Four

 

Sure sign of addiction:  

When the mere thought of being deprived of IT gives you premature withdrawal symptoms,

and when the actual experience of IT leaves you with some really bitter aftertaste worse than what you got from the blackest coffee you’ve had so far.

***

I’ve been run-less for four consecutive days.  Darn this back-t0-school mode.  (Don’t get me wrong though.  I can’t be happier to be renting a space again in the pa-geek universe, if not for the threats it puts on my running.)

Run-less for four days and it brings me to a thoughtful mood. 

I just requested to be transferred to a different class just so I don’t risk being a constant latecomer  (plus the prof there seems to have ‘a thing for a lot of things’, as my classmate put it).  

But now I think I face a bigger risk of being totally runless for FOUR consecutive days -  Every . Single . Week.

Somebody give me a paracetamol please.

Autoreview: ‘My brother is Not a.. ‘

If I may complain..  (and I tell you I’m no good at this).

Autoreview:  

My brother’s name is missing in the race results(!!).  Forgive me, I am not, and I repeat -  I am NOT, normally easily irked with discrepancies like this, except for this time. 

So yes, it’s okay to publish his finish time, it’s not a secret.  Double check your data. 

Man my bro has been bugging me what his official finish time was(!) and now that results are finally out, I remain empty-handed.  And I can only tell him, ’sorry, guess they skipped you’. 

Sorry, it’s the boy’s first race.  You can imagine an excitement level way above the normal, for him and for a doting Ate.

So I sent them an email asking them to double-check their data.  I need to confess that I said that in a bit-pissed-kinda-demanding-but-trying-to-be-nice-still tone.  Afterall, my boy isn’t really a medalist or something. 

Just plain excited for being a first-timer, and that excitement they – unfortunately -  squashed. 

Nevertheless it’s not too late.  Autoreview, gimme, please.

(BTW, the above isn’t what I emailed them.  Hahaha.  For that would be emo-much.)

Yaya to my Bro @ AutoReview Run

 

Autoreview Run

May 24, 2009.  The Fort, Taguig.

I inquired about this race only three days before the race day itself.  AutoReview run was the result of my scampering about for Manila races after learning that Daryl, my youngest brother, was coming over for a  short weekend vacay.

I initially thought of racing it too, but gave it a second thought and decided to be play the ‘Yaya’ role instead -  a running Yaya with a camera on the right hand and a towelette on the left (wahaha!, minus the towelette naman – save Cathletic’s dignity).  One of my two Kuya’s I had commissioned to be our driver for Sunday early morning.  Talk about having siblings sponsors for your race -  my brother had it all. 

 

You amaze me Nono!  Stop making pa-cute and keep your focus on the road.  Yes, don’t be like Ate.  Hehehe.

  

Fast young man surprises Ate

Saturday afternoon while chatting about his first ever 10k race the next day, my brother said he’d race it and that he’d bag home the prize.  My eyes told it all -  good enough I didn’t break into laughter -  and then I tapped his shoulder and whispered, ‘Dream on..’  (Now I don’t know if that was worse.  All I know is that he’s used to it and only laughs to my sarcastic hirits.)  As expected, he further inquired, asking why I thought it was impossible a feat for him.

To set things right, my brother isn’t used yet to race scenarios -  because there barely are any race in Bicol.  The only thing he has up his sleeves is one school homecoming fun run last December where he placed 7th overall.  But as he saw me seriously take up running as a sport, he got interested too.  These past months, he would run 10Ks on weekends, on high hopes that his Ate will tag him along in Manila races sometime this summer.

Back to our pre-race chat, I clarified to him that as normally the case in Manila races, elite runners will be around to claim their lot.  In his usual childlike manner, he funnily painted on his face a reaction of amazed disbelief.  I knew what he was thinking.  He must be telling himself, ‘You will see tomorrow Ate Bibi..’  While I, on the other hand, had this thought running at the back of my mind, ‘You will see tomorrow, young man..’

Fast forward to race day, I became an instant proud Ate.  I knew it’s a test of normalcy not to expect for my brother to land in the top 3, and I passed it.  But I didn’t expect him too to do so well as to prolly rank within the top 20 or top 30 finishers. 

