38th Milo Marathon, Angeles City leg

Milo Marathon is the race that I always wanted to join.

I dreamed of qualifying in the finals and so I train.

stunned to see the finish time.

I guess this isn't the time to be qualified, I finished 18 minutes behind the cut-off time to qualify. I cramped and that makes me to slow down on the last 3 kilometers.

So move forward, next time would be better. I will train harder both on endurance and speed. Run!

10k for my wife

Soleus Valley Trail Challenge 2014... Finishers

For almost two (2) years that I've been running, I always finished the race on my own pace targeting a better PR than the previous races that I've joined. If I'm with my wife, I cross the finish line first then  return to the route again to pace my wife until she reaches the finish line. So when this event, Soleus VTC was promoted, I decided to register for the 30k category, instead of the 50k, to run along with my wife.

I know that this is a good event to join and cross the finish line together with her. Trail run is adventure run, we have discover the Miyamit falls together, and I believe that we can also do it in Nuvali. As per the organizer, the route is a good race for those who like to begin their trail running experience, they say that  the route is not that hard, not so many uphills and downhills, a very good route for beginners. 
Since we are from Bulacan, we don't have such trail areas to do our training, instead, we just do some endurance training on the road, hoping that it can bring us to the finish line of the race within the cut-off time.

I used to stay in one of the Apartment Sta. Rosa, Laguna for 6 months, 10 years ago, that was during my probationary period in my current job, I never heard of a place called Nuvali that time. This is the first time that I visited this place.

We take our pre race dinner in TBS Blue corner, sizzling pusit (their bestseller) and soup is what we eat and I'm so glad that she enjoyed it. We take our rest in one of the room in an affordable room near Nuvali. 

At 2:30am, we are already awake and preparing ourself and our stuff for the race. We then headed to the race start venue for the 3:30am assembly time. As per the RD, the 30k (2km) is the category with the most registered runners. 

 We pray (must, always, all the time) before the race starts then in 5..4..3..2..1.. bang! we go, excited on what the route will give us (no gun start shot actually :-).


The weather was good that time, we see stars in the skies, no signs of rain. Tall grasses are the walls of the first 3km of the route, cut grass also covers the road/trail in this part, after that, single narrow path leads us to the 1st AS (which is in the cemented part of the road. Distance covered is 6km, for almost 1 hour of running, during this time, the route is still crowded with runners and it's really dark, we are very careful since my wife already slipped in the 3km point, it's good that she is not injured. I tell my wife that if we will run in that pace for the next hours, we will not meet the cut off time so we need to catch up.

After almost 2.5 hours, we reached AS2. The sun is showing up and from this point, the view is very cool to the eye, lots of green grass, blue sky, white clouds. We reached the place they called New Zealand, it was really a nice scenery. I observe that my wife is already tired, I started to be more aware on here needs from this point. I carry our nutrition supplies, hydration and OPK.

I sometimes give her a push or a pull on the stiff and inclined part of the route. It's even more difficult for her when we passed in the hottest part of the road, we are looking for cold water or ice to cool us down. It's good that there are this support crews (to other runners) that gives us some ice tube, good enough until we reach the next AS. We get ice, chocolate bars, banana and refill our hydration bottles. We also poured our head and nape with water, wash our face and arms with cold water and ice. We still have less than 1.5 hours left to catch the cut off time. She already complains pains on her feet, calf and legs. I already have a vision of DNF for not finishing on the cut off time :'( . But we never stop, we need to keep on moving, every second counts so we move, move, move.. And when I got a glimpse of the Finish line, about 400m, I see the timer "5:57:44"!

It was a buzzer beater finish but we did it. I let her cross the finish line first, she deserve it. That is the most important part, finishing the race safe, fulfilled and hungry (for more races) :).. We will join this race again next year.

Trail running is life, there are ups and downs. 
Trail running can build our confidence, though we fall and slip.
We might get lost or hurt, but we never stop pushing ourselves to survive it's challenges.

This race gives us a lot of memories not only as runners but also as partners in life.
Trail running builds a stronger relationship just like what we've earned. :-)

Adventure to Miyamit Falls via Peace Zone

I've seen many pictures of Miyamit Falls posted on social medias. I also read blogs about their adventure about this place. This place is also a venue for trail races, ultra races. They said that this is also a good training ground for trail running, ultra race with multiple uphills and down hills route.

Signs at the entrance of the Sapang Uwak village

Because of  those positive feed backs I read and heard, me and my wife decided to try this adventure, if they can do it, why won't we? 
I inquired with my brother, friends and the internet the hows and what of getting to the falls.
This is the first time that my wife will be doing this kind of activity, hiking and trail running, I know she can make it, she's a road runner too. I have tried trail running and hiking too back when I was joining the Boy Scout and Rover scout activities and it was fun.

