[Good Read] It's not how good you are...

At the advent of social media, I almost neglected an important activity that was intended for engaging the mind and spirt.  The activity is called reading books.

Not all is lost, as there is a little drive left within me to pick up a good book and read it from cover-to-cover.  On rare occasions, I would even share or talk about it.  This is one of those very rare occasions.

I found this book in our car, with a screaming title:  IT'S NOT HOW GOOD YOU ARE, IT'S HOW GOOD YOU WANT TO BE.  My thoughts and the greater universe have aligned. Just in time.  

Grabbed from http://www.phaidon.com/

It reminds us readers about simple things that we tend to forget.  One example from the book, 'You can't score if you don't have a goal.' 

Punchy.  Healthy.  No sugar (coating) added.

Now, back at center.

Thanks to hubby's boss for lending me this book.  Good read.

adidas teams up with Marvel's Avengers

Spring 2015, adidas introduces a new collection of kids footwear and apparel inspired by three superheroes of the new blockbuster Marvel Studios film, Avengers: Age of Ultron, which hit theaters worldwide, April 2015.

The adidas Avengers collection features exciting new designs reflecting the unique personalities of three of the film's superheroes: Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America. This collection, which cover infants, little kids and youth boys alike, offer full head-to-toe outfits: tees, shorts, shoes, and accessories.  These come in matching colours to ensure a wardrobe with fresh looks for every true Avengers fan!

The kids collection is complemented by adult running shoes, which come in four matching designs. The adult line includes a silver-green adidas adizero Prime BOOST™ that was featured in the film. 

The new adidas Avengers collection goes back to the classic roots, with footwear inspired both by the original comics' style and the graphics of the movie. Various models include running silhouettes for adults and kids, as well as low and mid-cut multipurpose silhouettes specifically designed for kids. Response BOOST Ltd showcases adidas' premium BOOST™ technology, paired with Marvel's greatest superheroes design as the primary source of inspiration.

Running, Infertility, and #TheCubsProject

I love running.  I ran. I stopped. I run again...these things I usually say and do.  I always go back to running no matter how crazy life could get.

I met the love of my life, at the time my age can no longer be found in the calendar.  We met through the local running community.  We sealed our love and life long commitment by marriage. The natural progression, of course, is to bear a healthy baby.  After two years, it is not yet happening. However, we are blessed in more ways than one, and I could not complain to God.  

The logical way to approach our infertility situation is to try different means - whether through natural means or  science.  We cannot expect a different result at the end of each cycle, if we would insist on the same approach over and over again. #TheCubsProject

After months of tracking the calendar, labeled and off-labeled medication, tummy injectibles, ovulation and pregnancy test kits to the trash bin, medical tests, and two failed artificial insemination cycles, still no baby.  

It was never as easy as Band Aid...a needle can puncture a heart.

I developed polyps, instead.  Those benign little monsters occupied my uterus quite aggressively, that they prevented embryos from implanting into my womb.  I used to imagine those polyps as tiny, alien-like creatures that I can smash with a frying pan.  "Die polyps! Die!"  Well, this violent thought did not exactly materialize.  Modern medicine helped me get rid of them.  Like preparing for the next championship game, my OB showed me the actual video of the polyps as we discussed the treatment, post-mortem.  We were getting ready for some action plans once healing is completed.

I won't describe the medication as pretty, as I do not have a good gauge how my hormones affected my emotions (brain chemicals).  While on medication, I had some emotional bouts of how life could become, particularly, my career.  I was once a prey to anxiety, paranoia - more of that 'fear of missing out', of being passed up for important work assignments because of my drive to challenge infertility.  Then, what used to help me deal by becoming open about the treatments made a 180-degree turn.  I crawled back to my shell, with some good memories of my past, but now non-existent comfort zone. My heart was broken. 

I prayed. I could not be more grateful for the abundance of love and support by my husband, our family, and friends.    

As soon as I got a go-signal from my OB to resume strenous physical activities, I enrolled in a gym.  Time to pick-up the pieces.  So, I went back to my regular walk-jog-run activities.  

It feels good to be running again.  

The thing about running is the motion of moving forward, moving ahead, and taking charge where to go.  Life is like that.  One has to keep moving forward.  Running creates a semblance, perhaps, at some point, symbolizes my strong will to carry on and rise above whatever challenges life or people throw at me.

