Thank-Yous & Feeling Weird

First up...


It's my 1st year in running and I would like to thank the people who influenced / guided / helped me directly or indirectly in more ways than one.

1. to my officemate (can't name her yet) who invited me to run on a treadmill (Fitness First, Ayala) and eventually making me sign up for the Mizuno Run 2008.
2. to my current boss (can't name him. sorry) who pointed me to this particular website where I can get the list of race schedules in the Philippines. Btw... my boss is a New York Marathon finisher ('nuff said!).
3. to ms. jaymie (TheBullRunner.Com). Your blog, opened up the world of running to me. Without it, I would have been stuck to that 1 race.
4. to Happy Feet family (impromptu_runners@yahoogroups.com). For accepting a newbie runner like me and pointing me to the right direction. Haven't really had the chance to know most of the members though. But in time, I will know all the faces behind the nicknames. =)
5. to Jinoe & Que (TAKBO.PH). For the running family that you've created, the friendship and fun times. And if not for you, I wouldn't have joined the blog bandwagon.
6. to Mar (Pojie) for being mr. congeniality of the takbo.ph family. And, if it wasn't for your pushing. Running would have been boring. uy! rhyme!!! =)
   
7. to Pao, Migz, Rico, Doc Topher, Carlo, Luis, Neil, Rachel, Gab... for the ride to and from the races. good times mga pre & mre!!! =)
   
8. to Doc Eric, Mhel for welcoming us to their homes.
9. to Chelly, Ross, Lau and all the takbo.ph indays for keeping the boys grounded.
10. to Natz, Ronald, Timmy, Bong, David, Mark, Doc Roy, Pat, Dhenz, Sherwin, Marvin, Rodel, Sam and all the takbo.ph dudungs for keeping the girls insane.
11. to BaldRunner (Sir Jovie), SFRunner (Wayne), RunnerForChrist (Ronnie), RunningShield (Patrick), JazzRunner (Rene) and all runner/bloggers for the stories that inspires and help old and newbie runners alike.
12. and last, but definitely not the least... to my wife Jade and kids Nikki, Paolo, Johann, Justin. For the understanding and support specially when there's a sunday race. Daddy needs to run, it's my only vice. =) mommy.. may nakita ako magandang running shoes... (small letters talaga para di gaanong halata) =)
    

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Next...

It felt weird running yesterday at the Mizuno Infinity Run. A year has passed since I ran my first race. Ang bilis ng panahon... And I was going to run bandit since I wasn't able to register. I don't want to miss this race... bandit or not, because it's my anniversary run.

kayo na ang mag-lagay ng caption dito... =)

Then a perfect anniversary gift was handed to me by Gab. A free 5K bib!!! =) I will not be running as bandit anymore.

Then it hit me...

Dude, you're suppose to run 15k on this race remember? Think.. think... think... AHA!!! I'll just wear the 5k bib, but still run the 15k route. Happyness!!!

And what about your PR, aber? You're right... think... think... think... think... Forget the PR then... I'd still run the 15K.

And you think the marshalls wouldn't notice? ano beh... tatakbo lang naman eh... uy!!! rhyme na naman!!! =)

Actually, the marshalls did notice. On the way up to the Kalayaan fly-over, they were already looking at me.

And on the turn-around point in Bautista where runners was suppose to get a string. I totally forgot that I was wearing the 5k bib.

I grabbed the white string... then the lady shouted... "Naka pink ka!!!" I shouted back... "Alam ko!!!"

I slowed down when I reached the water station near RCBC tower. Looked at the booth... checked-out the person manning it... AHA!!! She looks confused... then I grabbed a cup of a very sweeeeeeeeeettttt gatorade. I didn't know that gatorade comes in aratiris flavor. napangiwi ako... serious!!! Good thing I have my hydration belt with VitWater, you know?!?

Nearing the finish line... I was still contemplating whether to log-in as a finisher. But when I saw the clock for the 5k; and it said 56mins. I told myself... that, will look ugly on the race results. So I just detoured and run at the sidewalk near the finish line instead and looked at the 15k clock and it said 1hr35mins.

Not bad for a supposedly bandit, who ran a 15k on a 5k bib...

It still felt weird though... must be a sophomore thing. But in a good way... =)

the aftermath...

goodtimes... =)

thanks doc marvs (nuttybunny4) for the pics! =)