tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91194649792153260062024-03-12T21:41:41.459-07:00poorpinoybloggerMarkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-58376774396871302372008-02-13T06:31:00.000-08:002008-02-26T05:50:27.052-08:00"Multo-Sport" Night Race - March 1, 2008Are you afraid of the dark? Or maybe those that go bump in the night?<br /><br />Then it's time to put your night light on and swim, bike and run like hell!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/FA_MULTO28229.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/FA_MULTO28229.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The UP Mountaineers and the UP Varsity Swimming Team present the 1st <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">"Multo-Sport" Night Race</span>, a beginner and sprint-distance triathlon.</span><br /><br />The race starts at 10:00 pm and a monster of a party will follow at the stroke of midnight.<br /><br />Hurry! Only 100 participants will be accepted.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Event Details:</span><br /><br />Date: <span style="font-weight: bold;">1 March 2008</span><br /><br />Time: <span style="font-weight: bold;">8:00 p.m. start of registration</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10:00 p.m. start of the race</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:00 p.m. awarding and party</span><br /><br />Venue: <span style="font-weight: bold;">UP Diliman Pool and Academic Oval</span><br /><br />Event Distances:<br />Beginners Category: <span style="font-weight: bold;">500m swim - 11km bike - 2.5km run</span><br />Open Category: <span style="font-weight: bold;">750m swim - 20km bike - 4.7km run</span><br /><br />Categories:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Male and Female age groups (below-25 / 25-40 / above 40)</span><br /><br />Mandatory Equipment<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- bike</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- helmet</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- bike blinker (front and back)</span><br /><br />Optional (but recommended) Equipment<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- headlamp of bike lighting system</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- reflector strips</span><br /><br />To reserve your slot, please send the following details by email to fedclimb08@yahoo.com:<br />FULL NAME:<br />CATEGORY:<br />AGE:<br />GENDER:<br />PRESENT ADDRESS:<br />HOME/OFFICE/MOBILE NUMBER:<br />EMAIL ADDRESS:<br />SHIRT SIZE (subject to availability):<br />(participants will be asked to sign waivers on the event venue)<br /><br />You may also visit the UP Diliman Pool from 4:00 p.m. onwards during weekdays to submit your entry form and payment.Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-18335219598319865812008-02-08T07:24:00.000-08:002008-02-08T07:30:50.921-08:00Run For Your Life Races to SagadaGood luck to all the Pinoy UltraRunners! I was supposed to participate as part of the support crew, but I had to back out because of other priorities. Maybe next time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/2245879634_71df0c6af2_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/2245879634_71df0c6af2_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-27846326079659682842008-01-28T15:53:00.000-08:002008-01-28T16:00:01.878-08:00PMTB Black JerseyDesigned and manufactured by the famous Ed Lee, for the <a href="http://www.pinoymtbiker.proboards7.com/">PinoyMTBiker forum</a>. Arriving this March. Can't wait to get mine! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t224/seacid2002/bike%20msc/pmtbblack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t224/seacid2002/bike%20msc/pmtbblack.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-33331730037991602212008-01-28T06:38:00.000-08:002008-01-28T16:31:42.455-08:00PulagThis weekend Joie and I will be trekking to the summit of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9119464979215326006&postID=3333173003799160221#" onclick="MyWindow=window.open('http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/pulag.jpg','MyWindow','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=400,height=267'); return false;">Mt. Pulag</a>. This will be a challenging climb, because I will be leading two jeepneyloads of trekkers, more than two thirds of them Pulag first-timers. The challenge really is in keeping up with the itinerary, since having 32 climbers of various levels of fitness will definitely stretch out the group along the Ranger Station route. My guesstimate is a 1.5-hour difference between the first to arrive and the tail. I hope I don't get cranky from all the pasaway people who would insist on walking 5 minutes and resting 10.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I wonder if some of the rookie climbers know what they're facing. The route itself is easy - about 4 or 5 kilometers of slight uphill trails, 3 1/2 hours, that only those who have zero exercise or who have overloaded their backpacks should find it strenuous. The hard part is upon reaching the campsite and the evening fog creeps in. Misery inflicts itself in many forms at Pulag, mine appears as a migraine that never goes away, a runny nose, and swollen fingers that ache. Soon the discomfort becomes too hard to ignore and all you want to do is curl up inside your sleeping and hope the clothes you're wearing are enough to keep you warm. Hypothermia becomes a real possibility, specially for those who did not bring the right clothes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/camp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 103px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/camp.