As a bandit runner in that race, I took seriously two things:  1) try run long as I was scheduled for a weekend long run, and 2) take on my photog role with some tinge of competence.  I tried running the race route but as I was after getting in-action photos of my brother I would take shortcuts as needed.  Running along Lawton area I met the elite runners with the motorcylce race escorts already making their way back to the race venue.  The gap between that group and the group of runners trailing them would prolly be a 4-minute chill run for me  (read: quite a gap). 

This is when I discovered that Daryl was serious in wanting to race it.  Running towards the Heritage Park area, I didn’t expect to see him yet -  at least not yet.  I thought he should be somewhere at the upper middle of the pack, at best.  Ohwell, I was caught offguard and the next thing I did was to agitatedly take out my camera and aim it at him.  The pic above is the result -  the only decent in-action photo I managed to take of him, hehehe.

This race start area looking half-trimmed after the 5K runners left and 10K runners wait for the countdown.

And off they went -  the 10K runners.  (Hehe, it’s nice to be by the sideline sometimes and take pics like this.)

Now a 10K race finisher.  A strong one at that.

But of course, with his coach/ yaya Cathletic.

 

 Even Kuya was there to support. 

 

Post-race Scenario:  Bulalo and Swim

Sunday was destined to be a hectic day for us.  After the race, we did one round of freebies hunting (I was only successful at getting Starbucks sample, but t’was good), Daryl went on doing some stretches and I ran three laps of about 400m at the parking lot.  Yes, I was hoping I could still add on to my weekend mileage -  Haha, desperate!  Then we took a few more pics at the finish line area and then left immediately as my other Kuya is waiting for us at Clark. 

What was waiting for us at Clark?  -  this highblood- inducing bulalo and a fun swim at Fontana!! 

Huh, who ever told you that’s the best way to cap a race?!

Bulalo.  Bulalo.  Bulalo. 

At Fontana, waiting for Kuya Boboy who’s getting our tix.

Post-Swim:  I think it comes with being both the youngest siblings that we are also the most ‘pa-cute’ in the family.  Or it may be with the generation.  Our older siblings are with the ’Kodak-film’ generation;  Nono and I are with the ‘digicam’ generation, hehe.

A mountain goat too (Pico de Loro Climb, 2 of 3)

 

(Sorry I’ve been busy as a bee and this is a narrative that’s almost two weeks overripe .)

Saturday night, I took out my knapsack bag and stuffed it with extra shirt and slippers, jellies, plastic bags and empty water bottles (to be filled the next day).

Next I decided on what to wear -  and later you’ll see why this is such an issue.   As I’d see in hiking pictures, climbers usually wear shirts with long sleeves and would go for some layering, which I find cute.  It’s generally a ‘covered’ look, which is practical I think as you’d want to be protected from the sun’s heat and move freely across the wild woods minus the extra worries on getting scratches and possible insect surprises.

The result:  I went out with that ‘covered’ look Sunday morning.

Their reaction:   The climb leader started it and instantly everyone began teasing me as the ‘hiker who climbed in a malling outfit”.  And that was the worst of the things I had to endure during the hike -  their constant teasing.  Crazy guys.

The ‘malling outfit’ didn’t look so bad afterall, ayt?  Haha, fishing..   (Photo from Josiah)

The hike took us about 3 hours going up, with several rest stops in between. I’d personally judge the trail to be not too difficult but NOT lacking in challenge as well.  Then again, don’t trust me.  Having spent my entire childhood in the province, I’m used to a foresty terrain like that.  It even sort of reminded me of my playground back then, hahaha. 

So I weaved my way into the forest quite easily and stayed in front of the troop most of the time.  There were instances I’d deliberately stay at the middle or at the back of the pack lest our TL gets convinced I’m such a pain in the neck on group hikes like that (Peace, Josiah!) -  where you should let the slowest lead the way and the faster ones need tame their overt enthusiasm and remain at the back.

The Pico Dream Team:  Cathy, Dree, Josiah, Anna, and Leah  (Photo from Josiah’s cam)

 

Below are ascent to the summit pics.

