PC Picks: Sprout Around The Corner

I've been hearing about this new healthy convenience store slash restaurant that opened in Makati a few months back. In the times that I've driven along the streets of Salcedo Village, I've never seen where this restaurant was located at. Last Sunday, I went out for a run in the Makati CBD, since weekends are the best days to be in Makati (no traffic, and not much sun, since all those buildings provide great shade). Rain clouds were looming, but I decided to continue on with my run. It was only when the raindrops were getting fatter and already penetrating my light rain jacket that I decided to take refuge indoors and wait it out. I was right on Rufino Street when I remembered that Sprout was just around the area. A quick search in the online foodie directory, OpenSnap... 

And there you go, it was literally just around the corner!

Shots, Shots, Shots!

The first thing that I grabbed was this tart and tangy bottled sunshine. Sprout's all-natural energy shot, Spice Market, is a great post-run treat. Its ingredients include turmeric (with anti-inflammatory properties for faster muscle recovery), honey, calamansi, apple cider vinegar, and water. 

Sprout: Freshness On The Go

Aside from the takeaway meals, Sprout also serves freshly prepared food: savory dishes, soups, and its house specialty, arroz caldo, made with oatmeal instead of the typical rice. I got the pumpkin-ginger soup (sorry, no photo) which went perfectly with the evening's rainy weather. Maybe I'll try the oats arroz caldo the next time I go back.

A Place To Chill

With its high ceiling and exposed beams, Sprout has the industrial look down pat. Their moss accent wall and wooden furniture keeps the place down-to-earth and cozy. The place is so inviting that you'd actually think that you're just going to grab and go (as one normally would in a convenience store), but end up browsing through all the racks, picking out what you'll be eating for the next "course". Everything there is healthy, so there's not much guilt factor. Mapapa take home ka pa! The chiller is filled with salads, juices, puddings, and even fresh ginger ale. Cocolatto vegan ice cream and Picole Healthy Pops, an all-time favorite of mine, are also available.

Rows of Healthy Goodness

Their shelves are lined with more shots, homemade energy bars, natural kale chips, and mushroom chips in flavors too many to take note of. So, I guess you'll just have to check Sprout out for yourself! ;) 

Sprout Review on OpenSnap: http://www.opensnap.com/en/manila/r-sprout-makati-medical-healthy-food-r472232

Sprout
G/F Signa Designer Residences, 
Valero corner Rufino St., 
Salcedo Village, Makati City

For more restaurants and food finds, download OpenSnap app from App Store or Google Play.

PC Picks: Power Chow at Salcedo Community Market

Summer weekends are meant to be sweaty. And as long as you're not clad in office attire, welcome, even. Nope, wasn't out for a run (I ran yesterday), but for a few errands, which included a lot of eating and shopping under the sun. ;) 

Here are some of my favorite finds from Salcedo Market. All healthy, of course! 

Nat Soda Live Juice

I ventured off to the honeybee stall, Milea Bee Farm, which sells honey products. I was hoping to get a cold honey drink because it was a really hot day. They didn't have any, so I got the Yacon flavored juice (to go with my not-so-saintly burger) instead. Heehee. 

Nat Soda Live Juice are fresh fruits fermented in honey with kefir water. It's called "live" juice because of the probiotics found in the kefir, a combination of good bacteria and yeast. Yacon, a root crop that is similar to singkamas, is naturally sweet, so that means this drink is sugar-free! This also comes in other flavors: Pineapple, Butterfly Pea (floral), Pomelo, and Lipote (Philippine berry), which I'll try the next time I go back.

Kale from Down to Earth

The "It" superfood of the hour... Kale! Got this bunch from organic store, Down to Earth, which I had planned to chop up to pieces and freeze, so I'll have a steady stash ready for fruit-veggie smoothies (a la Jamba Juice).  And then I saw THIS...

