PLANNING MY 2013 RACE YEAR

Exit the Dragon.  Enter the Snake.

2012 IN REVIEW

We are at that point in the last month of the year 2012 that we take stock of what has transpired in our running for the  past 12 months.  

PINOY FITNESS RUN FOR CHANGE 2012

I have not been able to join races the past few weeks but I am happy to note that my fellow First Balfour runners have been at it these cool weekends of Christmas. 

A RANDOM ACT OF GENEROSITY

The Christmas holidays bring out the generous sides of all of us. 

WHAT DO RUNNERS DO ON CHRISTMAS DAY?

Simple.  We run.

LOPEZ LINK: December 2012 – January 2013 Issue

This month of December is proving to be a double bonus, print wise, for the Bicolano Penguin. 

2013 BDM 58-KM TEST RUN: San Fernando to Capas

At 2:23 am this December 23 morning, I texted  Bob Castilla, Ernie Badong and Ruben “Fards” Fajardo inquiring about the test run.   

WE SHARE BECAUSE WE CARE

For a handful of  homilies already in the Aguinaldo masses starting December  16 ,  our parish priest Fr. Joelan Landerio has been using these words to encourage parishioners to participate  in the  Christmas activities of the Ascension of Our Lord Parish  in Paranaque City, many of which are for helping  the developing and depressed areas in the community.

FRONTRUNNER MAGAZINE Vol 3 Issue 5 2012: Something to Cherish

The start of my morning early this week  could  not have gone any better. 

MY 2ND PENGUIN

Christmas is a time of giving, and receiving. 

10 Years of Valuable Service to the Company

Last December 7, at the Christmas party in our Sucat office, I had the honor of receiving a Plaque of Recognition from First Balfour for my "10 Years of Valuable Service to the Company."
 

SCMS: ANG PAGMUMULAT NI BITOY

“Pagmumulat” is a Filipino word for awakening. It is also the name of an annual drama festival that ran for 6 years at the Ateneo de Naga way back in the 1980s during our high school years. 

ROGUE: THE ART ISSUE (November 2012)

The gift I received from blogger friend WJ for the BP blog anniversary rekindled my interest in the visual arts (http://www.bicolanopenguin.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-gift-on-1st-anniversary- of-bicolano.html#more).  

MARATHONS R US

Not 1 but 2.  This is the number of full marys that our swash buckling runners of the Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 conquered this December 2, 2012. And the reach of the 83neans is all over the region in this marathon of marathons.

IT’S TIME TO BOND

Last Wednesday, November 28, I was blessed to have enjoyed a break. This was really welcome after weeks of stress, due to a smorgasbord of meetings and presentations at work.

RED CRAB RUN: Eat & Run (Or is it the other way around?)

I woke up early Sunday morning at 3:30 am feeling good and excited about the Red Crab Run that would start 5:30am at McKinley Hills.  This would  be the run where I would first use my Kinvara 3. I was looking forward to its  lightweight minimalist yet pillow soft feel.  

KINVARA 3: Float like a butterfly, finish like a bee!

Christmas is early in our home. Even before the All Souls Day holiday break, we already had a Christmas tree up in our living room.  And one early morning, I woke up to see a pair of  Kinvara 3  hanging with the silver balls on the tree. Who is it from? Could  it be from good old S.C. – Saucony Claus?  Ho ho ho ho......

FIRST BALFOUR CHRISTMAS DECOR: Going Green with Red

The Philippines is known to have the longest celebration of Christmas in the world. This is clearly manifested by the setting up of Christmas decor by the start of the 4^th quarter of the year on  houses, parks, avenues, hotels, malls and buildings. Here in our Sucat office, we had ours in place on the first week of November. 

BPI VERTICAL RUN: An 83nean in 5th Place

A batch member of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983 is in the Top 5 of a running event, again. 

WEST COAST 200K ULTRA: An 83nean at 4th Place

"I’m like a fine wine.  I get better with age. The best is yet to come."

DALAGAN NUBENTA : December 2, 2012

Dalagan Nubenta is a fun run organized by the Ateneo de Naga High School Batch of 1990 (AdeNubenta).  

TETRA PAK RFR RUN: 2ND Leg of My Back-to-Back Half Marathons

Late Saturday morning, I was attending a servant leader seminar organized by our parish church in Paranaque City when the husband of my fellow lector approached me and inquired if I would be interested to run a 21-km fun run the following day (Sunday, November  18). He said he had a race kit  but because of some conflict in schedule, he would not be able to use it.

