New Running Anthem

Serendipity reared its whimsical head when I forgot my Nano and had to borrow my friend Gabby's iPod for a race. I discovered a new running anthem. The line "...sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind/ The race is long, but in the end, it is only with yourself..." was a much needed boost on a particularly tiresome uphill (I felt like a Nike ad. haha).

After another round in the route (and playlist), I realized that this could've been written with a runner in mind as well.

Check out the video (and lyrics below) of Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

Enjoy.

The song, remixed by Baz Lhurmann, was originally an essay by Mary Schmich, a.k.a. "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" published as a column in the Chicago Tribune.



Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99: Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….
You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind… the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen…

Ready ka na bang mag-G?

{Thanks for the pic, Gabs!}

{Goofing around in the office}

It's Friday! Today we finally got our GIG Run kits (delivered to our doorsteps). Naturally, we had to try on our singlets and ham it up for the cam. That's me, Runner #505, and my new recruits. Yay! Good luck to the first time runners! To G, D, and L: Break your PRs! =)

Kayo, ready na ba kayong mag-G?

WHAT: G.I.G. Run "Green Is Good!" (2.2K/5K/10K)
WHEN: 28 June 2009 (5.30 am)
WHERE: UP Diliman

Run for the reforestation of Ipo Watershed The UP Mountaineers, through its Environment Committee and the Padyak Foundation presents: The 2009 GiG Run. A run to raise awareness on the need to protect the Ipo Watershed.

* To those who ran out of race kits, there will be a special REGISTRATION on JUNE 27 (day before the race) at the AS Parking Lot (Palma Hall), 4pm onwards.

2.2 and 10km race kits and singlets available.

A Run, Hop, Skip & A Jump (Men's Health All-Terrain Race)

{GOOD LUCK TO...}

{The newbie trail runner.}

We ran in the grass, we romped in the mud, we jumped over puddles, and traversed over rickety wooden bridges. Sounds very much like a day in the park, huh? You couldn't be more wrong! Sta. Elena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna was the venue for this year's Men's Health All-Terrain Race. A bike and trail run event that had me attempting my first trail run ever.

I signed up for the 15K run (I had no idea why, especially when there was a perfectly good 10K I could've done for a first time), and just hoped for the best. I've seen pictures from other trail runs, and while they may look fun, exciting, and easy, I knew it would be quite the challenge.

We started the race promptly at 5:40 a.m. At 5:41, as we turned the corner to cross the road, we immediately entered our first trail. Cool. Running on actual soil while swatting away the grass from the talahib is definitely an experience any runner shouldn't miss. Very surreal. Like a movie set in Vietnam, with soldiers marching to the same beat; Like X-Files' Mulder and Scully running in the cornfield; Or as my friend Dennis would have it, like a very delicious meal, running away from a very hungry T-Rex! Three guesses what he watched in HBO's Saturday Night Movie.

It was a very different experience from road racing. Instead of buildings, you get trees, trees, and more trees; Instead of car horns, you hear birds chirping; Instead of sidewalks, you get puddles of mud. The new background seemed more fun, yet challenging at the same time. I immensely enjoyed running through the mini forest. I played hopscotch over mud (as did almost everyone else), since I didn't want to slip and fall into it. That tactic, though, may have tired me out too much. Merely 2K into the race, and I was already heavily breathing. After mentally pacing myself, I lasted 8K, 10K, 12K. On the 13th kilometer, guess what I hit? The Wall! Not the literal one, of course. The one that runners fear the most. The last 2 kms had me walking almost all the way. Argh! At one point, I was already wishing, "If this was the Vietnam War, will somebody please throw a damn bomb and put me out of my misery already!" That, interspersed with thoughts of "Trail parin??!!" after going in another one.

I have no idea how, but I managed to sprint towards the finish line on that last leg. Hmm, wait, MAYBE because I saw the timer seconds away from the 2:00:00 mark. haha. Yep, it was probably that. I officially finished 3 seconds under 2 hours. My first trail run- happy and relieved on that photo finish.

So, when's the next trail run?

{Starting point with RX Monster's Boom Gonzalez.}

{Talahib Running: The Pre-Mud Trail}

{You won't see this in Manila.}

{I need aaah massage...}

{The Q siblings, Dennis and Nat, getting ready for their close ups.}

{Running Fatboy and Neil}

{We get to take home some loot, lotsa dirt, and blistered feet.}

{This bug was as big as my Nano.}

{Tired but happy!}

A First Of Many More (PTAA Charity Run)

I was looking forward to this run, and I wasn't disappointed. Aside from the usual enjoyable running factors (10K route, running friends, running for a good cause, raffle prizes that I did not win) it was the behind-the-scenes that was an equally enjoyable experience.

