running through the rough and rugged road of life...
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
The road does not discriminate.
It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor; fast or slow; young or old; heavy or thin. The road will always welcome you. I won't judge you for who you are or where you have been. All it cares about is where it will take you. All that matters to it is how hard you try to beat yourself today. You are a runner and the road is your friend!
Monday, 2 July 2012
You know you're a runner...
these things take a whole new meaning when you have joined a marathon.
when i was still in public office, these things hold honors and titles to my chest. but now, they hold a much more important thing every time i stand on the starting corral... my race bib! =)
when i was still in public office, these things hold honors and titles to my chest. but now, they hold a much more important thing every time i stand on the starting corral... my race bib! =)
Friday, 10 February 2012
I conquered the Skyway! Condura Skyway Marathon 2012
My first full marathon! The Condura Skyway Marathon 2012.
February 5, 2012 Filinvest, Alabang
February 5, 2012 Filinvest, Alabang
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| Thrilled to met one of my running heros! Patrick Concepcion (Running Shield) http://runningshield.blogspot.com |
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| Patrick Concepcion is the Running Ambassador of The Condura Skyway Marathon. His brother, Ton Concepcion, is the lead organizer. |
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| The massive 4-inch 42k Finisher's Medal! |
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| Pose for a shot! |
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| Just making sure it's real! =) |
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| With running brothers, sisters and friends from Urdaneta. With the wifey, course! |
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| A family affair! Together with the wifey, kids and in-laws. They are showing off their 5k finisher's medal! |
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| Close up! |
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| The Uy family medal haul at the Condura Skyway Marathon 2012! |
Monday, 5 December 2011
Why I run...
I run not because I want to be healthy...
I run not because I want to feel good...
I run not because I want to relieve stess...
Nope... I run because I want to look good NAKED! Hahaha! ;)
Happy runnings!
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Running... Cheaper than Therapy!
In one year... at the very least...
COST OF NOT RUNNING:
Hypertension Control Medicines:
25.00 x 365 = 9,125.00
Diabetes Medicines:
10.50 x 365 = 3,832.50
Cholesterol Medicines:
30.00 x 365 = 10,950.00
Monthly Doctor Consultation:
500.00 x 12 = 6,000.00
Blood Sugar Monitoring:
100.00 x 24 = 2,400.00
ECG:
250.00 x 2 = 500.00
Lost Productivity:
PRICELESS
---------------
32,800.50/year
COST OF RUNNING:
Good pair of running shoes:
4,500.00
Good pair of socks :
300.00
Running Singlet/Shorts:
600.00
Looking good naked:
PRICELESS ;)
----------------
5,400.00/year
Red Cross Million Volunteer Run
To reawaken the spirit of volunteerism, the Philippine National Red Cross will be holding the "Million Volunteer Run" on December 4, 2011.
The run will be conducted simultaneously in keys cities through out the country, with the main event to be held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
My wife, kids and I will be supporting the Red Cross Pangasinan Chapter with the run to be held in CSI City Mall in Dagupan City.
Registration fee for volunteers is 500 PHP with the cost of registration covering a donation to the Philippine Red Cross, race bib, volunteer shirt, PRC I.D., 1-year accidental insurance and an emergency whistle.
I have heard that a special registration category for students and kids are available at only 100 PHP. But the kit only includes the race bib.
You can register with the Philippine Red Cross - Pangasinan Chapter at the PRC Building, old market site of Dagupan City, beside the old chinese cemetery. There will also be on-site registration before the run.
There will only be one distance category for this event, which is 5k. Water station will be available along the route according to the organizers. Gun start is at 5:30 in the morning.
Everyone is encouraged to support this noble cause! Let us all support the Philippine National Red Cross! Bring the whole family as this promises to be a wonderful opportunity to bond with the family and support the Red Cross at the same time!
The run will be conducted simultaneously in keys cities through out the country, with the main event to be held at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
My wife, kids and I will be supporting the Red Cross Pangasinan Chapter with the run to be held in CSI City Mall in Dagupan City.
Registration fee for volunteers is 500 PHP with the cost of registration covering a donation to the Philippine Red Cross, race bib, volunteer shirt, PRC I.D., 1-year accidental insurance and an emergency whistle.
You can register with the Philippine Red Cross - Pangasinan Chapter at the PRC Building, old market site of Dagupan City, beside the old chinese cemetery. There will also be on-site registration before the run.
There will only be one distance category for this event, which is 5k. Water station will be available along the route according to the organizers. Gun start is at 5:30 in the morning.