Since I was not doing any regular runs for two years, I anticipated a few challenges. Crazy schedule and some degree of physical pain - those lactic acid build up in the legs...and yet, every time I overcome these things, it brings about the feeling of achieving small wins.  Even with small, incremental progress, I already feel like winning.  It's good.  I'm happy...oh, and the hashtags... #FeelingBlessed #HUMAN

------

Related blog post :  The Fertility Blessing

8,692 Women Became #BETTERFORIT

On the evening of 9 May, 8,692 women ran the streets of Filinvest City, Alabang at the inaugural Nike Women's 10k Manila (#WeRunMNL). For more than 40 percent of the participants, this was their first ever 10k race, a testament to how sport and fitness are fueling a new women’s lifestyle. The Nike Women’s 10k Manila is the culmination of a series of initiatives by Nike since January, connecting, inspiring and enabling women to reach their fitness goals, and achieve their personal best. It is both the first all-women race Nike has organized in the Philippines, and also the biggest all-women race in the country so far.

Every aspect of the race encouraged the women to be #betterforit, pushing thousands of Filipinas to take on challenges and commit to become better versions of themselves. The route went through the residential areas of Filinvest and featured hills which the women conquered together. The race village, located within a multi-level carpark, had Nike Training Club (NTC) stations challenging women to be #betterforit through workouts such as squats, lunges, planks and push-ups to earn rewards. DJ Jess Milner, a fast-rising female DJ in the music scene in Manila, was on the deck to add to the high energy level. Women made their #betterforit commitments which were brought to life within an interactive #betterforit dome installation. 

“Women across the globe are embracing the fitness and sport lifestyle, and this is even more evident in the Philippines. We are here to empower them through services, product innovation, athlete inspiration and motivating them to be the better version of themselves,” says Patrick Reyes, Country Marketing Manager for Nike Philippines. “Whether it was her first 10k race, or a moment to achieve her personal best, Nike is here to inspire, connect and enable women to be #betterforit.”

Nike enabled women to train for the race through Nike+ Run Club sessions every Saturday, weekly N+TC classes, and free sessions with partner gyms which included Onelife Studio Makati, High Intensity Interval Training Philippines, 360o Fitness Club, Striking MNL, Plana Forma, and Elorde Boxing Gym. As part of the training journey, participants took part in N+TC Live on 25 April in Valkyrie, Manila’s largest nightclub. Led by NTC Trainer Sheena Vera Cruz, N+TC Live took over 200 participants through a high-energy NTC workout.

Apart from the activities, the women trained with the global community on Nike+, through the Nike+ Running app and Nike+ Training Club app which provided customized training programs designed by coaches.

“This is definitely something that I will remember for a long time. This is my first time joining an all-women race, and my whole race experience has been so beautiful and positive. I’m sure all runners who joined the Nike Women’s 10k Manila will say the same,” shares Monica Torres, number one female triathlete in the Philippines. “All women who crossed the finish line are better for it and have every reason to be proud of achieving their 10k goal.”

Nike Women’s 10k Manila is part of the global Nike Women's Event Series, connecting more than 200,000 women across 25 cities. Designed to power women to be better through sport, the series includes the Nike Women’s Race Series, with runs ranging from 5k to half marathon, and the N+TC Tour, a five-hour training challenge hosted by elite athletes and master trainers.

Meowth's b-day run

Special thanks to those who sent me beautiful thoughts on my birthday! 

People were asking what I would be doing on that special day.

Run. It makes me happier.   

B-day run 2015 : Back-to-back run.  Gym + outdoor run, Manila

B-day run 2014 :  Early morning jog, Powell St., San Francisco, CA.

Oh! Coffee is not to be missed.

B-day run 2015: Espresso and light pastry before running

B-day run 2014 : Bread and freshly brewed coffee near Union Square, after negotiating the rolling hills of San Francisco.  

Alaska Family Run 2015

World Milk Day is celebrated annually in many countries worldwide, providing an opportunity to focus attention on milk as a global food central to health and well-being across cultures and nations, and to highlight the contributions connected with milk and the overall dairy industry. To celebrate this, Alaska will have a running event with four (4) categories: 3KM, 3KM Family, 5KM and 10KM. 

Registration Period

May 1 - 25

Registration Fee

100m - PHP 150

1km - PHP 250

3km - PHP 550 individual

3km - PHP 1200 family

5km - PHP 650

10km - PHP 750

Registration Site

SM Megamall, Upper Ground Floor Bldg A (near Jamba Juice)

Online Registration

http://www.alaskaworldmilkday.com/registration/

Shirt Design

Race Map / Route