One With The Water

As I've mentioned in my previous blog, I was on a running Hiatus for the whole of May to give way to my swimming lessons. Just to break the monotony of my running blog entries, i'd share the story of my summer swimming lessons.

I enrolled in Bert Lozada's swimming school (Ascott branch) last April for the May 2010 beginner's class. I have been afraid of the water all my life and I've decided that this may be a nice change for me. The first day of class was generally easy, as with the rest of the 5 years olds that were in the pool, we were taught the basics - floating and bubbles. lol After that the next thing we did was the glide - a move where we just floated and kicked and held our breath in the water.

Coach kept telling us not to be afraid of the water. He taught us the 4 swimming techniques, freestyle, breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly. In order of easiest to hardest, Id say freestyle is the easiest followed by breaststroke, butterfly then back stroke.

I know it may be a surprise for some that I tagged backstroke as the hardest, but it was particularly difficult for me since i was terrified that the water would creep into my nose and drown me from within. Breast stroke - or the froggie was so much fun to do - i just pretended that im a frog. :) Butterfly - i think, requires a lot of upper body strength because the constant slamming into the water did hurt for some time. It was also particularly hard to push myself forward. My favorite part of this technique is when I launch into the water like a mermaid. hehehe :) Last but not the least is freestyle - my favorite. By the end of the 10 sessions I was already capable of swimming the 2 laps (50m) straight using freestyle. That for someone who had been terrified of the water is a HUGE milestone. :)

Aside from swimming, one thing I've learned from this experience is the value of a good rest. My shins had been aching so bad since I use to run everyday at least 5-10km. After a month long rest from running, my shins recovered and the pain was gone. After that I immediately changed my training plans to allow adequate rest for my legs. I try to strictly follow my schedule now, Long run Sunday, moderate run tue, speed training thurs, active recovey sat - and weight trainings in between.

I find that returning to running is a bit hard after that month long rest but it did paid off since my feet and legs are not hurting anymore. This time I'll try to train wiser. :)

Bdw here are some pics from my swimming class :)

HELLO THERE!!! im a shy turtle - NOT!




with my classmate


my coach - thanks coach JC!


team picture

Running Hiatus

For those who had been asking me, the answer is YES. I haven't been running lately, mainly because I've started to take swimming lessons and there was a problem with my gym membership. Supposedly tomorrow, rather today (its 12:10) would be my running comeback from a month long hiatus. Unfortunately though i had the worst case of cough and sniffles - so bye bye run rio leg 2 :(

I'm just happy though that i was able to donate a tree and that I've already used the singlet more than 5 times hehehe. I'm hoping to get back to my running routine by tues (sana talaga magaling nako by then) as we are starting the month of June and i could go to gold's gym again. I also hope to continue swimming (sana makahanap ako ng place) - i might enroll again for advance 2 freestyle and butterfly. :)


That's it for now. Ill upload swimming pics soon :)

Natgeo Earth Day Run

Yes i know, this write up is way over due. :P

Natgeo Earthday Run was held last April 18, 2010 for the benefit of DATE foundation or Defense Against The Elements. I believe this foundation aims to build a nation that will withstand the changing climate of the world.

For this race, i ran 5km. It was suppose to be an easy run given the distance but the heavy workout (i have been doing P90X and weight training the entire week) punished me to the point that i almost cried during the race. Every step i took felt like a hammer smashing to my abs. (and this is no exageration) but of course since its only 5k, i finished anyway. :)

Official time from http://www.natgeorun.com/ is a staggering 40:45 hehehe

There weren't a lot of freebies after the race (and we were hoping for some hehe coz the registration was very pricey). There were no timing chips no photo vendo - but i could say most of us enjoyed it anyway and again it was for a good cause. As a bonus we also got to hang out with our new buddy Raph Recasas. :)

Ohhh bdw noel got injured and had to wear crutches for some time and I'm really getting very sleepy so ill wrap this blog up. some pictures are posted below, the entire album is in my facebook account. Feel free to follow me on twitter as well ;)

ciao!!!