Just Blend Frozen Bars from Picole Ice Pops

Aaaahhh!!! What is this bar of ingenuity that I have in my hand? ;) Oh, Picole, you homegrown brand of healthy popsicles, just when I thought that you couldn't get any better than you already are, you actually one-up yourself! Just Blend is, well, a blend of different fruits and vegetables all conveniently condensed in a frozen bar that you can easily pop in the blender for an instant smoothie fix. No ice needed!

I got a box of Just Blend's Green Glow (malunggay, kale, wheatgrass, cucumber, green apple, kiwi, lime) and Red Radiance (pomegranate, red beets, tomatoes, cranberries, washington apples, red bell peppers, red cabbage). One bar costs P43. You'll need at least two bars per serving. For less than a hundred bucks, it's way cheaper than store-bought ones or than buying all the ingredients individually. 

The Salcedo Community Market happens every Saturday from 7:00 am - 2:00 pm at  Jaime Velasquez Park along Salcedo Street, Makati City.

“My Great Food 15-Second Cooking Challenge”

Soooo, well, this happened...



Because I've been watching too much of Cupcake Wars on TV. 

And it's hot. 

And I wanted a beer. 

And brownies. 

Hey, it's summer! The season of throwing caution and calories into the wind. haha. I guess I'll just have to run an extra mile tomorrow. ;)

Recipe: Beer Batter Bacon Brownies

1 pack Magnolia Fudge Brownie Mix (The recipe is printed at the back of the box, but basically you just need oil, an egg, and switch the water for beer.)

A bottle of San Miguel Cerveza Negra (Or two. Just in case it gets too hot baking. ;) haha) 

1 pack Purefoods Honeycured Bacon

I used Cerveza Negra, a dark lager with caramel undertones, to complement the richness of the fudge brownie. Bitter, sweet, bold mass of chocolate-y goodness. Then topped it off with honeycured bacon to give it that crispy, salty contrast. 

Yup. 

No midnight snacking remorse at all. My only remorse was that I didn't put bacon bits inside the batter. Noted- for future reference.

www.mygreatfood.com

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Browse recipes on the "My Great Food" website here.

"My Great Food 15-Second Cooking Challenge"

I've been doing a lot of reading about the effects of coffee on running lately. And while it's still pretty much debatable, I am happy to see that the pros outweigh the cons regarding that magical elixir we all know and love.

To celebrate, here's a summer-inspired recipe I cooked up featuring the athlete's not-so-secret, secret ingredient-- coffee! After all, with all that running in this summer heat, you'll need that backyard barbeque break and extra caffeine jolt to recover faster. 

As with everything, the operative word is 'in moderation'. So, go ahead, indulge. And slather on a few more slabs in there for, you know, motivation on your next run. ;) haha

 
Recipe: Coffee-Rubbed BBQ Ribs
1 1/2 tsps San Mig Coffee Honeycino
1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 rock salt

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1 kilo Monterey American Pork Ribs

1. Combine all dry ingredients together. Mix well.

2. Rub coffee spice mix all over meat.

3. Marinate for 1-2 hours.

4. Steam (until only slightly undercooked).

5. Grill.

6. Enjoy!

I improvised with the honey flavored coffee. I find that the honey's golden sweetness is the perfect accompaniment to the bitter coffee undertones. I added grilled pineapples (Yum!) as a side dish too. Summer perfection!!!

www.mygreatfood.com

Add "My Great Food" on Facebook here.

Browse recipes on the "My Great Food" website here.

Knumb Knees

I can't feel my knees.

Was it the rounds I ran in Ultra last night?

Or was it the Mexican bean soup I had for dinner?

Ultra Running
Last night, Ultra was a runner's study hall packed with people cramming for the upcoming Condura Race this Sunday (Yep, guilty as charged). I ran with my friend, Allen, who would be running her first 10K. I spotted other familiar faces as well: Coach Rio and his team (Go Nike Clinic coaches!); crazy marathoner Iah, who was training with The Bald Runner team; and marathon buddy Dave, who would be running the half marathon.