TBR DREAM TEAM RUN 2012: A Festival of Colors and Dreams

The inaugural TBR  Dream Team  Run (21 kms) happened November 17, several  weeks after halloween but the public may be forgiven if the impression would have been it was still trick or treat season. 

RED CRAB 5K RUN: November 25, 2012

Crabs are my favorite food. And here in Manila, my favorite restaurant for this marine delicacy is the Red Crab.  

NEW BALANCE POWER RUN 2012:Why 25 kms?

I joined the 2012 edition of the New Balance Power Run (NBPR) and I wondered  - Why 25 kms?   

LOPEZ ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (LAA): Finally Getting an LAA Jacket

“Get me those nice looking jackets.”

FIREFLIES IN FILINVEST CITY ALABANG

Thursday night of November 8, I had my recovery run inside Filinvest Corporate City Alabang.  

A GIFT ON THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE BICOLANO PENGUIN BLOG

November 5 marks one year of the existence of my Bicolano Penguin blog. I was happy on this day, especially  given the success of our Tiwi-Sangay Road Run three days ago. My joy was doubled later that day when I received an anniversary gift from the "godmother" of my blog.

1st BICOLANO PENGUIN ANNIVERSARY RUN : Kings of Tiwi-Sangay Road

What better way to celebrate the 1^st year of my Bicolano Penguin blog than to have a long run with close buddies in a special place.  Such a venue exists in my home region of Bicol. This is the long and winding Tiwi-Sangay Road.

RUN UNITED PHILIPPINE MARATHON: BIG MEDAL & BAYANIHAN

I guess the starting point of many a discussion about the first-ever Run United Philippine Marathon is the size of its finisher medal.  It is huge.  Nope.  A better term is humongous, dwarfing any medal the Pinoy running community has seen in our shores. I even dare to write that it is perhaps the biggest finisher medal in Southeast Asia, after comparing it with the one I got at the 2012 Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore.  Indeed, the organizers of the RUPM succeeded in making it memorable.

BANANA BOAT SHIRTS, FINISHER SHIRTS AND RUNNING GELS FOR THE BICOLANO PENGUIN ANNIVERSARY RUN

A couple more nights and it is already November  2, the D-Day of our first-ever Bicolano Penguin Anniversary Run.  The running paradise that  4 of my fellow 83neans,  5  more Bicol-based  buddies and myself  will journey to on this date is a 40-km stretch of the  picturesque Tiwi- Sangay Road in the border of the provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay.

SIMPLE HYDRATION BOTTLE

Like all runners all over the world, hydration is very important to a penguin like me.  We need to stay hydrated to stave off exhaustion, cramps and even death.  All that shuffling and puffing on the run makes me thirsty more often than  naturally gifted runners.  Thus, thru the years, I have tried   many types from specially designed backpacks with water bladders (Camelback) to water bottle belts (Amphipod) to hand-held  bottles (Polar).  

FEED THE PIG

Buta, the pig, is spending the last week of October in our house. Our son, Marcel, brought the pig with him from class.

KARHU: Both Adidas and Nike Got Something from this Finnish Brand

I visited  the Wandering Jouster site  of my favorite Bicolana blogger, and I got to enjoy her latest blog entry entitled “Shoe Talk”  which was about  the 7 leading global brands of running shoes and their history.  Informative stuff about Adidas, Nike, Puma, KSwiss, Reebok, Asics and Mizuno. 

AVON WALK THE TALK AND RUN FOR PASIG RIVER : Engaging Employees Thru Running

A cool and fun way to engage employees is thru sports. And one of the more egalitarian sport activities  out there is running.  

RUNNER’S WORLD PHILIPPINE EDITION: October-December 2012 Issue

It is a ritual for me to drop by the local literary mecca that is the Fully Booked Store when  I am in the Bonifacio High Street area in Taguig City.  Last night was no different and I was ecstatic to see on the magazine rack  brand  new issues of 3 editions of Runner’s World:   United States,    United Kingdom  and the Philippines.