It's a running first for me to:

Run in U.P.
More than 20 races under my belt, but would you believe this was my first time to run in UP? Proximity issues had me bunk in with my friend, rockstar turned running addict, Gabby, for this run. From a healthy, home cooked, carboloaded tuna-artichoke wheat pasta dinner, to a personal alarm clock, to a graveyard shift barista... I think I'm spoiled now. Oh, not to mention we were picked up by newbie racer, Lenny, for the run too. Definitely spoiled.

Drink coffee before a run.
Hmm, good, strong, fresh brewed coffee from Ilocos at 4am definitely gave me an added boost. I normally take my coffee after my runs because I don't like rushing my coffee experience (I usually wake up just in time to dress up, leave, and have a little room for minor mishaps). So, this is another reason for me to wake up way earlier than usual. It was worth it, though I had to stop by a very popular portalet before the race started.

Run with the people I see every day.
I have new running buddies. People in the office have finally been bitten by the bug. Now they can finally understand my Friday afternoon pre-race ramblings and my Monday morning post-race stories! No more virtual run play by plays from my races and Dave's solo runnings (it's his first road race). No more "Janine is so weird" dirty looks. hehehe.

Rock and Run!
I left my Nano at home. Luckily, Gabby had an extra iPod to lend me. Instead of my usual hip-hop, dance, and electronica tracks, I had to run to rock music. Cool. I think I've found my inner running rockstar.

Run underneath trees.
I love it! Shaded running is the best! Shade over smog ANY DAY! Save the trees, people. Save the trees.

*Run for the environment. Run the 2009 GIG Run too!

Shop at Second Wind Running Store.
Finally, finally, finally. After (forever) promising my friend Hector that I'd drop by his store and shop til I drop, I was finally able to visit the Second Wind in UP Village. Didn't quite drop a lot of moolah that time, but I did bring home a nifty running shirt. Will shop there again, as soon as new shorts come in.

{Thanks for the pic RFB!}

{K2 Past & Present: Bem & Toots, Lenard, Dave, Gabby, Me}

{Shopping at Second Wind Running Store after the run. Finally!}
{Celebrity Sighting: Shaina the Log Book}

NEW! Running Fatboy Action Figure

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ACTIVATE
{Limited Edition Running Fatboy Toy & Tickle Me, Perper}
.

While I was out busy kicking myself for yet again putting my foot into my mouth (Yes, I'm THAT flexible!), I chanced upon two colorful characters staring out behind the Toy Kingdom window.

Oh wow golly gee, it's a Running Fatboy Action Figure! And look, he really runs super fast! No batteries needed, just a regular dose of training runs, granola bars, Gu, and post-run breakfasts will do. This 42K upgraded version even comes with interchangeable cap and singlets.

But wait! Since today is a special day, the Running Fatboy Action Figure is packaged with the equally adorable Tickle Me, Perper doll too. Twice the fun for the price of one. =)

To my running buddy: Happy Birthday, Running FatBoy! Hope you had a good one. More runs to come!

P.S. Mwahaha. I took a cue from you and borrowed your bday gift idea. hehe. Thanks, dude.

U.P. and Coming Run

{New running faces to watch out for}

Yay! I'm all reg'd for this Sunday's PTAA Charity Run. A milestone, as this will be my first race in U.P. (I'm on the Greener side). Happy tales of tree-lined roads and challenging routes beckon. Although horror stories of bako-bako roads, uphills galore, and knee injuries worry me. Still, I'm excited! Do I need to know anything else?

Meanwhile, I'm off to the beach tomorrow.

Running shoes in tow, of course!

IE Ran, IE Conquered, IE8 Donuts to Recover (Microsoft IE8 Run)

Neither rain, nor sheet(s of tissue for my sniffles), nor snow, nor hail, can dampen my spirits during the Microsoft IE8 -Internet Explorer 8- Run. I was nursing the flu, and was totally drugging up the day before to ensure my running appearance the next day. It's just another race, is it really worth getting sick over? I say, YES! More than anything else, this run is my "pambawi" for my pitiful performance during the Condura Run. 8 miles (12.8 km) is not exactly a half marathon, but still the same route nevertheless. Tardiness, the Kalayaan flyover, and "woe is me" mind games defeated me then. Now it's payback time.

I spoke too soon. Three guesses who was late again (NOT exactly my fault this time). No worries though, as soon as I hit the pavement, I was totally immersed in the run. I love rain running. The weather was cool and cloudy, perfect conditions for a good, long run.

So, did I break a PR? I don't think so. But I did conquer myself. This time, there was no room for crying over spilled milk, no thoughts of What-ifs, no more excuses. Just pure, unadulterated running. And it was fun.

(Although winning a laptop would've been nice.)

{Rain Running with Tootsie & Bem}

{The early Worm gets a Zune!}

{Vener, Run Unlimited}

{Krispy Kreme for breakfast}
{Thanks for treating, Worm!}