Bawal Tumakbo

medyo tense ako sa marathon na ito, natapilok kasi ako weeks back and may konti pang pain sa left leg and foot. during my walks since then, medyo may kirot pa. hanggang byernes na marathon na kina-linggu-han, nagdadalawang isip parin ako at ang lalim ng aking tingala (weh). lumala kaya tong sprain ko? matapos ko kaya ang fun run? ulanin kaya kami? hala nade-depress nako.

gabi bago yung marathon shzwooom! handa kiti handa ng isusuot at dadalhin hahaha narurumu-rio locsin lang pala ko sa drama, wala palang makakapigil sa atat ko sa mga fun run na ito :)

i was following the tips i read online on running under the rain so i tried some of the Hub's soccer jerseys on. wag daw kasi magsuot ng cotton, dapat yung garment na nagre repel ng water. i was choosing from our caps kasi lagyan daw ng protection and head. nagpa-praktis na din ako maglakad imbes na tumakbo - pabalik balik ako kwarto-ref-kwarto-ref hwahwa.

awa ng Diyos hindi inulan ang marathon :) the organizers did not install a vidiwall na, siguro they did away with it for its protection in case it rains. napakaraming participants as expected at as usual, may mga karakter nanamang nagpa-yuko sakin sa hiya :)

si lola na mga 70plus, magma-marathon - sa 10k! aba'y hanggang tuhod na ang yuko ko. not only was she older by almost half, she was running a distance half farther than i will. when it was time for us 5k-ers to assemble, a familiar smell was in the air -- si lolo ginawang sunscreen ang tiger balm. eto mga mago-otsenta na ang edad. anuba itow! nung nakaraan nahiya ako sa mga kids, ngayon naman di ako pwedeng mag reklamo sa arthritis ko pano andaming rayuma sa paligid. pero teka, tabihan ko nga si lolo. andaming kumukuha ng litrato sa kanya e ngyahaha maging Da Who nga sa mga lalabas nyang litrato sa mga magasin.....

we were warming up to the lead of the instructors onstage when ...  imbes na feel na feel ko na yung a-wan, a-tu, a-tri... biglang a-ray! nasasagi ako ng mga nagsusumiksik papunta sa harapan pano late. gusto kong gawing excuse ang jumping jacks para batukan ang mga 'to. ano'ng rason nyo, trapik........ ng alas kwatro ng umaga? 'di kayo na-gising....... sa katotohanang may oras ang umpisa ng marathon? wehh

edi kami na ang tatakbo yehey! 4....3.....2......1......biglang may sumigaw na "happy new year!!" muntik na malaglag pustiso ni lolo sa hagalpak ng tawa hahahaha pero nag fade out ang tawa n'ya chong.... ambilis tumakbo ni lolo iniwan ako waaaaaaaa.....

natitiis ko ang sikip, ingay, at kodakan ng starting point crowd dahil sa susunod kong karanasan na common sa ganitong point ng mga marathon na sinasalihan ko..... katahimikan :) ..... katahimikan kasi..... iniwan na nila kong lahat waaaaaaaaaa uli hahahaha isang malaking owenongayun! ang nagpapalakas ng loob sa akin. to "here comes the sun" in my ipod, i briskly walk to a constant pace, smiling :)

we trekked the bonifacio global city grounds. wet ang aspalto kasi it rained all night. ayun, nagka rason ako para wag lagyan ng interim na takbo ang lakad ko ngyahahaha. bawal tumakbo! hahahaha

interesting to see the establishments sans the hustle and bustle. yung mga gwardya tulog pa (hwoy! gising!). yung mga nasa mercato, nagse set-up palang (bilisan nyo isang oras nalang gutom nakow!). yung mga barbekyu-han, naglalatag palang ng uling (hintayin nyo lang, pag naarawan ako may idadagdag ako jan). yung mga lasing nung sabado ng gabi jumi-jingle pa sa bakod (humarap ka, duwag!) eto siguro yung mga, sa sobrang hilo, pakiramdam nila dadating yung bahay sa kanila at di na nila kelangan puntahan. aba, yung isa talagang pinili pang jumingle sa pinaka-matatangkad na talahib. ang tapang! pag ikaw natulak jan aysos. ibang klaseng hapdi meyng.

as usual, andami paring sutil sa water stations at kung saan-saan tinatapon ang plastic cup. merong isa, "may i have a whole bottle please?" okey lang, pero isa't kalahating kilometro palang ang tinatakbo namin e. e isang buong boteng tubig pa hiningi. e anlalaki ng bote. ay bumagal takbo nya chong hahaha kitang-kita mong piiiiiilit nyang inuubos yung tubig para lang gumaan ang takbo nya hahahaha ayan kase. siba.

