Running Blog #37: Missing Mizuno Infinity Run

Waaaah! Since yesterday I refused to open my PC because I know I can't stand it...I didn't make it again to another 10K race.
Today, I don't have a choice I need to check the local stock market and do the drills.
In between stock trading I can't help but taking a peek about what happened on the infinity run...yes of course- takbo.ph and the bull runner provided their teasers about the mizuno race on 01.10.10- isn't it great that the infinity race last sunday is aimed to time the runner's trial.
Take my case, if I registered again for next year race- and if I happen to show up- is it some good sign of improvement? hahahaha.

Anyways, last weekend was supposed to be my husband's first race for 5K and mine 10K. For some reasons we overslept- at the wee hours in the morning of June 7, Matti was crying terribly- in my effort to extend a little sleep so I can better run- I ended up waking at 6:15 AM. We don't know if it is a good idea to show up pa. Besides, if we finished 9AM - we will miss hitting our weekly market for the family. So my husband and I agreed to have our practice run at island cove for 5K, he did 2.5K and we did some baby sitting with our baby girl- TJ. Hmmmm....am not complaining about my responsibilities and how it affects my running schedule- actually the practice run in island cove is fun- baby girl decided to run with us - she recorded a mileage of 2K- run-walk-run pace....and she told me she wanted to become a runner hehehe.

My husband was so sorry to me...he also overslept. And he made a commitment to make running his core work out- he also like the idea that the whole family runs including the kids.

All day yesterday, I was trying to analyze- why I always missed races.
I guess one of the major reason is I am not used to waking early hahahaha
I am throwing away the "cold feet" notion on 10K- because I have also missed some 5K race.
I practically run after office hours- that made me an afternoon or evening runner.

My analysis of why I missed races was even extended this morning during my practice run hehehe
Hmmmm... I also realize I have difficulty running in the morning, maybe because I haven't eaten solid. During morning runs I usually have banana or 2 piece wheat crackers and water or gatorade.
In fact, island cove run route is all flat- but I was wondering why it is more difficult than GBP, maybe because it's a repetitive course- 1 lap is 1.25K so to complete a 5K it has to be 4-5 laps, I get bored at 7.5K and decided a halt.
The music doesn't give a new meaning, the scenery I am so used to it.
So the new regimen I tried is singing "Thank you for the music" while running hahaha.

If this is work- my piece of response from the results of my analysis would be "What is the corrective action?" hmmmm

To cap it off....problem defined would be "Difficulty waking up for race. Not a morning runner hehehe or hardly runs in the morning" Solution "Practice waking up early; run in the morning!" Simple.

Yesterday, I was trying to convince my husband that sleeping time will be 9 PM.
We wake up 4 AM and do 1 hour practice run in island cove- he agreed.
In my mind, I'll do once a week pratice run in GBP for my hill runs at JAE.
It sounds easy and hopefully will give us time to practice before the next race I'm eyeing.

But this morning- when I woke him up- he asked for a waive. Waaaah!
Sigh! I'll try again tomorrow.....

I hope I'll be successful in this solution. I am giving myself 2 weeks to iron it out.

Running Blog #30: My 30th blog about running

Time.....it's been awhile since I published my previous blog.
I realized that my blog title is not anymore appropriate....so welcome to my new blogsite. myfeetfeats (My Feet Feats) !
I guess this is more approrpriate considering this blog is all about the feat of my feet nyhahaha tongue twister.

All right....while running today at the island cove- I was reminiscing....how much I have drawn strength from my feet….can’t help it- the blog title is also in my mind.

• I realized that as a child- I would often run as much as I could- until I bump into something and get myself bumps hehehe....yah I would go home with "Bukol" because I just kept running without looking ahead....and I can see this trait on my son.
  Then when I was in a karate club - I feel better when doing taekwondo than any other discipline (like judo).
  But what I enjoyed most is the girlscouting- yes, this is the earlier influence in my life that took me to mountaineering.
  
  Actually, mountaineering is my way to rekindle the happiest moments of my childhood- trekking to the woods of Mt Isarog!

All these memories were playing at the back of mind like movie clip- it kept me going for the rest of my 7.5K run.

Then abruptly, I remember yesterday my whole day was a bit of chunks of activities…not only because it’s mother’s day but because there were just a lot to do.

• I started yesterday with a race….BOTAK: Paa-Tibayan 2009. My lousiest race so far. I forgot my ankle sleeve, my shuffle and garmin was drained.
  Nevertheless, garmin still recorded my run and I finished at 31:31….just fine.
  
  I know one of my friend is in the race but we didn’t see each other.
  
  I also noticed that the 5K isn’t packed like my other races.
  
  I was also surprised that there is no water station for the 5K runners….hmmm it’s ok with me-but I was thinking about the first time runners….and there were kids too…(some of them amazingly run past me).
  Maybe next time I’ll bring my hydration belt.
  
  I am now anxious to see the official result- I remember I clicked the stopped button of my garmin when I was already at the water station....I was so thirst.

Yesterday, we cap-off the day with the kids attending a party. And hubby presenting me a surprise mother's day cake. Sweeeet!

