Celebrating Christmas on the road (and not running :P)

Days before Christmas our nanny ran away.
We had to report it on our baranggay because her things were still in our house.
I wonder what the reason is....but the closest is she is getting married and it's immediate (according to her text messages because she even refused to receive my call) for some reason I still cannot fathom.
My relationship with the nanny is OK (though her employment period is still short at 2 months).
I see no problem until she didn't come home on the 19th and the rest is history.
I had no choice but take a leave of absence until the last working day of the year.

On the 24th after my blood extraction, we decided to hit the south road to CamSur.
We leave home a little late and so we were still on the road during Christmas eve.
How lonely, I thought....the kids were still clueless about it.
As we passed by the roads of Quezon province....I realized that running away from the metro on Christmas eve is some kind of an experience.
While the rest of metro manila and other progressive province is preparing for noche buena with busy glittery lights and some fireworks. In some province, Christmas just passed. I cannot help it...I message it in my FB. Lucky are those who were able to celebrate Christmas with their family.
There were gasoline station manned by their staff....their Christmas must have been lonely away from family (to service an unusual traveler like us).

And so we arrived at my parent's house about 1AM to greet them with a grin and Merry Christmas! My mom was surprised that we daunted to drive all the way from home to Camsur in the unlikely date.
We slept at around 3AM only to wake up at 9 AM for Christmas lunch and attend a mass in the afternoon.

Post mass pix at porta mariae

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral-life size belen

mantis, kungfu panda and tigress :D

QCIM 2010: My second full marathon experience

The Quezon City International  Marathon 2010 was held last Dec 5, 2010 at about 4:30 AM. The starting line is  at the Quezon memorial circle or better known as the elliptical road. I would guess that this is probably third or fourth time around that I've been to this place lol! I rarely go to Quezon City....the last time I've been here was a memory of me getting lost to go to SSS main office lol! probably that was decade ago.

The starting corral was filled early....bunch of marathoners -newbie, hardcore and just your average runner like me. Most of them are familiar in the cyberspace or blogsphere....the so called "friends" in the social networking site. I choose to be alone and quiet because I usually run alone...and I don't have running club to associate myself with....it feels great to feel alone in the middle of that crowd of brave warriros. I feel proud that somehow I am standing alongside these bunch of strong people conquering the 42.195 km distance.

hours passed after the gun was fired for the marathoners.

Top ten reasons why I joined the QCIM 2010:

1. This event is my dedication to my 3rd year anniversary as a runner.
2. I wanted to know if 42.195 km is still a familiar distance.
3. This is also one of my early christmas gift to myself.
4. This will be my first time inside lamesa eco park.
5. I wanted to get to know Quezon city on foot....that famous commonwealth avenue.
6. My personal target is to attend at least two full marathon event per year. This is my second for the year.
7. I am under-trained but uber excited to run the distance....this marathon is all about listening to my body...no garmin or watch to know how I'm doin.
8. I know that I'll end up almost lunch and want to know what it is like running really late in the morning.
9. Training for the marathon means possible reduction in waistline :D 26.2 inches to sustain 26.2 miles not bad eh.
10. Post marathon means eating a lot till christmas :D

I consider this race a long run. I have no intention to beat up a previous record because I wanted to enjoy the scenery of La Mesa Eco park :D and I did. In fact, I have full appreciation why we all should conserve water. I just regret not having a camera with me....there were interesting shots on that place.

photo by hubby in the last 800m or so 

They say that the marathon is a metaphor of life.
And life is full of surprises......you meet people along the way.
You meet struggling marathoners along the way.
It felt great to have met people like Tess  who tried to help ease my inconveniences. And there was Sam the running ninja whom I saw up close...I used to read his blog through Takbo.ph. And a guy with bib 9541 whom I had a nice chat about mountaineering on the last 3 km of the race.

Relief...seeing hubby taking the shots felt like heaven....finally somebody close to me is here.

Ten things that I have learned about running a marathon after completing QCIM:

1. Hydrate just enough. Of course during summer or intense heat  you have to hydrate more than enough. But specific to this event...the weather is fine and overcast...just enough is okay.
2. Sleep well....yes this old age advice will help you have a better running experience. I actually billeted to a low budget  hotel in Kalayaan Ave....just to make sure I'm not going to be late. I don't want to repeat that same experience during TBR DM.
3. Plan your hydration and solid intake....cramps won't be an issue. 
4. Do not clip and wound your ipod earphone wires on your hydration belt....it takes time to remove it. lol! when I entered la mesa eco park I had to unwind the ipod wires from my belt (hydration belts were not allowed inside the park and I didn't know about this rule until I get there).
5. Small steps on incline is still the best way to attack the hills...it allowed me to continue running and it feels great on the butt.
6. If your not having cramps...do not entertain the idea of putting on liniments on your legs just because you see the first aid station not so busy. I tried putting on the liniment...with the idea in mind that the minty feel would help me reduce my walk breaks but it didn't make a difference...it was just an added delay (not to mention the "scratchy" feel after the application).
7. I have read it several times that the bladder shuts down when you started running. In my case it seems untrue. So, tie your short string not too tight...you'll get busy untying it during wee wee break. Lol!
8. If there is a need to  pee....go pee if there's a chance do not wait on that next gasoline station or comfort room...chances are there isn't anymore. lol! that's what happen to me when I forego taking a pee on Shell station along commonwealth ave....when I reached UP and CP Garcia street, I have to live with the bursting bladder feeling all throughout the remaining 12Km.
9.  If you feel that your bladder seemed to break....don't take a cold shower....it will aggravate the feeling.
10. Don't forget to smile....photovendo's everywhere. Thanks for the nice picture guys!

pure bliss....finishline is just around the area.

My splits: 

10K- 1:10:55 - wow! this is within my 10K range 
21K - 2:35:09 - also within my 21K performance range 
30K -3:38:56- this is surprising for me, considering my unilab 32K is 4:11 hmmm 
40K- 5:18:52 - obviously this is a nega split, the last 12k was agonizingly painful abdominal-like cramps- its like havin' dysme while running...trying to find a cr or portalet to relieve some wewee urged...I was thinking why the bladder did not completely shutdown...am i running so slow? 

That guy behind me was nice enough to share some chat...also a mountaineer-but I hadn't got his name.

To my surprise....I finished QCIM 2010 better than my maiden marathon not to mention about too much delay on the first aid station and gasoline station...wohoooo!

sweet victory- my mizuno precision on it's 500km mileage....time to change!

After getting my medal (and relieving my we-wee urge), I opted to walk back to our hotel....like a post marathon stretch.
I am so happy that I have completed the event free from injury....
How's that for an early Christmas gift?


Nike Dri-Fit Filament Running Tights - Large
Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)

Runrio Leg 3 and Patricia's Dream

Hello there! Gee...this post is uber late.
Hmmm there isn't much time to blog.
It seems that family activity and kid's individual interest is eating much of mommy's time.
But I'm still lucky because I have been able to squeezed running time on my busy sched and ended up doing long distance race in a month's time....talk about time management.

Runrio Leg3: 32K The Afroman Challenge
Last year TIMEX Run, I thought it was the first leg of Runrio Trilogy. Hmmm but I was wrong...announcement in the blogsphere came that the Runrio Trilogy will happen 2010.
I promised myself that I will live up to the challenge....no matter what I'll run the toughest challenge- 21K, 21K & 32K.

Here's the summary of my performance in order of the trilogy event:

1. Feb 21, 10: Runrio Trilogy1: Century Tuna Superbods, 21K, 2:17:36
2. May 30, 10: RunRio Trilogy2: Nature Valley Run, 21K, 2:38:49 (Recovery run after TBR DM).
3. Nov 21, 10: RunRio Trilogy3: Run United 2-Active Health, 32K, 4:11:39

 I am so happy that I have crossed and completed the Trilogy on my "must run" event list....and what's great about it is I completed with the luvy dovy of my life hehehe.

Fleeting moments after my second wind kicked in.

Thx photovendo....sweetness moment :D

My favorite running mate

Run with the light for Patricia's Dream

After a week of 32K run with runrio. What I needed was a recovery run. I know it would be fun if done in a race that would allow me do an easy pace at the same time decent enough to cover certain distance. I was thinking that 5K is just right.
So when I came across the race list featured in Takbo.ph-  Patricia's Dream Run caught my interest.
A run for cause for dear Patricia.

I had it discussed at home with hubby and my kids.  Patricia's rings a bell to my kids because two years ago their friend Patricia (or Patchie as we fondly call her) also had the same accident though with lesser injury.  The kids volunteered to join the race so they can help....in fact come race day we didn't have any problem waking them up in the wee hour. Dada and kids did the 3K while I did a 5K run.

I thought it would be an easy run.....but I was shocked by the adrenaline of the runners in Alabang. They were fast, they were speeding like a bullet after the start alarm was sounded.
It was a nice run in Madrigal Business Park that headed to the posh village of Ayala Alabang. I ended up at 39:51 my super slow 5K record. But it was fun....I was still ahead with the kiddos and took shot of their running moments.

This race is one of my favorite....because you feel the warmth of small and closely knit running community.
Again thank you to Alabang runners for holding this event and for making a difference to Patricia and those who participated on the event.

P.S. Click here if you are interested about Patricia or if you wanted to extend help.

Photo ops with Patricia and Mom Vhangie of Alabang Runners

Post run pix with Team Logan, Craig, Michelle and Justine

Dada pacing Matti....don't give up...keep on running!

my competitive little girl goin ahead of dada and matti