OCTOBER BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF A TRIO OF BATCH PIONEERS

Last Saturday , I attended a salo salo for the October birthday celebrators in our Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1983:  Jobel Belarmino (October 6), Pidong delos Santos (October 14) and Ernie Badong (October 20). This was hosted by our batch salutatorian, Art Puncia, in his house inside Filinvest East.  In attendance, in addition to the celebrators, the host and myself, were Bogs Abogado, Ed Balcueva, Franco Besinio,  Bob Castilla, Ruben “Fards” Fajardo, Ron Hemady and Rico Sabalvoro.

MARATHON DREAM TEAM OF FIRST BALFOUR RUNNING CLUB

After reading the McDougal masterpiece “Born to Run” in December of 2009, I dreamed of finishing a marathon.  Prior to that, the longest distance I have tackled  was a 10-km fun run, but something about the way the book was written made me dare to significantly upsize my running experience.  Five months after, under the nurturing  coaching care of Jaymie Pizarro and Jim Lafferty, I crossed the finish line of my first full marathon – The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, 2010 edition. It is definitely  one of the highlights of my adventure here on earth.

BICOLANO PENGUIN ANNIVERSARY RUN: November 2, 2012 at Tiwi-Sangay Road

My Bicolano Penguin blog will be turning 1 year this November 5.  Thru the  weeks and months, this blog has churned 105 articles, mostly about running and a handful about food, the runner’s best friend.  In a year, the blog has elicited more than 10,000 page views.  We can safely say that this baby is an active one.  Not precocious but a bouncing one.

ADIDAS ADIZERO FEATHER 2 : Running made sputing!

In my youthful days in Bicol back in the late 70s and early 80s, there was a street word that connotes being excellently well dressed, or “dressed to the nines” to quote the Wandering Jouster in her article last October 5,2012(http://wanderingjouster.blog.com/).This word is “sputing”.  

TBR DREAM TEAM RUN: November 17, 2012

A couple weeks ago, I received an email invite from Jaymie Pizzaro to all TBR Dream Marathon alumni about a TBR Dream Team Run scheduled for November 17, 2012 at Nuvali.  

RUNNING ON ENTRANCE EXAMS DAY

October 7 was the entrance examination day for  Grade 7 students aiming to study high school  at the Ateneo de Manila High School.  Thus, that Sunday morning, I drove my son Marcel to the high school campus.  I was informed by my son that the entrance exams would last 3 hours. Unlike many of the parents who left immediately and planned to fetch their kids later, I stayed in the campus. What should I do to kill  time for 3 hours?

RUN UNITED PHILIPPINE MARATHON 2012: Registered Already

The 1^st ever Run United Philippine Marathon 2012 is hands down the most awaited marathon event in the Philippines for this year.  Since a year ago, the local running community has been abuzz with this running event that was in the works from Unilab Active Health and Runrio, Inc. It is scheduled for October 28, 2012.  

FRONTRUNNER MAGAZINE Vol 3 Issue 4 2012

Today, I got a copy of the latest issue of the Frontrunner magazine.  Good timing for me as I was not planning on running in the next few days given my cough and cold.  Having a colorful and insightful magazine about my favorite passion would be a plus for my recovery from sick bay.

REXONA RUN 2012: Outrunning myself?

The Rexona Run is one of the more popular half marathon runs in the Philippines. Since its first edition in 2010, this run has grown a substantial following among the local community. 

RUNNING IN THE RAIN: We are not fair weather runners!

I woke up early Sunday morning to the sound of heavy downpour. It was raining the proverbial cats and dogs but there was never a doubt in my mind that the training run I got to schedule with my fellow 83nean runners at 6am inside Camp Aguinaldo would push thru.  We are after all crazy about running.  In the same way that we are not “fair weather friends”, we are also not “fair weather runners.” 

EXTREME RUNNING: The Book

Running is generally considered as an inexpensive, convenient, egalitarian  and increasingly popular sport.  

CHICAGO HALF MARATHON: A BUCKET LIST ACHIEVEMENT FOR MY FRIEND FRANCIA

On the same weekend that I was cheering on my fellow 83nean runners finish the Penafrancia Marathon in Naga City, a good friend was  finishing her first half marathon half a globe away.  She has been preparing for this bucket list milestone for more than half a year already and now she  bagged it.

PENAFRANCIA MARATHON 2012: A RUN FOR INA TO BUILD A CHURCH

Decades  before the Metropolitan Cathedral (1808) and centuries before the Penafrancia Basilica Minore (1981), there was and is the Penafrancia Church.  This was built in 1750 and is the original home of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the patroness of the Bicol region.