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oftentimes at Pulag, I would complain loudly, "Bakit nga ba tayo nandito?" There I was, tired and numb and shivering, water dripping down my nose, trying to justify why I chose to give up the warm urban pleasures of Manila. But then I know the answer.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">following photos by la villareal</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/la1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span><br /></div></div>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-27100733904881291162008-01-28T04:55:00.000-08:002008-01-28T05:08:37.579-08:00Full Moon RunI missed out on the UPLB Trantados Full Moon Run - a 20-kilometer nighttime footrace amidst the slopes and ricefields of UP Los Baños. Even if I tried, I would not have been able to get there in time, since I had work till Friday evening and LB is a few hours away from Metro Manila. So i had to content myself with reading <a href="#" onClick="MyWindow=window.open('http://reyagapay.multiply.com/journal/item/4/The_UPLB_Full_Moon_Run...AWOOOO','MyWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=yes,status=yes,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=1200,height=800'); return false;">Rey Agapay's blog entry</a>. The reward was in the post-race party at IC's bar, longtime venue of the triathlon club's legendary drinking binges.Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-20948650329140973052008-01-28T04:44:00.000-08:002008-01-29T04:53:45.918-08:00Pasmathon Revisited<div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday i raced my first triathlon of the year (and my sixth since i started 'tri-ing') at the 2nd UP Pasmathon. It was a 750m-swim-19k-bike-5k-run gig around the UP Diliman grounds. There were a total of 40+ competitors in the beginners and sprint categories. Long story short, I was a bottomfeeder. I only placed ahead of two people -- a 50-something UP prof and a 15-year old girl who had the ill-fortune of having a 'ra.ce' [gets?]. You won't hear any excuses coming from me, my performance was expected. No training equals no glory.<br /><br />Like the last Pasmathon, I made a mid-race pitstop -- I ordered a hotdog sandwich and a bottle of C2 in front of the College of Music. This is turning out to be a tradition...At least I ate 3 minutes faster than the previous one, and that's an area I definitely improved on.<br /><br />I expect to do better the next tri i join, and that would require 5-am base training rides, more 1500m laps and a willingness to run. I feel so out-of-shape, and there's nothing like barely surviving a triathlon to give you a smack in the head.<br /></div><br />Lessons learned:<br /><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li>I really really really need to build that triathlon bike! Now!</li><li>Drafting during the swim does work! Though I felt a bit sorry for the guy whose feet i kept slapping repeatedly.</li><li>Skipping lunch before a triathlon is never a good idea.</li></ol><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><object height="248" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CobUuX4brgc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CobUuX4brgc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="248" width="300"></embed></object></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Start of the Beginners Category<br />Results <a href="#" onClick="MyWindow=window.open('http://denshow.multiply.com/journal/item/57/Pasmathon_2008_Triathlon_Results','MyWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=yes,status=yes,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=1600,height=1200'); return false;">here</a><br /></span></div>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-26516973923898856942007-12-03T15:56:00.000-08:002007-12-03T16:13:25.518-08:0012-Hour MTB Endurance Race<a href="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/12hrraceposter.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="WIDTH: 381px; HEIGHT: 778px" height="834" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/12hrraceposter.jpg" width="381" border="0" /></a>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-87994290547266800712007-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:002007-11-21T16:27:44.217-08:00First UP Pasmathon TriathlonStart: Nov 25, '07 12:00pm<br />Location: UP Diliman grounds<br /><br />Eager to join your first triathlon without the pressure? This event is for you!<br /><br />Categories for male and female:<br />Beginners: 500 meters swim, 15 kilometers bike, 3 kilometers run<br />Open/Sprint: 750 meters swim, 20 kilometers bike, 5 kilometers run<br />(age groups are below 25 / 25-40 / above 40)<br /><br />The course is within the UP Diliman Campus (relatively flat)<br />Registration fee is P300 pesos cheap and comes with a finisher's shirt.