I ran for 40 minutes, and did a little speedwork for 10 minutes. Admittedly, I kind of took it easy after last month's Cebu Marathon. This 2nd full mary was an idea I toyed with, but didn't really think I'd actually sign up for. But was I that out of shape that my body is now complaining after being on standby mode for a while? Does the lack of long runs really have much bearing, even after a recent 42K? My mind says no, but my knees say otherwise. Hmm... who do I believe? Stubborn head or dumb, numb knees?

Jalapeno Craving
After the training session in Ultra, we met up with other friends to have a "light" dinner at the cozy Mexican place, Jalapeno, in Ortigas Home Depot. (Ooh, you know what else is in Ortigas Home Depot? Second Wind Running Store. I finally dropped off my race bib to post on their racing wall. Check out The Wall. It's so cool!) I was craving for Jalapeno's gooey Baked Jalapeno Cheese Nachos and super yummy Vegetarian Burritos (which doesn't seem vegetarian at all!). My mouth is watering already. I ordered the Mexican Bean Soup as appetizer first. It was good, but now that my knees are hurting, and I wonder if the beans (from the soup and burritos) did me any good at all. I actually don't have gout though...

So, what's with the sudden pain in my knees? Was it too much running (40 minutes is hardly much compared to the 5++ hours on Sunday), too much Mexican beans, or {gasp!} purely psychological because of the looming race on the Skyway? (My first Skyway Run last year was disastrous. Ugh!)

Hmm....

Celebratin' (Celebrity Run 2009)

{J9 is just happy to run.}

With a very leading title- Celebrity Run, one would think that you'd be running into or alongside actual celebrities during the race. Not that I was hoping to run into anyone in particular (I already have a happy photo op with one of my favorite celebrities), but I found myself craning my neck for the usual half marathon celebrities, like a certain senator PC, tycoon FZA, or the colorful host TP-V, just to be able to say I spotted one. No such sights. For starters, I got to the end of the starting line just as the 21K registrants went running off, so no time to dawdle and sight-see. On the other hand, I guess I was just too busy psyching myself up for the extra kilometers I have to log for my marathon training (Yes, I finally signed up for one. More on that soon). I did see an afro-ed coach zooming behind the Kenyan runner though. With CR's huge billboard with PP plastered in EDSA, I'm sure that counts as celebrity status.

The Run

December's cool Christmas-y air was just perfect for a long run. The surprise shower that greeted us on the first few kilometers was a welcome omen of a cloudy route ahead. Just before turning the corner, I spotted my running buddies, fellow blogger RFB (who just finished running 10K before the race) and DD a.k.a. KD (who will also be logging on extra miles after the race). We climb up the Kalayaan Flyover, which was surprisingly a breeze and quite enjoyable, unlike in my previous flyover runs.

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Along the way, I saw the Ultra Marathoners- good friend, HY, included. As always, it would be the road back to Lawton Avenue that would slow me down. As would the killer McKinley Hills. Here, in this infamous "hot spot", I espied JG of T.ph running back as I was, unfortunately, wearing down. McKH, sooner or later, I WILL beat you. Or die before walking.

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I crossed the finish line without breaking a personal record. My time was decent, but it wasn't the best. Good news is, I was still set to go beyond the 21K. As PPO, RFB's significant other, would say, "You don't look tired at all". (But my feet would fully negate that thought, as only a few kilometers of extra running after, had rendered those dangling things beyond my waist useless anyway). Still, it was a great boost to my full mary training goal.

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Let's Do Brunch

Of course, after every good long run comes an even better meal. My sister, having broken a 10K PR (and PPO did too!), and I (having run extra) decided to treat ourselves to an "I'm so hungry, I deserve to splurge" brunch at McKH Pancake House.
I wasn't able to get paparazzi shots of her meal, but I think mine deserved a breakfast "Do" in the photo gallery.