83neans praying inside the Penafrancia Church

9/11 : My Birthday

The date 9/11 is a date of infamy in America and in these parts. Way before 2001, it is the birthdate of the longest serving dictator of our country. And then 2001 came and the date  was forever associated with barbaric global terrorism. 

AN “AMBUSH” OF A HAPPY KIND IN CAMP A

Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City is the favorite training ground of the 83neans and many more runners. 

83NEANS AT MALACANANG FOR SECRETARY ROBREDO

The late Secretary Jesse Robredo was an Atenean.  

GOT MY FRONTRUNNER SHIRT

Last Friday, August 31, I received my exclusive frontRUNNER t-shirt via mail.  This was a result of my letter to the Editor being posted in the latest issue of the running magazine (http://www.bicolanopenguin.blogspot.com/2012/07/frontrunner-magazine-vol-iii-issue-3.html#more).

PAN DE CIELO BAKESHOP: IGWA NG KINALAS SA MANILA

When I left Camp Aguinaldo Sunday morning of August 19, I was in a gloomy state of mind. 

AUGUST 19, 2012 : NO RUNNING... ONLY WALKING FOR ME

A picture says a thousand words.  

Sad...

1972 MUNICH OLYMPICS: 40 Years Ago, Knocking Down the Olympic Spirit But Olympic Runners Refusing to Stay Down

The 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich was dubbed by the German organizers as the “Happy Games”. But from September 4 to September 5, 1972, eight Black September terrorist-jerks  took hostage and caused the death of eleven members of the  the Israeli Olympic team:  wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg, wrestling referee Yossef Gutfreund, sharpshooting coach Kehat Shorr, track and field coach, fencing master Amitzur Shapira, weightlifting judge  Yakov Springer, wrestlers Eliezer Halfin and Mark Slavin, and weightlifters David Berger, Ze'ev Friedman and Yossef Romano.

MARCEL’S FAREWELL TO HIS LOLO

My dad and Marcel’s lolo, Vicente Bagaporo De Lima,  died July 30.  He would have turned 82 years old this September 11.  

GOT TO RUN AGAIN AFTER 21 DAYS OF NO RUNNING, BUT ...

Last Sunday, August 12, I finally got to run again after 21 days without running.  I ran at Camp Aguinaldo with my fellow 83nean runners:  Ernie Badong, Ed Balcueva, Bob Castilla, Ruben “Fards” Fajardo and Noel Guevara.  Joining us, too, on that Sunday morning was Art Puncia who biked around the military camp. 

LATERAL LIGAMENT SPRAIN

I have not been running for many lonely days already.  The last time I ran was in July 21, an easy 8-km run.

THE RUNNER’S WORLD BIG BOOK OF MARATHON AND HALF-MARATHON TRAINING

Last July 30, I received from my US-based classmate and fave friend, Magen, a book which I dearly needed. This book is The Runner’s World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training. It is written by four very accomplished runners who are connected with Runner’s World, the leading running magazine in the world.

A most welcome sight, a package from a friend

FRONTRUNNER MAGAZINE Vol III Issue 3 2012: My Letter to the Editor

A running kindred, Gia Estrella of Ayala Triads and Team Kamote, texted me early this week that my letter was posted at the latest issue of the Frontrunner magazine.  I was excited to get a copy which I finally did last Wednesday.

RUNNING THRU THE RIVER UNIT BARRIOS IN IRIGA AND FINDING A MYSTERY BRIDGE IN AGUS RIVER

Early Friday  morning of July 20 in Bicol, I had a big itch to run.  The night before,  a physical therapist applied some  deep tissue massage  on me which made me feel good and optimistic of having a pain-free run.  For  the past two weeks, I have been feeling some pain on my right calf area during and after a run. This time, my muscles felt good, energized even.

RUNNING TO LAKE BATO VIA MASOLI ROAD

I had to cancel my Tiwi-Sangay Road running adventure last July 14. It was a disappointment for me, but a mark of an ultra runner is resilience.  If I couldn’t do a seven-hour adventure run, I guess I could do a shorter one; something in the vicinity of four hours.

BEST TASTING HALO-HALO: DJC in Tiwi

A bonus of my recon drive thru the Tiwi-Sangay Road is  I finally got to taste the famous halo-halo in Tiwi. For more than a decade now, I have been hearing and reading about this cool delightful pride of Albay.