at syempre pa, hindi nawala ang mga kakaibang outfit. merong isa suot ang gear version ng sirena na half fish-half human - baching chut ang itaas tapos cycling shorts ang ilalim. takbo kiti takbo sya na feeling Hesus na tumatakbo sa tubig. buti nalang hindi ko sya tinanong at nagmukha akong shonga. fast suit pala ang tawag don sabi ni Irog. pang triathlon daw yun. o edi..... galing kang swimming teh? asan biskleta mo? hahaha ayaw patawarin palibhasa hindi ko carry magsuot ng ganon hahahaha.

meron naman isa.. ay.... siguradong first placer ito. naka leopard skin na leggings chong. antulin nito! pero dun ako nakakita ng leopard na kumekembot. nag fashion show ang lowka may pa wet lips-wet lips pa. ahhh.... medyo singkwenta anyos na pala. she wasn't going for the leopard look pala kundi arrrrrrr cougarrrrrrrrr :)

i finished four minutes later than my previous walk-run (basa nga kasi ang aspalto kakatakot tumakbo leave me alone lol). i waited only moments to see the Hub after his 10k. on the way back to the car, we saw the familiar pesteng-ahem hair.... si coach rio! ay syempre... feeling close at picture picture hehehe nakalimutan ko lang sabihin sa kanya na... rio! (feeling close nanaman) gawa naman kayo ng singlet na kasya samin!

pagdating sa parking lot aba, may isa pang rio! si San Rio hahaha naghuhumello kitty ang volks beetle na ito. ang cute actually! sana lang wag masiraan si kuya at biglang hiramin ang kotse ni ate. nakow bulag o manhid lang ang hindi mangingisi ahihihi

pag-uwi namin. ayun. umulan :) buti nalang bumagsak ang tubig ng langit nung magpapahinga na kami! iniangat ko ang nag-uumpisa nang sumakit na kaliwang paa ko na natapilok..........................................................

a-ray-ku-pow!!!! hanggang ngayon, iika-ika ako at bespren ko parin ang dolfenal.

next month uli! :) :)

Pinoy-isms

just one week after our previous marathon, join kami sa Run United 1 sa MOA. takipsilim palang e nagbibihis na kami as usual, at bago mag bukang-liwayway e nasa parking lot na kami. stretch... stretch.... hikab.... stretch... we were up and ready. as usual uli, we parked nearly a kilometer away from the start and finish area, sort of a mini-training sakaling mag ambisyon kami ng farther marathon distances.

knee pads, check. water bottles, check. bananas, check. ulirat,.......ehem... ULIRAT,........ha? whoa? oh! gising! gising!, check :)

pinoy na pinoy ang buong experience. una, ke daming parking spaces e nag aagawan sa pinakamalapit sa exit. anuba maglalakad nga tayo ng kilu kilometro e natakot naman tayo maglakad ng ilang hakbang papunta sa kochi car pauwi. yung iba nga senyo kayang lakarin pauwi e hahaha.

pangalawa, likas sating mga pinoy ang hindi nakikinig o nagbabasa ng mga briefing.  hala ke lalaki ng lalagyan ng tubig! babagal takbo mo nyan meyng. sana nagkabit ka nalang ng limang galon sa trolley sabay mahabang straw. at least hinihila mo lang. tapos, pagdating mo sa bawat water station, mag taas-noo ka at isnabin mo sila "hah! mas marami akong tubig at MAS mainit ito! hah hah hah" sabay hingal.

pangatlo. pag naji jingle ang mga kalalakihang Pinoy, kelangan nilang jumingle - NOW NA. kaya yung mga nakita ko sa parking lot na nakadikit sa mga kotse nila sabay nakangiti, at hindi naman nagpapahangin dahil nakatago ang kili kile gawa ng mga kamay na nakababa, naka-imbento sila ng pinsan ng Portalet - ang Banyotan as in banyo kung san abutan.

pang-apat. kahit gano karami o kalaki ang mga trash can, kahit kinulayan pa ang mga ito ng bright pink at lagyan pa ng mga palamuti o kumikislap kislap na ilaw, iniisnab ng iba sa ating mga Pinoy ito na parang mga ex boypren. andaming kalat sa kalye na dulot ng fireworks display the night before. ayan tuloy. pati yung mga tagalinis, isnabero't isnabera nadin. hinihintay nalang siguro nilang hipan ang mga ito ng hangin papunta sa mga kabarkada ng mga basura na nakatira sa Bay.

