3rd Mt. Pinatubo Ultra Trail Challenge-Post Bday & Recovery Race

Since I become active in running for several years now, I always see to it that I will dedicate a run for my birthday, sometimes a week ahead or a week after the actual date.

This year, it was the TNF SG race that has become my birthday race, one of the many reasons why I pushed to finish the race despite my physical condition.

Since Pinatubo race has been post pone due to military exercises that falls on the first scheduled date, a week after my TNF100km race I thought it would be a good race for my recovery and post birthday run. I have been to this mountain twice and trekked exactly on the route of the race. I thought it would be a great experience if I will be able to run on this 'mars like place' on earth.    

o any further anymore. At this time, my wish of running the place has been granted. The route from Sta. Juliana, Tarlac is basically a few kilometer wide of river bed that has become one of the basin of tons of lahar/volcanic ashes from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo year 1991. The shape and terrain of the river bed varies depending on the amount of water that will flow from the days rain fall. Most of time tourists and trekkers used a 4x4 vehicle from the resort in Sta. Juliana up to around 20km distance after where vehicles cannot g

The weather is perfect, cloudy most of the  day and no rain. But because it has not been raining the past days, the powdery lahar is just very soft, a real challenge on running. Adding to that are the pebbles, rocks and gravels that most of the time cannot be avoided of getting into my shoes. The endless river crossing is just manageable, the current of the knee high deep water is not so strong that I can cross it without any assistance from others. As I go further  I have to be very careful traversing  the boulders so as not to injure myself.

On my way to the first half of the course, I pass by two aid stations, I stop on the 2nd one, after running for more than 3 hours now I feel need to eat something solid, 2 boiled bananas, 1 sweet potato and soda, then move further. As I started traversing the boulder part at the river, I can feel my stomach starting to get upset. This is not a good sign. I know there is a toilet up on the summit but I feel  that is too far already but there is just no other place to do it. I managed to hold it, thank God. I was more happy to see the toilet than the turn around point itself.

Coming back was more challenging, as I move faster I can feel my stomach looking for another stop. Not on this terrain, it’s too exposed. After the downward slope is the flat with no covered areas at all, the bushes is just too far yet for this call of nature, without hesitation I just do it on the side of the river when I noticed no runners near either ahead or behind me. That was a big relief.

Traversing the dry river bed going back to the finish line seems like forever and with a hope that my stomach will not bother me any longer. More than the heat of the sun I noticed more the changes  on terrain on the same trail that I traversed early part of the day. There are more water now and I have to cross  several  rivers on my way back. The trail seems gone. At some instance I had to think where exactly is the trail.

More runners pass by me already, I know Majo has long been gone ahead of me, and I know there will be other female runners who will still pass by me, I am on my snail pace now. I just want this race to be done and checked on my list.

Mt. Pinatubo has always been one of my great climbs, how the terrain got formed out of the tons of lahar that affected so many communities is just amazing. Running this area is a dream come true and I thank BR’s group for a well organized race. The aid stations are of great help. I congratulate all the brave souls who conquered the trail, I salute all the winners for an awesome race.

RUFM will be the next adventure.

TNF100 SG 2012 - 100KM - Hoping for a Good Speed

TNF100 SG Races:
YR2010 - 25km distance         
YR2011 - 50km distance - 8hours 45minutes
YR2012 - 100km distance - 17 hours 29 minutes

I run this race in the past two years, YR2010 was 50km Duo with Joy Carreon as my partner (Team Pinay) and  last year was 100km Duo with Juliet Cayabyab (as Team Pinay still- if I remember it right). I was able convince them both to do this crazy thing with me,  they agreed and both  of them did well on both distances despite the fact that it was their very first time to run such distance on a trail.

This year, as the 100km category becomes open to anybody who are interested without any qualifying time, I  take the challenge and hope to be able to finish the race within cut off time. Speed is always my challenge and as I have been doing some training runs on the past few months, I registered for this race hoping that my training will be sufficient enough for me to tackle the trail  on a faster pace, faster speed.

