Veteran Moves at SyncRUNize

Pen and Levi invited me and Princess to form a team for last Saturday's race, SyncRUNize, at the Arca South in Taguig (the old FTI complex, now the new real estate development of Ayala Land). With the promise of big prizes and free entry (very important), I said yes.

group shot after the race (instagram)

This promised to be different as it combined the elements of the physical--running with obstacles--and the mental--problem solving using the SyncRUNize app. We had virtually no idea how the actual race would be like until a few days into the event. The course map showed 15 challenges spread out over the Arca South property. Racers are released in waves to avoid bottlenecks along the course, while the mobile app monitors the time elapsed. 

Pilipinas Mountain Running Series - Leg 2

After getting lost slightly going to the starting line in Licao-Licao, we arrived rather sleep-deprived for the second leg of the Pilipinas Mountain Running Series of Thumbie Remigio, whom we also know as the head mountain rockstar of UPM. It's been three weeks since I was last here at Mt. Balagbag, for my training with a weighted pack.

nervously excited mountain rockstars

The last real race I joined was the last White Rock Triathlon in 2013, which was cancelled because of rough weather. I stopped joining races after that because of the massive shin-splints that plagued me for months before and after, and just concentrated on climbing mountains. I didn't have a lot of expectations on this race, except to not be injured.

Alternative Commuting

Normally you set out to have an adventure. But sometimes, the adventure comes to you.

If you're in the Philippines and haven't been living under a rock in some remote island, or just awoken from suspended animation, you are probably well-aware of Metro Manila's transport woes. Almost everyone you'd talk to will say that getting to and from work is getting worse every day. 

must bike to work more often to spare me from the hellish traffic

Since I moved residence last year, daily commute is pretty much unpredictable. On a good day it takes me an hour to get to work. On hellish days, the travel time doubles. Taking the MRT is definetely out of the question. That's one contact sport I don't want to play.

Last Monday I went to work a bit earlier than usual, hoping to arrive on time for once. Because of an accident in C5-Bagong Ilog, I was stuck in Katipunan Avenue for nearly an hour. I was already late, and it looked like I still have an hour's worth of driving ahead. So I turned back and filed for half a day's leave. The funny thing was, I had an inkling to just bike to work that morning, but was too lazy to push through with it. Of course I ended up bike commuting anyway. It still took me almost an hour to weave through Katipunan traffic.

At least on the bike, you know you have a way to escape being stuck on the road.

Rockstar-ing in Balagbag

I was planning a "solo" dayhike in Tarak Ridge last Saturday, but instead I found myself lugging a heavy pack up to the helipad of Mt. Balagbag, while the mountain rockstars ran/hiked ahead of me.

with the uncles

Throwback: The 2010 TNF 100

My Facebook newsfeed is littered with photos of friends with their medals after finishing various distance categories at The North Face 100 in Benguet this weekend. I toyed with the idea of joining this year even if I didn't have any decent run in the past couple of months. Better judgment got the upper hand, so I stayed at home.

To join in with the weekend's hype. Here's a throwback account of the 2010 race, where I joined the 50km category. It was the third year TNF 100 ran in the country and the first held in Baguio. Cece was graduating that weekend, so I decided to run 50km instead of the full race so I can head back to QC the next day and catch the ceremonies. That's my "press release" whenever anyone asks why I didn't run 100km. In truth, I knew I would just hurt myself with the full distance because of the proverbial "lack of training".