A one-live cat's life

The 2008 Philippine Stock Exchange Bull Run

Just like any other race day, i should already be ready for another race for a Sunday.  But what now?!?! after another 4th consecutive excuse ... January 26, 2008, morning, I started feeling funny with my stomach, I know what it is, its an acidic reaction from the anti-biotics I am taking.  I took it with a full stomach but still I am not sure why.  So Saturday after going to the bathroom thrice, I already felt weak.  I was having second thoughts of joining the race already.  I was upset and so I went for a slow jog at Legazpi village which took my mind off from the pain. It was gone a bit.

So I slept early, woke up 4amas I was told I will meet Mon and John at building around 455am to NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig where the race will be.  Waking up at 4am, I was lazy and weak, as usual my usual motivation of psyching myself of "wake up to burn the calories you've been consuming for the week" got me awake. 

Met John and Mon in time at the entrance of the building and took the cab to Fort Boni.  The race was suppose to be starting at 530, but it seem like it was a hoax, knowing Pinoy's mentality on being late as it is actually suppose to start at 600hrs as how usual Sunday races are.  Its 15 minutes late when they started the short distance runs (which is about off.. As should always start with the long distance down the shortest to avoid clashing on the finish line). 

Approximately minutes after 615 the stock market bell rang, the 5KM and 10Km runners are now off the track.  It was a hilly start… and yea I can not count how much more hills we had to climb and roll down in this route.  It was tiring for the 2nd half.  My legs are getting tired, but I saw female runners ahead of me which encouraged me to run than start walking.  Never walked even I jogged the slowest, I suddenly see Smith, h@ppy feet mate, running in front of me which gave me high spirits that im not doing bad :D.  So I was trying to pace with him on and off until we finished the route. 

Disappointingly, I don't have a watch with me and the Finish line do nothave its timer so I do ont know how fast/slow I did this run.. Running just teaches me humility as maybe it is not the time yet to be fast enough … as I might be pushing and expecting myself too much … yes its true the only competitor you have in running is no one but yourself.

It was a good run, I felt hungry after which the h@ppy feet went for a h@ppy breakfast at Mcdonalds.

Let's see for more steep hills on February 2 Green is Good Run at UP campus for the benefit of the Ipo Dam watershed.

Distance: 10KM
Time: 57.56 

Start/Finish line; Growing team of h@ppy feet; 10KM bib; after the race; h@ppy breaky at McDo; Route; goodies; JT couching exhibition!

h@ppy feet goes 1st Subic Marathon

Attended by 6000 local and International runners, the 1st Subic International Marathon was held January 20, 2008. 

Suppose to be my 1st half marathon, but due to my injured toe last December and lack of training I listed myself for 10KM (and not even well trained to do this!).

The h@ppy feet assembled January 19th at Salcedo Park left around 1030am with kind hearted Aljo and Smith driving the group to Subic.  Stayed at Subic homes (again by Aljo).

Arrived San Fernando around 1230PM and ate at Aling Lurings, home of original sisig. Arriving at the accomodation we head to All hands beach resort for a swim.  Came back and met the rest of the group and went for dinner at Aristocrat, walked at the bay walk and head home at 10pm.  Everybody was tired and slept early for the race tomorrow.

Waking up at 305 prepped so we drop our Marathoners start time at 5AM.

Arrived the race area at 430am.  Dulce, Philippine Diva, had a morning concert after the Marathon runners took off and sang the National anthem before the rest of the runners started.

h@ppy feet had a good spread of runners in all of the running event.

42KM - Doc Oknoy, John Ting
21KM - Totoy, Monica, Elaine, Debbie, Stephen
10KM - Me, Mon, Roselle, Maui, Tisha
5KM - Banggi, Rivka, Aljo, Marga

At 630AM the race started, it was scary as there were lots of runners as there is more likely to have a stampede when someone stumbles in the front row.  I got my first injury after a st*pid runner trying to overtake without care stepped on my injured toe and almost tripped. Able to recover after a few milliseconds, i continued running.

The route had a nice scenic view for the long distance runners not for the 5KM as they say.

Most of the distances were longer than the measured as according to runners with pedometer. 

Good support from the Philippine National Police some who acted as marshals, waterboy/girls, ribbonboys/girls.

There were lots of water stations for 10km 1 gatorade stop, 1  pocari sweat, lots of water, according to 5km runners there was only 1 water stop.  For the 42km 5 pocari sweat stop, 1 power bar, and banana stations.

I finished my race at 59:12 after a stumble and tripping over a cats eye on the road on my last 2 km which slowed me down.

Arriving at the Finish line, I was looking for the Medical tent on the area, but there was none! you have to walk farther to the mobile van for treatment which i managed to find after a few walks around the area.

A few minutes later the Kenyan's again topped the 1st two place in the event. 

Waiting for the group for re-assembly after some few photo ops, we head off to Jollibee for breakfast, waited for Doc Oknoy and John to finish the marathon which they did at 5:19 (PR for Doc!-Congrats) we left subic at 1130 arriving 1pm at San Fernando where we had our Aling Luring's take 2.

Arrived Makati at 1630hrs tired and sleepy... but h@ppy.

distance: 10KM(++)
time: 0:58:525005
 

Soiled h@ppy feet singlet from my fall, marathoners waiting to start, line for the run goody bag, my bruise from the clumsy fall

KL Running Route

From November 4 - December 13, 2007 at least 4 days a week i have been alternating my training/physical regime in the hotel's gym (30-45 mins run in the threadmill); weights and leisure swim.

