Letter to Running Santa

Dear Santa,

I heard you fired Rudolph and has decided to run instead in delivering your gifts.  That's awesome.  You can start counting 3-6 months from now and that big belly of yours will surely disappear =D

Anyway, with the fast-approaching Christmas, i know you're so busy checking your list, reading it twice and finding out who's naughty or nice...I just want to let you know that I've been mostly N-I-C-E this year.

Don't ask me though if hubby has been nice but definitely my two kids have been a little bit naughty.  It seems they don't run out of any thing to fight on making me a grumpy mom sometimes.  But, anyway, as I've said I've been mostly nice this year - I cut a lot of my shopping spree, I reduced my intake of junk foods, I did my share of giving (in my little special way) and best of all, I pursued RUNNING!

Hence, for my wish list this season, allow me to provide you with my shameless rundown *blushing*:

1.  Waist bag.  You can choose either -

Mizuno Bottle Waist Pouch

or

Nathan Speed 2 Waistpack

I will be needing this soon as I'm now planning to advance from 10K to 16K or half marathon.  Really!!!!

2. Watch with GPS.  This is my all-time wish....

Garmin Forerunner 310XT

It went on sale a week ago at Amazon, but sadly they don't ship to the Philippines!  Alternatively, you can get me a cheaper alternative like this one...

Soleus GPS 1.0

My hubby has this watch but in green.  He got it from somebody who loves him a lot.  Who else but the FABrunner!

3.  Any book by John "The Penguin" Bingham, except Running for Mortals.

My addiction to running even shows on what books I read.  I'm struggling to finish Games of Thrones (just halfway through but no longer advancing!) but I've already finished two running books (Born to Run and The Runner's Body).   Two new books I ordered from Amazon just arrived this morning - Running for Mortals and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Murakami.

 4.  Brand new shoes... K-Swiss versus Asics

Kwikky Blade-Light

GT 2160

           or


       





I actually like K-swiss more though GT-2160 was recently named best shoe in the world for 2011.

5.  And finally, an alternative to running shoes... Vibram Five-Fingers!

Bikila

I've been contemplating on running barefoot but not entirely sans a protective gear for my feet.  This will do I guess!

There, my dearest St. Nicholas, you can now choose what to give me this Christmas.  By the way, my shoe size is 8 inches (but sometimes 7.5).

Looking forward to that awesome gift and keep running!

Lovelots,

LegallyfabrunnR


REFLECTIONS (through Fr. Anton):  3 Major temptations during Christmas (1).  Santa without Christ is relativism; (2) Christmas tree without belen is materialism; (3) Saying 'happy holidays' instead of "merry Christmas" is secularism.  So make sure to always include Jesus in your Christmas.  HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

Run, Pray, Love...on my birthday!

Like Elizabeth Gilbert, we ladies sometimes embark on some journey searching for something or everything.


Imitating her search on her book, Eat Pray Love , I set sail on a mission on my birthday.  But, it doesn't mean you have to wait your birthday to do your thing.  I just availed of my birthday leave so as not to forfeit it! =D




RUN


Hubby and I woke up at a quarter to 5 AM for our 10K training schedule .  It was just a relaxed run and I had to cover only around 2 miles.  Most of the time I jogged (fabulously!) LOL.  It was nice not to wear contact lens nor eyeglasses since I could not see the distance I have to cover.  Hence, running was easier!

Ready, set, SWEAT!

 Upon reaching home, my daughter Juia was already ready for school.  She's always punctual.  Sometimes, she is the one who wakes us up!

My future running partner!

Our overweight (like me) but cute and sweet labrador Ichang is one of my first greeters. =D  We could not however tag her along in our runs because of her nasty habit of greeting other runners with a loud bark!

Tickling Ichang!

PRAY


On the day the 2010 bar examination results came out, together with a friend-barrister, I visited a total of nine (9) churches.  Desperate situations call for desperate measures.  I promised to return to these churches - pass or fail.  One of these churches is the St. Jude Shrine in Manila, which is very popular among those taking different board/bar examinations, going overseas, praying for partner in life, etc.  After all, he is the Patron Saint of Desperate Cases!

Devotees flocked St. Jude statue right after the Novena

 First pit stop was the very popular among Wednesday's devotees, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine.

It was my first time to go near the altar.  May be because, it was not a Wednesday hence less devotees were visiting Mama Mary.

Isn't it glorious?