DALAGAN PARA MAKATABANG : July 29, 2012 Fun Run in Iriga City

The La Consolacion College Batch 1998 (LCC Batch 98) is organizing a fun run on July 29, 2012 in Iriga City.  The “Dalagan” or “running” part will be 1km/3kms/5kms/10kms in and around the city proper of Iriga. The starting and finish area of the fun run will be at the Rizal Monument, fronting the old city hall.  Looking at the route  sheet, the 10 kms will take runners thru the city proper to the barrios of San Francisco, Sta. Cruz, San Juan , Sto. Domingo, San Roque and back to the Rizal Monument.  It will be a cool way to tour the city.

TIWI-SANGAY ROAD: PICTURES FROM THE RECON DRIVE

As I look at the Google map of  Camarines Sur, I see another road connecting our province to Albay. This is the Tiwi-Sangay Road.It is of more recent vintage. What is exciting about this road is its close proximity   to the sea, specifically Lagonoy Gulf. Plus, it is still sparsely inhabited. Many bikers go thru it but rarely runners.  In short, virgin territory for running.

MIZUNO WAVE RIDER 15: WELCOME TO MEZAMASHII

I first learned about the Mezamashii Project  of Mizuno thru the Running Shield  blog of Patrick Concepcion.  This blog I like to visit regularly and I got to know that Running Shield’s favorite shoe brands are Asics and Nike.  Thus, it was a bit of a surprise for me to read him writing about  Mizuno.

REUNITED WITH MY POLAR BOTTLE: THANK YOU, PAN DE AMERIKANA!

I got reunited with my Polar Bottle this weekend.  Last June 21, when our classmate  Fards treated us for brunch at the Pan de Amerikana (PDA) restaurant in White Plains, QC, I left my Polar Bottle.  Tumatanda na talaga si Bicolano Penguin.

My Polar Bottle

MT. IRIGA - MT. ASOG ADVENTURE RUN (43 KMS) : RUNNING IS FREE

A run around Mt. Iriga-Mt. Asog.  Ever since I participated in the inaugural running of the Mayon 360 180km Ultra last April 2011, I have been dreaming  about this.  No doubt, by comparison, it would be at a smaller scale considering that the Mayon 360 involved running thru 3 cities and  7 towns while  the Mt. Iriga 360 will pass thru 1 city and 1 town only. I even wondered how long or short the running distance will be.

Mt. Iriga-Mt. Asog Adventure Run

The route of the Mt. Iriga-Mt. Asog Adventure Run

RUNNING WITH A NAVY CAPTAIN

Last June 24, I had the chance to run 21 kms around Camp Aguinaldo with fellow 83neans Ruben “Fards” Fajardo and Ernie Badong.  It was a special run. It was my first time to run with them again in more than a month.  No doubt we were all gung ho about doing more training runs as we just received official communication from the Bald Runner of our entry into the Bataan Death March 102km ultra marathon scheduled for March 2013. 

A Visit to the School of My Son

June 22, 2012  was Parent-Teacher Conference Day at the Grade School of my son Marcel.  Since Marcel’s Grade 1  days, I have been attending this school activity and this year 2012, Marcel’s Grade 7, is no different. 

2012 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

A nice way to celebrate Happy Father’s Day is  to share time with both my son and my father.  This we did during the Father’s Day weekend of June 16-17 when my family and I went home to Bicol.

Marcel delivering the box of school supplies to the Fatima Orphanage

RUNNING FROM IRIGA-NABUA-BAAO-IRIGA (20 KMS)

I was home in Iriga City this Father’s Day weekend.  Immediately after arriving in our barrio of San Agustin at 5am last June 16, I took the opportunity to run while the rest of my family were sound asleep.  

Running’s Recent History in the Philippines

A few weeks back, I had lunch with the family at The Red Crab Alimango House at the Venice Piazza.  As we were waiting for the tastefully delectable crab maritess to arrive, I gazed upon the wall of the restaurant as it had a collection of vintage posters.  

A RED MEMENTO OF THE BDM EXPERIENCE

After one of my easy runs a week ago, my mom handed me a small package as I entered our house in South Bay. She said our neighbor, Dr. Pena Catangui, dropped by and delivered said package.  Excited, I vigorously peeled away at the bubble wrap to unearth a lovely piece of work. A red treasure for me!  Actually, a red coaster.  But for me it is a red memento of my Bataan Death March experience, where I survived the premier 102km ultra marathon in the country, last March 3-4, 2012 .  

