My first 5K fun run...ACCOMPLISHED!

This is so serious the last time I participated was many years ago.
I don't know after that I think I lost my sense of "Participation," and the idea of being "Engage," in that kind of activity.
But this particular "Fun Run," came in at the right place and at the right time.


HOW DID IT STARTED?

There was an invitation that I have seen on our company e-mail.
What interests me was that...I could avail the membership for "FREE," if I will be among the first 10 employees who will send-in their names.
And LUCKILY...I was at number 10.
So, I believe this was really intended for ME!


PREPARATIONS

The fun run was officiated by the Philippine Red Cross, encouraging individuals, groups, several companies and organizations to participate. Part of the purpose of the event was also to encourage volunteers across the country. And secondary was achieving the "Guinness World Record," for the most number of runners who will participate.

Part of my preparations was to exercise for 5 consecutive days prior to the event. This I believe a very helpful way to at least condition the body and the mind that I will be running for 5K.

I did this because I wanted mainly to finish the run without experiencing muscle cramp or any related injury.
Plus the fact that I really wanted to challenge myself that even though I did it long time ago...my "WILL," will let me push through!


So, I religiously wake up every 6:00 in the morning and jog for 30 minutes or more.


OTHER PREPARATIONS

We were told by the company that there are no more "Singlets," and that we should be responsible on looking for a running outfit we will wear on the day.
I looked around a certain mall for a "red," clothes. Red because the event was officiated by the Philippine Red Cross.
I also bought a pair of socks and some extras like "Knee Pad."
Which I end up choosing not to wear them on the actual run.
Not because I never wanted to wear it. It was because much of my time were taken by looking for a place where to put my things.
Too bad, the organizers did not consider it.


ROUTINES

I normally begin biking for 10 rounds inside the available parking area within the church near to us.
It was a perfect venue for it has high fences, secured and that I will avoid accident from motor vehicles. Only that it serves as a dropping area for students going to school, but I looked at them not "HINDRANCES," but an "OBSTACLE," a perfect training for the actual run where there are many expected participants from different organizations and companies.

Then, after that I will park my bike and will walk also 10 times.
That is indeed my preparation to run now for 10 rounds as well, then will walk again.

I will now move to a certain elevated side and will do 3sets of 12 reps push ups and sit-ups.
But prior to mentioned exercises...stretching before and after is a must.


ACTUAL DAY

I woke up 3:00 in the morning for the assembly time was set at 4.
It was intentional for I have to a lot an hour for commuting.
I am coming from Navotas and the venue was set at Quirino, Grandstand in Manila.

Honestly speaking, I only slept for 3hours but I heard from some that they do not have
enough sleep as well and some never slept at all.

Never needed much stretching prior to the run, because I and the rest of the participants who commuted walked from Rizal Park going to Quirino Grandstand.

I never wanted to go on a fun run without having anything in my stomach...so while walking towards the exact venue, I was eating a sandwich and a banana prepared by my wife at home.

I don't know but gun starts was expected to begin at 5:00 in the morning but it started 30 minutes after.


WORRIES

During the run, I was thinking if I will finish it. What I had in mind was I will be experiencing muscle cramps etc...and it was I don't know raining at the time.

During the time I was thinking all of those worries...I remember what my good friend and Kumare "Iyos," told me. Just keep a certain pace while running and it really helped me!

I actually put a timer during the event. I wanted to keep track of how much time I allotted doing it.
I was amazed that at one point, I was running continuously for 18minutes after that my body and my mind dictates me that I should stop and walk slowly.
I actually stopped running 3 times before I finally conquered the finish line.

I'm thinking now that this is not the last event I will be participating...but this will be the start of many many fun run I will join.
There's a certain feeling of "HAPPINESS," and "FULFILLMENT," because I was able to accomplished something very very good on my health and my whole being.

Now, my goal is a fit body for my birth month...meaning I will keep the fire burning.

See you soon again on the next fun run!

