..And I'm Back! :)

So here's where I start, getting back in this game called writing.

While browsing through a wad of scribbles I've been writing the past months and thinking about which to share, I felt the urgent need to get this through. This, is like my foreword for all the ladies I love, and the men around us. :) Nothing too sporty, but a thought on understanding how a woman goes through the best game coached by God -- her life. :)

Never underestimate a woman: she thinks about more things you can ever imagine, understands things which you've never thought about, and remembers much more than your memory takes you. Ever wonder why God made man first? So he can have time to think of his answers well before a woman asks her the questions.

In My Wildest Dreams, the World Changes for Me

In My Wildest Dreams, the World Changes for Me... not necessarily in that order. Read on.

Everybody has a dream. Sabi nga, when you dream, dream big. Set me apart, I have a list of those dreams. Kind of my bucket list, but some items vary.

Let me explain:  stuff in my bucket list, I have the URGE to pursue for as long as my indefinite worldly presence allows me. Things in my “Dream List,” I can probably pass off without. Except that I like chasing my dreams, for some reason. And then I sing, "should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements?"

Today I spoke (well, uhh, OL through YM) with a good friend in Singapore. Hopefully, it’s his dream he’s living. I pray he reaches all his goals. (Shhh.. it’s a secret, he’s bigtime, and I believe he can achieve all those! Bigtime in all aspects. Haha, sorry if you are reading.)

After some of my “ranting,” he told me: the world will change for you.

Sino ba ako sa mundo? I’ve always heard, again and again, the world will go on, even if we stop living. We just have to go with the flow.  

But whatever he said, stuck and still sticks to my head: the world will change for you.

I feel shaken up, and that just leads me to think: I have to see the world in a new perspective. Then maybe it will change.

Just like, “do unto others what you want others do unto you,” I guess have to see the world in another point-of-view, so that it looks at me from a different angle too.

So I review my wildest dreams (later na ang bucket list.), and I give myself a few laughs. Yes, at myself. I’m listing them down, just in case you can help me out (hahaha!) . Just kidding. J

Seriously, I just want you guys to smile on, too, and see, there’s a me, who probably has more ridiculous / out of this world/ “asa” / suntok sa buwan, dreams than you.

Enjoy! … (Help, anyone? Haha.)

1.       Write a good book. (I wanted this to be on my bucket list. Now, I don’t know how, where to start, so I’ll just dream about it. For now? I hope.)

2.       Meet Manny Pacquiao in the flesh.

3.       Have my own single. :p And album.

4.       Be an ultramarathon runner.

5.       Have a baby who I’ll name Chione. Must be for real. Not a doll. (My camera is Chione for now. My lover- bike is Kaia.)

6.       Own a Mac, an iPad, and a mixer.

7.       Put up a resort-spa, with a pool, and a trackfield.  And basketball court.

8.       Start our own SPED school. These children need caring. More caring.

9.       Own an SUV, pick-up truck type, for my off-road, adrenaline rush pleasure.

10.   Visit New York, Hawaii, and then Denmark, and Europe in general.

11.   Fly a plane.

12.   Ride (and sana fly, dream na lang din eh) a helicopter.

13.   Meet and hug Sharon Cuneta.

14.   Be friends with Kris Aquino and Baby James. Take note, si Bimby po!

15.   Have a backyard pool. Where my family can laze around.

16.   Have a Derek Ramsey-type of husband. OK as far as looks go na lang. Haha. (Wait, how do I become, or come even close to looking like an Angelica Panganiban?)

17.   Be a Korina Sanchez, only less mataray (I saw her at Tacloban, she was suplada to fans, or maybe it was a bad day lang.) And less Mar Roxas.

18.   Dance like J.Lo. And then sexy like J.Lo na rin!

19.   Meet the Pope, and be blessed by him.

20.   Sing with Lea Salonga.

I had on my list, (there’s actually more, but enough sharing for me!) “Meet Tessa Prieto-Valdes,” and I actually did! She is my running idol/ inspiration! (I cannot dress like her, she is alta-sociedad. Haha! But I can dream to be as filthy rich, right? :p) Thank you Rovilson for introducing me, and Run United organizers for that too :)

So see, dreams do come true!

Later ya’ll. J God bless!

My SHORTEST BLOG POST EVER

PLAY THE PART, PLAY IT WELL.


No matter what it is, no matter where, I SAY, play the part, play it well!

(Some things, I don't need to elaborate.)

Thank you, Hyundai! :)

So today, I ran. Ran like I never have.

And for the record, it the 5k which was more fulfilling than any 10k I participated in. Thank you, Hyundai. First it was free, second, you sparked my fire.