<br />This is a just-for-fun event so no cash prize (in case gusto nyo mangareer)<br /><br />So what are you waiting? c'mon and let's fun!!!<br /><br />Registration starts at 12 noon. Race proper will start at 1 PM<br /><br />for more information, post a reply here or email <a href="mailto:bernz.varona@gmail.com">bernz.varona@gmail.com</a><br /><br />To register, please email bernz.varona@gmail.com and include the following information:<br />FULL NAME:<br />CATEGORY:<br />AGE:<br />GENDER:<br />PRESENT ADDRESS:<br />HOME/OFFICE/MOBILE NUMBER:<br />EMAIL ADDRESS:<br /><br />participants will be asked to sign waivers on the event venue.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">(organized by the UP Varsity Swimming Team and supported by the UP Mountaineers)</span></strong>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-85160719733960556742007-11-21T16:00:00.000-08:002007-11-21T16:19:49.582-08:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">To my very good friend Naomi,<br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY!<br /></span></strong><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/naomi.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-38786730141439402262007-07-04T17:20:00.001-07:002007-07-04T18:08:31.965-07:00Braised Beef RibsLast night, as I was enjoying dinner with Joie at <a href="#" onClick="MyWindow=window.open('http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/steakmdbr.jpg','MyWindow','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=250,height=210,left=150,top=200'); return false;">Steak M.D.</a> (our latest great gastronomic discovery), I got a text from a good friend whom I haven't seen in quite a while. She was going to Anawangin Beach in Zambales this weekend, and wanted a few suggestions on what to cook for Sunday lunch.<br /><br />Because i was beefily inspired at the moment, I quickly recommended <b>Braised Beef Ribs</b>. It was a dish I cooked during my <a href="#" onClick="MyWindow=window.open('http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/bagsit.jpg','MyWindow','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,width=520,height=680,left=150,top=50'); return false;">Bagsit River</a> birthday trek last April, and up to now some friends who joined me in that climb still tell me how fabulous it was.<br /><br />Now I'm not a great cook -- I'm just good at following directions. This recipe is the Poor Pinoy Cook variation, good for four to five hungry mountaineers. <strong>Zoe</strong>, if you're reading this, leave a comment after the weekend and let me know how it turned out!<br /><br />Precooking instructions:<br />Boil <b>750g beef short ribs</b> for about an hour till tender. Drain, let cool and store. If you have a suitable container, bring with you to the climb about one or two cups of the stock. If not, just pack in some <b>beef cubes</b> with you.<br /><br />Campsite:<br />In a saucepan, heat <b>1 tablespoon oil</b> then saute <b>2 cloves minced garlic</b>, <b>1 tablespoons chopped ginger</b>, <b>1 minced white onion</b>, and <b>two tablespoons brown sugar</b>. Add <b>3 tablespoons soy sauce</b>, <b>2 cups beef stock</b>, <b>1 whole <a onclick="MyWindow=window.open('http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/staranise.jpg','MyWindow','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=540,height=370,left=150,top=100'); return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9119464979215326006#">star anise</a></b>, and the short ribs. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15-20 mins. Season to taste. Add <b>1 tablespoon sesame oil</b> and <b>1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds</b>. Serve topped with <b>sliced leeks</b> to complete the illusion that you know what you're doing.Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-16447511345467545252007-06-20T17:04:00.000-07:002007-06-20T17:54:51.648-07:0030 Years of History in One Poster<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnnIZ6MFhVI/AAAAAAAAADo/9AWiQWgjTNE/s1600-h/upm+poster+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078310402279179602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnnIZ6MFhVI/AAAAAAAAADo/9AWiQWgjTNE/s320/upm+poster+2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Click <a onclick="MyWindow=window.open('http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x59/posible_21/upmposterzoom.gif','MyWindow','toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=1030,height=780'); return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=9119464979215326006&postID=1644751134546754525#">here</a> to appreciate.Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-24706084899417819122007-06-17T08:08:00.000-07:002007-06-19T16:49:43.156-07:00Happy Father's Day<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hands down, the best Dad in the world. Watch, cry and be inspired by Dick and Rick Hoyt.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="right"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnVPhKMFhUI/AAAAAAAAADg/JvNM63wpua8/s1600-h/hoyt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077051586019427650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnVPhKMFhUI/AAAAAAAAADg/JvNM63wpua8/s400/hoyt.