Nat Geo Earth Day Run Results

Even if my results are quite embarrassing, I'm posting it for everyone to see since it's also up in the race results page of the Nat Geo Earth Day Run anyway. I don't understand whatever it is the graph is telling me but finishing at 49mins. in a 5k run has got to be slow. The first person to finish the 5k category finished it at 16mins.

And while we're at it, I kept looking for that hot guy covered in tattoo who ran 21k and finished at aroun 47-48mins in the photos posted in Facebook to no avail. How could the photographers not take his photo?! He's practically a god! Oh, yeah. Most photographers were men...

Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2013

When I saw the ad for the Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2013 on TV a month ago, I immediately wanted to run it. I asked the family about it and I was surprised that my parents actually agreed to register the run with me. I did so in the kiosk in Greenbelt 3 - thanks to Kulit Runner for the information about the kiosk - when I went out with a couple of friends.

Fast forward to last night: My parents decided to back out the last minute from the run due to lack of training. My siblings happily agreed - since they didn't have to pay for anything - to run it with me.

We ran 5k. Carlo finished at 36 minutes, Trish at 42 and I finished at 49 minutes. Personally, I was so proud of the two 'cause even without the training, they finished early without suffering any cramps but it just reminded me of how old I really am and that I should work on strengthening my body, especially my apparently really weak legs.

I didn't bring a camera or my phone - we used Trish's phone in the photo above - during the run but there were a lot of things I wanted to take photos of, like the water stations and one of their sponsors' booths that won't refill the water bottles and forced people to drink off of the cups. Too bad.

Anyway, we had to line up to get goodie bags and the certificates of participation after the run which took 30 minutes. I didn't want to leave the line despite Trish's attempts to change my mind. After all, we paid for those bags.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Nothing major really happened as far as the 5k run was concerned. I just think they should've done something about the plastic bottles and paper cups provided for by their hydration sponsors. Using those defeats the purpose of the run and their advocacy.

Join the Running Revolution with Adidas Energy Boost.

I am not really a runner; meaning I do not run competitively. I run on my own in cemeteries in the morning, I run with my sister during fun runs and I run away from flying cockroaches who think they're pretty little butterflies but actually aren't. Having said that, I've done very little to boost my run because, well, I don't really need it.

Photo from Outbreak BGC last July 28, 2012

There are times, though, that I'd want to literally run an extra mile and this usually happens when I run in memorial parks when I think I see shadows running with me. I psyche myself out every now and then to "keep things interesting" (I do this whenever I get the urge to walk instead). Hehe. Anyway, this is the part where I do something (that makes me look) crazy. What do I do? Well, first, I switch to the Party Party playlist in my iPod and put it on full blast.

Next, I start singing the song. Yes, while running and yes, it makes me pant the first time I did it but believe it or not, this is how I learned how to breathe correctly. I don't get that nasty pain on either of my sides anymore, too. I'm not entirely sure if that's the one responsible for that but I stopped having them when I sing while I run so I keep on doing it. Plus, it gets my mind off of those shadows I think I see during my morning runs.

And last, I dance. Yes, I dance while running. It probably looks weird - I haven't seen myself do it - because I get weird glances from other people. I used to just pace my run according to the beat of the song but when it got boring, I started swaying my hips and raising and waving my hands in the air like I just don't currrrr... FYI, that's when I got the weird glances from the people who see me. Wow. Shocker, right? Haha!

My way's not that crazy, if you ask me, but it sure does make me look like a loon. Not that I'm proud... I don't care, though. At least it gets my mind off of the ghost stories I make up in my head while running in an almost empty cemetery so early in the morning. Each one of us has a different (read: weird) way of boosting our runs so don't judge! Haha! Adidas, though, is coming up with ways for us to boost our runs further.

Recreational running - I don't know if I'm just making up this term or not - shouldn't stop you from experiencing the superpowers of the new Adidas Energy Boost running shoe. Only 200 pairs of this revolutionary cushioned running shoes are available for the Filipinos in the country and the first 100 are being sold in the Adidas store in Bonifacio Global City so if you want to get your hands (and feet) on a pair of these babies, be sure to head there on February 27. Each pair will retail at Php7995 and if you ask me, I honestly think it's quite affordable for a pair of limited edition running shoes. You can pre-order the shoes, too, if you want to have a pair for sure. Pre-order period is from February 15 'til February 24 and you can do this at the Adidas Boost website.

On Running

I have an on-and-off relationship with running since I started 5 years ago. Of course, the longest I went without it was in 2010, when I got pregnant and didn't get back right away because of my c-section. My "big comeback" happened February last year, when I was on a depression spree.

I started running this morning again, with the same reason I had last year: I've been down in the dumps lately. I think that the reason why I always do this whenever I feel down is because I get to listen to what He has to say. I may not be prayerful but I still believe in Him and I turn to Him in times of triumph and pain. Plus, running gives me this natural high afterwards that cannot be fulfilled by a glass of Jack Coke.

Just kidding. A glass of Jack Coke will definitely give me any kind of high I want to have.

But it isn't healthy at all...or is it?

Planning a diet/exercise plan...

There are a lot of beach trips lined up for me in the future that is why I'm doing this. Also because I saw my college bud's, Kizia's, blog post a few weeks ago (Yeah, mostly that because I only have one trip lined up and I don't even have a plane ticket yet). I don't want to call myself a gaya-gaya because I actually want to start going on a diet... I'd want to believe that I got inspired by her determination to lose weight and actually become healthy.

