36th Milo National Marathon Manila Eliminations

July 29, 2012
Accomplices: Sophia Dela Rama, Alvin John Tolentino, John Dimaranan, Jeulley Estanislao, Paul Biduya, Rachel Rivera, Maribel Buban, Jenny Madrideo, Nino Mark Joseph Ili, Gladdys Anne Velina, Elaine Fabra, Katherine Rili,  April Sapinoso, Edmar Zeta, Genne Rose Gador, John Paul Reginald Pabalate, Ferdi Baarde, Jerome Barba, Jacklyn Basto, Jorge Michael De Jesus, Jordan Fajardo, John Paul Lipardo, Rocel Poblete, Liezel Hermedilla, Carmel Cadayona, Running Atom (Special Appearance)
Venue: SM Mall of Asia

Photo from Kulit on the Run

Iba't-ibang hinahabol, iisang takbuhan. Ikaw, ano'ng hinahabol mo?

Weather forecast on race day: 70% chances of rain. That did not matter. Running is our passion. Rain or shine, we will participate. So much for that, let's have a quick look at the (unofficial) statistics for the number of participants shall we? Got the numbers HERE.

 3k:   2,889
 5k: 27,110
10k:  3,126
21k:  3,264
42k:  2,040

Clearly, as always, the 5k category was the most-joined category for this kind of event. I also ran this category together with my office mates, some of who are first time runners :)

Our day started when most of us met at 7-Eleven Baclaran Church branch then headed altogether to SM Mall of Asia. Luckily for us (as 42k and 21k runners were released), a jeepney driver offered to take all of us to the venue, at no additional charge. That started our day right. After reaching the venue, we found a good spot to stay while waiting for our gun start. We stationed ourselves in front of Fitness First. 5k runners do not have baggage counters and we were fortunate enough that some of our office mates tagged along and became the designated "baggage counters" for our team. After getting dressed up for the run, we had just enough time to pose for a group picture.

We then immediately rushed to the starting line for our race. Everyone was excited and ready to run. Runners were released in waves to ensure safety. We were lucky enough to be at the 4th wave and not too long after, we were released and running. It was nice, the weather was just right, it was cloudy actually (dark clouds which brings me back to the 70% chance of rain). It was imperative to finish as fast as we can as rain might fall anytime.

At the last few hundred meters, it happened. Rain fell hard and I was wet as I can be when I crossed the finish line. A wet certificate was handed out to me and I went straight back to our spot at Fitness First.

Dried up and changed my clothes, it was nice to bump into Running Atom who gladly took a couple of pictures of me, with my office mates and also posed for a photo-op with me. Here are his shots:

Photo from Running Atom

Photo from Running Atom

Photo from Running Atom

Photo from Running Atom

After everyone got back from their runs, we had a few more photo-ops before bidding farewell with each other. It was nice. The mood that morning was very positive and inspiring knowing that I was one of the thousands who helped a program to give shoes to the underprivileged.

Got changed and did some fooling around and posed in front of Fitness First proudly showing our HyperSports Philippines Inc. tech shirts.

Let's do it again this coming December at the Final leg of this wonderful event. Hoping that our delegation will be bigger by that time. To all my first time office mates, congratulations and I hope that you make running as part of your lifestyle from now on.

Banat for the Day

Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can’t get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don’t care who you are. What goes around comes around. That’s how it works. - Jessica Brody, The Karma Club

You are special - Don't you ever forget it!

Source: The Real Proposal Magazine

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crush into a ball the $20 dollar note.

He then asked, “Who still wants it?”
Still hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to crush it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still, the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But, no matter what has happened, or what will happen, you will NEVER lose your value.

