. Gosh, I must have made her terribly mad. She runs at breakneck speed like a raging bull… er that’s me… so perhaps like a zipping zebra or charging cheetah or… you get the point. I never ever catch up with her again.

I reach the finish line a few steps behind Dark Horse at 32.55 min. A very reliable source tells me (okay, it’s just my Nike+) that the distance was not 5k but around 6.8 km! (I don’t have the exact distance because I forgot to end my workout.) I came in at 5th place in the Women’s Category.

– Top 10 Men and Women. We all look so ecstatic, don’t you think? –

Before the awarding, I congratulate Dark Horse and learn that she has been running for 10 years. She says she’s much better at 42 kms. Oooh god, I won’t even go there. I learn too that she has a more approachable name, Daisy.

I leave the race with more than when I arrived. On one arm, I carry my prizes (a Petron bag and Unilever products) and, on the other, my free food (bread, water, banana, and a hard-boiled egg). I gained a few more running friends (Hi Odie, it was nice to meet you!) And, I carry a renewed sense of peace and calmness. I am not overly excited about my placing 5th nor am I glum about it. I was just happy to be running. Period.

– Happy day for Happy Feet. All women won: Me 5th, Chaia 9th (not in pic), Roselle 17th (2nd from left). From Right: Anton, Ben, and his friend –

– After the race, runners enjoy the free snacks –

If you’ve been a regular reader of TBR, you must know by now that there’s always something special happening on Thursdays. What?! Nope, I don’t give out free training shoes (although I’m open to receiving ’em.) No, I don’t break my PR every Thursday either (how I wish!)

Every Thursday, for the past couple of weeks, I’ve joined a group of runners all over the world who have agreed to run a certain distance at the same time no matter where we are located in the world. It’s what we call our Virtual Training Run.

The Virtual Training Run is open to runners of every age, nationality, size, weight, or fitness level. So, you—yes you!—may just leave a note below to tell me that you’re running with us tomorrow and you’ll be a part of our growing Virtual Running group. C’mon, join us and we assure you that you’ll have a lot of fun!

DATE: 16 August 2007, Thursday (Manila Time)/ 15 August 2007, Wednesday (US Pacific Time)
TIME: 4:30 A.M. (Manila Time)/ 1:30 P.M. (US Pacific Time)
DISTANCE: 10 km/ 6 miles (or whatever you wish)
RUNNERS/ COURSE: (I’ll update this as more people join up)

1. HitMe – Quezon City, Philippines
2. Banggi – Manila, Philippines
3. Ben – Manila to Makati, Philippines
4. Renz – Metro Manila, Philippines
5. Marga – Paranaque, Philippines
6. TRF – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
7. Steph – San Diego, USA
8. Gretchen – Truckee, USA
9. E-Rod – Newport Beach, USA
10. Jaymie – Alabang, Philippines

To Manila Runners, I hope we can run tomorrow despite the gloomy weather. Click here for PAGASA’s Real-Time weather forecast.

Once again, let us pray for Egay to leave us by tomorrow. After your prayer, chant this 20 times while lifting your arms up and down, eating a banana, and running in a small circle slightly below race pace (preferably when your boss is not looking):

Egay Egay, go away

Come again on a non-running day

Virtual Runners want to play.

Come out and join us for our next virtual training run. Runners from across the globe connect and train virtually with each other through the power of 21st century technology. We have had participants from the Philippines and Malaysia going stride for stride with their virtual buddies from San Diego, Orange County, and Seattle.

DATE: 9 August 2007, Thursday (Manila Time)
TIME: 4:30 A.M. (Manila Time)
DISTANCE: 10 km/ 6 miles (or whatever you wish)
RUNNERS/ COURSE: (I’ll update this as more people join up)

1. E-Rod – Newport Beach, USA
2. HitMe – Quezon City, Philippines
3. Banggi – Manila, Philippines
4. Ben – Manila to Makati, Philippines
5. Renz – Metro Manila, Philippines
6. Marga – Paranaque, Philippines
7. Steph – San Diego, USA
8. Gretchen – Seattle, USA
9. TRF – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10. Jaymie – Alabang, Philippines

To Manila runners, let’s join hands in prayer for the storm to stop and the sun to shine brightly tomorrow morning. Otherwise, it will be a treadmill run for most of us. For me, that just points to a slow pace and sore knees. Ack!

Sign in if you want to join…