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Globe Center - Market Market

I’ve got my Milo today… Oh what a day! Milo everyday…..

I just received from my officemate and fellow runner Tolits my race packet for the 33rd National Milo Marathon Manila Elimination which will be held on July 5, 2009. I feel excited because this will be my second time to join a half-marathon, and at the same time nervous because I know that Milo has a cut-off time for every race category. I just hope that I will be able to finish within the allotted cut-off time. I suppose that this event builds excitement to other runners too who wanted to run longer distances but are not yet ready for the full marathon. I heard that this will be the first time that a 21K category will be held for the Milo Marathon Manila elimination.

My first 21K race at the Condura Run ’09 was a pleasant experience. It also gave me confidence that I can finish a half marathon. I was supposed to have my 2nd half marathon at the Botak Paa-tibayan but I missed it because of field work assignment. This time I hope to do better. Now, does anybody know the race route?

Father’s Day runabout with Swthrt

The recent incident in the family and the opening of school year has kept Swthrt and me from running for more than two weeks. Last Saturday, June 20, we had our first practice run of 6.6K at UP. We planned it to be an easy run. It’s really hard to start if you are sidelined from a long break. We were already gasping for air even at the early kilometers. We accomplished our goal and it was great to be back on the road running.

The following day, we had a Father’s Day runabout. Here was our route: We started from our home then we turn right at Katipunan White Plains all the way to Temple Drive going to Green Meadows. Upon reaching Ortigas Avenue, we turned left going to E. Rodriguez C5. We then proceed to Lanuza St. and returned back to Green Meadows going to Whiteplains and then Boni Serrano. It was fun and we were able to cover approximately 11+K (using Google Earth). This was our second runabout, the first was from our home to UPD and back.

The only problem we encountered was vehicular traffic along C5 and the heat of the sun since we started late. We left home at 6:00am and back after an hour and 38 min. We crossed over two walk bridges for us to be on the side of the road pacing traffic for safety reason. We had a short pit stop on our way back at Shell station in White Plains to replenish our hydration packs. Hopefully soon, we can do the Camp Aguinaldo to Fort Bonifacio runabout route.

Since school has started, we have been having problems on how to squeeze in running into our weekday schedules. We have to support JM in his adjustment period as high school freshman and Josh, who’s now on his third grade and needs help in his studies too. We have to be home early to do this. The only possible time for us to run is on weekends which also happened to be the schedules of most races. Last summer we were able to have evening runs. How about you? When do you have your weekday runs?

Bro J Running: Looking back with a year of running experience

June 2008 marked the start of a change in my lifestyle. Although I started training in May 2008, I considered June as the start of my official entry to the running world. My first official race was the "Rush to Infinity Run 08" held at the Global City in Fort Bonifacio last June 29, 2008. Since then, I joined a number of races in different distances ranging from 5K to 21K. I have also experienced running in varied weather condition from hot and humid to downpour of rains. Running also served as a great bonding moment for Swthrt and me as well as with our kids. Swthrt and I have joined races and set new PRs together. We have also joined races, fun run and advocacy runs with our kids. The sports which I have enjoyed and loved has also opened opportunities to meeting new friends, discovering untapped capabilities and exploring new world. My circle of friends from time to time expands as I meet runners and coaches who have inspired and encouraged me in running. I have also discovered that I can actually compose and write an article (with a little help from a friend) and shared them through my blog site which I created for the world to see. This blogsite also serves as a venue to share my faith and the love of Christ being offered to everyone. As I continue on in this journey, let me share to you the highlights in my first year of running experience.

• First official race was the "Rush to Infinity Run 08" (5k category)

• My first long run was last August 02, 2008. I ran a distance of 10 km. from home to J. Vargas in C5 Road and back
  
• I registered for the Men’s Health Miracle Run and ran my first official 10K race.

• Nike+ Human Race was my first test of the dreaded Mckinley Hill route.

• August 2008, Swthrt started running with me at UPD Academic oval



• Adidas King of the Road 2008 was my first KOTR race (10K category), also my first time to run on the Buendia route.