My experience of running this route last year will be a big help, that's what my friend Kelly told me after she oriented me of how the route will go this year. Carrying the Philippine flag at my left sleeve of my jersey, I  come to the starting line really excited, no jitters, not scared. I know this is going to be fun. I just have to keep in mind my goal of reaching  the 4 check points at my target time and I will be able to cross  the finish line within cut off time.

At exactly 11pm of October 12, as the only Filipino running for this race, all the 100km runners were released. I just take my own running pace in the dark. True enough of my 2 years running this trail, I still remember how it goes,  the uphills, downhills and the flats. Though it has three minor changes, basically it's still the same. It was humid but I just take my own time, hydrating, taking something solid, I was running most of the time, other runners catch after me, sometimes I pass by other runners.

The trail is just perfect especially at night, but it was my body that was not. Though I did not notice it at first. It was on my return to the first loop that I noticed I did not feel any need to have a pee break, which I thought probably it was just because I was just sweating due to the humidity. I was far ahead with my schedule time. On my way back, as I was alone, I decided to pee at the side of the trail and still  I did not notice anything.

Less than 7 hours, I was almost done with the first loop, I was running with Amos, an SG runner in the dark looking for the trail as there was no signage visible at this time. As the day breaks, we figure out we are not lost and on the right track. Upon reaching the Golf Course I just let him run ahead, I slow down, need to replenish food and I am thinking I should use the toilet upon reaching the first loop. I reached the first loop in 7hours and 45 minutes, but everybody was just in hurry, to my surprise I did things in a speed too to the point of not bringing my sunglasses and putting on my sunblock lotion and most especially forgetting to drop by the portalet.

Even before reaching the first aid station on the second loop, I have been wanting to use a toilet, which I did beside the trail that which is covered by trees away from the other runners. I know something is wrong, there is blood on my pee, I know I have my monthly period but this is different. Now my thoughts wandered, what happened, I have been drinking lots of fluids, what could be the cause. I started to drink more water, but all the more I feel I needed to go to the toilet and when I did I only pee very little and with blood.

Since then I really become so scared, I have to watch my body, I've been thinking of pulling out from the race but the thought that I need to finish it keeps running on my mind. I become scared, this is the very first time that I experience such and I do not know how to react. Until I decided to just slow down and really listen to my body. Other female runners pass by me, it's all ok.

My thoughts, for as long as I can still stand, and I can still move my foot forward I will finish this race on my own slow pace. The finish line,  the medal and being the only Filipino doing this race really inspired me to keep going,   to push further despite my condition. The cheer of other runners from other distance helped a lot and the help of the support stations really matters a lot.

As I haven't been eating and hydrating well in the last 20km, my only prayer was that I will not collapse few meters before the finish line. And I am glad I did it, crossed the finish line with two arms up on the air two feet on the ground. As I said it was not my toughest 100km trail but it was my scariest of all my runs. I am happy I push for it (but I know I have to see a doctor as well). I finish faster than my target time, I did it in 17 hours and 29 minutes.

Seeing Things Across

Don’t try to understand everything. Sometimes it is not meant to be understood, 
just accepted.

Lift Up 10

“Courage is not the absence of fear... it is standing firm in front of your greatest fear...

Courage is the discovery of the reality that you may not win,

and trying when you know you can lose."

 - by Jay Z Jorge

 

KOTR Philippines 2012

Awesome Sunday.

Got a free race bib for KOTR Philippines 2012. My almost every Tuesday attendance at adiNation: Ayala Triads  qualify me to be one of  the almost a hundred qualified runners from this group who are entitled for a free race bib. Had it not of the free bib, I might give this race a pass for the registration fee is just to expensive compared to how it costs few years back.

 

Aside from my running group, seeing familiar faces and friends also makes this event so much fun. I saw Anna Blanco at the starting line while waiting for the gun start. On the very short time that we waited, we were able to update things on the midst of the noise from the sound system. I tried to catch up with her at the finish line but I miss her finish. On the other hand I meet Nina Dacanay at the activity area after the race. I am just glad to see her, I haven't been able to see her after my India trip. Both encounter was just short but sweet and precious.

My few first times on this race.