panlima. marami sating mga pinoy e either hindi mahilig magtanong, o nagmamarunong pag natanungan. abay pakalat kalat at lilinga linga sa unang nakitang starting area kahit hindi kakulay ng bib nya yung mga naka assemble doon. at nung finally nagtanong ako (ay! nadulas, ako pala yung ayaw magtanong hahaha) sa babaeng pareho kong magfa 5k na papunta sa starting area "miss, san ang starting area ng 5k?" "dito din!" edi nakinig naman ako at tumambay sa starting area na una kong pinuntahan. maya maya, nag announce yung mama sa entablado na "5k-ers, if you can hear me, you're still lost".... antiPATIKO! sabay takbo pahanap ng tama kong starting area. anak nang di bale nakong shonga, mas dedli yung kombinasyon nung pinagtanungan ko- shonga con pa-kia (pa-know-it-all). anubanaman ang problema sa pagsabi ng "hindi ko alam e". takot talaga tayong mapagkamalang walang alam, pero anlakas ng loob nating ipahamak ang iba, kalowka hahaa.

pang-anim. nakakalungkot, pero may ilan sa ating mga Pinoy ang nababawasan ang galang sa Lupang Hinirang. nang tumugtog ang national anthem mangilan-ngilan lang samin ang naglagay ng kamay sa dibdib (sa sarili naming dibdib syempre) at sumabay sa kanta. hinahagod ng camera ang mga tao habang may visual ng watawat kaya ko nakita to. meron namang nakalagay ang kamay sa dibdib, pero nung makita ang sarili sa screen, biglang tinanggal ang kamay sa dibdib at kumaway sa camera. ang ganda. "sa dagat at bundok sa simoy at sa hello hello! mong bughaw...."  hmp!

pampito at me relasyon sa pang anim, mahilig talaga tayong mga Pinoy sa camera. at gunshot, andaming mga still and video cameras! takbo-ngiti, takbo pa-serious, takbo pa-cute, takbo pa-kaya-ko-to (ako yun) - pero wag ka paglampas sa mga camera, either takbo-simangot or lakad na ang nangyari hahahaha. may mga camera din sa iba't ibang portions ng run and, you guessed it, naglabasan nanaman ang mga takbo varieties na ito.

pang-walo na me relasyon sa pang-apat. may trash bins naman sa mga water station, kung baket nagkalat ang mga plastic cups sa kalye. ang lutong tuloy ng takbo mo after the stations. nadagdagan tuloy ang variety ng takbo na nabanggit sa pampito - takbo lagok-laglag.

pang-siyam. nakakalungkot uli, pero marami satin ang nakakalimot magpasalamat. porke nagbayad tayo sa marathon at ke-gaganda at ke-mamahal ng mga outfit at gear natin, at porke trabaho ng mga nagbibigay ng tubig at powerdrink ang ginagawa nila, wala akong napansin na nagpasalamat sa kanila after drinking. nagtaka tuloy yung ale nung nag thank you ako sa kanya pagtapos kong inumin ang talaga namang napaka refreshing na cold drink!

pang-sampu. sa bawat Pinoy gathering, hindi nawawala ang mga karakter. eto'ng mga naka enkwentro ko:

             si Busina
             may built-in na busina sa baga tong mamang ito, at bumubuga ng malalakas na HOO! HOO!
             twing lalampasan nya ang nasa harapan nya. e baka nga naman nagre release lang ng hingal. e chong
             nakaka sampung hakbang palang kami e...

             si Dedma
             walang pake ang ale na kumekembot kembot habang naglalakad sa gitna ng kalye. ang importante,
             hindi magusot ang buhok nya at hindi mapudpod ang neon green nyang walking shoes. miss, eh...
             hehe... TABI JAN! hahahah

             sina Luneta
             ay holding hands sila habang naglalakad. maya-maya, titigil para mag smack. minsan nagkukurutan.
             minsan nagbubulungan sabay hagikhik. minsan tatakbo paatras si lalake para makita ang tumatakbo
             nyang babae. kulang nalang mag cha cha ang dalawang ito. naghanap ako ng kamera chong..... i
             could have sworn may shooting ng videoke na nangyayare. ang kanta? hmmmm..... Bawal na Gamot.
             parang tumira ng adik ang dalawang ito. pinagkamalang lugar ng taswingan ang kalye.

             si Chicken
             hinde, hindi sya naduwag o nagtititilaok - nakabalot sya ng silver foil chong. parang tumatakas sya sa
             naghahabol na oven. naghanap ako ng tumatakbong sibuyas, bawang at patatas, wala naman.

