"Why join a race?"

I came across this topic in one of the running forums I'm visiting lately and asked myself the same question. Why do I want to join races? What motivates me to run? Each runner has its own personal reason why they run: health issues, camaraderie, to beat personal record and the list goes on and on.

And I just want to quote what Self-coached Runner said:

"A race is the validation of all your training. Why train if there is no race to run to? Why do intervals, or long runs?

A race brings the best or the worst in us. It is a test of our character, our will. It reveals and it should reveal the real "us," the real "me."

Races also teaches many lessons.

When you are tired and about to give up, when you see others huffing and puffing like you do and not give up, it teaches you not to give up too!

And when you overtake others, espeicially that last 100m, it teaches you that the lesson that you are never the last in a race.

When somebody pippes you or overtake you, it teaches you that you are also not the fastest.

And it teaches you that you can be faster.

Races are also building blocks of future improvements, of future races. You race a 5k now, so you can race a 10k later. A 10k later, to race a 15-16k down the road. That 15-16k becomes a 20-21k. And later on, it is a marathon. When you think about it in those terms, you realize that regardless of age, sex, or what has given you, you are capable of doing very remarkable things if you set your mind to it. And you prepare for it. Preparation means discipline. And only discipline and proper training can deliver you the results.

Races also teaches you to be humble. You learn to respect the distance. You learn to be patient. You learn to wait. And yet you also learn to be a tiger, to risk it all when the time comes.

And you learn from races that you cannot use only your heart to finish a race. You have to use your brains. You have to use both heart and brain to do well. You can't do well with one lording it over the other. You can't just shout to the heaven's that you will finish 42k. No courage or determination can make you cover that distance if you don't think and prepare for it.

Races, is not really about medals, trophies, the girls, or the guys, or the artista we might see. It's about memories. It's about excelling and being better than what you thought you were. Races should bring out the best in us. It should make us reflect, and see the hero in ourselves, even as we see the heroes in others. Races should bring out our true character. When the pain is great and unbearable, it shows us which way we will go and what we will choose.

Yes, races are not just about making friends, and winning medals, and getting t-shirts, and loot bags. Above anything else, races, should really reveal the real you."

Very inspiring, indeed :) I will always keep that in mind sir. Thanks for this!

HSBC 135 and Unilab Run United 2

Yes! We already registered and got our kits :)


So excited with the Unilab race since this is the first race organized by Coach Rio that we'll be participating in though got turned-off during the 1st day of in-store registration at Planet Sports, Trinoma. I was there 10am but Runrio staff arrived at 230pm and had problems with their on-line registration. I've waited till 4am but their "chuvaness" system isn't working at all so I decided to go home and fortunately, my friend Louie who was with me, took care of our registration and finished almost 6pm. My gulay! almost 8 hours! Mas matagal pa hinintay namin para makapagregister kesa takbuhin ang 5k run na yan :( Buti na lang ganda ng singlet nila hehehe...

(more details of the race here)


We registered online and paid registration fee at their HSBC Savings branch (staff were very friendly and accommodating) in Cubao. I'm excited to get my kit and singlet since it was designed by Mr. Rajo Laurel (kahit man lang sa singlet makapag-RAJO ako hehehe....)

(more details of the race here)

Getting serious about running? I think so! :)

My upcoming runs

I'm back! After almost 2 months of not blogging anything, I'm now writing about my upcoming runs. Yes, I'll start running :)

It has been my dream to do marathons and this will be the start. My number one motivation actually is to lose weight and running is the answer. I'm 33 years old and not getting any younger, weighing almost 130 lbs. I think (my last trip to the weighing scale, I was 120 lbs. already) and so I have to get my acts done: to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle, I hope. And to make it more exciting, I have my besties Jos and Louie as my running mates.