Didn't I mention that I was only able to visit three churches?  I know the Good Lord will understand.  I was just commuting!  I took a bus from Edsa, Ayala going to Baclaran and it took an hour to get there.  Thereafter, I rode the LRT on the way to Mendiola.  I was supposed to alight at Doroteo Jose but goodness, I missed it!  I alighted at the next station - Bambang and took a jeepney ride going back to Doroteo Jose then took another jeepney ride going to Mendiola.  Except for the humidity, I really love commuting!  It's always a humbling experience!


Second pit stop was one of the nicest interiors I've ever seen here in Manila....the Abbey of our Lady of Montserrat inside San Beda College in Mendiola.

Beautiful interiors, di ba?

Next pit stop was St. Jude which I already mentioned earlier.  It was there that I lighted my candles....five in all (for 5K FAB runs!).

5 candles for 5K runs!

And the final pit stop...

NO, it's not a church though it also has bells. It's the SPA in Greenbelt which led me to....



LOVE


Before we can love others, we have to love ourselves, right?  Loving means pampering so I had my body scrubbed with seasalt...then wrapped with honey (wanted to taste it while being wrapped...YUM!)...and finally, an hour Swedish massage.  It was AWESOME that I wanted to run sleep for 10K hours after!


Of course, I did not miss lunch.  I shared a lovely meal of Sicilian chicken salad and stuffed mushroom at Italianni's Greenbelt 2, one of my favorite restaurants with my business partner-very good friend, Kumareng Jacquie....

I blew my candle there...Italliani's staffs love me for being a frequent visitor...thanks Bistro!

Now, about sharing love....there was no GARMIN watch to share..only GAP sweatshirt.  But I LOVE it and I intend to wear it every FUN run that I will join (*wink).

GAP now, GARMIN later!

5K is a Child's Play

There are things in life worth knowing before taking the big plunge (college, marriage, career, etc).  Running should also be included since it is not just a walk in the park.  Before jumping into this bandwagon, I made sure to come up with a workout plan that will help me in pursuing this sports. I also did a lot of readings…from blog to sports magazines to books.  I am reading now Chris McDougall's "Born to Run" and I am learning a lot about running (though in barefoot which I think majority of runners are no yet ready to embrace the idea, especially in our country in which streets and pavements are in pathetic conditions!).

This morning, I ran my first 5K in the AKOR Philippine run and except for some nuisances, I immensely enjoyed it.  I didn’t even notice that I was already near the 3K mark.  It was not pure running though, I did some walking but not because all my energy has been zapped out already but due to a lot of participants who turned out to be “walkathoners”.  I guess around 3 out 5 in the 5K run started to walk upon approaching the 1.5k mark.  No sir, I’m not kidding!  They really were walking and unfortunately, it did not only slow down some runners but it also doubled your effort to run trying to avoid bumping their cute butts!

Because of that, I resolved to level up sooner than soon.  I actually planned to join another two 5K fun runs but after I learned first hand that 5K is just a child’s play then I will cut short my training for 10K by a couple of weeks.  Maybe run 1 more 5K and sign up for 10K around first week of December.  Yessir, I have 6 weeks now to train 10K rather than the original 8 weeks (*wish me luck).

Anyway, I was able to finish 5K around 43 minutes which I think is not a bad start for newbie runner like me.  Should have been earlier except for some unusual things I felt when I passed the 3K mark.  I felt some urge to pee and was hoping to pass by some portalets but nada on sight.  Alas, when I was approaching the 4K mark, I had goose bumps and I don’t know why because it’s not really cold.  In fact, my face was so hot that when I splashed water in my face it felt really good (*naks).  Except for the goose bumps!  I don’t know what caused them.  May be it’s just a mind thing or maybe just the surging release of endorphin (?).

I also enjoyed watching runners of 16.8k and 21k approaching the finish line.  I even took some pics.

He might win stylish hair, right?

Cute runner, eh?

Oldest but fittest?

They are called the latte boys!  I'll try to find out why?

Too bad, I just noticed Coach Rio when he already passed by.  No, he was not running, he was riding a motorbike!  That’s because he is the race director and it’s expected of him to monitor several locations.

Well, the most photo-worthy of all ......

My first running medal!

I just love having the glow and nice natural blush after a run......

Well, 'til next RUN =D

SOME UPDATES:


My 5K results are not that impressive at 38 minutes and 13 seconds.  But, hey, I ranked 1755 out of 7527 runners.  I am at the upper 25%  and it was my FIRST RUN! *wink