So what do you do before your temporary assignment to the US?
Run and Train
Eat
and Eat some more
I finally arrived in Seattle 7am this morning (11pm in Manila). Weather was obviously cold but fair and no rains. My friend and her husband picked me up at the airport and gave me a short tour around Lake Washington. While we were driving, I saw a lot of runners on the trail around Lake Washington. Sobrang inggit ako. I also wanted to run. Probably tomorrow or once I already have the proper gear. More posts and pictures on the coming days.
1.) January 25, 2009 The Happy Run 3km, 5km and 15km BHS – Confirmed
2.) February 22, 2009 ASIAN HOSPITAL RUNew 3km, 5km and 15km Mckinley Hill – Confirmed. Registration is at Nike Park Bonifacio High Street.
3.) March 1, 2009 DocFit Takbo Para sa Puso II 5km and 10km UP Diliman – Confirmed. Registration is at Nike Park Bonifacio High Street.
4.) April 5, 2009 AIRSPEED 3km, 5km and 10km MOA – Tentative. Registration at Nike Park Bonifacio High Street.
5.) May 17, 2009 Market Market Year 2! 2miles, 5miles and 10miles Market Market Taguig – Confirmed
6.) The Run for one million trees was moved and no definite date yet. Wait for further updates.
7.) QC International marathon was moved on October 18. Wait for further updates.
Visit http://runrio.com for more details.
Prior to this race, I visited Dr. Martin Camara of InterCare last Friday morning to have my foot checked. It was no surprise that the diagnosis is really plantar fasciitis. I underwent ISmart session (this is really painful and I still have 2 sessions before I flyout. see Kulit Runner’s entry for more info) and the doctor recommended that I use heel cups.
Friday night, I was out in Bonifacio High Street for another Nike Running Clinic session. I did 6 laps around BHS and my running condition was very bad. I was limping the whole time and the coaches noticed this. That night I resigned the thought on registering a new PR and instead focused on finishing the race without aggrevating my injury.
Race day. I woke up and felt my foot and legs are okay. As much as I wanted to race, I know have to take it easy and push myself too much.
PSE Bull Run verdict? No comment…hehehe. I was ranting the whole week about the registration process. The long queue at the finished line did not helped either to make up for the bad registration. I was sprinting the last few meters but was forced to stop before the finish line. I would not bother getting my official time and just rely on my good old Nike Sportsband. I know for sure it would not be accurate as apparent to the long queue at the finish line.
So how did I fair in my despedida race? Quite good actually. Despite the injury, I was surprised to log 55:43 (according to Nike+ Sportsband) – my second fastest 10K time. Woohoo! The heel cups really worked!
Chris, me and Jay
Finish Line
with Dennis, Vener and Chris
Breakfast with Gene, Jay, Gigi, Bobby, Ipe
It was nice seeing my friends this morning before I leave this Saturday.
Thanks to Gigi and Dennis for some of the photos. 
I am signing-up for the injury list. After Tuesday night’s Nike Clinic, I finally decided to schedule a doctor’s appointment tomorrow to have my foot checked.
Our workout consisted of 5×400m warm-up, drills and finally 3x(4×400m) with 2 mins rest per rep and 400m walk per set. First set, no problem. On the second set, I felt a slight pain on the arch on my right foot to my heel and I was only able to do 3 400m. On the last set I was already tiptoeing and managed to do just 1 400m. As much as I would want to complete 12 400m my foot won’t let me. I told Coach Rio about it and he said that this could be plantar fasciitis.
I went home, iced my foot and found this on the net:
“When your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause severe pain in the heel of your foot, you may have plantar fasciitis (fashee-EYE-tiss). It’s an overuse injury affecting the sole or flexor surface (plantar) of the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means you have inflamed the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting your heel bone to the base of your toes.”
Sourced from AAOS
This injury is not new to me. I had have been experiencing (and ignoring) the pain even before I got hooked to running. I would play volleyball 3 to 4 times a week and would have difficulty taking my first few steps out of bed the morning after. But now the pain is more frequent and I need to seek an expert’s advice before it gets worse. I just hope the doctor would still allow me to run my last race on Sunday.