panlabing isa at last but not the least - pag may libre, kahit mahaba ang pila, go tayong mga Pinoy! hahahaha medyo wa-is ako tho at napaso nako sa mga pila na matagal e yun pala lekat na leaflet lang ang ibibigay hehe. inispatan ko muna ang mga umpisa ng pila at inobserbahan ko kung ano ang nangyayari. pumila ako dun sa may libreng inumin o magasin, yung walang kelangang gawing nakakaloka. may isang booth dun na patatawirin ka sa manipis na mala lubid, at sa dulo e may magandang green tumbler. pero waaaaaa hindi naman ibibigay ang tumbler pag nakatawid ka. nyoko nga. dito nalang ako sa century tuna, me libreng biskwet :)

i finished 3 minutes earlier than my last finishing time yeheyy!! very festive ang okasyon! andaming booths, may mga nagde demo pa ng cheerdancing!

okey na okey na sana ang experience kaya lang natigil ang lahat nang....... may nag propose sa gitna ng entablado! AAAAAAAAAAAAANO BAAAAAAAA ipagkalandakan ba sa mga taong di mo kilala na nanlilimahid sa pawis at hingal ang pagyaya mong magpakasal?!!! di ka ba natakot na malaglag ang singsing habang tumatakbo? magyayakapan kayo e pareho kayong amoy araw?!! lahat ng buhok ko tumaas sa kilabot chong, ambilis ng lakad ko papunta sa kotse pauwi hahhaha

looking forward to the next! to the next marathon hindi spectacle of public marriage proposals ha!

proud to be Pinoy!

Kowmpidens

nag ambisyon akong mag 5k - actually, confident ako sa distance na to kasi one, walk-run naman ako and two, medyo nabitin ako dun sa previous kong 3k. anyabang ko mga chong! nag register ako sa runrio na bitbit ang pinakyaw kong confidence sa tindahan ni Bebang Yabang. "3k po uli kayo mam?" "hhhhhindeh, 5 khey!" wid matching pandidilat at taas ng dalawang kilay na sinagot ko sa nasa kaha. "e mam..... pwede bang L nalang ang ibigay naming singlet, ubos na kasi yung XXL" ah.. hindi ako ganun ka confident. gusto kong mag 5k pero marathon ito, hindi swimming. ayokong mag swimsuit. "nako naman miss, pano naman magkakasya yung L sakin. kahit lulunin ko lang ang laway ko mula ngayon hanggang sa araw ng marathon, hindi ako papayat ng dalawang sizes." "stretch naman mam e" abaaaaaaa....... hindi pala ako gustong magmukhang naka-swimsuit ng ale na to, gusto nyang makakita ng salbabidang tumatakbo. buti nalang marami akong pondong kowmpidens. muntik nang mabutas nang tuluyan ang salbabida este kompyansa ko. buti nalang konti lang ang nabawas.

compared to the condura skyway marathon, mas organized ang Asian Hospital Run. walang trapik ng tao kasi they apparently controlled the number of participants per category. the Hub started running at 530am, kaming 5k at 550am, both as scheduled. maaga at bago mag bukang-liwayway. dun nga sa unang rehydration station may naghanap ng kape e. nag sleep run ata.

during the countdown, may music ng mga tambol. sabi ko, wow, parang live ang tugtugan a! pagtingin ko sa harap, abay live nga! di ko lang nakita kasi ati-atihan sa dilim.

kasama ko sa 5k ang dalawa kong byenan. kasya sa kanila yung singlet - dun palang nabawasan nanaman ang baon kong confidence. mga senior citizens sila chong. ang mommy tisay na naka leggings. ang daddy energized na energized. 5....4.....3......2......1.....gunstart! takbo nako! bukod sa ati atihang di makita, we were sent off by a huge yellow round fruit mascot - habang dinadaanan ko sya naiiwan ang leeg ko - hanggang ngayon di ko malaman kung ano yun hahaha. smile for the cameras! pero paglampas ng mga camera, lakad na ko. zoooooom!!!! nilampasan na ko ng mga byenan ko. hwaaaaaaaaa

pero bakit ba. ang importante matapos ko ang marathon. lakad with a steady brisk pace ako at full ngiti. habang nalalampasan ako ng iba, ngiti parin! hanggang sa...... huhuhuhu nag-iisa nalang ako! hahahahaha

ako yata ang huling huli sa 5k. hanggang sa.... uy! footsteps na may kasamang hingal! palapit nang palapit hanggang sa nasa likod ko! hindi pala ako nahuhuli yeheeeeyyyy!!!! paglingon ko, batang limantaong gulang na medyo majubis na pagka cute cute. kasama nya ang tatay nya na nagkakamot na ng ulo kasi "daddy i want na ice cream!" anak ng patola hindi pwede mauna sakin to! kakahiya!!!