1. My first time to run a 16.8km distance. I crossed the finish line 1 hour 50 minutes 46 seconds. Not a very good record, I myself feel I can push a little faster but I opted to be a little relax, I just have to be safe and injured free especialy on the slippery road due to the drizzle along the race and the rain few hours before the start.

 

2. My first time on the many races that I joined that I did not bring any hydration belt for my need of  fluid and food. I brought with me my newly bought Nathan hydration belt but when I see most of the runners did not bring any hydration bottle with them, I opted to leave it at the baggage counter. I stripe myself the security blanket that I bring with me in almost all my races. It turn out good, I was able to manage to survive on aid stations every time I feel I need to hydrate and was able to grad few bananas and candies though I have to negotiate through the crowd at the station.
 

3. My very first time to wear a running skirt that is that short. Not my usual running attire especially on a city road race. I think about it several times and even had a dress rehersal several times prior to the race,   I really feel un-easy but I thought I should try on this one for I have this with me for several years now and I still haven't used it. Not so bad after all, I was just too conscious on the first few kilometers but after that I got the hang out of it already. Oh well, I guess others will think of this as so nonesense writing it here but funny this is a big thing for me.   I may look so confident running and walking with it, but deep inside me I was too concious exposing so much part of my thunder thighs.

4. Not very me, asking a TV personality for a picture taken. Whahhhh....I have been to so many races that has actors and actresses as participants, but it was only today  that I got the guts and the playful mind to ask from a male TV teenager personality as we are  lining up behind  at the finisher's booth to get a loot bag. It was Robi from PBB Teen Edition. He was kind enough to grant my request as well. So nice of him.

Kudos to the organizer, it was a successful race full of fun. The aid stations had enough fluid for all the runners, the bananas and candies are very helpful for a runner like me who did not  bring any food provision for the race. The energetic cheerers with costume brightens the gloomy rainy running day. And most of all to my running family AyalaTriads. You all rock. I had so much fun running with you guys.

 

My day did not end after the race. We proceed to Tripalooza, the last day of the triathlon bazzar. Hoping that I will be able to finally buy a pair of shoes that is on 50% off only if I will be able to get another buyer as my partner. Indeed, I got Tina convinced to share it with me. Happy, I got the shoes that I hope will introduce me to minimalist and hopefully do a little of the barefoot technology. But I know this will be a long way to go for me. So I got a shoes, a hydration belt and a shirt for the weekend bazaar. But aside from that I come across some Filipino who is looking for athletes that will test their brand. And a perfect timing, they are based in Singapore which I will be coming next month for my next race. Excited to have  their product tested for my local and international races.

 

What a good way to end my month of September. October here I come, my birthday month and birthday of my few loved ones and several friends.  Looking forward to my TNF100 SG race. I welcome you October with so much excitement despite the challenges that I know I will encounter ahead. Be sweet and kind to me please.

The Cloud People of Peru

I wonder if this will be part of  the trip if ever it will really happen.

The Chachapoyas, also called the Warriors of the Clouds, were an Andean people living in the cloud forests of the Amazonas region of present-day Peru.The Incas conquered their civilization shortly before the arrival of the Spanish in Peru. When the Spanish arrived in Peru in the 16th century, the Chachapoyas were one of the many nations ruled by the Inca Empire.

Their incorporation into the Inca Empire had not been easy, due to their constant resistance to the Inca troops.The name Chachapoya is in fact the name that was given to this culture by the Inca; the name that these people may have actually used to refer to themselves is not known.Chachapoyan constructions may date to the 9th or 10th century; this architectural tradition still thrived at the time of the arrival of the Spanish until the latter part of the 16th century.

To be sure, the Incas introduced their own style after conquering the Chachapoyas, such as in the case of the ruins of Cochabamba in the district of Leimebamba.The Chachapoyas people built the great fortress of Kuélap, with more than four hundred interior buildings and massive exterior stone walls reaching upwards of 60 feet in height, possibly to defend against the Huari around 800 AD. Referred to as the 'Machu Picchu of the north,' Kuélap receives few visitors due to its remote location.

As posted by Planet Earth Phenomenon at FB page

 

Lift Up 9

Success is not the key to happiness.

