2 Phase

My daily schedule for several months now and until the end of the year.

Phase 1: Work
Phase 2: Choir

New tHinGs..

There comes a time in your life when you have to let go of some things important to you to make way for something you think is WORTH the sacrifice.

I think I've come to a certain point.  I haven't been climbing in months, running and swimming have been pushed aside.  I'm almost quite sure I wouldn't fulfill the only two goals I have set for this year.

What has become of greater importance for me? Music - specifically choral music AND the choir I'm in.. and have been in since it began in 2006..

I still try to squeeze everything into the little time that is given to me every week, though.

...

..even the title is blank..

what do you do when you don't feel like writing down anything.?

many months have lapsed since the last time I blogged about anything..

..maybe i'll revamp..

Ready to TRI?

It's one week to go before my target date to my first TRI.  The ANIMO Sprint Triathlon in Alabang is happening on June 14, 2009.

950m Swim, 30km bike, 7km run.. AM I READY?



If ever I'm gonna race on the 14th, I'll be going alone.  No friends who are gonna race with me that are also racing for the first time.  I'll be tri-ing alone.  This will be a moment of truth.  Another thought to think about is have I been training enough?

I have never done a triathlon in my life and the idea of a 'first time' is nerve wrecking.  I have learned from Parkour training that the 'first jump' is the most important.  IF I am going to tri, I want to be able to attack it the best I can.  There will be no DNF (Did Not Finish).

SHOULD I TRI?

The Painful Truth

A friend of mine introduced me to this article: The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money?

When we were kids, we used to run around fields barefoot.  And I never experienced an ankle sprain! The first and only ankle sprain I've ever experienced came from a game of basketball last year -- while wearing shoes..

Click the link above to read the article.

Lance Armstrong's bike Recovered

Word is Lance's bike was returned by some anonymous citizen...without wheels!  I'm sure the got spares of that.  Only one bike from the other three missing has been recovered.


http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=/tech/2009/news/02-19

Lance Armstrongs TT Bike Stolen

I don't usually post this much in a day but somehow I find this news amusing enough to post.

Lance Armstrong's Time Trial bike along with three other Astana Team road bikes were stolen from the team truck February 15, 2009. Check out the full story from CNN: Armstrong's bike stolen after race

Skyway Run for the Whale Sharks: Registration Open!!

As of yesterday, February 16, 2009, the Registration for the Condura Run 09: Skyway Run for the Whale Sharks has been opened. Registration details can be found at http://condurarun.com

Distances: 3km, 5km, 10km, Half Marathon

The Skyway is a Philippine 'high speed' hi-way which will be part of the Condura Run Half Marathon.  No human (outside a vehicle) has been allowed on this road until now.  So take this opportunity to raise funds for the Whale Sharks and to run where no one has ever run before!

See you in the skyway!

Tagaytay Pista Ng Pag-Ibig 2009

Yesterday, February 15,2009, I witnessed my first live cycling event in Tagaytay City.  Headed by Tagaytay City Mayor and PhilCycling President, Bambol Tolentino, the Pista Ng Pag-Ibig (Feast of Love) is done every year.

I was reminded of my first running event (the Makati City Hall Vertical Race).  I was wearing jogging pants and a shirt.  I was surrounded by bronze skinned runners showing off their massive, well-toned legs through their 'ultra-short' shorts.  I was watching several runners warming up.  I was intimitated!

I didn't join this cycling event - which was also an event where they take the top 10 junior finishers and train them for a cycling event in Singapore - but I was really intimidated!  I just stood/sat scanning the human powered machines zooming past, while cyclists were warming up, trying to identify their equipment and taking mental notes of their riding techniques and form.  I fed my mind on the pretty eye candies - frames, wheelsets, components.  I, ofcourse, rode my bike to the place.  I am proud of my bike, don't get me wrong! But that time, I didn't associate myself with my bike as I wasn't dressed to match my bike.  I also watched as some people approached my bike and admiring it! Haha.. the pride of the builder!! ..but I didn't mention that it belonged to me. (how pathetic!)

The event also included a 160km ride.  As the race started, I watched these cyclists starting strong!  I wondered how they could keep up that pace when they had to ride 160kms.  Maybe it seemed strong to me, when to these steel legged superhumans, it was just another joy ride.  I was awakened to the world of cycling and how much more I have to train!

A pedal away

My road towards a triathlon is now just a pedal away.  I've spent a couple of months building up a road bike.  The process took more than that considering the time it took to scout for parts & prices and to research about proper bike fit.

Finally, I've managed to complete a machine.  Completely bought (except for handle bars & calipers) from Cycle Art in Quiapo, Manila.  This shop has probably the best customer service around.  I've been to other bike shops in the area and none came close to the friendliness of the people at Cycle Art.

Specifications:

Frameset: Kinesis KT415 TT SPF
Wheelset: Shimano WH-R550
Shifters: Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Crank: Shimano Sora 50/34
Cassette: Shimano Tiagra 12-23, 9speed
Handlebars: MOB
Stem: FSA
Headset: Kinesis (manufactured for Cane Creek)
Breakset: Shimano Sora

The bike weighs a total of 20lbs which I consider incredibly light compared to bikes I have previously ridden.

The Kinesis kt415 has a TT (time trial) geometry with a seat angle of 76 degrees.  It came with fork and seat post.  I am planning to buy clip-on aero bars and transform this bike into a tri bike.  For now it will remain a road bike with tri geometry.  All components are Shimano Sora except the Cassette and I'm also planning to upgrade these to 105.  But not now.  I was on a budget and the real investment I made was on the frameset.

I built this bike up and fine-tuned the shifting and the stack and reach and was finally able to ride it a week after I finished assembling it.  Last Sunday, February 8, 2009 was the day I took it on it's first 40km trip.  I also took it for hill training last night.