As a backgrounder, I WAS already running for quite sometime. Last year, I was training on my own for my 21K races. I never dreamt about finishing first, second or third. I just wanted to finish a half marathon. And eventually all 42 kilometers of it. I never got to run my official 21K on any official event due to an torn ACL last year, which I got NOT from running.

Imagine my frustration and depression. The worst injury known to athletes probably, with the exception of death. I had to live without my usual activities, and the hyperactive soul I am, this was really difficult. Weight gain only made it worse. (But I couldn’t lay off the chocolates, cakes, beer and crispy pata.)

My injury humbled me. (I’ll let you in a secret: Hyundai Accent Run 2011 is my first official 5k run ever. First run I participated in was 10K.)

I’m still technically recovering, and anyone in the right mind knows I have to take it nice and slow. No forcing my knee. (Surgery is expensive and it’s not free in the Philippines!)

I was actually quite scared for myself, with only my mind driving me when I attended that bloggers’ meet for the Hyundai Accent Run 2011. But God knows, I prayed for this, and I really wanted to start, bounce back.

When Hyundai announced they were moving the venue from Bonifacio High Street (BHS) to Quirino Grandstand (Luneta!) I wanted to back out. Going from where we live to Quirino is a challenge already  in itself. And with a 5am assembly? Insane. It takes heart to do it.

(I don’t even remember the last time I went around Luneta. Oh wait, I was in 3^rd grade, I was part of the glee club, we sang for that concert at the park. How… ancient?)

I forgot, the usually- hardest part about fun runs and marathons, is waking up early. It requires discipline and passion. IT IS NOT EASY WAKING UP AT 3, and having a good breakfast to last you for the morning run!

I was even doubtful of myself the past days. I was without training (not even 500 meters!), and post ACL reconstruction! My drive was all from the heart. Love of the wind, the game, love of the run.

Indeed what the mind conceives, the body achieves. I’m not mentioning whose brand that is, but they’re damn right! J

I'm glad I got my lazy ass to wake up! I finished the 5k jog, easily, at steady pace. I was smiling all throughout, with my mind talking as I walked. Running brings me my peace. Sure, it felt heavy at first, but I’m glad I pushed myself.

I said it once, I’ll say it again: I never quit, I only perservere. Quitters, never win.

I’m happy I’m back to running. I’m grateful to Hyundai , and all the 24,000 participants who registered, for igniting that spark, which made this fire.

But then again, this is just my start. Re-start. Run with me! J

Hyundai Accent Run 2011 is a free fun run, organized by Second Wind. It is in celebration of their anniversary, with the advocacy of promoting environmental  awareness and wellness, among other beneficiaries.  Congrats, Hyundai, ‘till your next event!

Ready for Hyundai!

So who's running tomorrow?

OK guys, I won't tell so much tonight, except that this is the first run I'm attending after an around 9 month-hiatus, post surgery. I admit, I'm pretty anxious!

Wish me luck, please? Haha. For the record, I haven't trained this  so I will probably do a little walking. This is going to be all heart for running for me, and all heart for Hyundai and their cause!

If' any of you guys are going, please let me know, or drop me a line. (I love seeing people I know. Haha!)

I'm excited, and I hope you are too! (I'll tell you more when I get back tomorrow.)

And oh, special thanks to Hyundai for being really, really accomodating. See you guys tomorrow!

To cap the night off, here's a couple of pics from my handy-dandy phone:

The Race Kit

Here's the Race Map! Quirino Grandstand, ok?

Bagay?

See you!

What's Your Favorite Distance?

So it’s the season of “fun” runs, again and what a lot people said was a fad last year, is still ‘in’ right now.  Hopefully there’s an upsurge of well-organized ones too.  Kudos to RunRio  and Second Wind, among others, for spearheading the most organized ones.

Between you and me (runner to runner, fan to fan, or whichever you are) there were a lot of runs in the recent past which happened, “just so.”  Joined quite a few of those and made me want to scream, “so not worth my waking up at 3:30 am and my hard-earned hundreds!”

I’ve been too training for pretty much a lot the past years that I wrote too little for everybody’s reading consumption.  Now, recovering from  post- ACL reconstructive surgery, I guess I’ve got to keep my sanity by sharing my thoughts. (Weight gain is sooo bearing me down, really! Sometimes I feel like crying when I look at myself.)

I AM SO EXCITED TO FINALLY START TRAINING AGAIN! With of course, the resolution to share more thoughts and tips which will hopefully enlighten or kahit entertain na lang, other readers. Your pleasure is mine! :)

Of course I cannot do a crash course at sudden pace. I want to heal completely, of course, so I may run full races sooner or later.