Happiness is the key to success.

If you love what you are doing,

you will be successful.

- Albert Schweitzer

 

 

Elizabeth Hawker - Amazing Lady

I come across this lady when she finished first on the Women's Category on this years UTMB. I like what she said about her interview for this year's video about this race as well. "When runnng an ultra, it is not just about the race, it's about the entire running community. It's not just physical, it's a mind body and soul thing.

Today, I encouter again her name when she finished third overall and come first on the Women's category on Spartathlon. Wow. She is simply amazing. She did it well both on the trail and in the road both on an extreme condition. And additional indormation about her that I  know today, she won the HK100 female category this year as well.

I can't help but admire her, for her strength, endurance and grit to do all of  it despite the situation. Salute. She is such an inspiration

About Lizzy

Lift Up 8

  

Life is about taking chances, losing and finding happiness,

appreciating the memories, learning from the past

and realizing that people change

- Anonymous

 

 

Lift Up 7

“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain,he is inspired by it. The persistent winner is not discouraged by a problem, he is challenged by it. Mountains are created to be conquered; adversities are designed to be defeated; problems are sent to be solved. It is better to master one mountain than a thousand foothills.” _William Arthur Ward

As shared by Anis Hussain as posted by Momentum Life Coaching's photo at Facebook.

 

 

Something New, Something Different - Multi Staged Race

I have been seeing and reading about multi day staged races, I have been wanting to test myself how I am going to perform on such race, but been wondering how on earth will I gonna get the experience, the registration fee in itself is already goddamn soooooooooo expensive.   Until the universe conspires and here it is, a chance for me to do it. Honetly, I still do not know how to do it. I am pretty sure I will survive the distance but it is the nutrition that I got so worried about. I have tested myself in Mt. Aconcagua, I cannot perform so well on bread and cookies alone on several days. On this race, it has to a self support with water as the only thing that the organizer will provide. Sharing the recent write up about this event. Hopefully it will keep in perspective. The Ancient Khmer Path - 6 day, 230 km staged ultra

By: Press Release GlobalLimits is a company based in Germany, but they bring an organizational team coming from three continents to this event. Organizers Stefan Betzelt (GlobalLimits Founder/Cambodia Race Director) and Chuck Walker (Cambodia Course Director) are on the ground this week, doing their final scout of the 230 km route - braving Cambodia’s rainy season on dirt bike. They plan on much better road conditions for runners, though, as they have set the race for late November, the beginning of Cambodia’s dry season.     The race itinerary runs from November 16th, 2012 (overnight in Phnom Penh, race check-in and city tour), then through November 18th to 23rd with six running stages. The daily distances are mostly between 32 and 45 km, with one long 65 km stage on Day 3, and an easier 16 km run, finishing by the temple in Angkor, on the final day.     Organizers promise a scenic route brimming with local culture, and nearly entirely on tracks and trails - mostly flat or rolling, with only two larger hills along the entire route. The registration fees include camping and permitting fees, as well as entry into the temples.     So far, 30 runners representing 16 countries have already registered for the race, including Spain’s legendary ultramarathoner Salvador Calvo Redondo - who set a record by winning the first three editions of the Racing the Planet Series in 2008, 2009 and 2010. (Although there will be cut-off times along the stages, organizers indicate that the race course and timing are designed for all levels of runners, including first-time ultramarathoners).     The event runs from November 16-24, 2012. The total distance over the six days is 230 km. For more info: http://www.global-limits.com/the-ancient-khmer-path.html

Lift Up 6

Always find a reason to laugh. It may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years.... :)) by Gharette Villanueva 

 

 

Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico - Copper Canyon

 

Lift Up 5

Mountains are beautiful, that's why climbers go there. by Petzl on FB page

Exactly why I always long to be one with nature, to be in the mountain especially the higher ones. Reaching the top is just really a big challenge but the beauty that one can see is just too overwhelming that it's all worth the pain and the hardships. Longing to be back on the high alpine environment someday.

What is an Ultramarathon?