MRT 3...HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

Pagbaba ko ng North Avenue mga around 8:50 ng umaga normal naman...wala ngang pila sa ibaba.
Indication kasi yun na smooth naman ang flow o takbo ng train.
Na-hold man ako sandali kagaya ng iba dahil may pila na paakyat ng North Ave. Station after 10 minutes siguro the lines started to move and it has moved.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM!

Binabaybay na namin yung way going to Ortigas na walang anu-ano huminto siya then next ng nawala yung kuryente and then came in the announcement nga na mayroon nga daw "Technical Problem."

Pero naalala ko bago pa man kami huminto sa halos gitna o gitna, basta patungong Ortigas Station, nag-stopped na rin siya on our way to "Santolan Station." Pero since gumalaw nga siya we all thought na minor problem lang at maaayos din...well naayos naman.

Kaya lang yung paghinto namin going sa Ortigas Station, halos tumagal na siya ng 20minutes.
I even remembered yung driver announcing na kailangan lang siyang pumunta sa kabilang dulo ng train to fix something.

Pero yung 5 minutes naging 10 and more. Naramdaman kong tumutulo na ang pawis ko sa noo at naririnig ko na rin ang maraming pasahero na dumadaing dahil naiinitan na sila. May dalawang babaeng estudyante pa nga na nagpalipat malapit sa bintana ng train para lang makasagap ng hangin.
Pero kahit nakabukas na siya...sa dami ng TAO talagang kakapusin ka ng hangin.
Ako nga mismo halos nagsisimula na ring makaramdam ng sophocation...pero nagpakaalisto ako at hindi na gumawa pa ng mga unnecessary movements para hindi ako magpawis lalo at kapusin ng hangin.

And then mga past 10am na yun, nag-announced na yung driver na ibababa na niyang lahat ng pasahero ng train sa Ortigas kasi nga hindi na daw kayang magbiyahe talaga.

It was again a very DISSAPOINTING moment for the MRT3...lagi na lang ganyan.
Pero ano pa nga bang magagawa ko at ng lahat ng commuters...MAGTIIS at MAGALIT!

Maliit lang naman na abala ang nagawa niya...naLATE ako sa trabaho ng 30minutes at umaga pa lang naramdaman ko na ang STRESS hindi pa ko nagsisimula sa work ha.

But you know when I came at the office despite the hindrances from the morning travel going to work...I never knew that I will be getting goodnews and a very remarkable achievements today.


WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TODAY

Just when I thought that I wouldn't be able to undergo our scheduled annual physical examination at the office earlier sa maniwala kayo o hindi natapos ko yung walong steps that I have to go through.

Bonus pa yung perfect pa rin ang result vision ko na 20/20 tapos I was able to submit my stool and urine sample that day. Yun ang maganda sa akin walang pili-pili ang aking puwet pagdating sa pagdumi. He he!

Hindi rin masakit yung needle at the time of the blood extraction. Takot po ako dun sa totoo lang pero parang wala lang yung kanina. Mahusay yung nurse na babae na kumuha ng dugo.

And from last year, naalala ko halos ilang araw sa katawan ko yung bakat ng suction para sa ECG pero ngayon wala talaga...UNBELIEVABLE!

And lastly, yung dream ko na mapasama sa marathon na magaganap week after this week...JUST GOT LUCKY pasok po ako at umabot sa Pang 10!

Nakakatuwa yun kasi yung mapasok ka dun sa 10 only means FREE ka sa babayaran para makalahok sa marathon. Sa totoo lang na-miss ko talaga ang pagtakbo pero hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa po yung 5 kilometer run. Siguro I need to do some preparations para sa mismong araw na tatakbo ako ay nasa kondisyon naman ako.

At the end of the day ngayon...
naniniwala na ako na kahit gano man kasama ang mangyari sayo that day...may maganda at maganda pa ring ending o surpresa sa huli!