ayun pala. kahihiyan ang magpapatulin sakin. edi takbo nako with a new motivation - ayoko maunahan ng batang 5y/o sa 5k!

the runrio marshals were so supportive! yung isa nga may suot atang apat na supporter kasi nung hingal na hingal ako handa nya kong saluhin. siguro pag tumatakbo ako parang may spaghetti sa finish line na ayaw kong maubusan. yung isa naman pumapalakpak habang sinasabing "go mam!". yung iba, nagta trapik kasi may mga dumadaan na jeep sa path namin.

better pati ang run na ito kasi malamig yung mga power drinks. nung condura marathon para kang uminom ng matamis na sopas na pinainit ng araw e. wala din kaming nadaanang amoy basura. yun nga lang, usok ng mga sasakyan. twing ganon, ambilis ng inhale-exhale ko. mas malason yun kesa sa amoy ng utot ng kumain ng kumbinasyon ng itlog at kamote.

i finished after an hour and 4 minutes. pwede na! as usual, teary-eyed parin ako nung makita ko ang finish line.

sana marami pang marathon na sing organized nito. sana lagi kaming may funds and energy to participate in these once a month. sana marami pa kaming makilalang new friends.

sana magkasya na sakin ang singlet one day.

sana, sana, malaki ang difference ng time namin nung batang cute :)

MANGOES!

i walked my first marathon yesterday woo hoo!

registry palang sa riovana, pinagpawisan nako. ganyan talaga ko pag excited. i also broke in sweats when i had my first date (hindi ako naka apply ng make up, promise), when i sang in public for the first time, and when i ate my first original choknut ice cream from Uva. when the Hub and i got our bibs, nagbabaha na sa riovana at kelangan nang isampay ang bimpo ko.

the Hub ran the 5k and 10k in the past, pero he was sweet enough to join me in my 3k. "mula satin hanggang sun valley lang yun hon" "hano??!!!" i remember making 3 stops from bicutan to our home during one episode of no-jeepneys - and i was much younger then. naging kaibigan ko nga yung takatak boy nung panahon na yun pano, kahit cha-cha sya nang cha-cha sa buong stretch ng service road, naaabutan nya ko na hihingal- hingal at inaangilan ang bawat lubak na maapakan. sa awa nya, binigyan ako ng libreng storck. nakita siguro nyang ni wala akong lakas na kumuha ng perang pambayad, or, akala siguro nya wala akong pamasahe. antagal ng mga jeep e, maghahapunan na. anak ng katakawan nanaman ang dahilan hahaha.

so off the Hub and i went on a beautiful sunday, all geared up and ... yes... sweating nanaman ako hehe. we arrived in time to see the 5k runners take off. pagtapos kong magpa-picture ke Hetty, i eagerly awaited our turn.

game, kami na! wave A kami so una kaming aarya. eto ang umpisa ng immersion ko sa signature Pinoy and Pinas:

Trapik
instead of the scheduled 730 start, we were advised that we will be sent off at 8am. after the group "ngyaooooooooo....", the host went on to say that this was because the skyway was still congested with the other runners. walangya sinara na skyway trapik parin? pero nga naman, kesa tumayo kami sa gitna ng marathon nang matagal, maghintay nalang sa starting area. buti kung me mag abot ng pagkain at bulaklak habang nakatayo kaming lahat sa kalye (uy another Pinas-ism - people power).

Basag-Tengang Kwentuhan
there were 4 women in their late 20s behind us during the wait. at baket ko alam kahit na nakakatulog na ko sa starting area? parang me kausap sila sa malabon nang hindi gamit ang cell phone pare. hindi ko malaman kung bakit kelangan nilang mag-usap na parang nagli-lead ng aerobics sa araneta sa gitna ng brownout. at ang mas matinding tanong ko.... bakit ang kakapal ng make-up nila gayong maglalabasan ang asido sa mga katawan namin sa gagawin namin nung umagang yon. but wait, there's more! ang pinakamatinding misteryo sakin e........ bakit may bitbit kayong eyeliner?!!!!! mamarkahan nyo ba ang bawat kilometrong malampasan nyo? lalagyan nyo ba ng smiley ang mga water station? o ire retouch nyo ba ang mga mata ng mga medic na nakababad sa araw habang binabantayan tayo?

pwede na sana at pampatanggal ng bugnot, pero puro make up ang topic nila sa buong paghihintay namin chong. at nung nagbibigay na ng last minute instructions yung host, ang iingay parin. di sila nakikinig. oh well, obvious na hindi sila nakinig sa kahit na anong marathon brief. magdala ba ng make up kit.

