The Run- Milo Marathon

Like his half marathon he didn't sleep well, for the full mary he thought he could plan his sleep but run jitters kick in. His wife knowing he needs full rest gave him massage but still sleep was waaay elusive. He slept maybe 3 or 4 hours only but his energy shoot up due to excitement for his first marathon .

We were at the venue an hour and a half ahead of time.  Alvins plan was to take a nap but when he heard the drums, saw the crowd,  met his friends there was no way he could takesome zzzzzs.Donning the green singlet, he ate his pre-race meal - gardenia bread lang hehe, he tied his shoelace, stretched,  run a lil to warm up and he's all ready. of course the cheerleader he brought is also his photographer, here are some of his pre race 

pics:

3am gun time the Marchian friends (birthdays fall on March) run together with 2 thousandso running enthusiasts,  some qualifiers and vying for the chance to represent Milo on that prestigious Paris Marathon next year. While the husband ran, the wife sleeps until 4:30 gun time for the 5k.

Actually I was up at 4 ate some, drink some, went to the loo, bought water and ran na to the 5k line. Should have known there were waves during races - meaning batches- I should have lined up earlier. I was on the 3rd wave that was 10 minutes after. No pics for me I tthought there'd be photogs hahaha eh sa 42k pala yun. Some are doing selfie but Id rather finish with a good time record than a good photograph.Twas only then did I realize that the feeling was really different when you ran with super dami crowd wearing the same singlet aiming the same goal. I saw LJ Reyes, the starstruck avenger, hheard Karylle was there and so are Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero but I didnt see them na. Was busy running hehe feeling marathoner din.I finished after 46minutes not bad for a first. My next goal however is 10k and I want to have a good record there. Why 10k? Well 5k was sisiw ahahah ang yabang noh?! after  my kwento about how I prepared? Pero really I think I could do 10k next time, more challenging yes but one factor also is there was no photographer on 5k. I font have a single photo running ano beh.

After my run I immediately change outfit because I get sick easily. I didn't change to a new shirt and short but a dress primarily because that was easier to wear and well because I am my husband's cheerer that day what apt to wear than a tiny green dress! Off to the finish lune I went 4hours after the start of their run. Some are crosing the finish line and I had to check if he's there na rin - feelingera din eh no? Turns out the runners who pass the finish line sub 4 qualifies for the finals in December. Hubs is not on that level yet hehehe. More minutes past I was anxious,  excited na nervous,  where he's at hoping no injuries for him and his friends, I prepped my cheer hehe,  took the towel out and the water bottle for my marathoner. Camera ready I waited and waited and waited. Been looking if he's near na but couldn't see him until Jen said 'Si Alvin" and there he was past me, no cheer, no towel, no water, no picture either. So I ran past the men waiting and went past the finish line so I could greet him there. Apparently he was looking for me too  but some crowd went to the track to greet eh I wasn't there he thought I was sleeping in the car. Duh I went there primarily to cheer for him second lang ang 5k.

So there he is all smile and giddy and most especially no injury! My marathoner husband whom I am very proud of.

**posting  from phone ang hirap ilagay sa tama.position ang pics. will edit next time sa.laptop. meantime enjoy the kwento.

The training - Milo Marathon 2013

(if you want to see the marathon story jump to the next post this is the pre marathon entry and its kinda loong hehe)

When the Marchian friends (hubby, Allan and Butch) decided to join the 42km Milo run, my husband asked me if I wanted to join too. He said there'd be a fun run for 3k and 5k. Allan's wife will be running 10k, I knew I couldn't do 10k yet so I opted to join 5k. Actually was dyahe to join naman 3k because Allan's son who is barely 8yo or is he 7 ran 3k so I forced myself to get out of bed and practice for that fun run while the boys are seriously doing their training for their full mary.

We were registered as early as May I think and there's ample of time to train for my first 5k. I went walking then jogging then running, oh at first I'd finish 1km and I am happy already :) But when I heard my phone, I use it for tracking, started saying "One Mile Completed" it changed the game plan. My goal for every run is to reach that 1 mile then I kept running and walking ... by first week of July I can do 2 miles na! I need more to reach that 5k so I ran longer, my problem was that the sun is already up when I start jogging so afer 20 minutes I get tired na. One fine morning err dawn I woke up early and ran for 40 minutes and reached the 2.80 miles, after that I knew I will finish the 5k challenge.