DENR office/ station at the base of Pico de Loro.  The adventure starts with paying the DENR guys P20/ head as hike fee.  (Photo from Dree)

Walking toward the start of the trail -  Ready to conquer the beak, I mean the peak, er I mean the beak.    (Photo from Dree)

The trail still looks friendly here.  Some deception..

Happy hikers in the woods.  (Photo from Dree)

On one of the several rest stops.  By this time, the trail had started showing its fangs.  Hahaha.  (Photo from Josiah)

Tired but not too tired to strike a pose.

And I take home the most “pa-cute” award.  Hehehe.

 

*(Conquest-of-the-summit pics in the last of these 3 installment-posts.)

Blackmailed

 

I had brought him into it.  My own addiction to the sport I can’t contain in me, so I had had to transfuse some of it to him. 

Now he’s addicted.  And he blackmails me to FIRST find a race for him before he decides to come over to Manila. 

I panicked -  scampered around for a race this weekend.  ThankGod, there’s even five to choose from(!).  But TNF and Botak-Baguio are definitely out of the question.  Guess it’ll be the AutoReview Run then.

Oh, I am not pysched to race this weekend..  but my youngest brother always gets what he wants from me.  Hmm, at least most of the time.

Wow.  Surprise, surprise.  I am racing this weeked, afterall.  (Or can I just be the photog of my brother?  Hmm..  but I know he’d like it to see me running too.  Ohwell, bahala na si Batman.)

How to unwind (Pico de Loro Climb, 1 of 3)

 

Last Sunday’s climb to Pico de Loro teaches me one important lesson:  Why too often and too many exams will hurt.

This was a special request climb by me, after my self-enforced semi-hibernation in my study table (and study bed too).  For two weeks I’ve tried to excite my neurons from its state of coma, in preparation for last Saturday’s test. 

It’s a good thing our mountaineer-friend Josiah can very well cook up a great climb itinerary in one snap of a finger.  I told him I’ll need to unwind after my exam and I just need to be taken out to the wild outdoors (out-Manila-please! mode)  and I’ll be fine. 

So he took care of everything and all I knew was that it was going to be a hiking trip.  Saturday afternoon came (my test was in the morning) and I was still clueless where we were trekking the next day.  All I had in mind was to ready my backpack, and then grab some jellies and chocolate bars for the next day’s climb. 

PICO DE LORO.  This was our destination last Sunday.  And I learned of it barely 8 hours before I rose from bed 3AM the next day, to get ready to be picked up by 3:30AM.   A little past 4AM, we were already at Lawton waiting for a Saulog bus to take us to Ternate, Cavite.

I’ll tell more stories in the next post.  For now, let’s drool over the scenery from the ‘viewing deck’ and on top of the Parrot’s Beak itself in Pico de Loro.

 

Yup.  Hot.  It was high noon when we reached the top of the Parrot’s Beak.

From the viewing deck.

The sceneries that make one pray, instantly.   God, what a beauty!

(More in the next post.)

Calves talk too

A bad headache pesters me while I type this.  

I rarely get headaches -  most of the time I feel like I’m always pink healthy -  so I know it’s far from being ‘just imagined’ when I think I have one.  Two suspected culprits for this headache:

1)  Missed my Thursday run, and there’s no sign I can make up for it tonight

2)  Anxiety over an exam tomorrow as I honestly think I am ill-prepared for it  

My calves amazingly did some talking last night.  While I sat by the study table, reading and pretending to be comprehending what I’m reading, I suddenly felt my calf slightly tingle.  Weird.  It lasted for more than a couple of seconds. 

I pressed it with the palm of my hand, as though saying to it,  ‘I know I didn’t let you go out tonight, but chill.. next week we’ll be back in action.’

Calves do talk.  At least mine do.  (And please don’t think I’m lunatic.)

Ironman 70.3 – Who’s game?

 

At MPG,  we fake it best.

-   should be our official group motto.   And that’s Presidential Decree 0513  (just because it’s May 13 today).  LOL!

I sent an email to our egroup this morning with this title -  “Who’s game? : Ironman 70.3 Philippines in August (Camsur)”  as though it’s just another weekend 5K/ 10K race at The Fort.   Man what was I thinking!  – like we were really some kind of pros?!  Hahaha.

