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December 27, 2011

2011: A LOT TO THANK FOR. .. 2012: A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO!



2011 is the year that we have a lot to thank for because the 83neans, collectively and individually,  were able to elevate our running experience. Let us list down the achievements of the Batch 83 runners:

December 20, 2011

EXCHANGE GIFT: ULTRAMARATHON MAN BOOK


Christmas is a season of sharing and giving.  Here in the Philippines, a time-honored practice in many a X’mas parties in companies, schools   and organizations is the exchange gift.  As a grade schooler in Iriga City during the Martial Law years, I thoroughly  enjoyed the exchange gift(s).  

December 18, 2011

Batch 83 at the 35th National Milo Marathon 2011 Finals



Last December 11, 2011, the finals of the 35th National Milo Marathon was held in Manila.  A select group of roughly 460 runners participated.  


December 8, 2011

The Bicolano Penguin is getting heavier and December has just begun



You just have to look at the two pictures below to agree 101% with the title of this article.  At the eve of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011, I find myself at 163 pounds, 11 pounds heavier than when I finished my 80-km ultramarathon around Mayon Volcano last April 2, 2011.

December 3, 2011: Bicolano Penguin at 163 pounds


December 7, 2011

SINGAPORE EXPEDITION (S.Ex.) JOURNAL


   Day Three (Dec. 4) : 
Run for A Reason

“We each have a reason to run.  What’s yours?” These words are prominently on display in almost all the ads, posters and other written paraphernalia of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011.




December 6, 2011

SINGAPORE EXPEDITION (S.Ex.) JOURNAL

                     Day Two (Dec. 3):
 Efficient Redemption and Interactive Expo


Redemption time as in time to redeem our  race packs at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.  To be honest about it, I was a bit apprehensive that the claiming procedure would involve a lot of long lines and waiting time.  Although the releasing started December 1, I expected that a big majority of the 55,000+  registered runners  for the SCMS would claim their respective race packs on this Saturday. Thus, with such a large volume of runners, the all-volunteer SCMS organizers could be swamped.




Fards breezing thru the vast redemption lines of Hall F


December 5, 2011

SINGAPORE EXPEDITION (S.Ex.) JOURNAL

Day One (Dec. 2):  
Victoria,  BI, and Orchard Road’s Night Life



Prologue:  

At the start of the Year 2011, a year which we referred to as a "Year to Elevate” the running experience of Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983, one of the goals we set is to join and finish a marathon outside the country.  As it turns out, given the proximity and timing, Standard Chartered Marathon 2011 became the target event abroad.  Joining me in this Singapore Expedition (S.Ex.)  are my fellow 83nean marathoners:  Ernie “Antonio Banderas” Badong,  Ed “Level-Up Boy”  Balcueva, and Ruben “Fards” Fajardo.   Three other classmates (Bob “Hunk of the Night” Castilla, Noel “Ghibz” Guevara and Allen “Who’s Your Daddy?” Tolledo) were supposed to join, but they got sidetrack given an agglomeration of reasons. So, the Magnificent 7 became the Fab 4 for the Batch 83 S.Ex.  On the ground in Singapore, giving valuable intel and logistical support is my LG-4 classmate Bitoy.  

For this  priceless bonding adventure, we  wrote a three-part journal.  The words and pictures were a collaboration of Ernie, Ed, Fards, Bitoy, and myself.     

December 3, 2011

FUNd Racing : Fun + Donations in a Run.



Last Wednesday, November 30, I got to join the Michelle EStuar’s FUNd Racing at the ULTRA.  My son, Marcel, was supposed to join me but it got vetoed by the mom via the exams week principle.I got Ron Hemady,  a classmate from the Ateneo de Naga HS 1983, to join me instead. 

December 1, 2011

VITAMINS + MINERALS



After our 21-km training run in Camp Aguinaldo last Sunday (Nov 27), the 83nean runners were provided by our high school classmate, Art Puncia, a bottle each of Vigor-Ace soft-gel capsules.  Taken One-A-Day, these capsules contain vitamins and minerals which we would need as we train and actually run long distance events like  marathons and ultramarathons.

Vigor-Ace bottle (30 capsules)



November 28, 2011

What is the Best Pandesal I have ever tasted?



Answer:  The wheat pandesal of Pan de Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant (Katipunan Road, White Plains, Quezon City).

Pan de Amerikana wheat pandesal at Php 6 each

CRAMMING TIME



In education, cramming  is the practice of working intensively to absorb large volume of informational material in short amounts of time.  It is often done by students in preparations for upcoming exams.

November 24, 2011

Run for the Pasig River 2011: Come Together and Be Counted



“If you care enough to make the Pasig River clean, this is your chance to make a statement and run for the river.”  Words from Gina Lopez, the ABS-CBN Foundation , Inc. (AFI) managing director and concurrent president of the Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP).  

November 21, 2011

The de Lima that Soared with the Olympic Spirit



Imagine this.  You are running in the Olympic marathon, leading by almost half a minute with 4 miles to go, on the way to winning the very first gold for your country in this event. 

November 17, 2011

Magarao: Parahilot Capital

As I am writing this article, the 22nd Philippine Advertising Congress  is happening in my home province of Camarines Sur.  Hundreds, even thousands  of movers and shakers of the Advertising industry and its attendant sectors have trooped to Camsur in recent days.    

What is the best mango shake I have ever tasted?

Answer:  The one at Red  Platter, Naga City.

Mango is the national fruit of the Philippines.  It is a comfort food.  It is an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, as well as a good source of Potassium and contains beta carotene.   You can say that runners, fast or slow,  benefit a lot from consuming this fruit.  And what better way to enjoy this natural delicacy in our tropical clime  than   via a cool mango shake.



Best mango shake


November 16, 2011

MICHELLE ESTUAR’S FUNd RACING: A Rare Wednesday Fun Run



Fun runs in  Metro Manila are usually held on weekends, mostly on Sundays and a few on Saturdays.  Rarely are running events scheduled on a weekday.  Perhaps once every blue moon.   It is therefore a delight to know that there is a  fun run on the last Wednesday of this November.  For working stiffs like me in the Philippines, November 30 (the last Wednesday) is a non-working holiday by virtue of it being  the birthday of Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the proletarian revolutionary  Katipunan Movement.

November 14, 2011

UNILAB RUN UNITED 3: Bayanihan in Running...in Action!


Leg 3 of Runrio Trilogy, Unilab’s Run United 3 was held last Sunday, November 13, 2011.  Six 83nean runners (Ateneo de Naga HS Class of 1983) including myself ran the 32 kms.

November 12, 2011

ENERGIZER NIGHT RACE: A positive synergy


 

For a  company that prides itself in producing the longest lasting battery in the world, it makes a lot of business sense that  Energizer Philippines, Inc. (EPI)  gets to sponsor in a big way  an event that celebrates a sport that puts a premium on  endurance of the human kind. 

November 9, 2011

November 7, 2011

Our Bicol. Our Home. Our Run

As a proud running man of the  the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983 (follow the exploits of these 40-something runners at http://83neanrunners.blogspot.com) , I subscribe to the precept “Our Bicol. Our Home. Our Run.”  It is an axiom that we follow in our choice of long distance running events to join.  



November 5, 2011

MTR 2011 : Mayon Trail “Run” to the Extreme




Clamber. Waddle. Crawl, & Trudge .  Action words I did not exactly expect to use for a write up having something to do with  my  passion for running.  But when it came to my recent adventure at the 21km Extreme Mayon Trail Run last October 22, 2011 in Legaspi City, I have to call a spade a spade.

Bicol Penguin's  envy  -  lead runners gliding seemingly on the surface