My husband on the other hand was much serious in his training because 42km is not a joke. He ran his first 21k last April and I told him he could run a full marathon pero next year pa. But his friends whose birthday also fall on March enticed him to run too. All I could think is they might get injured due to lack of training, some marathoners train for a year eh these guys doesnt have a year to train much soo my husband who has only 1 half mary to boast. But I know my man if he wants it he'll train and work hard till he get it, he knows my apprehensions but I also send my trust that he could do it I was just hoping he wont get any injury. June came and he was almost always on the road trying to push his limits. 10km was a breeze his goal is to reached it sub 1, he did. Next is to run another 21k around Brunei, well he's 2 or 3km short because of his sore knee. He rested his knee a bit and run 2 or 5k then early July he ran again his target was 31km, during those time I here in Pinas was just praying he wont have to be carried home. He didnt bring his phone, there's no taxi nor pedicab in Brunei he could hail eh. 3 or 4 hours after I received a call, he's back home O thank GOD!!!  He said he was still 5km (?) short till he reach home that he felt sooo tired and wanted to quit. It was a mental battle he said,  to conquer the last 5k he kept talking to himself that he could do it - over and over and over until he reached home! Mind really is powerful!

Back to me, When I reached that 2.80mi barely 4.5km I knew I could finish 5k so I relaxed and didnt run as much na. Add to that is the scheduled photoshoot of me and the kids a week before the run eh I dont want to get darker my friends had been telling me 'umiitim ka na' waaaah I cant really dark during the shoot no. After the shoot that's barely a week before I made sure I would tick off that 5k on my list which I did 4 days before the run!

Running is something new to me. I am Em the girl who gets pretty tired agad when I walk the aisle of SM Megamall. I dont jog, I dont wake up early because in my mind I'd get tired and wont have energy to do the mommy duties I am more willing to do than jog. But when I started running it was the other way around. I had more energy to play with the kids and do mommy duties. I was more happy and it lessens stress. I thought it was just a challenge my husband want me to take but this is more of a lifestlye change. I need to keep fit for my children, for my husband and for my self. I am sure my husband is grinning while reading this post but yeah you got me hooked, so keep the challenge coming.

It is also a good motivator when clothes doesnt fit anymore! They are bigger now :) And I am 5lbs lighter. Ohhhh I almost forgot, before I started running I told my hubs I wont run without a nice outfit and good shoes - aka shopping!!! He said yes and I ran to Nike store and bought a kikay Nike free pink running shoes, a pink drifit shirt and 2 jogging pants. When i was signing the tab it reached 5 digits and I didnt care hahaha in my mind I was telling my husband you think you tricked me? Now, after the run I still jog, I even signed up for the communities 3k run, I read runner's magazine and get tips, i drink Fish Oil supplement for my joints well I guess all I am saying is I am pretty much hooked too. The question now is : Who tricked who???

More Milo Marathon kwento and pictures next.

Fifth Year Anniversary

Yes I know it was 2 months ago and I have sooo many backlogs already but how can I not share the day when my husband and I turned 5?  I asked hubby to take me to a place we have never been and he did, here's the story:

It was a lovely Saturday of May, I was asked to prepare early because it will be a loong drive - something both of us love doing. I was prepared with jokes! Good thing I was able to screenshot the jokes submitted by FB friends for someone else. It was a habit before kasi that we will search for jokes and tell it to each other during looong drive, aka Seria to Bandar, but my dear husband hasnt prepared any because he was busy preparing our date to a place we have never been :)

When we were at NLEX I had a feeling I've searched for the place that we are heading but I didnt ask. Well not until we reached San Fernando hehe! Actually he asked if I already knew where we're going and I said "Abe's?" and he confirmed with his colon D smile, my heart leaped! He knows na how to do surprises!!! I am a blessed girl.

Abe's farm is in Magalang Pampanga, It opens 10am to 8pm. There are several rooms but the unique rooms are the Ifugao huts and that's where we stayed. The room was air conditioned by the way so it was perfect hahaha. Bahay kubo na aircon san ka pa!!!

The food was superb :) I love the sisig, plapla and the dessert is awesome awesome I could go back for the dessert alone - Suman sa lihiya!!! Husband had Ube something, twas great too but I super love the suman that I had to ask for another one hehe.

After lunch we walked to look at the place and there it was the tallest/longest swing I've ever saw. Scary for the kids but we werent kids and we werent scared so we tried and it was looove. Just dont let go and hold on tight. 