These thoughts are better than shuffle (still drained) to sustain a 7.5K run that has to loop over and over.

Screen shot from my Garmin- the 5K route recorded a 4.83 km- pretty accurate.

Photo Blog#1: Challenging K610i

This morning we woke up 1:30 AM with a wailing Matti....he said his tummy's aching.
Hubby got him milk (we all thought he was hungry)- but then the wailing didn't stop.
6 AM we decided to take him to the ER......Alas! Mabolo crossing is terribly traffic, of course it's monday! Ei!....I was asking Matti how he was feeling- boy! the tummy ache was gone....no medication, not even food...hey what went wrong?
Hmmmmm.....maybe the boy wanted a time alone with daddy and mommy minus Tj =))
So Man & I decided to bring him to the island cove for the sweet breeze of the manila bay (it's still early so maybe not yet smelly).

The island cove have a lot of interesting photo ops- today we didn't have a camera except my K610i celphonehahahaha....we were out for a challenge (Did I capture the rainbow? nyahahaha). Below are some of the photo results.

P.S. I show my daughter the yellow flower I photographed at the island cove and she interpreted it in her drawing notes (I also used the K610i to photographed her- post island cove).

Running blog #10: Thoughts....Hiiro Kakashi.....Long breaks.....etc

Yesterday afternoon my fever subsided.
While on sick leave I started a word play with Hiiro Kakashi. Yah am playing my imagination with a character and took sometime to bring her out of my frame.
I was awaken today clearing my throat....I'm probably not yet OK. But I dont want to be stucked again all day at home. By the way, yesterday I leave home around 4 PM to grab a few gift wrappers. Wow! The mall was just too crowded.

So I woke up hubby, I ask him if he'd like to run. He agreed on it....maybe because he needed it for the extra caloric consumption during the holiday feast. We tag along the kids......

So I did a 2 laps of run at the island cove at a pace of 7 min/km. Kinda slow in time and mileage....I just can't run that hard....I'm busy imagining.

Well, it's been a long time I hadn't had this long break.
I'm busy thinking what to do.....I even regretted I got sick on the last day of work. Starting monday we had a plant shutdown and we all will be back to work on the 5th of January 2009. It's having a half month break (It's a whooping 15 days off!) Can you imagine? When I first heard about it....I wanted to go home to our province immediately on the 20th. But hubby insisted that he still has work to do...a very important project that requires his attention until the 24th.

Maybe, we can still visit our province on the 26th and be back on the 2nd. We need to bring back the kids to the pulmo on the 3rd.....so my 15 days off were slashed down to 7 days...the 8 days I have to crunch the gift wrapping, a whacko party, the tidying up of clutters, run, going to the gym and maybe tutoring matti about writing (if I have the patience....wah! I confesed am not a good teacher.)

I cannot concentrate on my run and my plans for the family....my writing about Hiiro Kakashi is just squeezing in my mind, it's like an internet ad that keeps on popping on the side. Why can't I turn off the pop-ups. I suddenly remember when I was kid, I just have a lot of things in my mind....my imagination is just so vivid that I have to write about it. My mother even said I even act on it....they saw me talking like I am with someone....an imaginary friend? I guess as I grew up, I lost the naivete of that world....I am now jaded by mundane concerns of everyday living, surviving...this is life.

But blogging bring me back some kiddo in me.......I started writing yesterday to beat the boredom. I guess am starting to hate it....cause it gets in my head. So I have to write the next thing that happened to Hiiro. Here it is:

HIIRO KAKASHI 2

Hiiro's encounter with Timothy becomes a routine.
They would eat together at the cafeteria. Timothy would drive her off to their house or sometimes pick her up from her work. They would run together. Sometimes they would just sit together in a park without much to talk about....let time passed.
Maybe, this is what bestfriend is all about Hiiro thought.


In one of Hiiro and Sofia's studies....Hiiro recounts to Sofia about her new found friend she was beaming with happiness. Sofia was giggling "You're in love!" she said. "No! I guess he is the bestfriend I never had." Hiiro retorted back. "Besides, I can't love him." she insisted. "But why? " Sofia inquired. "Because he can never love me back." Hiiro said softly. "The kind of story you told me, I can sense that he is in love you." Sofia mused. "How is that possible?" Hiiro replied with defiance. "I just know!" came Sofia's reply "I guess you should ask him." Then a long silence.


Hiiro is academically good, she is smart and practical. She is brave...she doesn't care....she has no beauty to take care of anyway she thought so why fear....let alone people fear her fiery eyes.

She gained her father's love when she started bringing honor for the family....she has always been the top of her class. But her mother doesn't care about it. Her mother only think the superficial in her mind "Beauty transcends everything." Her father on the other hand regretted why she became a daughter instead a son....He could have given her his time, his attention, his love. Hiiro becomes a domestic issue between the spouse....when the father came to Hiiro's aide this becomes an issue with the mother for intervening the discipline in the household. So her father loved her in silence.


