Back at UP for an evening run

As part of our conditioning for the coming Earth Run, Swthrt and I had an evening run at UP. It was a long time since we had our last evening run at UP. We had a recovery run of 3 rounds (6.6K) on the academic oval before calling it a day. It was quite hot which made us harder to start a run, but later we were able to get our goal for the day. This also allows Swthrt to release some tensions/stress brought about by the preparation for her Operations Review presentation at the office. Today, we are hoping to have another run at BHS to add up some mileage before the race on Sunday. Hopefully the short preparation will pay off come race day. See you runners during the Earth Run!

J Running Video

To all the runners... Keep on running!

Camp Aguinaldo, McKinley to Bayani C5 and Batangas Runs

Since returning home from my recent field work, Swthrt and I was able to do some runs in preparation for her first 16K race scheduled on May 31. We started last Thursday night ( May 21) with a 4K easy run at Camp Aguinaldo’s improvised running oval. We were joined by our two sons who only did a couple of rounds. It was followed by a back to back 10K weekend runs. We had a 10K practice/simulation run at the Mc Kinley Hills going to Lawton Avenue and Bayani Road all the way to C5, which was our designated turn-around point. It was Swthrt’s first taste of the Bayani Road course. The previous 10K races Swthrt have joined were held in different places and never in the infamous Bayani Road. The 16K Earth Run will be covering the areas of McKinley Hills, Lawton Avenue up to Gate 3 and the Bayani Road up to C5. To top last week’s run was a 10.5K run from Baranggay San Isidro to Baranggay Tulo in Batangas City. We had a weekend visit to my in-laws. My two brothers-in-law are here in the country for a vacation. Swthrt and I had a good run together with Ed, one of my brothers-in-law. We hope to log some more mileage before the 16K Earth Run.

Earth Run 16K challenge

Joining the 16K Earth Run has become a challenge to most of the NAMRIA runners. More will be running the distance and test their will and determination in running. This will also be Swthrt’s first official 10-miler race and of course, I will be her pacer. Our game plane for this one is to just have fun! The PRs will come later. We just hope that we can be back in training with Team BR at the ULTRA soon!

A preview of work and play

Our vessel was docked at Subic Port in Zambales. Nats, the photographer and Xen, the writer and me, the videographer completed the team. Both Nats and Xen were also members of the NAMRIA Running Club.

Nats, Xen and Bro J

We boarded the vessel in the evening of May 5, 2009. The next morning, our team had an almost an hour run at the Subic Track Oval which luckily to be near the port where our vessel was docked. We voyaged in the afternoon of the same day amidst impending arrival of typhoon Emong. Our mission was to do a photo and video documentation of our survey teams doing GPS (Global Positioning System) observation in the islands of Cuyo, Cagayancillo and Tubataha, all in the province of Palawan. Also, to document activities of officers and enlisted men on board the vessel. The 6-day travel was extended up to 10 days. It ended in the Port of Alen, Samar. We then travel to Calbayog where we will return home by plane.

Survey team at south islet, Tubataha

survey team at Cuyo island, Palawan

Team at the Ranger Station in Tubataha

Break time

The accomplished task was highlighted by a phone call from Swthrt that we became a victim of robbery (akyat bahay). It happened on the dawn of Friday, the day we were scheduled to fly home. Our son’s PSP and Swthrt’s phone were taken. With God’s protection, Swthrt woke up and saw the man with her bag going down the fire exit ladder. She was able to shout at him to let go of her bag… and the robber did. What a brave lady indeed. We were so thankful that God had protected them and nothing bad happens to them. God has kept them asleep while the robber was inside our room. If by any chance they woke up, the robber must have done harm to them. God is really good all the time!

DNS for my second 21k race, Botak Paa-tibayan

This maybe far from over, but to serve one of the purpose of this blog of being a journal of my running experiences, I will still have to write. I was supposed to run the 21k Botak Paa-tibayan race scheduled last May 10, 2009. I registered May 3 at the Second Wind Store. Come May 4, Monday, I was informed by my boss to join the team who will do a photo and video documentation of our project on mapping. I was briefed that we will be on board our survey vessel going to the islands Cuyo, Cagayancillo and Tubataha in Palawan. This is one good thing about my work, I got to go places (hard to reach) for free. It was my second time to board our survey vessel.






The first one was when documenting a joint project between Philippines and Vietnam on marine studies at the Kalayaan Island Group (a.k.a. Spratleys). Other places I’ve been to because of my work were Calauit Island Wildlife Reservation, St. Paul Subterranean Park both in Palawan and more.

First project on board BRPH Presbitero

This was another case of work getting in the way of running. I was wondering though, if I can still get my botak singlet. Upon registering, I was told that I could get my race bib and singlet on the race venue. The problem was I did not show up and forgot to leave the claim stub to one of my officemates to claim it for me. I just hope I could still have my singlet!

After the long break

It has been a long time since my last post. I had a long break from blogging but not necessarily from running. Last May 1, 2009 was our first runabout from our home to UPD. Swthrt and I had this idea for quite sometime and it came to reality. We started to run at around 5:00am from our home along Boni Serrano Rd. in Murphy all the way to Katipunan Road before we took a left turn. After about a kilometer, we did some stretching before proceeding to our destination. It was a challenging route of uphill and downhill along the way especially on the Katipunan Flyover in Aurora Boulevard. And to be cautious, we took the side of the road where we will be facing traffic. The distance from our place to UP entrance in Katipunan was about 5K. Upon reaching the academic oval Swthrt was still able to run 3 more rounds while I finished 4 rounds before heading back home. It was a total of 16.6K run for Swthrt while I completed a total 18.8K run. Who knows, maybe next time, we can run from our place to Bonifacio High Street. With our consistent mileage build up, impossible is nothing!