Milo Marathon Finals 2014

MARS QC Runners! Photo by Excipio Imago Photography

last year, i wasn't able to go to the milo marathon finals because my legs were still too sore from running at Nike We Run Manila which was a week before the milo run. mejo ambisyosa kasi i pegged for 2 consecutive 10k runs with only a week recovery in between. i was a beginner at running and didn't know best. :P

but finally, after a year, i was able to attend na! woooh! and here's my record:

the Milo Marathon Manila Finals was rescheduled a week later (Dec 13) than the original date (Dec 7) due to the threats of typhoon Ruby/Hagupit. luckily i just live in the metro and had no plans on the 13th so i was able to come. but as for those who came from the provinces who qualified for the finals, spent money on transportation, lodging, etc, and had to extend for another week due to the rescheduling, i feel bad for all of them. they can't be blamed for all the hassles they went through. :( it can't be helped though. the marathon has to push through this year, and there are no more available dates for december. >XS

anywaaaaaay, i was supposed to run with my MARS9 buddy, Ken, but she didn't make it huhu. T___T i came in late so i missed the warm up with the other guys haha okay lang din naman. >XD

the run was... great! haha. it's my second time to run around MOA/Pasay Area, my first time was during Red Cross Million Volunteer Run (which was kindof bad), so this is definitely the better of the 2 runs.

they say RunRio is a great run organizer and i couldn't agree more. everything was actually organized. there were km markers everywhere, hydration was sufficient, and everything was pretty much in place. as usual there were a loooot of people who ran, and since i was late, i kindof got mixed with the non-competitive crowd (ie. students) who just pretty much walked and took selfies at every kilometer mark, or wherever there's a large Milo signboard around. i don't get annoyed with them, at some point, i was like them too. hahaha

i felt bad for those who were running 5k with their backpacks on though. apparently, 5k runners aren't entitled baggage stubs so there. good thing APEX has a tent where we can leave our bags! we were even given a tapsi breakfast after the run, and i was finally able to claim my MAR9 singlet! yeyy! >XD

that's pretty much it! late post i know. let me leave you with a JGH (just got home) selfie i took that day! haha

PS: thanks for the ride back kris! >:D

my happiest 5k!

wooooh! this afternoon's jog was the best i had so far. in terms of record and overall feeling. i jogged 5.02km in 43 minutes! that's quite a milestone for me because that's my fastest 5k, and i jogged without stopping! HAHAHA sorry naman sa "PR" ko (kung maituturing). still on my way to 30 minutes! <3

i really wanted to call it a run, but at the (literal) rate at which i was going, i was more jogging than running. nonetheless, i never stopped! that means i'm probably doing something right on account of my breathing skills. haha! skill talaga, yes. cos at some point in every run, we need to pause to catch our breaths. most runners do that on a light jog, i do it on a walk... which drags the record lower so yeah. will work on that! >XD

even though i had a great jog, it wasn't really that smooth. come 3k and my feet started blistering! so i had to adjust my steps to lessen the impact on the sore areas. huhu. then after a kilometer i was feeling side stitches naman! common running problem; so i had to slow down a bit. :(

magkaganun man, push parin!!!

when the nike+ app announced 5k, i was sooo frakking happy i could imagine the gray pavement turning red, lanes being drawn with white strips, and a finish tape waiting to be breasted in slow-mo. BEST. FEELING. EVER.

i don't know what else made this run special, could it be the coffee i drank some 30 minutes before, or the #Drop10Workout i did a few hours back, or just the fact that i'm on vacation? lol. whatever the other reasons may be, THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS RUN! <3

i'm still struggling to realize why i'm so slow. at my age i should be breaking the 30minutes barrier already. after MARS9, i felt stronger, and my succeeding runs have finally become injury-free. for the first time in my life, when i stiffen up and poke myself, i finally feel some hardness and not some disappointing jello of fat haha. >XD

i'm suspecting i have weak lungs. though i have to check w/ a doctor parin. for some reason i want to try getting checked-up at Peak Form! ever since that summer where i lived in a newly painted dorm, my health has declined radically. my lungs are just so blah. better check with the doctor. >XS

anywaaaaay, that's it!

btw i'm so excited this season cos i have a lot of personal projects in tow for the coming days, like:

- selecting works for a new portfolio
- a desk calendar!
- watercolor and lettering stuff
- an obligatory year-ender post
- 2015 wishlist
- backlogs, backlogs, and more backlogs
- reviving #ProjectKorra even though the entire Avatar franchise has just ended and by the time i'm finally Korra-ready, no one could probably relate to my fitness peg anymore. haha

sooooo.... i have to gooo!!!
happy Christmaaaasss!!! <3

Breastfeeding and getting pregnant

Oops! Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere near getting pregnant and having a baby, not just yet, but just recently I learned something informative about it that I just wanted to share it with you guys. A couple of my friends are in the family planning stage and I thought this is a very helpful thing to know. Here it goes:

click for source

Many women decide that they would like to get pregnant while they are still breastfeeding. However, many women do not realize that breastfeeding is actually a natural contraceptive that disrupts ovulation. Breastfeeding makes it harder for ovulation to return to normal after giving birth, and can keep women from being able to get pregnant again. According to Pregnancytips.org, there are a few things that you can do to try to improve your chances of getting pregnant while breastfeeding if that is something that you want to do. First of all, once your baby begins to sleep through the night, you can try to space out your breastfeeding sessions as much as possible. The longer you space out your breastfeeding, the more likely you are to “trick” your body into beginning to ovulate again. The same is true for when your baby begins to eat solid foods. The truth is, the older your baby gets, the more likely it is that your periods and ovulation cycles will begin to return to normal, and you will be able to get pregnant again.

So ultimately, the breastfeeding phenomenon acts as a contraceptive. So for parents out there who'd like to get another baby while the mother is still on it, spacing is the key!

You're Invited! The Storytelling Project BOOK LAUNCH!

Finally! The Storytelling Project will be launching "Super Labandera" and "Si Uligmaya at ang Dambuhalang Buwaya"

Imagine. Create. Share

The First-ever TSP Book Launch

Featuring stories written by Jim Mark of Dagupan and Aprille Joy of the Mountain Province

It will be on December 14, 2014 (Sunday)
4:30pm at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street (BGC, Taguig)

Admission is free!

here's the official facebook event page :D

see you all there!

to give you a short background, these books were written by children who were part of TSP's Storywriting Workshops. If you don't know TSP yet, they're a team of passionate people who travel to remote communities in the country to teach children reading, storytelling, and writing; following a comprehensive 3-phase program, Imagine-Create-Share which is best explained here at their FB page's About section (expand on the long description please!) hehe

i'm so excited because i'll be signing for Super Labandera as the illustrator! moreso, it's going to be my first time to see the book for real because i wasn't able to participate during the proofing process. haaay busy kasi haha.

this is such a freaking dream come true not just for me, but for the many kids in far flung places who will be inspired to dream BIG! imagine, Jim Mark and Aprille were just ordinary children who wanted to learn story writing, AND NOW THEY HAVE A BOOK! amazing grabe!

i hope you all go and support the cause! the books will be sold at 150 pesos each, and next year it will be out on Fully Booked bookstores!

FYI December 2014: A World of Inspired Flavors

last month i gave you an update on what's up on FYI for November, now it's time for this month's update! since we're all in the midst of this merry season celebrating here and there, attending parties, and cooking for the family, i'm so sure you will enjoy this month's lineup as we're all about FOOD!

let me take you to FYI's December lineup that will surely fire up your gastronomic senses!

Taste of Vietnam (Tuesdays at 8pm)

Immerse yourself in the hearty, local flavors of Vietnam with Taste of Vietnam. Host Robert Danhi takes us on not just a food odyssey in Taste of Vietnam, but a voyage into across the country trying local food as he meets fascinating people along the way, unveiling the hidden charms of Vietnam as he curates this dynamic culture to find the deepest flavours in each community.

Atul's Spice Kitchen: Malaysia (Tuesdays at 9pm)

 Explore Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a melting pot of Asian flavors with Atul’s Spice Kitchen: Malaysia. Double Michelin-starred chef, Atul Kochhar travels to Malaysia  in Atul's Spice Kitchen: Malaysia, exploring the country’s traditional cuisine and its spice trade influenced by Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Thai and Arab flavours. In the first episode Atul lands in the diverse capital of Kuala Lumpur, discovering hidden gems, sampling authentic Nyonya dishes and preparing a Rogan Josh for a wedding.

The Feed (Premiers December 4, Thursdays at 10pm)

Travel to the West and discover what’s been tickling the taste buds of America with The Feed. Join culinary expert Gail Simmons; superstar chef Marcus Samuelsson; and comedian and food writer Max Silvestri anchor a rollicking adventure into the world of culinary and food culture in America as they share their take on today’s most innovative food trends. Each episode of The Feed pits the unlikely combination of these three personalities against each other in unconventional food challenges that allow each competitor to show off their unique perspectives on the food world.

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That's it! Make sure to tune in FYI Channel and immerse into these unique food adventures!