Being a true believer of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the Law of Attraction and the PSI teachings, I will make this diet plan a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

S(pecific)?: I've achieved my 110-pound weight goal and a barely-there beer belly/post pregnancy flabby tummy by June 25, 2013. 

M(easurable)?: Yes, it is. The weight limitation makes it measurable. 

A(ttainable)?: Yes, definitely! A lot of people have lost 10 pounds in 8 months. Some lost it at 2 months... 

R(isks/obstacles)?:

• Procrastination
• Lack of self-discipline
• Lack of motivation (Yes, being sexy again is not motivation enough, apparently.)
• Cravings (I am having a hard time giving up my potato chips and cigarette addiction.)
• Laziness

T(imebound)?: Yes. June 25, 2013.

Now that the S.M.A.R.T. goal is set, I need to know what exactly I will do to make this one possible.

1. Start running again. Three times a week might be enough because I am committing to a 7-day per week, one hour a day exercise program. Preferring to run in the morning but I plan on working out during the morning so we'll see.
2. Drink as much tea as possible. No, not the bubble tea that everyone's raving about (To be perfectly honest, I don't intend to start drinking it). I mean legit tea. Like the ones they serve at Chinese restaurants.
3. Eat smaller meals. Since I've been chowing down so much carbs lately, I need to start eating in smaller but frequent doses.
4. Download phone and computer applications to help me keep track of my progress. I think keeping track of my progress is one of the motivations I need to help me get through this.
5. Download exercise videos that I will use everyday. Currently leaning towards Zumba (just 'cause it's uso), hip-hop and aerobics.
6. Limit myself to one stick a day (I'm on two a day now) on my first week towards a healthier lifestyle and not get tempted to smoke when I go out/drink.
7. START EARLY AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIRST 20 DAYS.

As of now, that's it. I just need to know one thing: Do I need to wear a pair of rubber shoes when I exercise at home? It would feel silly but I will if I need to.

I can exceed my limitations!

Before 2011 ended, I made a goal for myself to finish on 2012. I went as far as converting it into a S.M.A.R.T. goal. The goal is to run (and of course, finish) my first ever 5k marathon. I kept this goal in mind every single day since 2012 started and everyday, I would do little steps that would help me achieve this: I (online) window-shopped for running shoes, I actually purchased my first "official" running shorts, ran a 3k fun run, all those stuff when finally, an opportunity to run 5k presented itself.

My cousins and I were talking about joining the Outbreak Manila fun run back in April 2012 in Nuvali. Long story short, we forgot to register. The great thing about it, though, after a couple of months, they've announced another Outbreak Manila run that will actually happen in Manila. Outbreak BGC happened last July 28, 2012 at the Bonifacio Global City open grounds (near Mercato). I have my experience chronicled here.

I didn't know that Outbreak BGC was a 5k run prior to the event. I just heard the emcee of the event say it when my sister and I were waiting for our wave to run. It was a pleasant surprise and right then and there, I knew that I wanted to finish this run more than ever.

It was a great run except I didn't get to verify if I was one of the top finishers right away. August 3, the Outbreak Manila Facebook page posted the final list of the top finishers and...well...

That's me on number one! And I even have a medal to prove it:

Not only did I finish my first 5k this year and attained my goal, I even finished on top! Talk about exceeding my limitation!

My most favorite sports enthusiast as of the moment has got to be Kuya Kim Atienza. The guy suffered a heart attack last year and a year after it, he ran a full 42k marathon. As if that wasn't enough, he participated in the Cebu Ironman a few months after his 42k! You wouldn't even think that he had a heart attack if you only knew of his achievements this year. If he could exceed his limitations having had a heart attack the previous year, those of us who have healthy hearts could definitely do it, too!

I bet that Kuya Kim, too, takes his odor protection seriously and that is one of the reasons why he can focus on his workout. Good thing, I take this one seriously, too. Imagine an unhygienic me, running the course of Outbreak BGC... I bet the zombies would run for their lives (Wow, how ironic).

Safeguard Active won't let bad hygiene distract you from exceeding your athletic limitations and in beating your personal best! To prove that, a bunch of people have been dared by Safeguard Active to beat Coach Rio's 20-meter dash record. Watch this #BeatCoachRio by Safeguard Active video to see if someone actually beat his 2.3-second record:


Since 2010, I've been a firm believer of goal setting and the impact of the Law of Attraction. My personal experience as well as these people's experiences are proof that whatever it is you put your mind into, you can achieve. You just need to have the determination and the perseverance to make it through and you will make it through.

Outbreak Manila 2 is almost here and my shoes are all worn out...

With Outbreak Manila 2 exactly a week away, I can't help but look at my running shoes. It's all worn out and I think that Outbreak BGC will be the last run that it can endure so buying a new one is a must by this time.

I browsed through the Zalora catalog sports page to find the perfect pair of running shoes and I fell in love with this the first time I saw it:

I know the Nike Free Run +3 has been launched earlier this year but I personally haven't seen it in this particular color. I've seen it in coral and in blue but never in yellow. It's so nice, right? Me likey!

I tried one on a few weeks back and it feels like I was stepping on the clouds, if I knew how stepping on clouds actually felt like. It has superb cushioning and it has the Nike protection: you feel so secure with whatever you need to do physically because you know that Nike will do its job in protecting and supporting you in your activity.

There are a whole lot of different shoe brands available in Zalora, both local and international brands. You might want to check them out, just go to http://www.zalora.com.ph/sports/ and you'll find a wide range of sports shoes there. Upon checkout, you can use the discount voucher Aletotski0 (Aletotski[zero]) to get a 5% discount on your purchase.