{Project Veggie: Mushroom Omelette and the staple Cappuccino}

{PH's luscious Lemon Pancakes with Cream Cheese}
{The lightest, fluffiest, most refreshing pancake ever!
Just looking at it takes me back to a dreamy state.}

Martinis & Aprons

{Martinis & Aprons: A Lifestyle Cookbook for Those Who Like to Entertain}
{Available in Fully Booked}

I may not have achieved my full marathon dreams for this year (Subic and Singapore was a bust). Call me a drama queen, but I think it's suffice to say that I have gone through the same rigorous work and training that goes with it. Lo and behold, after almost 2 years in the making, the 487-page lifestyle cookbook is finally out!

Working with the rest of the team (I miss all the characters already) was an exhilirating experience. It was fun (with admittedly a dash of frustration at times), educational (I can "finger test" a steak in my sleep), and a real test of patience and compromise. Pacing was on a whole different level here- I have so much to learn. But despite all the drama and delays, crossing the finish line will always be worth all that hard work.

So please, pardon the shameless plugging, but I do hope this labor of love (blood, sweat, and tears included) and a semblance of a marathon finds its way into your Christmas lists.

Oh, and did I mention that the proceeds will go to charity too? ;)

{Both hardbound and softbound versions include handy pull-outs.}

{This was the cover that didn't make it. What do you think? Can you spot the difference?}

Check out a sample recipe here.

Orange you glad you can carbo-load?

Just sharing my kitchen project this coming weekend. Here's hoping I get to recreate this yummy (well, at least it looks that way) pasta dish. But maybe without the caviar... =) If anyone else decides to have a go at this, do let me know how yours came out. Happy carbo-loading to all the marathoners this Saturday/Sunday!

{Photography by Amanda Luym Aboitiz from Martinis & Aprons}

Angel Hair Pasta with Dalandan and Orange Sauce
by Marielle Santos (from Martinis & Aprons: A Lifestyle Cookbook for Those Who Like to Entertain)

Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup fresh milk
½ cup full cream milk
Zest of 1 dalandan
Zest of 1 orange
1 oz cognac
½ cup fresh mint leaves
280 g angel hair pasta (or about ½-pack) (Use whole-grain for a healthier option!)
Black caviar (optional)

In a saucepan, combine cream, milk, dalandan, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, and then lower heat and simmer until thickened, stirring frequently. Add cognac and mint leaves. Season with salt and pepper.

Toss with angel hair pasta and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. You may drizzle with truffle oil before serving, or top with black caviar.

Oranges
Eat enough oranges and you may experience less muscle soreness after hard workouts such as downhill running. Why? Oranges supply over 100 percent of the DV for the antioxidant vitamin C, and a recent study from the University of North Carolina Greensboro showed that taking vitamin C supplements for two weeks prior to challenging arm exercises helped alleviate muscle soreness. This fruit's antioxidant powers also come from the compound herperidin found in the thin orange-colored layer of the fruit's skin (the zest). Herperidin has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure as well.

Add to your diet: Add orange sections to fruit and green salads, or use the orange juice and pulp for sauces to top chicken, pork, or fish. And to benefit from the antioxidant herperidin, use the orange zest in baking and cooking.

Whole-grain Pasta
Pasta has long been a runner's best friend because it contains easily digestible carbs that help you restock spent glycogen (energy) stores. Whole-grain versions are a must over refined pastas because they contain more fiber to fill you up, additional B vitamins that are crucial to energy metabolism, and disease-fighting compounds such as lignans. And even better, pastas such as Barilla Plus offer whole-grain goodness along with heart-healthy omega-3 fats from ground flaxseed and added protein from a special formula of ground lentils, multigrains, and egg whites to help with muscle repair and recovery.

Add to your diet: Pasta makes a complete one-pot meal--perfect for busy runners--when tossed with veggies, lean meat, seafood, or tofu. Or combine pasta with a light sauce, a bit of your favorite cheese, and turn it into a satisfying casserole.

Information taken from RW's 15 Best Foods For Runners.