By: David Blaikie

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An ultramarathon is any organized footrace extending beyond the standard marathon running distance of 42 kilometers, 195 meters (26 miles, 385 yards). Ultra races typically begin at 50 kilometers and can extend to enormous distances. There is no limit. The longest certified ultramarathon in the world is The Ultimate Ultra, the annual Sri Chinmoy 1300-Miler (2092 kilometers) which is held each fall in New York. There is also the annual Trans America Footrace, which is run in 64 consecutive daily stages from Los Angeles to New York. Runners cover almost 3,000 miles (more than 4800 kilometers) at a rate of about 45 miles (72 kilometers) a day.

Ultramarathons are run on roads, trails and tracks. They can be point-to-point, like the Comrades Marathon in South Africa; out and back, like the Niagara 100K in Canada; or held on loop courses, like the famous one-mile loop that Sri Chinmoy runners circle 1300 times in New York.

Rules allow runners to "go as you please." This means they may take walking breaks, pause to drink or eat and even sleep if the events are especially long, such as multi-day races. No penalty results from any such interruption, except for the time or distance a runner loses from his or her performance.

Men and women compete in ultramarathons at all levels. They always have. In modern times, they usually compete together in the same race. One hundred years ago, when the sport flourished as "pedestrianism," men and women competed in separate events.

There are two types of events - those in which runners set out to cover a fixed distance (whether it be 100 kilometers, 1000 kilometers or more) and those in which runners attempt to cover the greatest possible distance within a fixed period of time (such as 24 hours, 48 hours or six days). Journey running is another aspect of the sport. Journey runners are lone trekkers who set out to cover long distances at their own daily pace. The most common examples are transcontinental runners, such as those who have crossed Canada, the United States and Australia on foot, or those who have run from John O'Groats to Land's End in Britain.

Megarunners are another sub-group within the sport. They are known not for their speed or records but for the great number of marathons and ultramarathons they run. Henri Girault of Naintre, France, has run more than 200 races of 100 kilometers or more. American Norm Frank of Rochester, New York, has run more than 550 marathons and ultras. And Canadian Wally Herman of Ottawa has run more than 400 such races, including at least one marathon or ultra in every Canadian province and territory, every U.S. state and in more than 70 countries worldwide.

There are Standard and Non-Standard ultramarathon events, although ultrarunners do not always agree which events fit in each category. The most generally accepted Standard events are 50 Kilometers, 50 Miles, 100 Kilometers, 150 Kilometers, 100 Miles, 24 Hours, 200 Kilometers, 48 Hours, 200 Miles, Six Days, 1000 Kilometers and 1,000 Miles.

Six Days became a major Standard racing distance in the last century, when ultramarathoning was known as pedestrianism. It was the longest event that could be held without competing on Sunday. Typically, six day races started at the stoke of midnight on Sunday night and concluded at the same time the following Saturday night. Non-standard "events" include all other measures of time and distance, and they can be numerous and demanding for statisticians to monitor.

During the course of one long race, for example, runners may be timed or measured through many "splits," or intervals, and can sometimes set numerous records in the process. In a six-day race, athletes pass through literally dozens of race intervals, Standard and Non-Standard.

The categories multiply even more when Metric and Imperial distances are taken into account.
 

Ultramarathon racing is much older than the marathon (which originated with the first modern Olympics in 1896) but only recently has the sport has been recognized by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). In 1991, the IAAF extended official recognition to the 100-kilometer event. Since that time the 100-kilometer event has replaced the marathon as the longest running distance recognized by the world athletics governing body. The annual IAU 100-Kilometer World Challenge is now held each year by the International Association of Ultrarunners "under the patronage of" the IAAF.

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Lift Up 4

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves...by ZARA TOURS

Exactly what I feel every time I climb mountains, be it the minor peaks or the major ones.

I summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro September 1, 2008. My very first attempt of conquering one of the seven summit peaks. It was not an easy climb for me, slowly I was hit by the altitude sickness. Headache is slowly felt but I just have to push further despite it. The summit was not as full of snow as shown above but the summit push was just too windy. I am glad we had guides that were just too persistent and did not give up on us. I swear my thought was never to do this again.