• “Mommy Milkshake Marathon 2008” was the first advocacy run with the whole family

• The OctobeRun Festival organized by the Fort Striders Club, Inc. held at Fort Bonifacio last October 26 2008 served as a family’s first race. Swthrt and I joined the 5k while our two kids, JM and Josh ran the 3K.

• The 32nd National Milo Marathon was my first experience of the biggest and grandest marathon event in the Philippines (10K category). It was also my first race ran along Roxas Blvd.

• November 28, 2008, first time to run in an oval track and and joined the speed training with top coaches of Team Baldrunner at ULTRA

• The Yakult 10-miler 2008 edition was my first 16K race.

• My first out of town run together with Swthrt was in Batangas City. We ran a distance of 6K. Since then, we have increased the distance to 16K and then 21 K. This also has become our favorite activity every time we visit Swthrt’s folks in the province.

• My first Half Marathon (21K) race was the 2009 Condura Run.

To all my friends who have rendered support and encouragement, thank you very much! My first year could have not been this exciting without you!
To Swthrt, thank you for the love and support!
God bless us all!

Honoring a great man and father

Death comes like a thief in the night. The untimely death of my father-in-law made us realize that we do hold the life we have. It was comforting to know though, that he was assured of the eternal life God has given to those who accept His son Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Yes, Itay as we fondly called him was a Christian.

Roberto Dinglasan was his real name. He was Ruben to family and close friends and Itay or Tatay to his children and grandchildren. Itay together with Inay have raised their 5 children through hard work and perseverance. Itay was a hardworking public jeepney driver in their hometown in Batangas City. He also ventured into delivering goats from Batangas to different Kambingans in Quezon City and later delivering pork to different homes in their town. Itay also loved to plant. He had planted different fruit- bearing trees such as atis, rambutan, cacoa to name a few, inside the compound. He also took care of a small piggery in their backyard. He would save every peso for his family. This hard work paid off as He was able to send their five children to school and eventually, all became professionals.

Itay was a loving husband to Inay and a loving but strict father to their children. Baby (Swthrt), the eldest child, will always tell me stories of Itay’s strictness to them making sure that they grow to be fine men and women. Itay thought them the value of time. Being punctual as he was, he would leave anyone who was not ready to go at the designated time when going out to church, town plaza or elsewhere. The sacrifices he had done was countless especially if it was for Inay and their children. Itay and Inay would always go together to any place, to any events or occasions. They would visit us occasionally here in Manila. They were inseparable making it harder for Inay to accept Itay’s death.

God’s love and mercy is truly with those who are righteous. God allowed Itay to hear His voice and Itay responded by accepting Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. Itay became a born again Christian and changes in his life became apparent. He would always pray and read the word of God. He became more humble and gentle. He would always text us reminding us of how he loves us and how we should put our faith in God. I’m sure Itay have touched many lives when he was still alive and even at his death he touched more lives as more people have heard the good news of salvation in the church services held during his wake.

Last Sunday, Itay was laid to rest with the family rejoicing in the Lord that Itay was in His kingdom forever. We will miss him. I pray that with Itay’s lost, he was able to bring more souls, especially Itay’s family members, relatives and loved ones into God’s kingdom. I also pray that we would continue to understand the will of God in all that had happened by God’s wisdom. And I thank the Lord for Itay who have raised Swthrt as she is today, a loving wife and mother, through the examples and virtues he has taught her.

To God be the glory!


Itay with Inay and her siblings

Itay and Inay with Leila and Faith

Itay and Inay with Joy, Den and Denise

Itay and Inay with Eyos, Bianca, Josh and Baby

Itay and Inay with Josh

Itay and Inay with JM

2nd DNS for the year, Mizuno Run ‘09

This year’s edition of the Mizuno Infinity Run was supposed to be my anniversary run. I started running last May 2008 by prodding of my officemates. After a month of consistent training, I braved the challenge to join the Mizuno Infinity Run ’08. It was my first run, a 5K…. And the rest is history. This year I registered for the 15K category aiming to set a new PR and Swthrt will run the 5K together with our son JM. We were forced to skip the race because of an untimely incident. We are in the state of mourning. Swthrt’s father met an accident which led to his passing away last June 3. He was laid to rest last Sunday, June 7 2009. In this trying times, it will always be family first above anything except God. This is the time where family members need one another for support and comfort. My prayer was that God will continue to bind our family in His great love for us. May God use this incident for our family members to be able to see the purpose of God and accept the salvation He offers. I pray that God will comfort Inay with His love and kindness knowing that Itay is now with His Creator and God.