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>caption:</em> <span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><</span></span><span style="color:#cccccc;"><span style="font-size:100%;">FATHER<father></span></span></span></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">How do you define a father? It's simple. You take Dick Hoyt's picture and put it </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">in the dictionary and let the rest of the world follow his lead. When he was </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">told by doctors to put his son Rick in an institution, he refused. Instead Dick </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">and Rick have spent their lifetimes together traveling the world and inspiring </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#cccccc;">everyone they meet. Father of the century? No question about it.<br /></span></div></span><p><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/flRvsO8m_KI" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#cccccc;">Papa, thanks for everything. I hope I can even be half as great a father as you.</span><br /></p></span>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-63325225276616508592007-06-16T18:58:00.000-07:002007-06-19T16:49:08.605-07:00Water Jumping<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnSWUaMFhOI/AAAAAAAAAC0/kTKE4aHuCdo/s1600-h/water+jump.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076847957324956898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnSWUaMFhOI/AAAAAAAAAC0/kTKE4aHuCdo/s400/water+jump.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <strong>Q: WHAT HAPPENS </strong></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">when you put together a bike, a ramp, a pool of water and bunch of crazy Europeans?<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A: LOTS OF FUN .<br /></div></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076848459836130546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnSWxqMFhPI/AAAAAAAAAC8/XJG7bBh8mTM/s400/water+jump+2.jpg" border="0" /> </span><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">more photos </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48873436@N00/sets/72157594245458648/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a></em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076850568665072898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnSYsaMFhQI/AAAAAAAAADE/Z41rwM4uRPQ/s400/water+jump+3.jpg" border="0" />my favorite of the bunch<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>I wish I can organize something like this locally someday...</em> </span>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-70218827775087440312007-06-08T00:22:00.000-07:002007-06-16T22:49:20.260-07:00My First Duathlon<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1st Clark Off-Road Duathlon</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clark Field, Pampanga</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">June 3, 2007</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075588002898871394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAcZaMFhGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/cVfAkUc2Ygk/s400/DSC02117.jpg" border="0" />Ferch, Bernice, Joie, P.P.B., and Wee at the Pre-Race briefing and Carbo-loading Dinner, Fontana Resort</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More photos at </span><a href="http://joie1.multiply.com/photos/album/35" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Joie's multiply.com site</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075588904842003570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAdN6MFhHI/AAAAAAAAAB8/gMhxI5qV06o/s400/DSC02132.jpg" border="0" />Part 1: a five-kilometer run along the Sacobia River </span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075590876231992498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAfAqMFhLI/AAAAAAAAACc/UmbZoewhF34/s400/aron.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"FAT ASS"</span></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAfAqMFhLI/AAAAAAAAACc/UmbZoewhF34/s1600-h/aron.jpg"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From </span><a href="http://aaronvicencio.multiply.com/photos/album/161" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Aaron Vicencio's multiply.com gallery</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (great shots, Aaron!)</span></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAeyKMFhKI/AAAAAAAAACU/LQuj2lkZ-4g/s1600-h/P1200008.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075590627123889314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAeyKMFhKI/AAAAAAAAACU/LQuj2lkZ-4g/s400/P1200008.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Part 2: a 30-kilometer off-road mountainbike ride<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From </span><a href="http://mountainrunner.multiply.com/photos/album/59" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thumbie Remigio's multiply.com Gallery </span></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAeWqMFhJI/AAAAAAAAACM/SI9c3GMKUuI/s1600-h/DSC02164.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075590154677486738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAeWqMFhJI/AAAAAAAAACM/SI9c3GMKUuI/s400/DSC02164.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Part 3: another 5-kilometer run<br />My final time: 2hours 58minutes 34seconds<br />Placing: 64th (out of 95, haha!