Run, Date and a New Challenge

Evening run and a date
Swthrt and I did our regular weekday evening run at Bonifacio High Street last night. Swthrt had a meeting at their Global City branch. We decided to do our 5k at BHS while waiting until 7pm, after the color coding ban. We started our run at around 5:30pm. We did one loop for our warm up before stretching. We then continued our run to complete our goal. We met Eric (Run-4-change) and Dr. Doray (Doralicious), who was introduced to us later, also doing their workouts. We had a short chat with them after the run. After changing clothes, we then proceeded to R.O.X. to register for the VSO run. The night ended with a pre-anniversary dinner date (we’ll be celebrating our 13th anniversary on November 4th). We initially planned to have a dinner at Claw Daddy but also being pasta lovers we were also enticed to dine at Italianni’s Restaurant (which is located across Claw Daddy). Finally, the Italian blood in us prevailed, hehehe. We have Penne Arrabiato (Penne pasta with mushrooms, tomatoes and fresh basil in a spicy peppered-vodka sauce) and Angel hair spaghetti Mediterraneo (with fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black olives and oven-dried tomatoes. Seasoned with basil in a white wine sauce) and hot peppermint tea with lemon. It was a wonderful dinner date.



Time to move up
I have been contemplating on joining a 15K race for the past few weeks. I finally made up my mind last night. After our 5K run at BHS, Swthrt and I went to R.O.X. to register for the VSO Bahaginan Race. I bravely registered for the 15K event while Swthrt, who was hesitant to join, because she wanted to run with a buddy to pace her, opted for the 5K. I guess, she just can’t resist the excitement of joining a race so even with or without a pacer she registered, ha ha ha. This distance will be a new challenge for me. My longest run during my workouts was 12K. My longest race is 10K, which I did it four times with a PR of 1:05. I know it will only be a 3K more to complete it, but still it is 3K, he he he. As I have done before, I will try to run the 15K distance this weekend to simulate the race and hoping to gain confidence. There’s no turning back for me now, this will be another first for me. See you runners at the starting line.

Results of the Fort Striders’ OctoberRun Festival

The official results of the Fort Striders’ OctoberRun Festival were out. Check at http://www.thefortstriders.com/fun_run.html.

The official time of mga anak ni Bro J were:
4th OCTOBERUN FESTIVALThe Fort, Taguig CityOctober 26, 2008 * 6:00 AM By: RACE Road Race Management and Computerized Scoring Specialists

3K OVERALL RESULTS

Place No. Name Age Sex 3k Pace
35 2494 Joseph Estrella 12 M 22:30 7:30
36 2495 Josiah Estrella 7 M 22:33 7:31

Out of 81 participants

The official time of Swthrt ( Baby) and I were:


5K OVERALL RESULTS

Place No. Name Age Sex 5k Pace
249 1360 Josephine Estrella 41 F 36:18 7:16
251 1359 Joseph Estrella 43 M 36:19 7:16

Out of 559 participants

What do you think of our kids’ time? Do you think it’s time for a serious training for them, hehehe! For us we are really proud of them!.

Family Run at OctobeRun Festival

The OctobeRun Festival organized by the Fort Striders Club, Inc. held at Fort Bonifacio last Sunday, October 26 served as a family run for us. Swthrt and I joined the 5k while our two kids, JM and Josh ran the 3K. We arrived at the assembly area at around 5:30 am. We got ourselves ready and immediately proceeded to the starting box for check-in. We led JM and Josh to their area. Honestly, we were actually apprehensive in leaving them. It was the first time they will be running without our supervision. We ran together during their first race, the Mommy Milkshake Marathon. After giving them final instructions, we proceeded to our starting area. After the opening ceremonies, the gun was fired for the 10K runners. The 5k runners were released 5 minutes afterwards. Swthrt and I started quite fast. Upon reaching the Essensa area, we saw the lead pack in the 3k Kiddie event running very fast. We knew then that our children were running too. We slowed down at our usual training pace. No problem reaching the turning point. At this moment I was hoping we can catch up with the kids. Maybe I have underestimated them because we were not able to do so. Our kids reached the finish line in a conservative 30 minutes according to JM. He accompanied Josh all the way. He was really a big brother to Josh. And Josh kept on complaining that his Kuya JM kept on pushing him to run, hehehe. What a tandem!

On our way back, Swthrt was already having a problem with the heat of the sun. That’s really her weakness. Swthrt was able to endure it with the help of sufficient water stations along the route. After crossing the intersection of Mckinley Road, the lead runners of the 10K caught up with us. We picked up our pace and reached the finish line with an unofficial time of 36:00 min. We immediately looked for our children and were happy to know that they finished the race and already got their loot bags.



The race was well organized even with the distribution of the certificates and give-aways. We have some photos taken for souvenirs. I was also able to take photos of some bloggers/ runners I knew at the final stretch to the finish. We were able to meet some of the bloggers.

with Jinoe and Que, Wilbert, Philip and other runners

with Coach Rio

After the race, Josh already wanted to go and eat breakfast which led us to Mc Donalds Market Market. Hope other runners out there will also be joined by their loved ones during races. It is not only family bonding, but a healthy way to spend weekends.

What a great way to end the race. Afterwards, we went home and got ready for church.

Thanksgiving Day

Last Sunday, we celebrated the anniversary of our church, Hosanna. Though it was a small church, its main desire is to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. The message for this year’s celebration focused on thanksgiving to the spiritual blessings God has given us throughout the 15 years we have shared as one body and one church. During our simple celebration, the Sunday school children rendered two songs giving thanks and glory to God. The heads of the families, on the other hand gave short sharing and testimonies of God’s goodness and the things the families were thankful of God. In my part being the head of the family, I thanked the Lord for all the protection and provisions He gave us. But more than the material blessings, I thanked the Lord for the spiritual growth God allowed us to experience through the lessons we learned in our daily living. I thanked the Lord for blessing our marriage and teaching and guiding us in our ways. I thanked Him for the victories He gave us in the trials we have encountered in our 13 years of living a happy life together. Incidentally, Swthrt and I will be celebrating our 13th anniversary on November 4. I thanked the Lord for blessing us with wonderful children like JM and Josiah. We are also thankful how God allowed them to grow in His knowledge. Even sometimes we fail to teach our children in God’s way. We have seen the children responded to situations that really gave glory to God. He showed them the way through the Sunday school teachings and the fellow believers around them. I also thanked our brothers and sisters in Christ, in Hosanna who continue to encourage us, guide us, rebuke us (hopefully not often), and helped us to grow in our spiritual walk with Jesus. There are many things to thank for and we pray that we will continue to be sensitive to His leading. That we may abide by Him by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless us all!

Photo Talks

Fort Striders' OctobeRun Festival 2008

Runner's Finish line Photos

Bards (Banana Running)

Mesh (my iron shoes)

Jun C, Jay (Prometheus Cometh), Jaymie (The Bullrunner)

Wilbert (mind of a traveler)

Jonel (Bugobugo85)

To the runners/bloggers: Photo sizes have been reduced for easy viewing. Feel free to grab or email me at jce_velocity@yahoo.com if you want your pictures in original size and format.