Roller coaster roads of Sapang Uwak

Since it is in the mountain, we make sure that we have enough hydration, energy drink and food to in our bag, belt and handcarries. The place is not so populated and water supplies are not available.
I also secure a waiver and mayors permit that I acquire from Porac City Hall, this is a must to have when anybody want to visit Miyamit falls. This documents are actually the requirement of Sapang Uwak Barangay Captain requirement since an accident happen about 4km to the falls.
Upon entering the gate of Barangay Sapak Uwak, you can see "PEACE ZONE" sign at the gate, and wow, nice atmosphere to walk along with my wife.

are we there yet?

there's the falls!>>>

We started our trail/run and walk around 7:33am, one and a half hour late that our plan, and from there, we will be conquering about 10km of mountainous route. Peaceful at is was posted, simple life, quiet life is what you will pass by along the road. I think we only saw 2 4-wheeled vehicle and a motorcycle that time. We've met Aeta's carrying bottles of water to fetch for their needs, some handles bolo to cut firewood's and some to harvest bananas from the mountain. Almost all the mountains along the route are planted with banana.
You will appreciate the abundance of fresh air in the area, there are no pollution, you can only hear the sounds of birds and some unknown animal sounds (scary at times) in the route. No gadgets for the people in the community and a way to call the attention of their fellow village man is by 
shouting and shouting back as a reply. After 2 hours of alternate run/walk, we saw the view deck, from there we still have more than 4km to go. Our hydration supply may not be enough if we will still be walking going back from our start point and so we save our supplies and take a slower pace saving our energy to in this journey to an unfamiliar 

me and my wife at Miyamit falls, 04/26/2014

place. Without any guide, and cellular signals are not available, we risk to find our target destination. We already headed to a narrow trail between tall grasses, it was 
past 10:00am and the weather was so hot. We almost stops our trail and return to our starting point until we hear the sound of water...waterfalls!

refresh mode

That was no turning back that time, and there was it, water flowing over mountain rocks. We arrived at Miyamit falls, and there was only the two of us! We witness a breathtaking creation. The cool waters are so refreshing. We heard a music played by waters, trees and forest animals. We made it and we are so happy about it. The long run/walk is worth it when you get there. We took just an hour to rest and eat. We also refill our empty water bottles with water from water falls, just in case we run out of water going back. Since the weather is really hot that time, we decided to take a motorcycle ride at any point we encounter one, and that was after 4.5km of walking under the heat of the sun from the falls, that was around 
1:15pm. (this is really the only fee we pay). We will surely return to this place together but probably on January, on a cold months season, and earlier than what we schedule. And we will be there on a faster time possible.

LUUM3 50k, 3 times the passion, 3 times the route difficulty and hardship and 3 times jaw-dropping scenery

One of my to-do-list on this race event is to compose my report/blog about my race experience once I got access to the internet. Two days has past, I am still amazed by this challenging route,now I will share my experience on this DRAMATIC Ultra category of LUUM3. 
I already have the list of the races that  I will be joining from January to March 2014 since last year, all this races are outside Manila and mostly are 1st timer races except for Subic International Marathon '14 that is my second time but with the highest category of 42k for this year. I opt to register on LUUM3 because of this reasons: it's in the province and it's close to nature, it's a first time in this event and because it's a very challenging route as per the organizer.

Welcome to the province of La Union

With my experience in races in the previous years, I lately preferred to register in races in the provinces, mostly those races that I haven't join before. It's a new experience and escapade specially if it's the first time that I'll be coming to that place. Mostly, races in the province are not crowded, less polluted and not so many vehicle that blows horn to runners along the route. On the race day, me, my wife (21k participant) and my brother (50k runner) prays for our safety throughout the race before going to the race venue/START. The race start was very simple, countdown after a briefing and then, GO! After just a 100m of the route, the warm up on hills starts, early turtle run activated on this early part of the race. After reaching the capitol building, I do the usual catch up run on the downhill like what I did in my previous races. Then, flat surface before reaching the what they called wicked mountain of Cadaclan where we will have the 1st U-turn, at the Botanical garden. And

going to 1st U-turn

WICKED as it was warned, and it really was. The inclined was so difficult and all I can do is walk in the uphill. Going back after the U-turn, it was a down hill, thought it would be easy to have a negative split but it wasn't. When I met with an official,  immediately asked the official if the 21k runner needs also to take the same U-turn at the Botanical garden and I was relieved when he say no, 21k runners will only pass that route when they are going for the FINISH line. I immediately send a message to my, "ni medyo mahirap pataas, makisabay ka sa iba ne". I also passed my wife along the route and I tell her some tips to climb the last part of the route. I also tell her that no PR this time, just enjoy and be safe. After minutes of chatting, she already asked me to go ahead since I still have a lot of distance to run. The up and down of cemented routes were countless and some curve are really sharp at the edge of the mountain that are almost a blind side. The route was so quiet, so few vehicle are passing us (mostly are race officials), I can here the sound of owls, geckos and goat...very quiet. After running for more than 3 hours, I am expecting that I'll be meeting 50k runners whom already coming from the 2nd and last U-turn but nobody was. And when I met the leading runner, the road starts to become dusty and rough. The difficult cemented road was just a warm up of the race route. 