A Beer in Killer Pink

{ Pink Killer, the cutesy-patootsy packaged beer, packs a wallop.}

{Okay, okay, maybe it's just me...}

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I'm not much of a beer connoisseur, just a lover of cool flavored drinks (this one's Pink Grapefruit. How fun!) and even cooler packaging. Spotted at The Distillery (tentative name- the establishment is nameless and signage-less as of the moment) at Fort Bonifacio.

Psst! Get pink'd at Beautynomics Blog.

Opening a Can of Silkworms

My 2009 challenge (well, aside from resolving to be a more diligent blogger... oops.) is to LITERALLY open a can of worms. Make that a can of silkworm pupa, to be exact.

As a New Year's dare, we (me + a bunch of brave/bored souls in the office) took it upon ourselves to step out of our comfort zone (in our case, it's the 7-11 downstairs) and try something new and crazy to greet the year ahead of us. That can of silkworm pupa (c/o Lenard, the frequent flyer) which was purchased on the lines of "bring me back something exotic..." was finally ready to be opened.

Nestled in red, blue, and yellow packaging, it was an innocent looking de-lata. Upon closer scrutiny though, you'd find that instead of the usual luncheon meat or corned beef, is a bunch of stinky, brown, roach-like objects. Gross.

As the ring leader (or #1 trash talker?), I couldn't really back-out from this eating challenge, now could I? After a nanosecond of deliberating, I simply popped it in my mouth. Mmm. No false advertising here- it tasted as good/bad as it looked. Like a stale (giant) garbanzo bean marinated in ten year old rust. It wasn't that bad, although one was enough. The aftertaste was just too weird, even for a self-proclaimed adventurous eater like me.

So, here's to 2009- to conquering the unknown, facing our fears, and opening more cans of worms. Figuratively. =)

{ This tiny thing is deceiving.}

{A bowl to conquer.}

{Dave, the undefeated bug eater.}

{For the record, three.}

{What's bugging you, Cargo?}

New Balance Power Race 2008

{Picture from official photographer/

delinquent running buddy, Kerv.}

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I never really understood why some people would travel for hours just to run in the New Balance Power Race in Clark, Pampanga. Now I know why.

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The mere fact that I was inhaling fresh, smog-free air was more than enough reasons for me. The postcard-worthy view of the lush greenery and mountains were just as delightful. It was fortunate that the sky was filled with clouds with a cool breeze to match. Perfect for that long 25-Km stretch ahead.

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Day 1

A bunch of us arrived the day before the 10/25K races to cheer on our friends who would be running in the 5K run held Saturday afternoon. Most of them neophytes, some who have tried a run or two, and some seasoned athletes- who simply refuse to wake up at the crack of dawn! Reasons aside, we were all happy that the running bug took a nip at them- even for just one day.

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Carbo-loading and reloading was a must after the race. We traversed to C' Italian Restaurant for their yummy pasta and Panizza (thinly sliced pizza rolled and eaten with alfalfa sprouts and arugula). Great food, I wish I could say the same for the service though. Dessert was healthy frozen yogurt in (surprise, surprise) Frozen Yogurt.

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11 p.m. Lights out.

{Excerpts}

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Running Fatboy: Isn't it nice that we're all bunking together (RFB, perper oven, janine+, jinides, kerv) before a run? It's more exciting. We all sleep at the same time, we all wake up at the same time. Walang lamangan (All is fair).

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(Nice, Fatboy. And here I thought you wanted the sleepover for our indispensable wit and enjoyable humor. haha.)

Check out Running Fatboy's blog for more pictures on NB Power Race Day 1.

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Day 2

This is it. Race day. 25 kilometer race day, at that. My longest and most ambitious run so far (I say ambitious since my last run/training was the 5Km Shake, Rattle and Run! 2 weeks back). I'm nervous- like the way an unprepared student entering an exam room would feel, yet excited- like a TV show contestant who is simply relying on stock knowledge and a whole lotta luck.