Here are our upcoming runs:

(Adidas King of the Road - will participate in the 5k category since its the shortest. This will be on Oct. 24 at Bonifacio Global City)

(Bluewater Day Spa Fun Run - Since this is my 1st ever run, I will be participating in the 3K category. This will be on Oct.17,MOA)



(Next tentative race will be the HSBC Run on Nov. 6 and the Unilab Run United 2. Haven't registered yet that's why its tentative.)

Oh, did I mention about collecting singlets and eating out every after race? hehehe....

Ordinary People

Just want to share music video of John Legend's "Ordinary People". First heard this when Markki Stroem performed in Pilipinas Got Talent as his semifinal piece and loved it eversince :)

Here's the video:



ORDINARY PEOPLE

[Verse 1]

Girl im in love with you
This ain't the honeymoon
Past the infatuation phase
Right in the thick of love
At times we get sick of love
It seems like we argue everyday

[Bridge]

I know i misbehaved
And you made your mistakes
And we both still got room left to grow
And though love sometimes hurts
I still put you first
And we'll make this thing work
But I think we should take it slow

[Chorus]

We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cuz we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow

[Verse 2]

This ain't a movie no
No fairy tale conclusion ya'll
It gets more confusing everyday
Sometimes it's heaven sent
Then we head back to hell again
We kiss and we make up on the way

[Bridge]

I hang up you call
We rise and we fall
And we feel like just walking away
As our love advances
We take second chances
Though it's not a fantasy
I Still want you to stay

[Chorus]

We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cuz we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow

[Verse 3]

Take it slow
Maybe we'll live and learn
Maybe we'll crash and burn
Maybe you'll stay, maybe you'll leave,
maybe you'll return
Maybe another fight
Maybe we won't survive
But maybe we'll grow
We never know baby youuuu and I

[Chorus]

We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cuz we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow (Heyyy)
We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cuz we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow (Take it slow oh oh ohh)
This time we'll take it slow

Spanish Sardine Pasta

Just want to share my own version of Spanish Sardine Pasta. I've first tasted it from Fleur de Lys Restaurant located at Tomas Morato when my bestfried Jos invited me for dinner. At first, I was hesitant to try it because for me, sardines and pasta didn't match together but then Jos convinced me to give it a try because it was very good "daw" according to her. And yes, she was right! That lead me to cook my own version here at home so that family members could try and they love it too!

Ingredients are: linguine pasta (spaghetti noodles can do), spanish sardines, tomato, capers, onions, garlic, olive oil and salt & pepper to taste. Top it with Parmesan cheese and pair it with your favorite garlic bread.




(sorry for the blurred 1st pic)

Try this and enjoy!

Update on my "anakis"

Matteo is doing okay already. He cough once in a while and has a slight cold but still very active and so "madaldal". His appetite went down a bit but now, he finished a bowl of rice with mashed potatoes and carrots and a little bit of sauce from the menudo dish for dinner and after that, ate 3 pieces of "monay" bread with skin off.

We have a schedule pedia appointment tomorrow for his flu vaccine but I doubt if Dr. Avendano will give him his shot because of his condition. I'm thinking of postponing the visit and will go on Aug. 17 instead; well I guess, he'll be perfectly okay come Tuesday.

I will post some pictures of Matteo's recent drawings when I figure out what to do with my expired Bluesoleil program installed from my my laptop (pictures and video's taken from my phone cam).

My "anakis" is sick again :(

Matteo is sick once again, bad case of cough. As of this writing, his temperature is 37 degrees (I will give him paracetamol as soon as it reaches 38.5 degrees).

He's coughing so hard and has the tendency to throw-up. He is kind of irritated with the phlegm sticking to his throat; he does not know still how to spit it out. He had a hard time sleeping because he kept on coughing and coughing. I put a generous amount of Vicks Vaporub on his chest and back and eventually, went on to sleep.

Since yesterday, he is taking Ascof Lagundi syrup for his medication and I let him drink lots of fluids, water in particular.

His appetite is there and very active still but I hope he gets better soon:(