Hiiro's thought about her parents were interrupted by Timothy. He tossed 3 bars of cadbury hazel nut chocolate bar in front of her. It's Hiiro's favorite treat. "Thinking deeply huh!" Timothy blurted out. "Yah! am thinking about my mom." came Hiiro's sad reply. "Why?" "Anything wrong? Something happened?" Timothy enquired. Hiiro laughed at the sight of Timothy's face, he looked worried. "Oh! no. Nothing. I was just thinking about my relationship with her." Timothy's face softened. "Wanted to talk about it?" He gave her an encouraging smile.
So Hiiro relate to Timothy her very sour relationship with her mother....she cannot help but cry....It was mixed emotion....part of her feels relieved for sharing her life....part of her feels ashamed that her mother is not a person of substance...this is the first time that she relates her story to someone and it made her felt vulnerable....she was sobbing....she was asking why God has given her this kind of face that a mother cannot love.
Timothy hold her tight....he doesn't know what to say....how can a mother not love her own child. He wiped away her tears and grabbed the chocolate bar and tear opened it and offerred Hiiro to have some...."You'll feel better." He said....he can feel the lump on his throat....he pity this girl....she is special to him and he doesn't think she is ugly as she repeatedly said it.
Hiiro smiled politely and eat the chocolate. Yah it felt better she thought. Timothy squeezed her shoulder and they moved closer. Hiiro snug her head across Timothy's muscled chest...she felt so secured. They sat in silence until darkness fell.

Hiiro went home late.
Her mother scolded her because Sofia has to wash the dishes. "It's OK mom!" Sofia shouted to defend her sister. Then the roaring argument went on.

Hiiro locked to her bedroom...not because she's mad. She cannot contain her feelings she felt the love around her....Timothy, Sofia and her dad. Imagine, Sofia and her dad came to defend her from her mom. "If I can only save this time.....I'll go back time and again....." she thought. This is the happiest day of her life. She was talking to herself in between prayers...she was crying....tears of joy......then came her pondering question....when can mom love me.

Sofia stormed in her room and as soon as she closed the door, she was giggling and been relentlessly asking Hiiro where she had been...."Stop cryin' sissy....I bet you were out on a date!" she was beamingly happy for her sister.



I have been writing for several hours now....I guess this is enough. I can hear the kids. I guess I have to yoga to clear my head........this is a little scary when something is stuck in my head.

Running blog #5: 113008 Practice Run

I have been working so hard since last night. Some mishap happened in the line....it's inappropriate to discuss too much details about it- besides it's part of the job to provide support whenever needed (even if it means telecommuting). And because of the issues I had in the line, I slept late.... I was thinking I'd probably had a hard time waking up early for my practice run.

I was planning to do a 10K run this morning but I woke up late and have few doubts if I could even make a 5K round.

I thank God for making me sane last night and being able to do some quick fix and analysis on the mess that happened in the line. Containment activity and support poured in probably while I was asleep- prayers really help.

On my way to island cove, I was thinking of the ADTREK guys who went to Sitio Cawag, Subic Zambales for an outreach program....I envy them for they were able to experience immersion with the "kulots" brother and sisters (most of our aeta bros preferred to be called kulots). And am sure this great Sunday they are enjoying the funfilled Anawangin cove.


Island cove from aerial view, image courtesy of google earth- I measured the perimeter and google says its 1.25Km




My thoughts was abruptly cut by the call from one of our bosses- he was asking me about the issues I had. How I think about it etc...what strategies...containment..have a meeting. Huwat! Am sure he was furious about it, we are already having a good metrics then suddenly a fiasco like this happened...which I must admit, the cause of the failure mode was not even imagined. The operators were doing their own thing, not following the standard operating procedure. It only means there is still a lot to work on, analyzed the motivation for failing to follow SOP and most importantly fool proofing the process to make the process more predictive and prevent this fiasco from ever recurring.

IBack to my run, I had a nice stretch before we started running at around 7 AM...the weather seemed to cooperate with me because even if I am late there isn't too much sun exposure that threatens my stamina to carry on a decent run. I did a brisk walk with Manoy (the Hubby), we did one lap of brisk walking- he was trying to take my mind off my work-related problems....He smooth talk me about the kids and well he made me smile and laugh about simple things...He really love me, and I love him back tenfolds....he knows best when to make me feel better.

After the brisk walk we were on our own, I completed a total of 4 laps or 5 Km (according to google earth, island cove perimeter measures 1.25Km). I finished my 5K 32 minutes (an average pace of 6:24), 2 min over my previous race record. Anyways, am not for speed work - I want mileage.
Somehow, I am happy about it, it's still within the range of my average performance. The lack of sleep and the problem I guess slows my feet (sounds some excuses)....in my mind there is a will to run another stretch, I believe I can do more....the mind is willing but the body is not!

As I type my thoughts in this blog, I can hear the kids nudging hubby for a trip to MOA- I dunno how hubby will handle this....am a little tired of what happened last night....I am planning to take another run tomorrow (nice idea what about, San Miguel by the bay PR). Let me just take a needed rest and see how this day will go through.

Ciao for now.