Thank God for Run United 1, who got me into hosting the awarding program with Rovilson Fernandez, my long wait to get back into running shape has been given an exciting start. I was a little jealous though. I wanted to run too! (In a few more days I'm going to see my doctor, Dr. Rene Levosada --he's the best!-- I hope he clears me!)

So far, there's New Balance Run for Hope (I encourage all of you to join this event at Dasma! Support Carewell!), the Hyundai Free Run -- err Hyundai Accent Run, and Nat Geo, among others.

There's a long list going and I certainly look forward to these. Doesn't matter if I start with 3K, 5K or 10K, as long as I start.

Of course, the hardest part should be getting back, bouncing back. But yes, for the love of it, I'll do it. (Plus I hate this heavy feeling.)

So which events are you joining? What distance is your favorite?

I say, it doesn't matter, which running events you join, as long as you do.

And it doesn't matter which distance your favorite it.. basta ako... ang gusto ko lang... eh yang distance pa punta sa puso mo.

WEHEHEHE. Good night friends, will update tomorrow! :)

...Raise Fun, Raise Wellness, Raise Hope.

It's the season of sun and sand, and you can definitely see summer's really here...'cos everybody's starting to (crash) diet! Of course, we would normally couple this with exercise to maintain that healthy glow. We don't want to end up like some cast from the walking dead. Sure we want to shed some baby (damulag ;p) fat. But we all know better. Starvation is NOT the key.

Unless you want to head right on the hospital. C'mon. That's three months of summerific fun you'll miss, just because skinny is sexy.

Proper diet, with the right exercise, and discipline. :) That's the key equation. Trust me, you want a strong, fit body that'll last years and not a mere three months.

Either incidentally or consequently, it's also the season of fun runs and marathons which promote wellness: among the many organized running events, we witnessed the Condura run, Run United 1 2011, and in a few weeks, there's the Nat Geo Run and the Hyundai run (FREE REG! talk about uber 'cool.'-- Check it out!)

A lot to train for. And I must say, so far, the running events have been quite exciting. Run United 1 rocked with so much freebies, activities and awesome "hi-tech" innovations, while helping the HERO foundation and Gawad Kalusugan. We helped save the Dolphins for Condura. We ran for so many homeless, babies, and,  heck last year we ran after Derek Ramsey for Century Tuna! (Alright, so I'm exaggerating... a little. Derek is **woohoo** Derek! )

All that and gained a great bod to boot.

But wait, save the earth, dolphins, homeless... there is just no limit to the ways we can help, and countless lives we can touch.


This April 9,  the New Balance Raising Hope will be held at Dasmarinas Village. This time, if WE join the run, we get to help cancer patients and their loved ones.


C'mon, you know you want to run. You know you want to be fit and all that. You know YOU want to help, without having to scream it out to the world.

It's about time we help the cancer patients too. It's a hard struggle they go through and we can only help so much.

We are blessed, really blessed to be well and able enough to finish a 3, 5, or 10 K. Think about it.

Let's join the New Balance Raising Hope Run and support the Carewell Community.

Plus you get to run at Dasma Village. (How Sosy, no? C'mon really, to most of us, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE "STROLLED" at Dasma? Nice "sights." Haha.)

Alright, enough of my ranting. Here are the details:

We will officially have the New Balance Raising Hope run this April 9, 2011 at Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. The event will include a 3Km Fun Run (Php 400), 5Km and 10Km (Php600) categories. All 5Km and 10Km participants will receive a free size unisex singlet.  Assembly is 5:30am and the runs start at 6am. 

Here are some reminders to take note of for the registration:
1.       Registration period is February 25 – March 31, 2011.
2.       IMPORTANT: In order to benefit Carewell you must register to join the run at our office:  We are on the 6th floor of the S and L building, dela Rosa corner Esteban Street Legaspi Village Makati.  We are about 3 blocks away from Makati Med and directly across from the Solaris call center.
3.       Singlets will be available for pick up on March 25, 2011.

We hope you will be able to join us for the fun event! By joining the run, you will help Carewell continue providing its resources, services, and programs FREE OF CHARGE to persons with cancer and their loved ones. 
Please feel free to contact Jane Beate at Carewell 751-0242 or 815-1294 if you have any questions or if you would like to register.

(from Mr. Bobby Suntay, Carewell Community foundation Managing Director)

To learn more about the event and Carewell's advocacy, you may log onto http://www.carewellcommunity.org/. See you there, let's promote wellness through running, and break some sweat! :)

P.S.
I'll attach the map and reg form in a while. :) So...see you there!