A one-live cat’s life

Okey after running the exodus run, i am on my schedule of doing my exodus.  My move.  Now i think i know why I won the race during that exodus themed run.

I spared going home to my folks to Baguio with the usual Holyweek rest to prepare and do my packing.

I am not leaving because i think Philippines is a not so well country, Its not because i do not like staying here.  In Fact i am okey staying and happy with my life in the Philippines.

But getting an an opportunity that do not come as often is big consideration for me if it meant personal and career growth.  Taking advantage of being single it was easier to decide.  yes i want to move to Sydney.

I know i will be missing a lot.  My Family, close relatives, friends and colleagues the country, the nihgt life, the shopping time, the cheap everything and the good life in the Philippines.  But I know i will still be coming back soon who knows.

a mix of emotions.  Anxiety, Excitement, sadness is what i am going through.  been doing my packing and my meeting of my friends and eating a lot lately.  I have been on "sick leave" for 2 weeks now at work after which a week of wait before my flight. I needed all the well wishes friends give as i know i will need it and i will miss the company of the people who in one way made me grow on the period of 8 years in Makati.

b3n’s pabaon for me

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It is like life: "It has its ups and downs" that is how b3n described this race.  It was a killer route for me.  The route includes a almost 200M 45 degree angle uphill followed by another 75m 30 degree angle.  downhill of 200M or so and a stretch of inclined asphalt in c-5 hi-way.

This is my first run on this route.  Friends who did this the last time with the breast run cursed the climb.  I was picked by Mon and JT at 5am sharp.  Arriving 530 at the tracks of Ultra Sports complex.  Met up with Totoy, Doc Oknoy and b3n.  Not much runners compared to any other races.  But it was decent number for a charity-fun-run. 

The event was graced by Samboy lim who was also a sponsor of th event.  After excercising our breathing with the Pambansang awit, 5 minsites after, bang goes the gunshot.

First uphill 45 degrees at 15m going right to meralco avenue to Julia Vargas avenue.  Rolling downhill right the stretch of c-5.  i was doing the 10Km meaning two laps of the route. Right after c-5 is the dreaded hill climb.  the Motel road, i am very familiar with, not because of frequent visit in the love hotels but because of the location where our customer at work is.

I can feel my tighs and calves tightening and complaining in the middle of the hill, still i keep on praying and kept in mind I will never walk.   reaching the top was a reliefe, or-i-thought-so, but i need to continue a hilly route to Ultra.   I was doubting i can do the secondround on the hill, but i tried to keep focused to just finished the race.

the 2nd lap was a bit challenging, first, seeing the 3KM and 5KM already going back to Ultra, and second is running the c5 highway was scary.  Praying there should have been pylons on the side for the runner’s safety.  There were marshal’s but speed devils on the roads just don’t care.  Concentrating on not getting sideswiped, i was side swiped by Mon! argh! His 2nd time to beat me!

Tempted to add on speed but i knew what was ahead of me, the steep hill.  I stuck with my pace and just let Mon run, while i was saving my energy. on right to the hill i told myself almost done i am going to finish the race without walking, almost giving up, i did not!

Saw the Ultra gate tried to speed at the rubber track towards the finish shoot, finishing at 56.28 wasnt too bad i told my self, h@ppy and smiling for not walking.  We were greeted by our race goodies, boy bawang happy peanuts, bluskies and yum! arroz caldo!  (even with the hyperacidity pain i was already starting to feel just after the race!) Left the race immediately to meet Aljo, Rivka and Maui who did not make it to the race because of injury for the post meal race at Chowking fort.

Before parting Mon received an sms from Totoy, "Chaia won 1st place for the 10Km age category". whoa! unbelievable with my speed! well I was thankful and it was a blessing the elite runners just gave it away for me before i leave the country :D.  I know i still need more practice, i wasn’t too h@ppy with my speed but mere attitude on not giving up on the hill and my abdomen pains it was an achievement :)!

Distance: 10KM
Location: Ortigas, Pasig
Time: 56.28
rank: 1st

March is the women’s month.  And you wouldn’t not realize how much women’s influence has been a big thing here in the Philippines.  Well yea look, Its a lady Pres. Arroyo on the seat who until now still can’t be ousted from her seat!

Okey well, kidding aside, March 9 was the 2nd Pinay In Action Expo that celebrated the Filipina women.  This was originally started by Senator Pia Cayetano.  The theme aims to empower the female community in the country that gives opportunity for personal growth and lifestyle.  Aside from that the event would remind the Filipina’s and Pinoys alike and other women and fellow-people about respecting the female community and uplift the achievements the so-called weaker gender  contributed to the whole society.

So I decided.  As a Pinay and not much well practiced, I ran the PIA run instead of my first half marathon in Department of National Defence run.  It was anote one of my nicest run from all my runs.  It was good to have been supported by male runners from the h@ppy feet team.  I would have not made it if kuya Joseph would have not paced and encoouraged me in the first half of the my 10Km teaching me to breath properly and patiently pacing with my speed.  he was keeping my spirits high for forgetting about my colds and cough.

It was additional high for me when Doc Oknoy substituted for the last half of the 5KM who in turn was a water boy/coach.  It was an inspiration running with doc with the continues words of encouragement and couching what form is proper while running which made me forget my tiredness. 

I could not imagine, there were a lot of strong women during that race! I tried my best, without doc Oknoy and kuya Joseph I would have not done my best for this year.  Well improved from my past 10KMs.  I was told even I wasn’t able to be at the top 3 i was able to make it to the top 4 on the female age category. Not bad.

After the race it was a happy crowd, females celebrating the event with their girl friends and mom with the kids and their family. 

Distance: 10KM
Time: 51.27
Venue: NBC Tent, Fort grounds

After a week of spilling my guts, i think i am getting old and my body is not used to too much alcohol anymore, My body was not able to recupperate yet for these past weeks!

it has been drizzling for the past few days and yet i went running short twice within the week.  After the 2nd day of the run i was feeling funny and not well.  The next day I know i will be attending a team building.  I had to run two consecutive days to offset my not be running when we go team building.  Oh! and i wanted to run since i have been eating carbo and meat fat at work! and which i know will happen for the next few days while i am in our team building.  Which i was being ready of MIGHT be sleeping late no running or might be drunk!  Good thing i was able to do a physical-day filled for the 2nd day in the office activity held in Montemar, Bataan.  A 3km run on the shore line, a swim on the beach, and a swim on the pool.  In between the team physical competition.

I felt i was wonderwoman that’s why! and too naive that i might get fat!

i was planning to go home Baguio after the 2nd day to attend the Flower Fest and visit my folks. Which means no run and full of eating again! So i had to rest only for 5 hours and travel back north come back 3rd day later.

I think i am not wonder woman after all! I got  colds and cough after returning from baguio Which I am still tending until now, which gave me a not too bad (yes stubbuorness!) record i still went to the Tubataha run race March 2, 2007.

Time: 56.06
Distance: 10Km
Venue: Fort Boni

Freeing turtles to the sea; shoreline of Montemar, Bataan; Obstacle course of the team building activity; freebies on the Condura Run