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075596232056210626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAj4aMFhMI/AAAAAAAAACk/3gvw2HmXB7c/s400/DSC02168.jpg" border="0" /> Cooling down, thanks to the Clark Field Fire Department </span></div>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-84591487397356938992007-05-29T07:27:00.000-07:002007-06-20T17:54:05.749-07:00Bikeout: Antipolo-Abuyod-Survival<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>SINCE THE 24-HOUR</strong> MTB challenge was postponed due to problems securing a suitable venue, I found myself having nothing adventurous to do for Saturday. On Thursday night I made a text blast to a select few mountainbiker pals, asking if they had any plans to bike out and if I could tag along. I finally got a reply from Kram, who said to meet up at 545 am on Saturday. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kram is one of the strongest mountainbikers that I know. His most recent accomplishment was a six-day ‘epic ride’ from Quezon City to his hometown Sagay, Negros Occidental. He may not look like an athlete but Kram is one of the strongest runners and climbers in UPM. He told me he had just graduated from UP, but was taking up Nursing this schoolyear in Bacolod (to learn to wash soiled bottoms, he would jokingly say).<br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After meeting up at the UPM tambayan Kram and I immediately proceeded to the Burger King outlet along Marcos Highway, which I discovered was a popular meeting place for bikers. We met up with Cece 'Daddy-O' Nepomuceno and Jun, who I learned was working for a popular donut franchise. Daddy-O brought his brightly-colored road bike, so it was obvious that he was only going to accompany us till Antipolo.<br /></span></div><strong></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075566695566115890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAJBKMFhDI/AAAAAAAAABc/1zKBi_pIvoA/s400/kami.jpg" border="0" /> </span><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Antipolo-Abuyod</span></strong> <p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was the first time I had climbed Sumulong Highway – in fact it was the first time I ever got to Antipolo on a bike. Soon I was stomping on my granny gear and slowly inching up the hill, as middle-aged cyclists on their road bikes overtook us. The three were obviously accustomed to ascents, as they chatted amongst themselves while I pedalled up a respectable distance behind them.<br /></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kram, Jun and I reached the beginning of the Abuyod trail by 9 am -- Daddy-O split up from us thirty minutes before. We immediately encountered a short but very technical descent over rocky slope. I was glad that Jun advised me to adjust my seatpost height, because that enabled me to lower my center of gravity, move back off the saddle and keep my body behind my seat. During the descent, images of the endo I suffered two weeks ago flashed through my mind, but I thought to myself, ‘I can do this because I’ve learned my lesson.’ I scanned the slope, picked a line where I can safely ride through, feathered my brakes to control my descent, and reminded myself that in the roughest portions, speed is my friend.<br /></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ten seconds may seem like a minute when you’re waiting to die. But I was able to survive the most technical descent I had ever encountered (so far). Soon I was banging through some sweet downhill runs. It felt real good.<br /></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Soon we were riding on the truck paths around the marble quarry in Teresa, Rizal. The quarry itself was an amazing sight to behold - a hillside with smooth walls of white marble was slowly being carved out of the landscape, like it were a colossal mound of white cheese being gnawed by a BIG rat. I could imagine the entire hill erased from the map within a hundred fifty years' time.<br /><strong></strong></span></p><br /><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gear Shortcomings</span></strong></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">An hour later, we caught up with ten bikers from the </span><a href="http://pinoymtbiker.proboards7.com/index.cgi" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">pinoymtbikers forum</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> taking a breather by one of the sari-sari stores along the route. Unfortunately I was only able to get one guy's name, Niko. Apparently they were ahead of us by about twenty minutes. They were a rowdy but obviously happy bunch of guys, and Kram had met several of them during previous rides. He suggested we ride along with them, since we all were going the same way anyway. </span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075566162990171170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 167px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="181" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAIiKMFhCI/AAAAAAAAABU/KyGfboJFq4o/s320/pmtb1.jpg" width="272" border="0" /><br /></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They were obviously MTB aficionados, judging from their apparel, their trail-related conversations and obviously their bikes. I’ve surfed enough MTB websites to identify a capital-intensive bike when I see one. I </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnKZNKMFhNI/AAAAAAAAACs/rdh8LDv5lF8/s1600-h/Image025.