Naka-Paa
common sa atin ang mag-kamay habang kumakain, pero common din pala sa marathon ang naka paa lang. barefoot runners ang tawag sa kanila. nasa harapan ko ang isang runner na ito who i find out later is named Enrique. full outfit sya, pero yung tag na dapat nasa sapatos e nasa dulo ng leggings nya. long hair sya at balingkinitan. sabi ko, walang panama si barefoot contessa dito. ang inaapakan nun puro damuhan, etong nasa harap ko e hindi mahulaan kung ano pwede nyang maapakan. bakas sa mga paa niya ang estado ng kalinisan ng pilipinas.

tumakbo na pala sya ng 10k earlier. "so why are you running the 3k?" tanong sa kanya nung host. at ang sagot nyang with a twang e "10k was my main course, this is dessert". aba, ganun pala ang secret para pumayat. imbes na kumain ka ng pagkain, kumain ka ng takbo. lagi sigurong nahahabol ng Belgian Malinoise si Enrique nung lumalaki sya sa Forbes.

nakaka sampung minuto palang ako ng paglalakad nang biglang zzzzzshwoooom!!! si Enrique pabalik na! tanggalin ko kaya sapatos ko.....

Mosiko
on the left-turning-point after leaving the skyway, a marching band welcomed us. hindi nagma marcha at naka silong (ay ganon? makisama kayo hwoy! lol), pero they performed to their hearts delight with matching antics - yung pa itcha itcha ng drumsticks at pa kamut-kamot ng ulo without missing a beat. nakaka gana and energize actually :)

Supurta
etong laging pinapasalamat ni pacquiao sa mga Pinoy twing interview nya e napaka laganap nung marathon. as we passed a 50 meter incline, there were young men asking us "okay ka lang? okey lang ho kayo? kaya nyo yan!" to which gusto mo sanang sigawan ng "ulul! ikaw kaya lumakad papanhik nang ganito kataba!" pero.... i really felt their genuine concern kahit alam kong scripted and obliged sila. there was a water station at half-finish, and everyone there was smiling kahit hitchura ang paligid ng boracay na imbes na buhangin e alikabok. around 50 meters prior to the finish line, another set of young men looked us in the eye cheering us on with "konti nalang, kaya yan!"

MALAPIT NAKO SA FINISH LINE!

i decided to jog the last meters nung visible na ang finish line. kinilabutan ako chong! my first ever marathon, my first ever finish line :) okey na pacing ko kaso.... may tugtugan pare. at ang music - I Feel Good! - one of my all time favorites! ay dedma na sa pacing, nagsasasayaw ako papuntang finish line!! at hindi yung sayaw na pa-cute lang ha - yung sayaw na nababagay sa era nung kanta hahahaha nag swimming ako sa kalye pare! wala akong pake sa dami nang nakakakita. e i feel good e hahahaha.

all the way, napaka supportive ni Hub taking pictures, cheering me on, asking me if i was okay.... sabi ko "i'm okay hon, go run! i know you're bored :)" napilit ko ang sya nung 1 kilometer away na kami from the finish line. zzzooooom!!! ambilis ni Hub hahahaha tatlong segundo lang di ko na sya matanaw hahahahha

i finished walking the marathon at the official time na 40:11. "not bad! good job hon!" :) :) :) binigyan kami ng finishing medal and a banana :) lavet! kinain ko yung saging pabalik ng car and i wore my medal until we got home.

we parked a kilometer away from the festivities so para narin kaming nag 5k! we spent the rest of the day the way we do Sundays and oy, walang pagod a. pero eto na, habang sinusulat ko ang blog na to, sumagot na ang katawan ko ng "a ganon a..." lol. pero no regrets. itutuluy tuloy namin ito hanggat kaya ng bulsa hahaha

next for me to conquer, 5k. pray with me and cheer me on okay? :)

"mangoes" ang word du jour sa experience ko. before the gun was fired to set us off, we did a group cheer to the host's "We are running for the..." to which we would answer "mangroves!". may isang equally enthusiastic marathoner about two people to my left who answered the "Running for the?" with a resounding and repetitive "MANGOES!" lol o di ba, tumakbo para sa asim-tamis na buhay Pinoy! MABUHAY!

after-holidays weigh-in (read: inangkupowwww)

happy new year!

super saya ng holidays ko! december is also my wedding anniversary month and the Hub and i have a tradition that we've kept since year 2. during the past however, we indulged in every food we saw, stuffed ourselves mad, then lay down to watch tv until the carbo rush drowses us to eventual sleep. pagkagising, kain uli. lalabas konti. tapos kain uli. at onga pala, kakain pa uli hehe.

this year was different :)

the only part left of the tradition is the tradition per se, plus eating every food we saw and sought. this time however, our portions were smaller. hinayaan namin ang sarili namin to enjoy food that we haven't tasted since our eating plan - and it felt good!