Red Memento

 

ASICS PATRIOT 4: An Asics from UK

While in Bicol over the weekend, I got a call from my wife, Marianne, informing me a very good news.  Her sister, Divine, just got back from her London trip and guess what.  She has another Asics for me.  This time it is an Asics model available in the European market.

RUNNING IN THE FOOTHILLS OF MT. IRIGA

Over the weekend, I missed out running in the Brooks Run Happy. A First Balfour officemate had me registered   in the 21-km run, but I had to engage in  a more important family concern.  You see, my siblings and I brought our father home to Iriga City last  June 2.  He wanted to be in his hometown to rest and enjoy  in peace  the last few weeks or months of his time here on earth in the company of his kinfolk in the place where he was born.   

A road all to myself in the foothills of Mt. Iriga

ZOOT ULTRA ICE RUN TEE

My fave cuz, Virlita, arrived from the USA with her mom last week, and she wasted no time in showing me her pasalubong – a white Zoot Ultra Ice Run Tee.  All I can say is "Hallelujah!"

Zoot Ultra Ice Run Tee

Philippine Marathoners in the Olympics

August 12 is the date set for the running of the men’s marathon in the 2012 London Olympics.  I have marked that date and I hope to be in front of a big TV/computer screen  to witness this great athletic spectacle.    Of all the sporting events of the Olympics, the marathon is the one that has provided great drama and high points.  

Olympic Games 2012 Marathon

LOPEZ LINK April 2012 Issue : Picture of Bicolano Penguin Inside

Lopez Link April 2012 Issue

FRONTRUNNER MAGAZINE Vol III Issue 2 2012: Picture of 83neans Inside

With a cover like this, I was excited to get my hands on the latest issue of the frontRUNNER magazine. Camilla Brooks is on the cover and the BDM tattoo on her back told me that the Volume III Issue 2 2012 is  about ultramarathons.

MY RUNNING KIT FOR THE 3RD T2N

My Zoot Icefill arm coolers, Headwear bandanna, Spyder sunglasses and Solatek cap

3rd T2N 50K Run: A Top Hit Among Newbies and Oldies Alike

“If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.” These are words attributed to the great Czech runner, Emil Zatopek, gold medalist in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and marathon at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. 

NEW BALANCE 880 : IN A BLINK I LIKE IT

The New Balance running shoes that the Bicolano Penguin has recently purchased are the NB 880.  

The NB 880 looks cool in blue

WHAT BRAND OF RUNNING SHOES WILL I BUY FOR MY NEW PAIR?

For one year now, I have exclusively been using Asics running shoes, the Cumulus to be specific, for my running.  To my mind,  Asics provides the best in cushioning.  And for long distances beyond 42 kms,  a generous amount of cushioning is an ultra runner’s best friend.

DO I NEED A NEW PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES?

For the past 12 months, the Bicolano Penguin has purchased or been given 4 new pairs of running shoes :  a pair of  Asics Cumulus 12 (purchased from A Runner’s Circle), two pairs of Asics Cumulus 13 (gifted by my sister for my  birthday and by my wife as a X’mas present), and a pair of Asics GT 2160 (pasalubong from my sister-in-law).  

2nd INTEGRITY RUN: Running For Integrity Towards a New Philippines

Thousands of  runners of various shapes, sizes, color and age, joined the 2^nd Integrity Run this May 6, 2012  at the Bonifacio Global City. This fun run against corruption is an annual endeavor of the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of Philippines (ECCP).  It is part of the Integrity Initiative which is  a private sector-led campaign that aims to promote common ethical standards among various sectors of society. It operates on the principle of inclusion and collective action.

Father and Son at the Village Pool

In the midst of these hot days of summer (the scientific folks at PAGASA would not yet call it “heat wave”), what should the Bicolano Penguin do?  Answer:  Go back to where he came from.  But Bicol is  hot and more  humid while Antartica is many many many miles and dollars away.    Stupid me.  

A LOGO FOR THE BICOLANO PENGUIN

Thanks to my son, Marcel, the Bicolano Penguin has a logo now.