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It was dark and drizzling when we assembled at the starting point. The excitement among runners was infectious. Everyone was buzzed and rarin' to go. When the starting shot rang out, I made sure I stomped extra hard on the mat for the benefit of the RFID timing chip attached to my ankle (although I'm not really sure that's how it worked). Whatever. Time to run.

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I made sure I ran an easy pace. I have an unconscious habit of starting fast and burning out faster during long runs, so I wanted to make sure I'll last the whole shebang this time. I spot familiar red and white singlets in front of me. The Pinoy Ultra Runners. Do I dare leech one more time? I call out just for a quick Hi and keep pace.

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Winding Roads and Pee-neries

The route was winding with subtle uphills. Once in a while you'd see people (yes, even the ladies!) emerging from the grasses and facing backwards doing what you thought they were doing. A novel sight for this city runner. Thank God, I didn't feel the need to pee throughout the race. I've had enough bites* for the week, and I'm not about to add SNAKE to the roster.

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The route was picturesque and well-marked with catchy taglines to look forward to. I especially remembered the taglines Running is the original friend with benefits and Running knows when you've cheated on it from the LOVE/hate. This is the new balance campaign. It sure made me damn guilty. Sheesh.

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Another point to the race organizers for ample water supply during the race. This is really one of the best and more organized races I've been to. The trip was well worth it. Keep up the great work!

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Not so sweet 16K

A little after I passed the 15K mark, after a consistently good steady run (okay, with maybe a few seconds of walking), I instantly felt the pain spread through my body. First to go were my calves, which hardened like ice in a full-blast freezer. Then, as if in retaliation, the blisters on my insoles began to burn like cigarette butts stubbed over and over with every excruciating step. It's all in the mind... I kept repeating to myself. Soon enough, the pain subsided. But only to be replaced by a furious sting on my left shoulder and arms. (Can somebody please tell me why my arms and shoulders hurt? Is that even normal in running???) By that time, I finally give in to the shouts and just walk.

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No sense in crying over spilled milk- or rather a good 10K time (Still... drat, drat, drat!!!). I decided to just recuperate for a while and enjoy the scenery- roadkill frogs not included. I take the remaining half of my breakfast peanut butter bar and refuel. Pretty trees, winding hills, white fluffy clouds that loomed closer and closer and closer, little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky-tacky... My wandering mind brought me back to suburban California, where I used to jog uphill and walk back home munching a newly purchased granola bar from the grocery. Except now, instead of the houses, my box was an invisible wall that seemed too high to overcome. I've hit The Wall, and I knew it.

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It took a few pathetic attempts of running before I finally found my second wind at the 22nd mark (Tagal 'no? Argh). After that, it was somewhat smooth sailing from there. Only problem was that I've totally lost track of my time. It was almost 3 hours. My ideal sub-3 hour goal was moving out of reach. I picked up my pace and ran as fast as my body would let me. At the last water station, I spotted the familiar red and white singlet again. It was Hector, handing me a bottle of water. Thank God! Not so much for the sight of water, but for the realization that I was almost near the finish line.

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Crossing the finish line was precisely that of a love/hate relationship for me. I loved the route, the scenery, the fresh air/I hated the roads that kept winding and turning into yet another road that never seemed to end. I loved meeting and greeting friends and fellow bloggers along the way/I hated seeing everyone pass me by. I loved the (leisurely) run despite not meeting my goal time/I hated leisurely running and not meeting my goal time.

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But then, as all relationships go, it's a work in progress. And at the end of the day, I will always look back to this race with only happy thoughts and lessons learned.

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More pictures of Day 2 at Running Fatboy's site.