Everyone is encouraged to support this noble cause! Let us all support the Philippine National Red Cross! Bring the whole family as this promises to be a wonderful opportunity to bond with the family and support the Red Cross at the same time!
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Saturday Long Run - Running with Mang Caloy
Saturdays are usually reserved for long runs with my running group. The group usually takes-off at around 4:30 AM, but this morning, I arrived late and the group took-off 20 minutes ahead of me. As I was trying to catch up with the group, I enjoyed the cool crisp air and immediately went to a state of bliss. The first 2 kilometers were great! I was running in good time and was sure to catch the group not far from the turning point of our usual running route.
At kilometer 3, near the boundary of Amagbagan and Malasin, I met up with Mang Caloy, one of the regular runners we see on the road. Mang Caloy runs EVERYDAY from his house to the Catholic church in the town center which is about 2.5 kilometers away from his house. According to him, he does this to "report for duty" to the Lord and as he always tell me, "to feed his soul of it's daily sustenance." Oh, and did I mention that Mang Caloy is 70 years old?
Mang Caloy runs with a distinctive gait. His right arms stretched downwards in a position like he's holding a small ball, his left arm swinging forward and back.If one didn't know him, one would think that he suffered a stroke with his running gait. But his running gait could be deceiving. His running style, although unusual, is effective for him. I've seen him outlast runners young enough to be his grandkids!
It's is always a joy to run with Mang Caloy! With his friendly demeanor and cheerfulness, he never fails to light up the faces of people he greets good morning to along the road. As distinct as his gait is the color of his hair. A Beatles-style cut with white locks which he sometimes dyes with a soft mahogany shade. No wonder people along the road always refer to him as "Mr. White Hair".
As I greeted him as I caught up with him, he gave me his usual friendly greetings. He always seem to be very happy everytime he sees me on the road. Although I was trying to catch up with the group, I decided to take things slow and run with Mang Caloy in his own pace. From 6:00 m/km. I slowed down to 7:30 m/km. I just can bring my self to run off and leave him, although I know he wouldn't mind.
Running with Mang Caloy is a spiritual and enlightening experience. With his slow but steady pace, conversations are possible... and quite enjoyable. He talks about everything under the sun, but most specially about life lessons and faith in God.
You see, Mang Caloy is a self-made man. His father is a simple barber and his mother a housewife. He tells me stories about how he grew up poor and experiencing hunger on a regular basis. His parents could not even afford to send him to school that is why he only finished Grade 3. At a very early age, he was forced by circumstances to work and earn any which way he can so as to help his family put food on the table.
When he was a teenager, he tried his luck in Manila. He did odd jobs just to earn a living, earning on 3 pesos a day in the 1960s, barely enough to cover his living expenses. But still he persevered, working hard to earn more.
His big break, as he calls it, came in 1971, when he met a "kababayan" (town mate) in Manila who he became friends with. His friend told him that the company he was working for was looking for a janitor. Mang Caloy was hesitant at first because he did not finish school so the company may not hire him. But still he tried his luck and applied for the job. The man who interviewed him was impressed by his honesty in filling out his application form and with the candid answers he gave that he was hired on the spot!
Mang Caloy treated this with great gratitude! He told himself that he will work his best and show his boss that he deserves the job... so much so that he served the company, Unimart in Greenhills, as janitor, bagger, merchandizer and odd jobs here in there for 30 long years, proudly saying that he has 3 plaques of recognition hanging on the walls of his house for being the chosen the most outstanding employee 3 times!
Greenhills is where Mang Caloy learned how to run and where he fell in love with it. Greenhills was the place to be back in the 70s. The upper class, expats, the who's who all converge in Greenhills to shop, dine and have a great time. This was also the place were runners from the nearby villages and subdivisions run.
Mang Caloy usually starts his day very early in the morning back then. He would always see the joggers and runs go around Greenhills. Being friendly as he is, we would always greet the runners who pass by him and offer them a friendly smile. This endeared him to the regular runners and soon enough, he became friends with them.
About that time, Mang Caloy started to experience high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Having too little money to buy medicines, he confided this problem with his runner friends and one suggested he take up running to deal with this problem. Heeding their advice, Mang Caloy decided to give running a try... and never stopped doing it until now!
Mang Caloy proudly told me that a couple of months after he started to run regularly, his high blood pressure and high blood sugar went away instantly. Running made him healthy and strong. He started to feel better about himself and him immunity level became high!
