PSE Bull Run : Takbo Para sa Ekonomiya 2011

I'm back!

January 9, 2011. The PSE Bull Run is my first run for 2011. It's a 16K. After my 32K, I thought this would be a cinch. But as always, I was wrong. (I  guess I like being wrong! :P)

This is our first 16K so it's an automatic PR for me and my girlfriend even though I finished after 2 hours!  (What happened?!! I need to go back to basics! Train harder, Early bird!)

I thought the weather was ok. It drizzled a bit so it was pretty cool the entire run. [It rained very hard after the run! Look at my wet superposition!]


[It really rained but this one's sort of fake. It's from Maynilad.]

For me, the highlight (sort of) of the run was the McKinley Hill stretch. They weren't kidding when they called it a "Hill"! And it was in the final kilometers of the run so it honestly felt more like a mountain to me. :P

As I go slower and slower (and I'm still trying to figure out why), my girlfriend's getting faster! She was just 3 minutes behind me! I wouldn't be surprised if one day she just runs past me and says, "Hey honey, keep up with me, will you?!"

Couple shot. Heart.


Tey, back from the flyover.



And of course..(drum roll) the first superpositions of 2011!

Thank God it's 2011!

The start of a new year marks the end of another. Before I continue planning for my 2011, I want to look back and thank God for His blessings in my 2010.

It's already a year ago when I first started joining organized runs. And although it seemed like a lot, I only ran a total of 12 - from my 5K at Condura 2010 up to my 32K at Run Rio Leg 3 (Unilab 2). [Counting Takbo Para Kay Gibo, I did 13]. Wow, that's like 1 race per month!

Every race offered a unique experience, a different high. For some, I came in very well trained. Others, I wasn't ready. There were routes that were generally flat like Roxas or MOA and there's the hilly and banked like McKinley and the flyovers. Some had timing chips and d-tags others manual bar codes. Sometimes only 5000 runners. The next time 120,000 runners. Some near, some far; some easy, some hard.

Many times it felt like I didn't have enough strength to finish, but then I did, and it felt good and I wanted to do it again. I used to faint when it's even just a little bit hot and I'm tired - like in 2001 during ROTC at the sunken garden or in 2007 after jogging (for less than 3K). And now I can finish a 32K - and still stand up the next day (legs shaking a bit but I can)!

Having the courage and strength to start and  finish a race is only one of the many blessings that the Lord gave me in 2010. I had more than a couple of "walls" last year that I thought I wouldn't be able to overcome - but God was there to give me hope and to carry me over the wall and to set me back on my track and eventually finish my 2010 strongly.

The fireworks of 2011 are like the gun start of my new year. I don't know how hard it would be or how long and hilly the road is gonna be - in fact I don't know anything at all about what lies ahead. But I do know that God will be there with me until I reach my finish line - as He has always been. To God be the glory!

Skyway Sucat and the Condura Marathon 2011

Skyway is now officially extended to Sucat! Yey! Being a Sucat resident for more than 20 years, it's really amazing to see the developments that are happening in our little town.

I attended kindergarten and grade school at St. James along Sucat, I celebrated my 5th birthday at Mcdo BF-Sucat (but where is it now?), and I was at the opening day of SM Sucat. I guess you can say that I am indeed a "taga-Sucat" (ng damit?). So how can I resist the temptation to use the Skyway Sucat on opening day?

Last Wednesday (12/15), the exit to Sucat officially opened and I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people to use it (I asked manong taxi driver to use the Skyway on my way to a Christmas party). It was a thrilling experience, mostly because we don't use the Skyway that much. :) It was so new that it was as if it's a don't-use-your-car day and nobody told us (it's just me, the driver, and the long stretch to Bicutan).

But if you're on the Skyway, on a new road, with no cars, and you see all the KM markings (2 km to exit A, 1.5 km to exit B), what comes to mind? It's a no-brainer - of course it's the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011!

The Condura Run is close to my heart because it's my first real race. I joined the 5K early this year and I admit I have been a believer ever since. (Come on, you get a medal for your first race, and you see all those nice fireworks, and you hear all those bands and people cheering, who wouldn't fall in love with running?)

[Click here for my Condura 2010 experience]

And with that, of course I am running the 2011 Condura Skyway Marathon! I initially planned to do a full marathon but I realized that I am not yet ready for 42K. And I want to give the Condura Full justice so I don't want to run it when I'm not yet ready.

I and my girlfriend Tey are now officially registered for the 21K of the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011! I know it will be a great experience for the both of us because we have never run that high up before (talk about runner's high!).

Here's me with the nice technical shirt, my bib, and last year's medal.


So what are you waiting for? Let's register for the Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 and run for the dolphins! [Visit the official Condura Skyway Marathon 2011 site at http://www.conduraskywaymarathon.com/].

You better register now! Me? I'm going to finish my free Hershey's Milk Chocolate. :))