You are special - Don’t ever forget it! ♥

HyperSports July 14, 2012 Session

July 14, 2012
Accomplices: John Paul Lipardo, Jobert Dela Victoria, Victor Cruz, Tiffany Evangelista, Angel Evangelista, Jonah May Trapal, Jennifer Bayani, Catherine Mariano, Ynny Cee, Supladong Irish Runner, Wheng Ison, Annaly Alojado, U Running Running
Venue: Philsports - ULTRA, Track Oval

6 days after successfully completing my second 21k run at HyperSports Get Fit Run 2012, suffering from coughs and colds plus a sprained right ankle, I am back with my HyperSports Philippines Inc. family in training (in spirit, as I have sprained my right ankle last Tuesday). This was a good way to catch up after we parted ways after sharing breakfast together last week.

This week's training is very special as we celebrate the birthday of one of the coaches of the team, Coach Lawrence Macalinao and some sort of mini-victory celebration for successfully organizing its first-ever fun run (and more room for improvement for that matter). Discussions happening at the HyperSports Reserved Energy B&G FaceBook group on what is going to happen come training day has been a daily staple for us until Saturday morning. Some will bring food, another will bring balloons and some will bring themselves (like me). Anyway, its training day and time to get serious.

But before that, here are some photos before the actual training happened:

With HyperCoaches Djundi Binas and Ninoy Marayag 

The New "Gwapings" - Coach Ralph Soguilon, John Paul Lipardo and yours truly, RunReal - The Running Popoy having a good time while preparing for training. Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

Hydration station set-up :)Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

Hydration station set-up :)
Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

And here I am with a self-centered picture at the middle of the track:

Then after that short prep, it training time. We were worried that it might rain so one of us stepped up and did the John Lloyd (this is the moment some would say... oh no he didn't) - The Rain Dance!

Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

Then, it's training time! It was nice to have your coaches train with you on portions of the drills so that you can actually see how it looks like when done in the entirety of the drill. First was dynamic warm-ups then running drills, a 30-minute run and cool-down plus stretching.

Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

I tried to run, but my right ankle won't cooperate :)

Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

After that, its bonding time! Celebration!

Thank you Sunkist! Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

Family picture! Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

(Incomplete) Family picture! Photo Credit: Jonah May Trapal

To put in a Tagalog saying - "Magkaiba ang TUMATAWA sa MASAYA, lahat ng tao kaya kang patawanin, pero hindi lahat kaya kang pasayahin." Truly this family is comfortable with each other and we are always "TUMATAWA" and "MASAYA". Now, who says training is HARD? HARD Training can still be fun when you do it with the right people.

"No Other Woman" Top 10 Lines

Image from HERE.

Source: Biglaang Lakad

NUMBER TEN: You like nice things no? – Cristine Reyes / Yeah. They’re my guilty pleasures. But I really don’t feel guilty ‘cause I deserve them. – Anne Curtis

NUMBER NINE: Just shut up and kiss me. And don’t you dare fall in love with me. – Anne Curtis

NUMBER EIGHT: Bikini mo ba iyan o balat mo? – Cristine Reyes

NUMBER SEVEN: I don’t need to read your research report. I know the market because I am the market. – Anne Curtis

NUMBER SIX: Mababaliw siguro ako kapag nalaman kong may babae siya. Baka mapatay ko iyong kabit. Silang dalawa, actually.

NUMBER FIVE: Naku. Huwag na. Baka Makita mo pang nilalagyan ko ng lason ang pagkain mo. Joke lang. Medyo off yung humor ko lately. – Cristine Reyes

NUMBER FOUR: I’m not a mistress. I never was and I never will be one. – Anne Curtis

NUMBER THREE: Alam mo kasi ang marriage parang exclusive village. Kailangan mong bantayan para hindi makapasok ang mga squatters. – Cristine Reyes

NUMBER TWO: You can call me anything you want: a snake, a bitch, an other woman. But I will never be a pathetic, boring housewife. – Anne Curtis

NUMBER ONE: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Pero sa ganda mong iyan, siguradong marami kang alam na shortcuts. – Cristine Reyes