Mang Caloy keeps telling me that he planned to run regularly as long as his body can... which I think he could do until he lives to be a hundred!
As we neared the town plaza, we parted ways as I was parked across the park. He went on his way to attend the early morning mass at the Catholic church... to "report for duty and feed his soul".
I look forward to my next run with Mang Caloy! I hope I can still run like him even if I'm 70!
At kilometer 3, near the boundary of Amagbagan and Malasin, I met up with Mang Caloy, one of the regular runners we see on the road. Mang Caloy runs EVERYDAY from his house to the Catholic church in the town center which is about 2.5 kilometers away from his house. According to him, he does this to "report for duty" to the Lord and as he always tell me, "to feed his soul of it's daily sustenance." Oh, and did I mention that Mang Caloy is 70 years old?
Mang Caloy runs with a distinctive gait. His right arms stretched downwards in a position like he's holding a small ball, his left arm swinging forward and back.If one didn't know him, one would think that he suffered a stroke with his running gait. But his running gait could be deceiving. His running style, although unusual, is effective for him. I've seen him outlast runners young enough to be his grandkids!
It's is always a joy to run with Mang Caloy! With his friendly demeanor and cheerfulness, he never fails to light up the faces of people he greets good morning to along the road. As distinct as his gait is the color of his hair. A Beatles-style cut with white locks which he sometimes dyes with a soft mahogany shade. No wonder people along the road always refer to him as "Mr. White Hair".
As I greeted him as I caught up with him, he gave me his usual friendly greetings. He always seem to be very happy everytime he sees me on the road. Although I was trying to catch up with the group, I decided to take things slow and run with Mang Caloy in his own pace. From 6:00 m/km. I slowed down to 7:30 m/km. I just can bring my self to run off and leave him, although I know he wouldn't mind.
Running with Mang Caloy is a spiritual and enlightening experience. With his slow but steady pace, conversations are possible... and quite enjoyable. He talks about everything under the sun, but most specially about life lessons and faith in God.
You see, Mang Caloy is a self-made man. His father is a simple barber and his mother a housewife. He tells me stories about how he grew up poor and experiencing hunger on a regular basis. His parents could not even afford to send him to school that is why he only finished Grade 3. At a very early age, he was forced by circumstances to work and earn any which way he can so as to help his family put food on the table.
When he was a teenager, he tried his luck in Manila. He did odd jobs just to earn a living, earning on 3 pesos a day in the 1960s, barely enough to cover his living expenses. But still he persevered, working hard to earn more.
His big break, as he calls it, came in 1971, when he met a "kababayan" (town mate) in Manila who he became friends with. His friend told him that the company he was working for was looking for a janitor. Mang Caloy was hesitant at first because he did not finish school so the company may not hire him. But still he tried his luck and applied for the job. The man who interviewed him was impressed by his honesty in filling out his application form and with the candid answers he gave that he was hired on the spot!
Mang Caloy treated this with great gratitude! He told himself that he will work his best and show his boss that he deserves the job... so much so that he served the company, Unimart in Greenhills, as janitor, bagger, merchandizer and odd jobs here in there for 30 long years, proudly saying that he has 3 plaques of recognition hanging on the walls of his house for being the chosen the most outstanding employee 3 times!
Greenhills is where Mang Caloy learned how to run and where he fell in love with it. Greenhills was the place to be back in the 70s. The upper class, expats, the who's who all converge in Greenhills to shop, dine and have a great time. This was also the place were runners from the nearby villages and subdivisions run.
Mang Caloy usually starts his day very early in the morning back then. He would always see the joggers and runs go around Greenhills. Being friendly as he is, we would always greet the runners who pass by him and offer them a friendly smile. This endeared him to the regular runners and soon enough, he became friends with them.
About that time, Mang Caloy started to experience high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Having too little money to buy medicines, he confided this problem with his runner friends and one suggested he take up running to deal with this problem. Heeding their advice, Mang Caloy decided to give running a try... and never stopped doing it until now!
Mang Caloy proudly told me that a couple of months after he started to run regularly, his high blood pressure and high blood sugar went away instantly. Running made him healthy and strong. He started to feel better about himself and him immunity level became high!
Mang Caloy keeps telling me that he planned to run regularly as long as his body can... which I think he could do until he lives to be a hundred!
As we neared the town plaza, we parted ways as I was parked across the park. He went on his way to attend the early morning mass at the Catholic church... to "report for duty and feed his soul".
I look forward to my next run with Mang Caloy! I hope I can still run like him even if I'm 70!
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