merong konting guilt twing pagtapos, pero what kept us going was the fact that we knew we could return to the healthy eating plan after the holidays. alam kasi namin that we both actually enjoy our balanced, low sugar, low fat, low salt way of life. bukod sa nasasanay na ang palates namin, the results are joyful. alam din namin na hindi kami in denial about this. we had a great time!

each day of the anniversary holiday, we worked out. we swam, hit the gym, and walked the streets like we were wanting to pee so bad and were trying to look for rest rooms that weren't there. itagtag ang sweet and sour pork!! hahahaha

sobrang saya not only because of the food we got to eat again, but because we realized that on our 9th year as husband and wife, we have gotten closer because of the eating plan. we are each other's encouragement, police, shoulder to cry on (lalo na kung may feature ng cake sa tv), masseuse (well, more the Hub than me kasi ako mas madalas maglambing ng masahe hehe), chef, and fan. such a big leap from who were were to each other in terms of food and eating in the past - validation.

"let's get your tofu chips", the Hub said to me on movie day, one of the foods i wanted to eat again. but this time, he said it with a whole lot more than just consenting to my eating indulgences to validate his own. it was respect and trust. respect for his wife whom he knows makes God-guided decisions and has now learned to consult the Same when it comes to her addiction, and trust for his partner that her desire for food has become less than her desire to reach her desired weight. as for me, when i looked at him while he enjoyed his long-missed curry laksa, i fell more in love with him than i ever had in my whole life. enjoy your food honey ko, i know you'll be back to the healthy eating plan in a couple of weeks.

this is a man who has for many many years enjoyed life by eating everything in his mom's meal table and in huge amounts, who would not touch even a picture of pechay, and who has now willed to live to the full by eating the right food, and taking his wife along the journey. a great 2 weeks indeed!

eto na, weigh-in na halaaaaa!!!!! i weighed myself where i always do and around the same time and situation. another happiest moment of my life. after 2 weeks of indulgence and just 4 days back into the eating plan, i lost 2 pounds :)

my Encouragement looked me in the eye and lovingly told me "good job, honey :)" i should have answered "couldn't have done this without your support! i love you!" instead of "nice haircut!" hwaaaaaaaaa

Ninety pounds to go!

eating vicariously

we received our first two Christmas gifts! one was 3 blouses and a bag and i excitedly tried the blouses on. perfect! the other one came with other gifts that were for my in-laws. mine was a bottle of spices na dadagdagan nalang ng vinegar for a fabulous homemade spiced vinegar. for my in-laws, pulvoron and yema :)

i thought i felt okay upon receiving this second gift, pero after a few hours and into the night i suddenly felt an urge to cry. hindi ko alam kung bakit! nanonood pa ako ng comedy show nun a. i turned the TV off and went out of the room to the kitchen where the Hub was fabricating and weighing our meat supply for the next days. on his sympathetic "why?" i wanted to bawl, but i didn't know why so i felt silly letting it out.

today, i find out why. i was crying because i felt the deprivation of not receiving the pastry gifts that i saw along with our second gift, the one for my in-laws. when my hub said "no, that's for mom and tita", i said "oh okay!" yun pala i was hurt. today, with a clearer mind and a much lesser craving (i received the second gift near evening time, the time most of my cravings happen), i realize that there's another hurdle - the depression of not being able to eat goody gifts.

in the past holidays, i would look forward to these gifts and devour them the moment i received them (well, the good ones hehe). i felt so loved by the givers and i felt so important. gifts of food were valuable to me and i would be so happy to receive them and eat them. my Christmas was made happy with these goodies.

the Hub and i made our Christmas festivity plans early. we would choose which Christmas parties we would attend so that we won't have to eat so much so often. we accepted the fact that we would eat some bawal na food, but we are realistic to say that we would watch our portions, not eat pork, eat lean meat, balance our meals, and work out after a relatively hefty meal. by relatively we mean allowing ourselves about 100 grams more than what we usually eat since the healthy lifestyle change. we both declare a bawal food that we would allow ourselves to eat during our two-day anniversary celebration next month - mine are tofu chips from Chimara which i love especially while watching movies ("i will buy the medium pack and munch while walking at Ayala Triangle) and hopia from goldilocks.

happily, Hub and i would have these conversations. we had a good plan!

i also advised friends not to gift me with cookies or pastries, but Sarsi light and small washington apples.

pero bakit ako naiyak when we received the 2nd gift? .... i realize that it's the reality that Christmas celebration won't be the same for me anymore.

