1 mile = 1.6 kilometers

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” -Confucius

1,000 Mile Club

Okay, so I have done a MILEStone last December 14- I have officially ran 1,000 miles (or 1,600 kilometers) since I started to log my runs beginning of the year 2010 (I started running seriously December 2009). If you are lazy about logging your runs, make it one of your New Year’s resolution and you will be surprise to see progress (even regress) in training, speed, agility and endurance. Do I have to say “and gain more running friends too?”

DailyMile (share your training with friends and stay motivated)

C’mon! Cut some slack and register to DailyMile. This is not only for runners but also for multi-sport athletes or just plain adrenaline junkie like you and me. Very easy to use and you can log your workouts along with the weather condition, effort and photos too! But wait, this post is not about  DailyMile, right? But I’m so much thankful to it, because its like Facebook for runners.

Here’s how my workouts look like as of December 22, 2010 10:30am:

2010 Workouts courtesy of DailyMile

Notice the spike up on April because I’m training for my first Marathon that month, and it was my peak month. Then come June, where my mileage is at its slowest (not including December) because I got an injury. Gladly I was able to come back and I’m happy with the progression from August to October, then probably my worst training (or none) month is December where all I did was to pigout and carbo-load hiding it with the words “OFF-SEASON” as if I’m an elite runner. Okay, you can laugh now! hahahahahahaha

Anatomy of 1,000miles

So you where thinking how long a 1,000 miles is?

To have a better perspective, it like starting from the northernmost island of the Philippines to the southernmost tip of Mindanao.

Virtually, I have ran the Philippines from North to South! Hoorah!! Same distance if you will travel from Manila to Ho Chih Minh City, Vietnam or if you are more familiar with USA, its approximately the distance from New York City to Florida.

Sa totoong buhay (In real life), you may ask, ” Where did you ran those miles?”

I would say, I usually run in my hometown, Los Banos, Laguna particularly in UPLB where the weather is colder than Manila and the routes are diverse- I can have hills in the morning and the track oval in the afternoon, paved roads on weekdays and mountain trail on weekends. But wait, there’s more! I had my longest in Nuvali, Sta.Rosa City (my first ever marathon) and most races are in the Fort.

Here are my running places:

Boracay. Ran here twice, one nirvanic and the second one rave!

Wawa Dam, Montalban, Rizal. After, I felt I was “kawawa” because of the bruises and blisters, see the trails of Wawa dam.

Siargao Island, Mindanao. Ran barefoot on a virgin beach and it was freeing!

Cebu City. Didn’t know where particularly but I managed to ran somewhere in Cebu City before my flight back to Manila.

Baguio City. One of the most memorable races I joined because I was running with Team Logan, it was also a race comeback after suffering from a knee injury. It was a blast! Again, thanks for the healthy breakfast!

Lipa City. I ran in a Restricted Area aka Airbase Runway. This will not happen again.

CamSur, Bicol. Fortunately, I was able to run the CamSur Marathon, 21K (broke my 21K PR) with my friend Reylynne giving me her race kit, Team Logan tagged me to go with them and Estan offering a couch.

Corregidor Island. Thanks to CIHM organizers and Takbo.ph for this awesome running experience. It’s hard to run in the 1:30pm heat much more if you just eaten buffet lunch. Some pictures of the Corregidor test run. More test runs to come?

Western Visayas Series. You have read about my roadXtrail adventures at Mambukal Resort; my short but “Sweet” Run in La Carlota City; my ala-Baywatch Run at Roxas City; and finally another run in Boracay.

Subic, Pampanga. Then I ran another trail, it was the most diverse trail I ever experienced. Thanks to Salomon for the über challenging race.

El Nido, Palawan. Yes, but not that much, more of sprints on the lovely Ipil Beach.

Los Banos. Lastly, I experienced another rave run, what they call “runner’s high” back in my playground when I ran in 12midnight. Nothing freaky and the experience was priceless!

Dami noh? Konti palang yan compared to my international marathoner slash marathon maniac Scientist Runner who runs marathons like everywhere in the world.

On Shoes…

Oh, I have used 4 shoes during these runs. 3 I bought and one sponsored.

Nike Slat. My first ever running shoes, still a jogger when I bought it on 2008 and continued to use until it died a natural death, January of 2010. RIP. I got injured here, maybe because of too much abuse, sorry swoosh. Status: RIP

Adidas Adizero Ace. Bought this on sale and used it on my very first half-marathon and had a proud finish during the last 10K of my marathon (I changed shoes at kilometer 32, thanks Ms.Nao for helping me change shoes and singlet- the memories). One negative thing, it gave my dead toe-nails everytime I use it beyond 18 kilometers, maybe because of the narrow tip. Still, I love the simple design and very light-weight. Status: Retired!

New Balance MR92. Bought on sale too! My fave shoes, so far! I have used this shoes in most races and in the out-of-town runs I did. I so much loooooove this shoes because it didn’t give me any injury. Sad thing is, he is about to retire as well. Hope I can still find another pair as its already phased out. Status: About to Retire.

VFF Sprint (I named her Sienna). Had this during the VFF launch, at first I was having problems with it because its painful but them our love story, errr running story is bound to a happy ending (not yet). I’m using her not only in running but more so on my travels. I love Sienna because I can bring her anywhere and of her all-around use. I use her on my trainings, while snorkling, while walking on the beach, and practically anywhere. Oh btw, Sienna and me did a sub-Piolow run (46:20) at the Resort’s World fun run. Woot Woot! Thanks again BarefootWear Inc. Status: In a relationship (and growing).

I have yet to experience Mizuno, Asics, Brooks and my dream shoes- Saucony Kinvara. I hope the good Santa Claus aka marketing manager can read this. My running fund is already depleted because of my incessant travels this 2010. I do accept Christmas gifts even if its late. Btw, I’m size 10, nuetral and lightweight. Thank you very much in advance!