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...and Other Theories to Rhetorical Running

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A Rush of Wheatgrass in the Head

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BENEFITS OF WHEATGRASS:

Natural live energy- Natural active enzymes- Natural anti-bacterial- Detoxification agent- Washes out drug deposits in the body- Neutralizes toxins- Purifies liver- Improves blood sugar levels- Naturally improves strength and endurance- Improves sense of well-being- Prevents and fights cancer- Dissolves scars in lungs- Cures chronic sinusitis- Prevents tooth decay- Eases sore throat- Cures psoriasis- High in enzymes- Reduces high blood- Reassembles red blood cell molecules- Helps reduce the absorption of carcinogens- Helps eliminate bad breath

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Knowing that my days in training was numbered (a dizzying work week had me choosing sleep over training runs), I headed off to Zing! (in Bonifacio High Street) for a dose of super wheatgrass. A shot of wheatgrass juice = 1.5kg of vegetables. It also has 5x more iron than spinach. I should've gone crazy-drunk with this for that "Popeye" moment. My endurance lasted up until the 16K mark, before all the juice squeezed out of me.

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*Weredog Running

A few days before the race, I was bitten by my brother's dog. Twice. Nothing serious, except for maybe a transfer of dog-like abilities. haha. Hmm, if that were true, then maybe it would've been better if I was bitten by a bigger, stronger, and FASTER dog... Oddly enough, I did seem to want to go off and chase the cars that whizzed by during the race- if only to catch a few Kms in it!

Baguio Bound and Running with A Gutless Chicken

The day before I left for a weekend in Baguio, I received a text from my friend telling me to 'bring ur gym stuf'. Too late, I thought. It's already been packed!

Usually the lone early riser, I was all set to run around the area by myself while I wait for friends to wake up for breakfast. Little did I know that they were one step ahead of me and had already anticipated squeezing in a workout or two in our Baguio getaway.

Unfortunately, what we didn't anticipate was a tiring road trip, an inuman & isaw-fest at Nevada Square, and a non-ringing alarm clock. Oh yes, and how could I forget, the seductive pull of vacation mode.

Fortunately for me, my roomies were persistent enough to shake me out of that hypnotic state and shame me- me, the supposed runner, into gearing up and lacing up my running shoes.

It was 9 a.m. when we finally hit the track. One hour short of my the-sun-is-bad-at-this-time excuse for not running. After paying the P35 fee to use the track in Teacher's Camp, we proceeded to burn the round of beer winnings from cabin fever Black Jack and the isaw (barbequed chicken intestines) calories away.

The air was cool with hints of pine wafting about. It was great! Although I'm not quite sure if it was the thinner Baguio air or that one last stick of isaw that had me breathing harder than usual... I do wish that we had woken up earlier to have been able to run more without the sun beating down on us. Still, it was a great workout. The next time I go back there, I'm literally aiming higher and hitting the uphills!

{Mid-morning run in scenic Teacher's Camp, Baguio.}

{Baguio-bound Running Buddies: Miguel, Bem, Tootsie}

{Treated ourselves to FRESH strawberry taho for good behavior. Yum!}

{2nd Breakfast}

{Purple Oven's Cinnamon Rolls (baon from Manila) are best popped in the toaster and browned to cream cheese perfection. Mmm...}

Vacation in A Cup

What's the day going to be like when you...

• wake up via the sound of howling winds and the promise of yet another wet, wet, wet day
• are caught in the crossfire between a Golden Retriever, a Mini Dachschund and an Aspin (the politically correct Asong Pinoy formerly known as Askal/Crossbreed/Mutt)
• drop, break a plate and splatter Bistek Tagalog all over yourself

If you, like me, have pretty much enough leaves to spare, you make a quick decision to forego a potentially disastrous day and take an impromptu vacation leave (assuming you don't have deadlines to meet. Thank God, I finished mine yesterday).

To those who can't, take the next best thing- A vacation in a cup!

Short of sounding like a Lipton walking advert, the milk + tea combination really does relax you. I should know, I just had one yesterday. I'm having another one today, thanks to this: http://promos.k2ia.com/lipton.php

Check it out. Print it out. Step out (it's practically in every corner of the metro). And just simply zone out.

Have a blissful day, people!