But truly how the human mind can easy forget what the body went through. Several months after we come back, we already thought which next summit to conquer. Though it took time but it happened. And my second attempt was a different story. Indeed it gives so much meaning about conquering oneself and not the mountain peak itself.

PAU National Championship 2012: A Test of My Patience

Philippine Association of Ultrarunners' (PAU) National Championship, my very first over a hundred kilometer road race. I come to this run with two goals in mind: to be at the starting line no matter what happens and to have dinner with Rica Mendoza on the second night after the race. In between that, I am sure I am still on the road trying to drag myself to finish the race within my target time. Recovering from a flu and a sore legs from a weekend's unavoidable major leg work out, I am not sure how I will really perform on this race. 

I know too well that it is going to be a 110km distance, a distance I have been wanting to test how my body will perform, a race I have been longing to join for I wanted to increase the distance that I will cover on a race.  But this will be  my very first over a 100km on a road as well, my past 4 100km races were all trail.  And what made things more challenging on this race aside from my physical state was the fact that we have to be self contained, not sure  which part of the course will there be an aid station or a sari-sari store and with no support vehicle we decided to carry a full hydration pack, mine weighs 4 kgs before the start of the race when it is still dry. 

We left Manila a day before the race with a typhoon, we arrived at the Island of Guimaras with a continues rain. The sea is rough, the road is wet, the entire day is cloudy and gloomy. After we settled at our foster family's home, we picked up our race bib.

An hour before the gun start, together with the other 45 runners for the 110km  and 35 runners for the 50km  we gather at the starting line really excited. It's always  great to see familiar faces of ultra runners around. Just before we were released for a start, a heavy downpour of rain again. So as we started running 10 minutes before the time I am already wet up to my shoes. Even if we are still on the streets of the town early part  of  the race, it is already pitch dark all over. Very minimal street lights, houses are far apart from each other. It is only the light from our headlamps that one can see illuminates  infront of us. From cemented road, it leads to a hardened limestone road, rough road then to a mud road. The first three hours I was with 50km runner Mish Maravilla and Wesley Noel Oraña. Maintaining my pace, we are together in the flat, uphill, downhill pitch dark part of the road. Until I realized, I have to slow down for I will be doing more than a hundred km as compared to them that will be doing just 50km. 

I move further on the dark part of the road alone, surprisingly there are aid stations available every after 10km and a roving aid station too. I can feel the weight of my load but I cannot do anything about it as well. I need it for me to survive on the race. 

As the day breaks I covered more than 40km already, I long to reach the 50km mark. I maintained a steady pace alone on the road, there are times other  runners  catch up with me and times  I catch up with other runners too. As I patiently move further, I finally see part of the road where there are more vehicles, finally the 50km mark. I reach the place almost 7am, with out resting my legs, I just replenish food and drinks and leave. 

50km done. The next more than 30km is a road with rice paddies on both sides. The scenery of the countryside is just so beautiful. They day is still gloomy, the sun comes out for just a very short time. After sometime, my stomach is already looking for real food, rice and any viand. Unfortunately, this stretch of the road since it's all  farm land, has less community so no karenderya too. I have to wait for a while before I can satisfy my craving for real food. Despite the gloomy weather, I was already thinking of ice cream, halo halo or even ice candy. But to no avail. 

And this part of the course is just really taking forever, I love the scenery of the rice paddies but at this time I just really wish this part will be over. I just wish after the hilly part will be an end of the rice paddies down there. But that did not happen soon. I really have to deal with it for some time. 

Being on the road for more than 11 hours now, I can already feel some pain on my legs, Alaxan has become my best friend from this time on. I can feel the weight of my pack now slowing my pace. I walk not just on flat parts but all the more on uphill part of the road. This starts to frustrate me for this is not how I perform on my other races. Until I catch up with Al R. Casas a little almost 70km. I was surprised for I know he is far ahead of me. From then on we become partners on the road. He calculates the overall distance that we need to tackle, while I take joy of few more kilometers to the next municipality. 