one of those wicked dusty uphill

From that dusty step, I witnessed what the race organizer means about the 3x passion, 3x the route difficulty and hardship and 3x jaw-dropping scenery. The road seems so long and never ending, dusty, rough and tough inclined one after another. This are the part that makes my battle so dramatic. At this point, I miss my son, I miss my daughter, I miss my wife, I miss my family, I miss my car, I miss my bed, I miss my house. Then,  start to meet more runners coming from the 2nd U-turn, a sign that the U-turn is already near. My legs are still ok. I'm saving my energy and taking all the nutrition provided by the race officials. 

less traveled bridge of Bagulin 

I need to have a lot of energy after the U-turn. A bridge was seen 1km from where I was, and I think the only confirmed flat part of the route. Here I met more elite runners coming from the Bagulin town. I still do my ultra pace even on this flat surface to save more energy for the come back on those mountains.I stopped at the aid station in Bagulin town.I load up with all the available nutrition, refill my hydration bottle, massage my legs with OPK and cool down with water bath.Then it's time to move again.Payback time?, we will see. The difficulty of the race was intensified by the heat of the sun. 

Now, it's more of a passion and a mind over matter. One way is to enjoy the scenery that surrounds me. 

Another way is to enjoy the company of other runners and new running friend. 

Enjoy the simplicity of the community. Appreciate life, life is good. 

Rest for a while.

Meditate.

The point that I was waiting to be in this race is the left turn to Botanical, because it's close to finish line already, and there it was. I still have a lot of energy left to go for a strong climbed on that hill. 

me and my 50k trophy

Slowly with some stops along the inclined, I was able to complete this race using more than 3x of my strength, more than 3x of my effort, more than 3x of my determination, more than 3x of my inspiration and more than 3x of my faith. I crossed the finish line and can't believe that I did it. It was really a memorable race. Until now, I am still out of words to express how happy I am to complete this race.  So thankful to the organizer for this wonderful and awesome event, more power to them (iRunner). This race is dedicated to my love ones, friends and running community for all the inspiration and motivation. Thank you Lord for all the guidance you given me all my life. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

me and my wife (with her 21k trophy), Congratulations!

Race category: 50k
Actual distance: 55km
Time finish: 8:30"59" (35th out of 78 finishers)

BEST B4 19 MAR

I get up from bed at exactly 5:00am today, dismiss the alarm, no more snooze.

courtesy of Gardenia Classic White bread

This is the usual time that I get up lately, it just that its different today. Greeted by my family, close friends and workmates, that's how this day was different, this is an extraordinary day. My 35th year of journey was now a history and looking forward to more blessings to come my way on the 36th.

It was a blessing to have people around me that inspire.. Friends that supports and motivate. A family that believes and love me unconditionally. And a life of failure, success, victory, hard times, good times, blessings from our Loving God.

New plans are there, new mileage to complete, new career moves to make.

Sulit.com

New plans? I think the greetings from Sulit gives me ideas about a new plan, selling something to pay something? 

shade of Red

New Mileage to complete? My running will still 

continue and I will train hard to join more long distance event. I didn't know how I get into running but this has became now my passion. I enjoy every strides I make, I enjoy bathing in sweat and pampering my sore muscles.

greeting from Jobstreet.com

New career moves? I've been in the same working environment almost 10 years now, I don't know if it's same with others employees to look for a new environment on a practical basis, that's what's playing on my mind now, Let us see. Lina never fails to greet me. :-)

Badge from nike+ Running

A gift for myself, free 1.0km around the village, a short slow run, no need to hurry.

Thanks to Nike+ Running for the badge, my second.

myPayroll

A greetings for my company, thanks! Payslip is now On line! Thanks to our accounting personnel. 

Google.com

To Google for answering my questions, giving ideas on my inquiries, updating current issues, for the lectures on training and many other things, though it scares me sometimes.

There are a lot of things to be thankful of that makes my 35 years of living happy, memorable and worthy..

These are blessings from our God. Thank you Lord for all the blessings, for all the guidance, for the strength, the endurance, the protection from sickness-calamities-accidents, for the failure (a blessing in disguise), for the victory, for my family, for my friends, my work. 