(L-R: Chaniel, Earl, Mils, Krizie, Noel, Raph)



(L-R krizie, earl, noel, mils)


(L-R: Chaniel, Raph, Mils, Krizie, Noel, Earl)

Run Rio Leg 2 Registration

Registration details are finally here, and its opening soon! April 15 2010

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE

First it was Papa Piolo, then it was Papa Derek - now guys dont have to complain anymore that girls are the only ones who gets their share of eye candy, coz the celebrity partner for runrio leg 2 is Donna Cruz. (Shadam dadam..) Yes, and i wouldn't have guessed it! I thought it was going to be Maricar Reyes or Iza Calzado hehehe

EVENT DETAILS

• Event: NATURE VALLEY RUN 2010 (RUNRIO TRILOGY LEG 2)
• Race Day: May 30, 2010
• Race Venue: 28th Street (beside NBC Tent), Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
• Distance Categories: 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K

REGISTRATION VENUES

Early Registration Period: April 15 to May 12, 2010

• SM TIMEX Shops – North EDSA, South Mall, San Lazaro, Glorietta
• Watch Republic – Robinson’s Galleria
• R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Late Registration: May 13 to May 20, 2010

• R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig ONLY

Online Registration: April 15 to May 12, 2010

• www.runrio.com

REGISTRATION FEES

Race Category	Registration Fee	Race Features
3K	Php400	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
5K	Php600	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
10K	Php600	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis
21K	Php750	Race No., Singlet, Timing Chip, Nature Valley loot bag, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bar, PhotoVendo, Race Analysis, Finisher’s Medal, Finisher’s Shirt

ASSEMBLY AND GUN START TIMES

Race Category	Assembly Time	Gun Start
3K	5:30am	5:50am
5K	5:20am	5:40am
10K	5:00am	5:25am
21K	4:45am	5:10am

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• Registration may end earlier than announced deadline. (Registration kits may run out before May 20.)
• Singlets will be given to the first 7000 registrants. There will be no guaranteed size of singlets for late registrants
• Disposable timing chips will be used by all participants during the race.
• Medals and RunRio shirts will be given to all 21km finishers.
• Nature Valley loot bags and bars will be given upon finishing the race.
• For questions, contact the secretariat at (02) 703 1736.
• For further details, visit www.naturevalleyrun2010.com

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER!

along with the celebration of easter - i also finished my 1st 100 KM today.

yey for me! :)

Takbo.ph Run - Registration

If there's any upcoming race im really excited about - this one would definitely top the charts.

The reason: customized singlets

click on the image for more info or visit takbo.ph

and for that reason i did a mad rush to the New Balance outlet in Glorietta to register Pao and myself. :) We will both be running 5km.

Registration is still open for both 10km and 5km but only 3 thousand slots are available for the entire race. Im not sure how many are still available to date because there were already 200+ who registered on the first day (march 29th) in glorietta alone. So if you're interested in running HURRY and register. :)

Register at the following New Balance and Planet Sports Outlets
- Planet Sports Trinoma
- New Balance Shangrila
- New Balance Festival Mall
- New Balance Glorietta

Registration fee is 450 Php. This includes the customized singlet and race bib, race kit, accident insurance and delivery charges. Plus the sponsors will be providing freebies to the participants.
- Powerade and Viva Water
- 20% discount coupon for New Balance Shoes and Apparels
- Nature Valley products

So hurry up! Register and i hope to see you there :)

The Green Miles Run

March 21 - just few days after my birthday was the date for the green miles run.

I was particularly excited about this run for a number of reason.

1. Its being organized by my co-alumni USTHS batch 88
2. It served as my birthday treat to my running mates as we'll be having breakfast after the race 3. Piolo Pascual is going to be there
4. Its my first time to run round mall of asia
5. Id like to run in my new shoes
6. Its my first 5k race

and for this number of reason i advertised and advertised this race, until finally it came.

Gun start for the 5km and i ran my heart out, i was targeting a sub-40 time for the records but i was thinking i could finish it sub-35. Well i did, i finished the 5km @ 31:58, the only problem is the race didn't stop at 5k. It went on for yet another km and another and another until we finally reached a distance close to 8.6km. Needless to say, I got lost. Myself, along with the many others that was ahead and behind of me ran a total distance of not less than 8km for the 5km run.

Regardless of that, i considered it to be a good run, the air was cool and the race wasnt as congested as the previous races. I was fortunate to bring along my sunglasses and visor coz the sun was already up when i reached the finish line. I finished at around 50 mins for the 8.6km. As i was already sprinting in between the 4-5km, i was already very tired in the succeeding ones.

After the race we went out to eat breakfast. All was good.

Few days later, we were waiting for the result of the race but none of them seems to be posted online. I believe it took a good week for the race results to be released, aside from being inaccurate due to the fact that many were lost, there were also a lot of missing names from the list - myself included. My number cannot be found even when i did surrendered my tag at the finish line. Majority of the runners were also tagged as "unknown finisher" which was a bit disappointing.

here are some pictures after the race:













and heres my review for the race:

PROS:
- very nice route
- water station ever 2km
- non crowded race

CONS:
- no timing chip
- no photovendo and runpix
- very few marshals
- race results were late
- few signs and directions
- not all runners are accounted
- few giveaways
- no food after the race


my rating: 3 paws - it could really use some improvement