Both of us celebrate with joy in every kilometer of mileage covered. The last few kilometers, a support vehicle of other runners offered to take our pack and just bring a hydration bottle. Such a great difference. We can now run faster but as we move further with  sore legs we just have to settle on a combination of run walk run strategy. Our very goal now is just to cross the finish line still bright and injured free. I thank Al for patiently reminding me to just slow down, not to force myself to do a faster pace on a sore and aching legs. I started to become impatient to myself. 

The last 5km is just taking forever. With now blistered feet, it's just too painful to step on an uneven asphalted road. Those pointed pebbles on the road is just not very friendly to my blistered feet. I've been longing to see the very few establishments in the town, the very sign that we are almost to the finish line. 

Finally, past 4pm, the most awaited road signs in town is now visible. Al asked me to cross ahead then he followed at the back. I thank Al for patiently pacing with me, I thank him for being there when I was sooooo sleepy on the road, when I was soooo hungry, for reminding me to stop for few minutes and rest my legs, something that I could have not done when alone on the road. I thank Sir Jonel for offering his support vehicle to us, that was such a great help, I thank my team for a fun filled crazy weekend on the running oval of  Guimaras. I thank my friends and loved ones for all the prayers and well wishes, all of it means a lot to me. Most of all I thank God for giving me the strength to cross the finish line with a great smile. Salute to all the brave souls who dared to start and finish the race. Salute to Yob Red for finishing overall 7th place, to Al R. Casas for persistently pacing with me, to Andrew Alcedo and Kuya Roger Villareal for finishing the race, to Alen Alban, you prove that everything is a mind game, to Bernard, this will be the start of the many ultras and most especially to my partner in this crazy runs Rica Mendoza, you are one tough lady out there. You showed to us that everything can be done no matter what the situation is. Til the next ultra race guys. 

Another race conquered, another mileage added. Next stop will be SG100km race.

A Weekend Work Out

Stevedore mode, from 4th floor to ground floor.  

I've been wanting do some run especially last weekend in preparation to my ultra race this weekend. But because we are due to transfer to a new apartment and most of my things are left unpacked, I have no choice but really stay and finish everything. 

First off, moving out always breaks my heart. This is not my very first time to move, infact this is my third time of my 22 years stay in the Metro. On each one in the past, I always feel the same, sad, but this is the most heartbreaking of all. Probably it has something to do with my present emotional state.

With so many things I am going through for the past months, personal and work life, it seems like this move is just really a major issue for me. I always love my place, it is small, a bit crowded for the five of us but our neighbors are very kind, the admin. and security are always there if weI need something, but because our rooms are always flooded every time it rains, we feel we really need a new place. Indeed, we find one. New place, adjusting again, getting familiar with the environment, how to stay safe especially going home late at night. 

I never thought we can gather such amount of things in our 10 years stay here. It's just really a never ending pack of things big and small. We started hauling things Saturday, though I left the carrying of boxes, plastic bags and things from 4th floor to ground floor to my sisters, for my things are all left unpacked which I need to finish it fast. It was just one trip that day and we decided to extend one more night at room 401. There are still so much left unpacked,    I am already stressed. Come Sunday, the final move of all, I have to make decisions, what car to take, negotiations on the payment, talk to people. After I finally packed all those that are mine, I finally started hauling things myself. 

Doing the carry from 4th floor to ground floor on several times for several hours with load on my shoulders. I just thought this is my way of doing the work out that I have been longing to do, a long slow distance run with a bonus of ramps for several hours. We finally finish hauling everything early evening. 

Finally at the new place, body aches from yesterdays big move but happy that it's finally done.

Lift Up 3

"Perhaps the genius of ultrarunning is its supreme lack of utility. It makes no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances on foot. There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the approval of peers. But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense. The ultra runners know this instinctively. And they know something else that is lost on the sedentary. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort. In running such long and taxing distances they answer a call from the deepest realms of their being -- a call that asks who they are..."

-David Blaikie 

Photo by: Seb Montaz Video Blog

Lift Up 2

Sometimes, and for all of us this is true, we are running away ...

Sometimes we are running to search...

But if we realise deep down that the truth of our running is that in our running,

in our moving, we ‘find’ ourselves...

Then for us running is the gift that lets us know ourselves deeper.

- Lizzy Hawker from I <to Run post