I just heard the news last night that the Philippine International Marathon scheduled on March 8 will be moved to the last quarter of 2009. No official announcement yet on the organizers but I have a number of friends who are angry/frustrated/furious over this news. I know that they are really anticipating this race and have been training since last year.
With this development, looks like the longest distance race for the first half of 2009 is the 21K Condura Race.
It was one of those impromptu runs that I found myself in SM Mall of Asia yesterday morning. Gigi the fit mommy and I were chatting through YM last Friday. Our conversation started with asking each other how are our runs for the week until she mentioned that she is planning to run in MOA. I immediately asked her if I could join her which she easily agreed since my only run this is week is the Nike Clinic session in Ultra last Tuesday.
After hitting the snooze button twice, I forced myself out of bed and left the house past 5 AM. The bus ride from our house (Novaliches, QC) to MOA took more than an hour. It was my first time to run in MOA and I was surprise to see a lot of bikers. It was MOA is to bikers as BHS is to runners.
The weather was good that morning – cool and breezy. Gigi and I started our run around 6:45 AM and planned on running from MOA to CCP and back. Along the way, we met fellow Happy Feet runners, Mon (who joined us around CCP) and the one and only Lonerunner.
San Miguel by the Bay
CCP breakwater
Mon and Gigi trying out the CCP ramp
the fit mommy and vballrunner
It was a great run! Too bad it will take a long time before I can run in MOA again.
I had my interview at the US Embassy yesterday and my new visa got approved. I am finally leaving for Seattle on January 24, 2009. It is still a good date because I will be able to join the PSE Bull Run and a few more Nike Clinic sessions.
Looking for new, functional, stylish but affordable eyewear for the new running year? You may want to try Optic Nerve sunglasses.
Optic Nerve is a US brand that has been in the sport sunglasses industry for nearly 25 years. Here in the Philippines, Optic Nerve is being distributed by my friend Titus Cruz.
I bought the Falcon Rx model last October 2008 and used it several times in both running events and practice runs. Rx models have a prescription adapter for your corrective lens. Now I can have a clear vision (I have a 250/250 grade) without the hassle of putting on my contact lenses early in the morning. Falcon Rx is lightweight, fits snug, comfortable and secure and also has vents that help reduce fogging.
VSO Bahaginan and Antipolo Practice Run
To get hold of your own pair, you can check out Five Forty Surf Shop in Katipunan (which carry more of the fashionable line sunglasses) or visit www.nerveusa.com and www.pinoyrunners.com. Discussions are in progress with ROX to carry Optic Nerve. You can also contact Titus at 0917-8120308 for your orders.
After completing a half-marathon and a 25K last 2008, running a full marathon is definitely on top of my list for this year. I want to complete not just one but TWO marathons for 2009 – LA Marathon in Los Angeles, California on May 25 and the Clark International Marathon in Clark, Pampanga on December 5.
The long holiday break has given me opportunity to kick-off my marathon training and start compiling those much needed miles. I have already increased my mileage this week to 50kms and has been religiously logging them in dailymile. I will be following a 16 week training program from Runner’s World Smart Coach. I have also found 2 running routes in Seattle where I can continue my training once I get there.
The other race event that I am looking forward to is the Vancouver Marathon on May 3 which will be my pre-birthday run. I am planning to run a half-marathon as pre-race prep for LA Marathon. But for now I will be seeing all of you on January 18 for PSE Bull Run 2009. 
No volleyball and badminton goals for this year as I will me missing all the tournaments this year due to my US assignment.
| Rookie Runner … on 4th OctobeRun Festival | |
 | Gigi on US Half Marathon |
 | Wayne on US Half Marathon |
 | dennis on US Half Marathon |
 | m8parco on US Half Marathon |
 | ibetlacbay on Two |
| dennis on Two |
| ibetlacbay on Out Sick |
| m8parco on Out Sick |
| ibetlacbay on Out Sick |