And because we knew we wouldnt be able to go back any time soon we tried the pool too. Wapakels to

the rest of the guest who can see us from the restaurant who think we were crazy swimming at 12pm hahaha.

Abe's Farm is a must see. It is serene, cozy, simple. It's a place you will fall in love with. Oh it is relaxing too what with the 30 minute Spa we availed before we went home! Awesome eh?

We allowed ourselves to have a day date only because of the kids but it was well worth it. A day with my favorite guy is something I have always treasured. When I think of a happy place and a happy time, I always think of the places and times I have with you. 

Happy 5th dear! Cheers to forever. Love you.

Nanay @ 60

We do not celebrate her birthdays in a bonggacious way but this year was different because she turned 60!

And 60 is a significant number as almost every tens after 50 naman is. So the Mariano siblings went out to give her a party hmmm similar to a debut hehe because she hasnt had a debut celebration as she was married when she was just 16 :)

Here are some pics ;)

She got 6 gifts and 6 roses/dance. Yes she is 60 but hey if we'll put 60 gifts and 60 roses baka umaga na di pa tapos ang party! So here she is with her last dance, her husband, my dad who loves her sooo much. You know when someone loves a person di ba? They glow and there's spark? That's tatay when she is with nanay vice versa. Few more years and the couple will celebrate 50th anniversary. Tay, ipon ipon lang pag may time!!!

 Me and my sisters were asked to give a short message. Each of us had our turn to make her cry hahaha nope really we were only telling stories and we all end up crying. Our stories were simple, real, heartfelt, memorable and full of love and sacrifices that each of us melted with tears when we realize how great a mom she is to us. Hoping and praying to dear God that we may be able to be at least a portion of what she is to us. Here's my turn, mine is the shortest and my mom had to look me with her "why did u say that look" when I told everyone I was her favorite. It was meant to be a joke but only me gets it siguro, hehe me and my jowk walang nakakagets.

Oh I told them about the story of sardines when we were eating dinner and there was this last piece and I know it's hers but I still asked her if she's busog na, syempre Nanay the generous woman she is said Yes busog na ko sayo na yan when in fact she hasnt eaten much yet nagkasya na sya sa sabaw ng sardinas! I told them now I know two things. 1 is how much she loves me that she is willing to give her piece for me even if she's still hungry. Second is I am really a matakaw kid back then!

(Note to self, stand properly when  you give talks especially now that there are cameras everywhere. Pangit ng tayo di pwedeng pang beauty queen hehe. Oh and also can you please buy a new pair of shoes?)

It's Ate Lala's turn. She told about how Nanay worked a whole lot for us. That she even sold Yakult - driving a bike with side car to places and even near school. She said that when Nanay's about to come she'll hide because classmates will tease her, Nanay said "Nahihiya ka" I had to defend Ate here because I do hide too not because nahihiya kami but because our classmates are bad and they call out 'jacult' when our mom pass by and it hurts us. If I could go back I'd probably be stronger and fight those boys that are teasing her but we are taught not to fight so there.

Ate Leng naman told everybody that she is the most sakit ng ulo amongst us and cried buckets. You know Ate we are all sakit ng ulo and it is not a contest hehe. We gave her wrinkles here and there and I bet she doesnt even know na who to account for most of it. So chill na! Narinig tuloy ni Yaz and told her mom "Ma ikaw pala pinka pasaway sa inyo?" hahaha

 And the panganay syempre is the last one, Ate Mai a professional that she is has a ready card to read in front of the crowd 'kadaya' hahaha. I know you're reading this :P She told everyone how great a mom she is carrying her in her young years of 17 and having her on her 18th birthday. She was young yes but that did not stop her from being a great mother to all of us.

And here she is, our debutant, a beautiful mom, a faithful Christian, a beloved wife, a true friend, a loving sister.  Pretty pretty noh? Bili ko yang blouse na yan! Haha ayaw ko kasi yung dress na pinatahi nya hahaha peace!!!

Present on her birthday were her siblings, Tita Myr, Tito Jessie, Tita Cel and Tita Belle. She has other sibling across the globe somewhere in California we alll hope that one day they can be together again in one place - that would surely be wonderful!

 Syempre me, Ate Lah, Tatay, Ate Leng and Ate Mai are there to be with the super Nanay!

 While the birthday girl is busy with her guests the kids posed for a picture. My kids werent there :( Someday soon Caleb and Thea will come and pose for pictures too.

Happy birthday Nay! Wishing you more years, good health, good life and more means to help people. You are an inspiration to many. We love you to bits.