Isang Taon Nang Tumatakbo!

Indeed,time flies when you are having fun. Today marks my first anniversary of running. After finishing a total of 23 races and missing 3,I would like to give my feet and legs a mark of excellence for bringing me to distances I've never thought I am capable of covering.

Furthermore, I would like also to congratulate myself for some positive things that happened since I started running:

1. Lose weight. - from 170lb to 158lb


2. Ran distances more than 10k - I've gone beyond 41k, ran two full marathons this year.

3. Met people who are really deep into running. - Thanks for the takbo.ph community. I've met people who are not just mere nodding acquaintances,they are now my friends and running buddies.

Takbo.ph (courtesy of Doc Marv Opulencia)

4. Invincibility from sickness - I almost did it. I fell sick once when I waded in the flood water during the great flood. I sustain a wound in the knee when i struck a blunt object. Afterwhich,I got a flu and a bad cold.

5. Influenced other people to run - Three of my friends are now running addicts after months of inducing them the good effect of running in my life,they finally gave in.

Paul,Doc Jun,Me and Patrick

Now that it's been a year and I love doing it more than eating. It clearly shows that the sport is really for me. Gotta Run!.

QC International Marathon;42km - Checked!

I lost my running momentum at the onset of the two typhoons that ravaged our country. Our house and the car were not even spared.We were inundated waist deep. With or without training,I would join the Quezon City International Marathon.

Got no preparations at all. But I''ve been running strings of 10ks and 21km for almost a year. Worried? NO.

I was one of the earliest 42k runners who arrived at the starting line.I was elated when I saw Dr. Jun Kagaoan. He was my trusty running buddy during the milo marathon.While we wait for the gun to start and do the stretching exercise we,exchanged stories about our training and what we've been through after the Milo Marathon. This guy has improved a lot. He now carries an air of confidence common to a finisher. He even lose weight too.

As expected,the gun fired on time, I started slowly and plodded in comfortable pace. I have no intentions of beating my MILO 42k PR. My goal is to finish this race for 6 hours or more.

Kenyans running were a sight. They really have a great advantage over us because of thier physique:long-legged and narrow shoulders. They are genetically streamlined human beings, tailored-fit for running. I was still at the commonwealth exiting batasan hill when I saw a pack of Kenyans with their furious haste going back to the finish line.

At La Mesa Dam, I was with Doc Roy and we run the rest of the distance together. But the most ironic thing is that the place did not offer any water station. I was expecting there must be one or two but to my dismay there was none. I think it understandble.Litters and plastics are not allowed anyway in this area as this dam supplies potable water for the big part of the metro.
When we got out of Lamesa Dam Area, we already belong to the last 10 runners on the street.The good thing about being at the last group of runners is the privilege of being escorted by the marshalls,traffic enforcer and official pacers who consantly encouraged you to finish the race. At KM 30, I almost gave up and do a DNF but the thought of "my supporters" still throw their support in me despite of being slow made me to just go on.

So in the end, I finally did it. Together with Doc Roy, we ran the last few meters with gusto until we got our Finisher's medal.