Anyway, races can wait. PR’s can be set in another time! See you guys in future races!

Earth Run: Taste of land and water

True to its name, the recently concluded Earth Run was a race that posed challenges through its hilly course coupled with rainfall that caused the delay of the start of the race. The race was scheduled at 5:30am. We arrived at Mckinley Hills at around 5:00am but I decided to proceed to NAMRIA to check on my officemates who will also be running. As we returned to MKH, we heard the announcement that the race will start at 6:00am. It was not so much of a problem since it was already raining and it seems that it will not become hot during the race.

Swthrt with Xen, Nato and Cecil

There was a good number of runners considering the 3 races scheduled for the day. The other one was also at Fort Bonifacio, the IE8 and another at UP Diliman campus, the Run for K.I.D.S. race.

The race
The race started at exactly 6:00am as announced amidst the falling rain. All the runners in different categories were released at the same time. It was already a tough course in the early part of the race. Runners will have to take on the hilly road of MKH. Swthrt and I started on a comfortable easy pace. We reached the first turn around point near the British embassy without any problem. We later noticed that we were running with a Fort Strider pacer with a flag showing 7min/km pace. We kept pace with him until we reached Lawton Avenue going to Essensa which was the second turn around point where they give straws. At this point, Swthrt begun to feel a slight pain on her shin (her persistent problem) and so we slowed down a bit. We tried to maintain our pace but had some walk breaks along the way. In as much as I wanted to run 100%. I did not force Swthrt because I don’t want her to burn out early. This was her first 16K race and I wanted her to finish it strong. As in my previous posts, we planned to just enjoy the race. But actually, I had a target goal in mind of 1:40-1:50 finish time. We reached Gate 3 after 49 min of running. This was the third turn around point and marshals were giving out the third straw. We would speed up from time to time going to the Bayani Road. The test run we did along Bayani Road a week before the race proved helpful as Swthrt was not surprised on what to expect along this route. We reached the Bayani-C5 turn around point and got the fourth straw at 1:20:43. What caught my attention were young children handing out straws in front of the Heritage Park entrance gate, which was still several hundred meters away from the turning point. This may give way to cheating. Straws should be given after making the turn at the designated turning point. Another thing was, I saw a student driver practicing along Bayani Road and definitely placed runners in danger. Upon reaching back to Lawton Avenue, I started encouraging Swthrt by telling her, “konti na lang” and she would reply back, “pagod na ko”. As we reached the venue area, we were surprised that we have to make another loop where the last straw was handed out before reaching the finish line. We crossed the finish line with unofficial time of 1:55. It was 5 minutes of our goal time but we were more than happy to finish in sub 2 hours.

After finishing the 16K run

Mesh receiving the medal

Swthrt and Mae

On the race organization
It was well-organized with the support of running clubs like the Fort Striders who provided pacers and marshals to help runners. Sufficient water on paper cups (totally earth friendly) though at some point they gave water in plastic bottles. There was a good number of marshals at turning points which guided the runners but less of them manning the traffic especially along Lawton Avenue going to Gate 3. The distribution of give-aways were done orderly as it was handed out as you cross the finish line. I just noticed that runners running longer distances were given less give-aways. This was so because they came in late. This is also true to other races i have joined. The loots are taken in by the shorter distance runners like the 3K and 5K runners. I like the idea introduced once by Coach Rio in the RuNew Race where in there were separate booth for give-aways for each race categories. In this way, the goodies were evenly distributed among the participants. Overall, it was a good race.

The reward
Swthrt was able to prove to herself that she can do it. The pains and tiredness were worth it knowing that she had accomplished her goal. What a better way to reward her by treating herself for a full body massage. I’m proud of you Swthrt! Luv u!