I would like to especially thank Desiree of Cycle Art for being so helpful and accomodating.

If you wish to contact Cycle Art:

Cycle Art Mktg. Quiapo, Manila
Mobile: +639177951122

I'm still not abandoning ol faithful.  The bike I started training on:

Bomb?! ..Oh...

There a lot of things that can freak a crowd out and cause total chaos. One of which is a bomb threat. Imagine you are in a mall full of people when someone shouts "BOMB!!" and runs!! What do you think happen? Ahh.. Stampede!!

In the Philippines, and probably most anywhere in the world, joking about bombs isn't the funniest joke. Specially in airports. You could get caught, jailed, fined, then jailed again...ok, maybe not. I had a similar experience just recently. Not in an airport, nothing was funny (until I noticed), no one was jailed.

I traveled to Quiapo, Manila to purchase the lacking parts of my bicycle project. I was traveling with my friend RJ, who was also scouting for bike parts. On our way home, we decided to take the LRT. Train stations, in the Philippines at least, have security guards checking the contents of your bags. I was carrying a bag where I put my goodies. Approaching the security guard's desk I unzipped my bag and opened it. She (the security guard) was checking the contents. She found something and was gesturing - asking what it was. It was my bike handpump that I forgot to remove from my bag. "Bomba po!", I said. She let me pass.

Then, it dawned on me!! What the hell was that?! Did I just tell a security guard it was a BOMB? I was laughing to myself. I innocently answered her question saying that it was a hand pump! You see in the Philippines a pump is bomba, same filipino word for bomb. I was aware of the rules about making fun with bombs and such. I was glad I wasn't apprehended. It could have been serious!

Well, earlier, we were on the train and took out my water bottle to drink. While drinking, I tilted my head up and saw the sign saying "No Drinking!" My, my, me! I hurriedly put my water bottle away.

Happy New Year!!!

- Gong Xi Fa Chai!! Just in time for the Chinese New Year!!  I just got this picture from RJ (thefirstgrader.blogspot.com) last night.

- This picture was taken in Tarak Ridge last year, December.  If you notice I was kneeling down.  The winds were so strong that standing for this pic was difficult.

- I believe this year is the year of the Ox which is also the year I was born (1985).  I am expecting a lot this year.  I will also expect to work hard on training which I've already started.

My 2009 Goals:

I have several goals for the year 2009.  Some of them are goals carried over from 2008.  Here are some of them.

1.  Finish a Marathon - This was a goal that I had last year which I didn't get to do.  Running and finishing 42kms is definitely a goal this year.  I was excited about the Philippine Marathon which was supposed to happen on March 8 but was moved.  This gives me ample time to train.  All marathons are scheduled at the later part of the year.  A half marathon - The Cordura Half Marathon - will be held on March 22.

2. Become a Triathlete - I've been bitten by the bug.  And now I'm in the triathlon fever.  I've started training to be a triathlete this year.  My goal is to finish an olympic distance triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) but in any case a sprint distance will do.. nothing below that.  Triathlon training could be really tough.  I have to find time to train all three sports during the week. And without a lap pool near by, I ride 14kms to Adventist University of the Philippines to swim, then ride 14kms home.  So far, training is going along fine.  I haven't really cut down on running as I also have to train for a marathon.

So what have I done so far to see that this goals are met?

-  I have been more serious with training.  I've also found out that cross training like cycling could improve endurance during the run.  Just recently, I finished third in a local short-distance run we had.

- I am building a road bike.  Almost complete.  I plan to complete it by next month.  The frame is of time trial geometry (76 deg. of seat angle).  I've been using a mountain bike (MTB) on the road for training which isn't really the use for it.  I plan to start piling in more miles with my TT bike.  I'll post a pic of the bike when it's complete. ^^

My Takes on the TNF Thrill of the Trail

First of all, this post wasn't supposed to come first this year.  There was supposed to be a Happy New Year's post, a New Year's resolutions post, a "what-I-did-til-now" post, and another post.  But right now, those will come after this.

If you want to read about the TNF Thrill of the Trail, read it from my friend's blog - HighAltitude.

I'm posting to pour out my disappointments of not being able to join this run! Well, not a fault on my part mind you.  I was looking for a way to register for this run.

After hearing about this run last year from Jerry, I've been looking forward to it.  I went to TNF-MOA to get my trail shoes fixed and asked them about the registration - this was 2 weeks after I heard about it.  And guess what - they said the registration was closed!! Well, they had a poster of the run for all to see, and here I was hearing that the registration was closed! I was disappointed wondering how this race closed registration so soon?!

Then I remembered the complications in last year's TNF run, how, despite closing of registration, they allowed on site registration and it messed up the results.  I thought it was fair that only a certain number of people be allowed for this run.  But still, I was disappointed.

Forgetting about it, it came back when Jerry mentioned it a few weeks ago, then discussing with my friend RJ about not being able to register, I found out that he had the same issue.  It was worse though because he - some one who won 3rd in his age category - didn't get a chance to register!!! Why isn't a placer given special privileges in this kind of thing?  I, too, ran in the TNF100 20k and did pretty well finishing at 2:01:xx..  Then, topping this off, hearing that joining a running workshop, a week before the race, gives you the opportunity to register!!  It is just NOT FAIR!! Well, I heard that the registration was done on an invitational kind of thing.  But still!!  I don't think you should deny people their right to experience the thrill of the trail.  And this is after you advertise it to the public..

Hopefully I will get to run in the next trail run.  Congratulations to all who ran this race. Congrats to Jerry for finishing 7th overall.

Note: I heard that the Philippine Marathon will be postponed.  I hope it will not.  I'm training for this run, and having this kind of news just puts me off my rhythm.