Aside from that, I have been jogging round the KLCC park Jog path.  The jog path distance is 1.3KM which i run 5 to 13 laps depends on my schedule.

Nice jog path on the knees as it is rubberized, although most are uphill and  downhill.

Running Personal Records

10KM
Event: FilMus Run for Peace
Location: Roxas Blvd., Manila, Philippines
Time: 50.49 Mins

9KM
Event: Sydney Bridge Run
Location: Sydney, Australia
Time: 46.55

6KM
Event: Media Run
Location: Quezon Circle, Quezon City, Philippines
Time 33:16

5KM
Event: Run to Bring Hope
Location: Roxas Blvd., Manila, Philippines
Time: 23.08

4KM
Event: Mother's Day Special
Location: The Domain, Sydney, Australia
Time: 19.35

Clark International Marathon recap

Got up at 2AM Sunday morning, i was told Mon will be picking me up at 255hrs.  I will be running on an a two week old injured toe. (still on splinter and promised to just take it easy!)

Showered, ate light breakfast and was picked by Mon, John and Joseph.  We met with Aljo at Shell Ayala who is kind enough who will be our "school bus" driver to Clark.  We waited and met up with b3n and Lala at Shell station before NLEX.  Had another piece of Pan de pugon!

We reached Clark start line at 435 just when the 42K started from the start line. 

We saw Marga, Jaymie and Joma before the race started.  We waited until Totoy finished the Marathon, he is 15 mins more of his target time.

All is good went for brunch in Shell station in NLEX on our way home.

distance: 5KM
time: 27:54
pace: 5:35
rank 14th out 48 female runners

Group pictures by Marga

1st Backpacking trip

Have thought of going backpacking soon with a friend Marah to Europe, then got more inspired after seeing Australia, I promised my self to explore the world if i can if i have the opportunity.

I was deployed for a project in Malaysia for more than a month last November 2007, and having 25 days leaves and my offset days from overtime work, I deciced why not travel south east asia after my assignment at work before going home for Christmas.

Weekend before my 2nd trip to Malaysia I bought my backpack with Dan's help to look for the right one.  Being a very novice backpacker I didn't know that its not just buying a backpack! but trying it out just like a dress, which should fit you.  I have to choose carefully what clothes to bring as i am going for my work and my vacation.

I planned the backpacking trip more than a month ahead.  I did not intend to go alone as i wanted to be with friends, unfortunately they were too busy that time as it will be days before Christmas. With my budget and time, I scheduled a 10 day trip, 4 countries, 5 destinations.  Chiangmai, Thailand; Luang Prabang, Laos; Hanoi, Vietnam; Saigon, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I have two good hosts for accomodation Esther from Singapore in ChiangMai and Cameron and Geni in Hanoi. Rest of it, Laos, Saigon and Cambodia will be Guesthouses/traveller Hotels.

Have met new good friends and people aside from my hosts: Mike- Canada; Jerre-US; Carlos- Friend i met in Japan

Common reaction of people i met; "Are you travelling alone?, Where you from? Are you Crazy? So small asian girl travelling alone!, never met a Filipino as a traveller"

Highlights
ChiangMai: Staying in my Host place, such nice place beside River ping, good food :), Riding the elephant, well okey I admit.. poor elephants! they get chained and owned by people.. i didnt know that after the ride, visited lots of Wats

LuangPrabang: The boat trip to the Buddha caves, traversing Mekong River, watching the moutain ranges covered by early morning mists, enjoying the warm peaceful characteristics of the Lao people

Hanoi: Staying in Cameron's and Geni's place, eating good vietnamese food, did bay tour and visited the Cao Dai Temple.  Road Rage hopped on Geni's scooter on our way for dinner

Saigon: first time to ride a scooter from the airport with my backpack doing the budget way!  Visited CuChi tunnels from the Vietnam-American war

Cambodia: Visited Angkor Wat and nearby temples

Duration: 545hrs-KL December 13, 2007 - 2045hrs - Manila December 23, 2007 Mode of transportation: By Air - AirAsia, Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Singapore Airlines

(Accom @ ChiangMai, My Backpack, Mike and me in Laos foreground his guesthouse, accom in Laos, Jerre and me in Tamarind Restaurant, Saigon; accom in Hanoi, Me and Geni with her bike, Cambodia accom, Laos taxi, Saigon's accom, cambodia's tuktuk, too plenty bikes in Vietnam!, rikshaw in Saigon)

Sagada Revisited

14 years from last visit of Sagada, on December 26, my friends from CouchSurfing Dan and Glenn. We boarded the bus for 730 trip at Dangwa Tranco Terminal, expecting to arrive after lunch. 

My first visit of Sagada was when i was 14, 2nd year high school for a press conference competition.  I was with my team mates, now i am with my friends.  The roads changed, better and paved most of it.  There are still bits and parts that are off road but it wasnt too bad after being there when you get the free massage and face powder 14 years ago.

Arrived in Sagada 2PM, with our backpacks we walked to look George's guest house which was recomended by high school friend from Marah. the room was pink funny having two guys in tow to stay in a very girly colored room.  Room is not bad, we have our own toilet/bath with warm/cold shower and our own balcony overlooking the street and a hill.

Highlights of the trip:
- went to echo valley
- visited the hanging coffins
- ate and sleep a lot (youghurt house - recommended food place)
- attempt to go do connection caving but dislocated my toe, mission aborted, Dan and Glenn went without me the next day.
- Eating good lemon and egg pie from a lady in the market. One of the best pies ive tasted, considering she improvised her pie boxes out of cartons of litro softdrinks!

Duration: December 26-29, 2007

my minor injury: (embarrassing that it was the local who got injured!)