Single Track Riding in UP

A spark of inspiration got me off my bed and on my bike on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Weekend plans were scrapped (including two rock climbing trips and the alternative long bike ride), and except for that brief venture out to SURP, I was slowly decomposing in bed in front of my laptop.

I was supposed to meet Cece in about an hour so I knew this would be a short ride. I pedaled out to UP CHK to check out the bike trails the built around the idle lands there.

DOMS

As I regressed from my regular (almost daily) training last year, while trying to at least climb once a month, usually with a heavy pack, I've started to suffer more frequently from DOMS.

I'm talking about Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, and not Dirty Old Man Syndrome (though some would contend that I am also afflicted with this). As the name implies, DOMS is a delayed reaction of the muscle tissues from a strenuous workout, usually appearing after 6 to 8 hourse, peaking around 24 to 48 hours. I initially thought that lactic acid build-up was related to DOMS, but upon further reading, scientific findings have rejected this correlation. Sources say that DOMS comes from muscle inflammation caused by micro-tears in the muscle after eccentric (i.e. lengthening) exercises. I don't have the complete grasp yet of the science behind this condition; all I know is that after every extended climb up mountains, I get this, forcing me to do the "penguin walk". 

Mt. Arayat - An Island in a Sea of Rice Fields

Since it was decided that the application period for the UP Mountaineers will be moved to the second semester (which is basically next year), we will take this free time to have more climbs within the organization, and just have fun. I invited the continuing applicants from last year to join the team so that they can remain in touch with the organization (should they still be interested in finishing their quest to become UP Mountaineers). I was worried that we won't have enough people in the team, but the anxiety was replaced by excitement, as 16 people signed up to climb.

(photo: Nikko Cayaga)

Inside the Cobra Ironman 70.3

Last Thursday we flew off to Cebu for the 6th Cobra Ironman 70.3; after almost missing our flight, which got re-scheduled without our knowledge. This was my 4th time to volunteer in this huge triathlon event. Since I've been away from the sport for almost a year now, this would be the closest I'd get to experiencing the excitement of the race.

Treating ourselves to Cebu's warm welcome at the airport

Eddie Bauer Launch and Samantha: Pig in the City

I get to visit SM Aura in rare occasions. Monday's was only the second of these occasions. Ruby from Primer/ROX sent an invite to the launch of their latest brand in the country: Eddie Bauer. While already having a branch open in SM Megamall at the new Fashion Wing, the brand was officially launching just now, at the same time as the opening of their SM Aura branch.

I've known this brand for quite some time now; mostly from outdoor magazines and, of course, from the ukay-ukay finds of Richard. Eddie Bauer has been around for a while, starting off as sport shop (hunting, fishing supplies) in Washington State in the 1920's. It has since grown into one of the leading outdoor apparels in the States, especially after its introduction of the down -filled jacket. In 2009, they launched a new product line, called First Ascent, recalling the tradition of the brand's support of  early and  notable American alpine expeditions.

with Romi, Paeng, and Lulu