On Running Groups…

Takbo.ph runners. Thanks for supporting the Heritage Run. More free runs this 2011!

Alabang Runners. Thank you for being Ohana, I miss you guys! Special greeting to Ms.Nao, Madz, Adelle, Deng, Rach, Teh, Cindy & Saul, Rainier, Banjo, Eman, Karl (who gave me a very nice idea!), Sir Leo, Jojo, Mond, Ambow and the Balbons and the rest of ANR! Hope to run with you soon.

MacRunners Sports Inc. My running team in Los Banos, you guys are blazin’ fast! Thanks for the company and the motivation to run faster and longer.

Want your 1,000 miles too?

Let me remind you of what Confucius said in the opening quote!

Cheers for another year of running! Here’s to another 1,000 miles this 2011! Let’s try to run from Mindanao back to the northernmost Philippines island. Come, run with me!

Before I end this post, let me share my Christmas greeting poster to you my dear reader:

Here’s to more years of running! Thank you!

So it was exactly 12:25am when I left home for some midnight run.

here if you must…

The UPLB night was chilly and I passed these college students who are anything but best in what they usually do- drinkfest! The looks in their eyes are like this one is one crazy man. Some shook their heads in amazement. I ran away, as if I saw some zombies.

It was not a starry starry night, the sky was devoid of heavenly bodies, even the moon was no show. I wonder why? Still, I ran… away, as if I was being chased by flying brooms with black hats. Scary? No, just an imagination. Run you freak!

The road was mine. Well-lit and ready for my feet’s pounding. The hills saw my huffing and puffing, did he smiled? I believe so, it is as if he was saying words of gratefulness as he sees his use not only for rubber tires but my shoes rubber soles.

The trees are not green. It was bordering to black. Black-green if there’s something like that. It doesn’t sway or obey the silent blowing of the wind. It stands erect, stout and mighty. Observing every stride, every feet strike, every hand movement. Allowing their leaves to release oxygen. And yes, they smiled too! Or maybe its the runner who smiled?

The run was like poetry, oh maybe deeper than that- an über deep poetry. Solitary and farouche as I am during the run, I loved it, yes loved the spur of the moment. When the mongrel dogs are the only witnesses when you left and patiently waits for you so as to  exercise its barking power.

The harmony and interaction of limbs, joints, muscles amazed my mind. The eyes look forward as if there is a battle in front, the hands sway naturally as the legs make each stride, the lungs act like fire, fueling the carbs eaten, the mind only thinks of one thing- FORWARD.

The run was a little bit of nostalgia, nirvana, rave, rush -unplanned route, no route actually, no timing device, no kilometer count, no minding of miles to be logged on DM. I was pure. Too pure to be discussed here, still placed here as the runner believes that EVERY RUNNER must and ought to experience this kind of run.

This is not the run of the century but definitely “the” RUN for me.

Or maybe it is something like my favorite running vid:

How about you? Anything like this before?

i ran…

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and it felt damn good!

Earlier this year, I had my running nirvana at the same island.

You have read about my roadXtrail adventures at Mambukal Resort; my short but “Sweet” Run in La Carlota City; and my ala-Baywatch Run at Roxas City.

Now it’s on the island both foreigners and locals love- Boracay.

This is my Starting Line: Somewhere in Station 1

continuing the run here, somewhere in Station 2

I thought this will be my finish line (somewhere in Station 3), but as Nike goes, “There Is No Finish Line”

My Dailymile log reminds me of the 6K rave run:

I did the long stretch of the beach from Station 1 to Hotel Isla Boracay (Station 3). Then it rained hard, I still wanted to run so I ran from Station 3 to D-Mall (Station 2) while raining hard. Love running in the rain! Good times!

Running Stats:

Date of Run: July 18, 2010 (Sunday)

Route: Boracay white sand and road

Distance covered: 6 Kilometers

Running Surface: White powdery sand and a little cemented road at the end

Time: 41:03 (6:50/km)

Running Apparel: Nike Singlet (white & pink); Nike white cap; Craft shorts; and cycling shorts.

Shoes: New Balance MR92 (Lightweight Nuetral)

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Now, after this series of rave runs, I think its high time for me to experience running in these places:

How about you, where do you want to run? Please don’t tell me “at BGC.”

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Note: This is the final installment of the 4-part series of rave runs while I was on the road during my 14-Day Backpacking Trip to West Visayas.

If you love travel, backpacking and adventure do visit my TRAVEL BLOG. Thanks a lot!

For more of my out-of-town runs, you can visit my running places page.

If you are reading my travel blog, you must have came across my skinny-dipping in one of the 7 waterfalls of Mambukal . Blame it on the runner’s high because I just finished a 7.5K run before I did that. Anyway, here are the details of my rave run in and around Mambukal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Circling the man-made lake (10-sec timer)

Date: July 8, 2010 (Thursday)
Distance covered: 7.5K
Entrance fee: P30/pax (entrance to the resort)
Running Surface: 4.5k on pave road with rolling uphill inside the resort and 3k uphill trail leading to the 7th waterfalls via Don Bosco Retreat House.
Time: 1:00 hour (Pace 7:59/km)
Temperature: about 24-26°C or 75-78°F
Running Apparel: Adidas Techlite singlet, Craft running shorts, black socks & Nike cap.
Shoes: New Balance MR92

The foggy morning at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon

Check my other blog for more pics of the resort.

For more of my out-of-town runs, you can visit my running places page.

Note: This is the 1st installment of the 4-part series of rave runs while I was on the road during my 14-Day Backpacking Trip to West Visayas.