pero, nahimasmasan na ako ;)

indeed, Christmas won't be the same for me from now on. on this occasion, one of only two which i am OA about and make a big deal of,  i will no longer associate the celebration with overindulgence. i will count my blessings loudly, and with no constipation, dizziness, or discomfort. as i watch the fireworks i shall stare at my feet which i am now able to see in full while standing. i will jump and dance without fear of arthritis. i shall laugh with my friends and enjoy bonding with them while drinking bottomless water, happy and confident as they for sure will notice how much more beautiful i have become. i will sleep soundly.... with less sounds from the snore. i will still drool at the Christmas feasts, but i will eat vicariously, happily remembering that i will reach my desired weight next year and will be able to work out more while i eat small portions of spaghetti. i shall revel and yell "Merry Christmas!" knowing that i have become wiser in choosing my food and food portions, and in feeling in my heart and soul what it is to be a temple of the Lord.

thank you God, for your gift of life! thank you for the things you allow us to enjoy! thank you for being my Prime Mover into the best version of me.

Maligayang Pasko!

Happiness

isang buwan ko palang natitikman uli ang kape na walang creamer or milk. minsan pagtapos ko magtimpla, bumalik ang mga masasayang alaala nang maamoy ko ang kape.

miss na miss ko ang luto ng nanay ko (who is now bedridden, yet still so blessed). lahat ng lutuin nya, masarap at masustansya. hindi siya gumagamit ng kahit na anong artificial na pampalasa hanggang naging medyo weak na sya and she had to resort to the chicken cubes.

we'd pick vegetables from our backyard and she would make the best inabraw with bagoong straight from ilocos. she'd cook adobo using pork so fresh, it would seem as if she interviewed the pig about its diet prior to slaughter. she would make fried chicken without breading - toyo and calamansi lang - ang never burnt, overcooked, or undercooked. her dinuguan was the best - parang vegetarian yung pinanggalingan ng dugo. and the best part of these all was, she would call us to dinner just as the food is cooked. bagong hango. oh how we'd slurp the inabraw broth which was our amuse bouche!

pag may okasyon, kambingan yun. she would call her nephews and brothers to bring a live kambing. sila mismo ang kakatay kasi mom is very particular with the manner. plenty a saturday morning i would wake up to the pleasant smell of goat being grilled! i would only go downstairs and into the backyard after i've matched the smells to the food in my mind, and as i go downstairs the images come to life - kaldereta, kilawin, sopas - ang sasarap lahat at walang anggo whatsoever!

ang unang una kong gagawin e mag safety sa tupperware at babaunin ko sa school kinalunesan. syempre pa-sikatan ng baon "ano'ng baon mo?" "hotdog" "fried chicken" at ako? "KAMBING!" hahahaha pinagtatawanan ako ng mga ignorante hah! walang humihingi ng baon ko burrrrrppppp. to this day i cannot find one place or person who can cook kambing like my mother did.

ay onga pala. yung kwento ng kape. homemade parin ng mommy! she made coffee out of roasted rice aysos walang katulad. yun ang lagi naming baon pag bumabyahe kami ng gabi aboard a farinas bus papuntang ilocos. ayaw ni mommy na sumakay ako ng six by six or maria de leon bus na hindi aircon. kaming dalawa lang ang nasa farinas. ayaw din nyang kumain kami kung saan saan twing stop over. she would bring adobong manok and rice, water, and... the rice coffee. she would store them in a thermos, timplado na ng asukal. as most of the passengers go down to eat, we would remain in the bus and devour our baon. ito na yata ang pinakamasarap na pagkain at pinakamagandang dining experience ko sa buong buhay ko.

susubuan pako ni mommy, she would insist kasi madudumihan daw kamay ko. hala dalaga nako nun a. no matter what age and size i've become, i was always her bunso.

kahit anong luto ko, hinding hindi ko mapaparisan ang luto ni mommy na may magic touch (yung hindi binubudbod). kahit yung mga luto nyang McGyver (tira tira na ginawang bago) ang sarap parin sobra. hindi marangya ang buhay namin, minsan pa nga tinatawag ko syang kuripot. pero eto, nakaratay si mommy pero she and dad did not leave us with debt. we live in a house that's fully-paid.

dati, pagkain ang kaligayahan ko. lalo't malungkot ako, ang lakas kong kumain. today, with our healthy lifestyle change, i realize that food has always been part of my happy times but the real happiness was times with loved ones. i am now one month into making more happy times like these.

i love you mommy. thank you for always being my happiness. thank you for cooking for me and making your food part of the memories. thank you that you're still here, reminding me of what true happiness is.

thank you God, for giving me strength and wisdom to eat like i never used to, so that now my eyes are opened to the true sources of my happiness.