Althea sa Science Quizbee

Heto naman siya pagkatapos ng isang nakakapagod at ubos lakas na paligsahan sa "Masining na Pagkukuwento," pagkalipas pa lang yata ng isa o dalawang linggo sumabak na naman ito sa isa na namang panibagong laban.

Matatandaang nagwagi si Althea ng unang gantimpala ng lumaban ito sa "Masining na Pagkukuwento sa District level 1 ng buong Navotas".
At naitanghal at nakuha naman ang ikatlong puwesto noong lumaban naman ito sa Division level sa parehong paligsahan.

Kung noon sa maayos na pagbabasa siya at pagkukuwento hahatulan...ngayon aalamin naman ang talas ng kanyang isipin sa isang "Quizbee sa Science."


PAANO BA ITO NAPASAMA?

Naging basehan nila ang nagdaang pagsusulit sa kanilang paaralan kung saan si Althea ay muling nanguna rito.
May isa pa nga itong kaklaseng lalaki na pabirong sinabing "Si Althea na naman, 'di bale sa math babawi ako."

At gaya ng mga nagdaang paligsahan, kailangan muling maglaan ni Althea ng oras at panahon para rito.
Isang linggo bago ang naturang quizbee, kailangan muli nitong maglaan ng isa pang oras para sa kanilang review. Kung ang iba nitong mga kaklase ay uuwi na para mananghaliaan at magpahinga siya ay maiiwan sa kanilang eskwelahan upang maghintay ng oras ng rebyu nito.

Dinadalhan na lamang ito ng pagkain at susunduin pagkatapos.


ANG ARAW NG PALIGSAHAN

Lahat ng pwedeng magamit na kailangang rebyuhin ay binasa at pinagaralan ni Althea.
Ang aking bahagi dito bilang ama niya ay i-print ang mga naturang reviewer na may kinalaman sa paligasahan na haharapin nito.
Samantalang ang kanyang Ina ay nakatutok naman sa kanya sa pagaaral at pagbabasa kasama ng pagmememorya ng napiling subject na paglalabanan.

Isang pamilyar na lugar muli idinaos ang quizbee sa "Kapitbahayan Elementary School."
At bukod doon tila ilang mga pamilyar na mukha rin ang muli niya haharapin sa laban.
Sa katunayan yung nanalo sa District level para sa Masining na Pagkukuwento ay muli nitong nakatapat sa naturang paligsahan.
Naisip ko tuloy... "grabe ang mga batang ito...ayaw magaral."


PINALAD PO SI ALTHEA NA MAIUWI ANG IKA-ANIM NA PUWESTO

Halos inabot din hanggang alas-tres ng hapon ang naturang paligsahan pero naiparating na sa amin na kanyang mga magulang na si Althea ay nasa Ika-anim na puwesto bago mag-alas dos ng hapon.

Nakakatuwa kasi labing-anim na eskwelahan ang kasama nitong nag-exam.
Bagama't hindi namin batid ang nakuhang score ng iba pang nanalo...ang alam namin may kabuuang 23 puntos ang nasa unang puwesto at maswerte namang nakakuha ng kabuuang score na 17 si Althea.

Ibinase ang nakuhang kabuuang puntos sa bawat tamang sagot. Bahagi ng pagsusulit ang iba't-ibang level gaya ng  "Easy," "Average," at "Difficult."

Maraming salamat muli sa mga nanalig at nagtiwala sa kanya.
Sa kanyang butihing guro sa Science na si Ms. Nikki Del Valle.
At sa aking Misis na si Meanne, na ina ni Althea na siyang gumabay at tumutok sa kanya.
Sa kanyang eskwelahan salamat at maging sa Lola nito na si Aling Tessie at higit sa lahat sa poong maykapal.

----------------------
Ang naturang paligsahan ay ginanap nitong buwang ng Oktubre, petsa a siyete sa Kapitbahayan Elementary School sa Navotas.
Si Althea ay representative naman ng kanyang eskwelahan sa Navotas Elementary School 1, Baitang 3, pangkat 1.