Bicolano Penguin logo

NATGEO EARTH DAY RUN 2012: My Friend Bitoy’s First Half Marathon

Rather than be depressed with my not being able to join my fellow 83neans run at the 2012 Mayon 360 Ultra last April 21, I decided to take a run the following day.  Running has a way of making me feel good.  Must be the endorphins.

2012 MAYON 360 ALBAY ULTRAMARATHON: No Go for the Bicolano Penguin but Five 83neans Finishing Strong

A few days before April 21, I received via email this cool poster from our classmate Bitoy, who works abroad.  It showed superimposed on the 2012 Mayon 360 poster five 83nean runners:  Bob Castilla, Ruben “Fards” Fajardo, Ernie Badong, Bicolano Penguin (me) and Ed Balcueva.

Mayon 360 poster revised by Bitoy

BOHOL BEACH CLUB, MAG-ASO FALLS AND PAYAG CHICKEN INASAL

This past weekend, I was with my family and relatives at the beautiful island of Panglao located on the equally beautiful island province of  Bohol.  It was my second time to be on the island.  The first time, a couple years ago, we stayed to relax at the Panglao Island Nature Resort, on the northern tip of Panglao.  This time, we had a great  experience at the Bohol Beach Club, on the southern tip of Panglao.  The four-day vacation in Bohol was a generous treat from my wife’s sister.

Bohol Beach Club here I am!

MAYON 360 ALBAY ULTRAMARATHON: April 21, 2012

The first ultramarathon in Bicol is back.  This coming April 21, 2012, the second edition of the Mayon 360 Albay Ultramarathon will push thru.This ultramarathon is a collaborative effort of the Junior Chamber International  –  Legaspi City Chapter, Liga ng mga Barangay   –   Albay Chapter, Philippine Association of Ultrarunners and the Albay provincial government.  It carries the 360 tag as participants will run around the “Most Perfect Volcano”, in the process visiting 3 cities (Legaspi, Ligao and Tabaco)  and 7 towns (Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui, Malilipot, Bacacay, Sto. Domingo) for a total distance of 80 kilometers. It is one of the highlight events of the month-long Magayon Festival in Albay.  

EARTH HOUR : March 31, 2012 (8:30 PM)

A few more sleeps and the biggest environmental event is upon us :  Earth Hour.

ASICS GT 2160 & UNDER ARMOUR HEATGEAR COMPRESSION SHIRTS: COOL "PASALUBONG"

This month of March is a very fruitful month for my running. 

THE BULL RUNNER DREAM MARATHON: A Celebration of the Human Spirit

The Jaymie Pizarro baby, that is the Bull Runner Dream Marathon,  is the very first marathon that I joined and finished.  Way back in May 2010, barely 5 months after I got totally stoked to go after long distance running upon reading the book “Born to Run”, I crossed the finish line, seeing  my son raising his hands in exultation for what his daddy has just accomplished. It was a life-altering experience.

2012 TBR Marathon finishers Lily, Rose and Icar with 2010 TBR Marathon finisher Macky

My 2010 TBR Dream Marathon finish with my son raising his hands

2012 BATAAN DEATH MARCH ULTRAMARATHON: AWARDING CEREMONY

Last March 7, 2012, at Camp Aguinaldo, the awarding ceremony of the 2012 Bataan Death March Ultramarathon was held.

2012 BATAAN DEATH MARCH 102KM ULTRA: POSTSCRIPT

I am very happy to have survived the 2012 BDM 102Km Ultra (Please visit http://www.lopezlink.ph/lifelong-wellness/2593-de-lima-completes-3rd-ultramarathon.html for related story).  My feeling is that I am very fortunate to have been able to gut out a finish within  the 18-hour cutoff time. 

2012 BATAAN DEATH MARCH 102-KM ULTRA : The 2ND HALF

I BELIEVE

 

Km 51 to Km 60: 

Starting my second half of the 102-km race, out of the Km 50 marker in Abucay, I noticed that most of the runners, particularly those who reached the halfway point  ahead of me, were still there and seemed to be in an easy partying mode (chit chatting with their support crews and having some breakfast already; iba nga naghaharutan pa) while I was in a hurry to rush out (I only stayed in the KM 50 mark in less than 10 minutes, eating banana and then changing my Asics Cumulus 12 with my Asics Cumulus 13, the one given to me by my wife Marianne last Christmas).  At around 5:30 am, the morning sun was still not present, and I figured I could squeeze in a few more kilometres until the sun rose.