Thank you Lord for the Gift of Life.

Be my guide oh Lord for rightful journey in this precious Life.

BEST B4 19 MAR and BEST AFTER 19 MAR!

1st Provider Anniversary Fun Run 2014- Running with the Air Force

This race falls on a Saturday, 1st day of my favorite month and that is why I have no second thought of joining the race.

PR pose

At the starting line, I met 21k participants, we are few and really not crowded. I think we are only about 60 to 80. The distance between runners are so clear, the route was hilly and I am very familiar with it. This is my training route. At 10k U-turn, I check my time and was impressed with my pace... I got a steady pace from 8km, a comfortable pace to run the rest of the route. U-turn at 10.5km and my time is 52 minutes, still ok, I can make a sub-2 hours finish if I can maintain such pace. I never stop moving the whole run, except for re pinning my bib twice due to clip problem, anyway it happens. Left turn on the last 150m, I see the time, I was so happy and so much thankful on the result. 

Chin up

The route was not easy actually,but I made it and finish with my new personal best. Nice race, simple race, yet memorable.

Race category: 21k
Time: 1:48:39

Music to win

When I started running, I always wear headset as part of my running gear.
I use it to listen to the Nike+ running voice message about my running status during my workout. It tells the training duration, distance, pace, time left for the set training, congratulation message and new record after completing the training.
Aside from those work out messages, I consider also music as a great part of my training as a beginner runner.
My mood is set by music actually, it is not boring when I'm running while listening to music.
I have different set's of playlist and I use them randomly, depending on my thoughts, feeling or season maybe. Here are those sets.

photo from http://runfortheking.com/inspirational-bible-verse-philippians-413/

The alternatives:
My playlists includes foreign alternative old and not so new music:

• Use somebody by King of Leons
• Without you by David Gueta
• Hall of fame by The Script
• In the end by Linkin Park
• Secrets by One Republic
• Semi-charmed life by Third eye blind

I have a hundreds in my list but above are my most played music, the music that  sing with during easy pace.

Tunog Kalye:

I started having interest in music during the 80's and bought a guitar in 1993.

I'm not a good guitarist but I like Pinoy music specially alternative pop rock, the music of my age. When I bring it to running, I have this feeling of being time warp somewhere in my past. Every song reminds me of something, an event, a person, a place and a moment.. yeah. 

I have too many songs in this list, hundreds, so I just list them by band name.

• E-heads
• River maya
• Bamboo
• After Image
• Yano
• Callalily
• Silent Sanctuary
• Orange and lemons
• Hale

Listen to motivate:

Powersong is my playlist name for this, actually this are not songs. This are collections of MP3's made of popular motivational quotes from great athletes, great persons and movies.

Some cuts are these:

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”― Martin Luther King Jr. 

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.” ― Muhammad Ali

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!" -Rocky Balboa

"You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period." - Will Smith

Music to win
There are times, weeks after starting a running work out and training, I search for something that I need to listen to, something that are more motivating and something more worthy than my other playlist.
Ever since, I am always amazed by sports people and athlete who always give thanks to the Lord after every game they play, win or loose. There are these, boxers, football players, basketball players and a lot of athletes, who prays before and after the game win or lose, who kneels at the game and doesn't care what the rest are doing, repeatedly mentioned after a game interview how he/she is very much thankful to the Lord. 
I put worship songs in my playlist and they are great. I have songs from Don Moen, Casting Crowns, Himig Heswita and more Christian songs.
I listen to them most of the time, in training and in races and they are very inspiring. One amazing experience about this was during my second marathon, at 33km mark, when I feel weak and helpless, one worship song plays "Huwag kang mangamba". 

" Huwag kang mangamba, di ka nag-iisa, 

Sasamahan kita, saan man magpunta.

Ika'y mahalaga, sa 'king mga mata,

Minamahal kita, minamahal kita...

Tinatawag kita sa 'yong pangalan,

Ikaw ay akin magpakailanman.

Ako ang Panginoon mo at Diyos,

Tagapagligtas mo at tagatubos.

Sa tubig kita'y sasagipin,

Sa apoy ililigtas man din.

Ako ang Panginoon mo at Diyos,

Tagapagligtas mo at tagatubos. 

Listening and running to this in that situation gives me a teary eye :'(. I know that I am not alone, I know that I will be guided safe into the finish line. I will be told when to run and walk. I will not be harm. At that time, I also realize that I have joined many races but lacks training and I was able to safely finish the race because of faith.

After a year of running, I no longer bring with me my head set to listen to music.

I have the best music to listen to, the best song that motivates, loaded with lyrics saying that we are blessed.

Faith bridges my foot from starting line to finish line. Faith is the best music of our life's Playlist. Now I listen and sing to music of faith and win.