Gingerbreadtalk Ver. 1.0 : Powerman, White Rock, BDM 151 and The Mystery Behind The Demise Of Run Radio
Ola friends and readers! Once again, I'd like to thank you for all the support you have been giving this site. I still get amazed at how far we have gone, and that the site is still actually up and running. Obviously, I couldn't have done that without your support. Anyway, we all know it ain't easy to maintain a blog, more or so that a lot of my articles are feature length. Combine that with a hectic dayjob, some semblance of a training program and that more or less equates into article backlog. Admittedly, I'm behind by several articles now, and I hate stale news as much as you guys.
So with that in mind, today we're launching the very first edition of Gingerbreadtalk! I know it sounds kitschy but you can only append so many words to "Gingerbread" (note to self, think of a better name before the next public enterprise). It's going to be a simple, blunt and straightforward weekly update on all things running and multisport. I highly encourage you to comment and put in your two cents on whatever topic is pertinent for the week. Also planning to revive that Gingerbreadcast thing we used to do, wait up for more fun interviews.
Most creative title of the year nominee right here. Ulk.
So without further ado, here's the week that was :
- If you're keeping tabs on the community and are on some form of social media, you've probably come across my recent campaign at Powerman Malaysia. The race is a long distance duathlon comprised of an 11k run, a 64k bike and a 10k run after, and stands as the only qualifier for the World Duathlon Championships in Switzerland. I was there along with several members of our national team. With only ultramarathoner Abby as my support , we had to withstand a plethora of mechanical, logistical and physical challenges to even make it to the start line. I seriously underestimated the difficulty of putting the whole thing together, but hey, isn't that what makes the experience all the more meaningful? Stricken with severe cramps and with sleep deprivation kicking in, I finished the race in an off-form 4:24:52. Given all the crap we had to go through though, I was just thankful to have made it to the start line, much less finish with some semblance of decency.Thanks for all your greetings of support! Wait up for my full article on it, should make for a very interesting story. Also, thanks to Jinoe and Que for finally putting me on the Takbo.ph front page! Finally made it after all these years haha :P
With national team mainstays Evelio Javier and Carlo Pedregosa- Congratulations to all those who successfully completed the NY Marathon this, including Rio, Jaymie/TBR, Jay, and Endure Multisport pal Joy. I'l probably never do Boston unless I maintain my current fitness level until I'm 80 years old, so NYC is probably the most realistic on my bucket list of marathons. Now, all I have to do is figure out that proof of financial capability thing, get out those land titles and wish that I get lucky with the lottery :)
One day.....
Looks like fun...
Epic fail.
TPB bro Mark just officially set a new world record
Can we do this all over again?
- Congratulations to the new rockstars (clever huh) who conquered the Tri United Half-Ironman distance triathlon at White Rock, Subic. Back when Ironman 70.3 didn't have a franchise yet in the country, this was probably the most anticipated triathlon event every season. Now that all the hype goes to Camsur, the vets and purists still regard WRT as more enjoyable, and even tougher in terms of level of difficulty. Hopefully I'll get my shot next year. Swim swim swim.
After a presscon last week, was touching base with some old friends when I was suddenly reminded of something that I had long tried to forget already - what the crap ever happened to Run Radio? For those who have been around long enough, after Jaymie and Jay hosted Season 1 on NU 107, myself and the irrepressible Bards Bathan of Banana Running fame were supposed to take over for Season 2. Series of meetings, series of delays, a "primer" of some sort, a magazine presser, series of more meetings and more delays. An after- election launch was the last I heard of it. Natalo na si Gibo, nagsara na NU, wala pa din. And I guess that was that. So much for my one real shot at fame. Boo hoo. Think of all the what if's. Sigh. Haunts me to this day. Smirk.
Epic fail. - Congratulations to all new minted ultramarathoners who successfully completed Sir Jovie aka the Bald Runner aka BR's T2N or Tagaytay to Nasugbu 50k jaunt. I took a peek at the results and was floored that there were 159 finishers of the race, a good number of which I had known since they were newbie runners angling for a 21k. Level up! When I did my first 50k, Ian Alacar's Botak gig, I think there were less than 50 people there and it was a big deal to hit 50k. Props to BR for promulgating ultra running in the country, and it seems the market is responding with rapid traction.
- I haven't taken out my bike from the box. I wonder if it's still in one piece? Shudder. Props to the guys and gals at Bikezilla in Ortigas for helping me out and giving me a crash course in assembling/disassembling it. Even if I sucked out, at least I had enough knowledge to actually put it together.