But in true MPG fashion, my friends have one by one started replying, all of them genuinely interested.  Worse, instead of worrying if we can hack that death-by-the-70.3 miles -multi-sports event, they began complaining on the unusually pricey registration fee.  Fakers we all are, tsk tsk.

Buzz about the event have been there all the while but what suddenly got us interested is this:

“But since the half-Ironman could be too challenging for many here, organizers have decided to offer a relay category during the event wherein three individuals can team up to complete the swim, bike and run. Within the relay category there are different classes: men, women, mixed, corporate and collegiate.”

It’s a post-Camaya effect actually.  I recalled there’s a major triathlon event taking place right in my hometown in August.  But since it’s a triathlon and I can’t do one, I surmised it should have some side-events just like at Camaya.  So I found out that team relay category THERE IS..  and I can perhaps try my hand on either the run or the bike leg.

But the bike leg is one terrorific 90km distance!  And the longest I ever did is 30km..  on a mountain bike, which is all I have by the way.  So thank you, but no bike leg for me I think.  I can’t swim but I can run, snail pace.  So the 21K.. hmm..

As a sidenote, it’s encouraging to know that there are plenty of registered athletes to the event already.  About 270 of them.. and after doing a quick scan on the list of names, only one registered familiar to me:  Drew Arellano.  Oh my good friend Drew will be there.  (He’s my friend, but it’s our secret – he doesn’t know.  Hahaha.)

Now let me accomplish some promote-your-own homework here.  This major multi-sports event will be hosted at the CamSur WaterSports Complex (CWC)  at Pili, Camarines Sur. 

[And that's just about 30 to 45 minutes drive from our house.  Convenient huh.]

What L & I have in common

 

We both do ‘kinse’ for our weekend runs!!   Hehehe.    But Oh!, you bet our race PR’s are worlds apart.

[    Lance G. discovers the joy of running     ]

< –    It’s a nice, nice read. 

I’ve seen the man a few times in meetings -  and guess what struck me most:  he sports his Polar running watch to pair up with his long sleeves (folded back a bit) and slacks.   Man he doesn’t look 42.  At all.  LOL!

I told my runner-lady boss about it, who was also in the same meeting.  

The next day I was surprised to notice she was wearing her Suunto at the office.

Kinse

 

I have recently been doing 15K’s instead of 10s for my weekend runs.   Why the upgrade?  Well, it’s the logical way to go –  where else to go but up, how else to go but farther (or longer).

One friend asked if it’s a sign to my giving in to do a full-M at the Subic marathon on October..   Heck no!  

Another friend asked what I did Saturday afternoon and I said I trained.  I thought that was any usual reply to any usual query like that, but I got a follow-up question:  ‘Trained for what?’  

[Uh-oh..  I didn't think that had to be followed by an object.  Couldn't that verb stand on itself?  Couldn't that reply NOT require a qualifier?  I think things would have been simpler if I just said, "I went out to jog".    Only problem is I didn't.  Nobody goes out and throws her legs on the road  to finish jogging 15km distance anyway.  Hahaha!  Angas! ]

I find my weekend long runs greatly benefiting my running, especially on the aspect of endurance.  When I did my first ever 10K trail run at Camaya  (and my friend and I won it partly because other female runners DNF-ed it while we patiently finished it),  it greatly helped that at the back of my mind this was the thought playing round and round:   ‘Yes, this trail is crazy mean but Cathy you just ran kinse the past weekend, and you even survived 21 in Condura.. AND this is only 10!’

Okay, I know that’s on the psychological conditioning only, hahaha.  Now on the more serious side, long runs are considered beneficial to the body as it helps enhance our VO2 max.   That an alien term?  Don’t worry you’re not alone. 

But it does help to read up and pretend like you know these running stuff, hehe.  Some useful links:

[    Benefits of the Long Run    ]

[    Making your Long Runs Count    ]

My next race is on the 31st.  It’s a company fun run, but I doubt if my running bosses here really ‘run it for fun’ there.    They will race it, and that’s for sure.  I also plan to race it.  Let’s see if these kinse’s help, hehehe.