TAKBO.PH

Two weeks ago I became one of the newest members of Takbo.ph a blog and discussion forum about running in the Philippines. As a newbie in running I went through most of the forum discussions, feeling the community's air and figuring out if I am cut to learn a lot and enjoy myself. Lucky for me this is not a first in terms of being involved in a community of people with the same interest, wants and dreams. I found the group very warm and very receptive. I even found the brother of an old high school friend. I hope to meet other members soon. I hope to get first hand advices from the group's pioneers and wish that I could run with them too.

2010 goals

I owe this to myself and I decided to share it with you. Do remind me sometime if I tend to forget most items or all of it. :)

For Creative Outlet

• Be more visible in bazaars, trade shows.
  
• Be published in one of the leading fashion magazines. Or see our accessories worn by a model on a magazine's front cover.
  
• Try other craft mediums.
  
• Make more designs with fave materials. -- I love working with wire and I tend to do more projects! Yey!

For Family

• Take vacations as often as our work permits us.
• Find more common things to do. We run together, relieve our stress together and plan for our future while getting fit.
  

For Self

• Pray more.
• Remind self to eat healthy foods.
• Make more friends. Cherish existing friends.
  
• Support a cause.
• Run Carrie Run.
  

I will do it. Yes I can!

Why Im MIA

I know I have been MIA for a long time and I would like to share with you the reasons why.

• My cousins and I decided to have our own version of The Biggest Loser. Our very own Biggest Loser: Compound Edition! Yes, we are overweight and yes we want to eat. Getting together and sharing a sumptuous meal is one of my family's past times. We always, always celebrate major and minor occasions with a hefty buffet table of all our favorite dishes. But this year we all decided to embrace life and all its beauty. 6 of us committed to change our lives for the better. 6 of us vowed to exercise, eat healthy foods and promised to never let our craving be the boss of us. 6 of us made a promise to each other - to spend more time being together healthy and celebrating each life's milestone not in sickness but with wellness. We all weighed in last January 2 and will weigh out by December 23. No specific exercise, no specific diet plans, no specific training. Each of us is entitled to do whatever form of exercise we want just as long as we dont take prohibited medications and no liposuction. To date I have lost 15 pounds and counting. :D

• I have been into aerobic dancing, walking, and boxing. All of them gave me a sense of euphoria. I enjoy what I do. Im not stressed out. Im happy with these exercises and most of all I lost weight. Then Din encouraged me to do running. I first I was so not into it. I told him I couldn't run. My knees will hurt. My legs are still so heavy, my butt is heavy and my tummy is still heavy. But he insisted and one day I told myself...why not try it. I did and now Im hooked. Of course I had the help of a very good friend Russ. She directed me to an all Filipino running community takbo.ph The community is packed with a lot of information a newbie runner would want to know. In no time I registered and made some queries. Ever since that day in January I make it a point to run/walk 5x a week.

• I joined in the Runrio Trilogy: Leg 1: Century Tuna Superbod 2010 5km run. Din, my nephew and I prepared for about 3 weeks for this event. Though we all know that we are newbies in this field (well...except for Din...he used to run in college...but that was ages ago :D) but we want to have fun and experience being a runner. And so we joined and had the best time yesterday!!!! Yes, we finished the race. Hats off to my nephew who ranked 453 out of 2050 participants for the men's 5km run, to Din who placed 1134! I ranked 761 out of 1179 female 5km runners. Not bad....not bad at all. Im still overweight by 50lbs and nearing 40 in a few months but boy that race was an accomplishment! We were together the first 5 mins of the race but we all lost each other during and came together after with a big smile on our faces. Yes we did it!!!!! Yes I was there and I finished!

Din and I after the race. We did it. We finished our first ever 5km run. Woohoo!!! We hope to influence some of our relatives to join us in this wonderful sport. Join us in our next race on March 13, 2010 Pinay In Action a project of Senator Pia Cayetano. See you there :)