- Missed a Pacquiao fight for the first time in years, fell on the same timeframe as my duathlon. Got to watch the entire thing on those illicit YouTube uploads that are taken down after an hour for copyright infringement. Catching them is much akin catching lightning in a bottle. KJ naman kasi pfft.
- Those KOTR race cards were hilarious, a glitch somewhere in the timing thing and everything was off the charts!
TPB bro Mark just officially set a new world record- Speaking of ultramarathons...... I finally got my BDM 151 ticket! And so did Abby! Thank you BR for the vote of confidence, it's an honor. Now the question is, can I somehow garner the time and commitment to train for it, given the multitude of things on my plate now. Decisions decisions. Hmmmm......
Can we do this all over again?- Good luck to all those running Run United (which has a shockingly fancy 32k, good job) and the Milo provincial qualifiers this weekend. There's also the Animo Run and a run in Ateneo. Which side are you on? Till next week folks!
its funny that the Animo Run and the Big Blue Katipunan Run were held SIMULTANEOUSLY at both ends of the metro.PLUS the fact that RIO had his Afroman Run on that same weekend! looks like it's going to be FUN in KATIPUNAN Flyover! ;)
i like this gingerbreadtalk (err,whattaname babe!) thing :)
time is moving so fassst!! november is already about to end! so many things to do even more decisions to make! (gulp)
its always fun to tag along your crazy gut adventures babe! altho next time...when there's some mechanical issues involved...i think id rather give my ticket to a mechanic! i hate not knowing what to do and seeing you stressed out how to build your bike!...im the one who gets....stressed!! if this continues...i might ask you to sponsor my anti aging creams and anti stress meds! LOL!!
what stint are you coming up next eh? i might have to mentally prepare myself for this one? perhaps have 'support' training! :P
Lol Tim, what side are you on bro? :)
Hehe thanks for all the support babe, it meant a lot. I would take you over a mechanic any day :D But that was some crazy adventure eh?
Ayos sa update a. I have a backlog too and new projects coming up. Haaaay... and they say blogging is easy. To a runner, it is not just a walk in the park and write. :D
Congrats on the Powerman dude.
Congrats Powergingerbreadtalk!!!
My goodness another BDM! Just give me a couple of years. When I visit Manila, I think I'd like to give that a try. Yeah right whatever!
Hehe thanks Jinow! Tindi ng backlog ko eh! But I guess this is a fun, interactive way to keep things updated. Makes it a heck of a lot more random too. :) I made it to the front page, Xmas gift mo ba sakin? hahaha.
Thanks Julieeeee :) I really think you can pull it off, if you were only here :) Visit ussss :D
Nice post Luis! Been waiting....and waiting....and waiting for new stories from the GB Man himself ;p My fave is still the video when Hitler found out that he wasn't able to join the NB Run. LOL!
Congrats on your new achievement! Doesn't matter that you're "off". What matters is that you finished the race, enjoyed and learned from it.
Glad you like it Gail :) Sadly, the Hitler video is gone forever :( They deleted the original source, and since that was an Overstream, everything's gone :(
I stumbled upon your blog after a few links here and there. Congratulations on the Powerman, rolling with Javier, August and the gang? Good job with it!
Laughing Out Loud on the Rockstar comment. That run course was inhumane, EVERYONE walked except for maybe 5-6 people (hats off to Mari, Meyo, Don V., LC, Borling...) Thinking about it after a day and two, I do hope they retain that bloody run course next year.
Good luck on your swimming! It will be the easiest leg once you get comfortable with it. Like running, you need steady mileage to get comfy. So swim swim swim! BUT always remember that 750 yards of drills / proper technique is better that brutally finishing a 2k swim. Us runners who tri are often guilty of forcefully swimming 1 or 2k without considering technique. I guess being used to the impact sport, we bulldoze our way to the swim sets.
Anyway, this is not a professional advice and is just my two cents worth. Who am I anyway, who just learned how to swim early this year, to be heard. Eck. Keep on tri-ing my man. You will someday see yourself in that starting line.
P.S. I realized that was Chin in the WRT Photo, nice shot.
Thanks bro! Yeah, Powerman was quite the experience, crazy logistical nightmare haha. I grossly underestimated it :) Race management was top-tier though, smooth all throughout.
I'm working on the swim also, although lately been sidetracked/slacking off haha. Hoping that my next tri would be an improvement over that disastrous 33 minute 750 m stinker I dropped at Dean's Cup. :) Will keep plugging away haha.
Thanks for the visit, will try to post as much updated material as I could :)