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076288181352367314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" height="277" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnKZNKMFhNI/AAAAAAAAACs/rdh8LDv5lF8/s400/Image025.jpg" width="376" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">had my MTB assembled in 2003 for only P13,000, and the only upgrades I had after that probably costed me less than P2000. Bikewise, I was WAY out of my league. My bike was a dinosaur that had encountered an evolutionary deadend. At the risk of sounding gay, it was like standing in a room naked with twelve black guys – I felt so ‘under-endowed’.<br /></span></div><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Insecurities in tow, I followed these guys through the rolling terrain of the foothills of the Sierra Madre, passing mostly through singletracks alongside farms and mango orchards. They were strong climbers as well – spinning their way up some steep climbs while I pushed my bike as I lost momentum almost near the top. </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Soon I had loosened up, and I was starting to look forward to the downhill portions. I was still a tad slower than the rest of the guys, but my confidence had definitely risen a notch. I was beginning to enjoy it.<br /></span></p><strong></strong><br /><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bulalohan</span></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAJvqMFhEI/AAAAAAAAABk/HCzrvaxW6Cc/s1600-h/mvic.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075567494430032962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 97px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" height="171" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAJvqMFhEI/AAAAAAAAABk/HCzrvaxW6Cc/s200/mvic.jpg" width="119" border="0" /></span></a></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was almost 1 in the afternoon when we stopped for lunch. Because we had expended so much calories to get there, this was obviously the most-awaited portion of the trip. Mang Vic's Bulalohan is a mid-sized carinderia along Marcos Highway and a very popular pitstop for hungry bikers, scooteristas and motocross riders. For only sixty pesos, you can feast on a bowl of steaming hot bulalo and two cups of rice! Definitely worth the trip! </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Survival</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After about an hour, the three of us decided to part ways with the pinoymtbikers, and push on to the Survival trail further east. This 15-kilometer loop was named after an adventure race of the same name whi</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAK4qMFhFI/AAAAAAAAABs/zoGn1E70zkw/s1600-h/ilog.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075568748560483410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RnAK4qMFhFI/AAAAAAAAABs/zoGn1E70zkw/s320/ilog.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ch was held in the vicinity several years back. We spent the first half-hour biking over rolling cement roads, then spent an hour and a half mostly going down clayish single-tracks, crossing several streams in the process and getting ourselves muddy.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We got back to the Marcos Highway by 330 pm, and by that time I was satiated and raring to go back home. The sky was starting to fill up with menacing clouds. My biggest discomfort was the pain i was experiencing sitting on the saddle for more than eight hours. The thought of buying a decent pair of padded bike shorts had skipped my mind, so I wore a pair of cotton boxers under my shorts. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We still had to pedal our way up Antipolo. From thereon it was generally downhill to Sta. Lucia in Marikina, then flat all the way back to Quezon City. I arrived exhausted at the gate of my apartment 5 minutes to six pm -- twelve hours and an estimated 90 kilometers later. My weekend fix was done.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Links:</strong><br /></span><a href="http://pinoymtbiker.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=VisayaTrail&action=display&thread=1173850018" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kram's Holy Week epic ride (QC-Batangas-Mindoro-Panay-Negros)</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.padyakbud.com/Play/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bud's map of MTB trails in Antipolo area</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-53153078754554381682007-05-18T07:18:00.001-07:002007-06-16T22:48:17.511-07:00Everest From Space<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>CONGRATULATIONS</strong> to the three Filipinas who made it to the summit! Two of them (Noelle and Janet) are orgmates in the UP Mountaineers (along with Romi Garduce), so I'm looking forward to the party when they get back!<br /><br /></span><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As a tribute, here's a view of Everest that only a few people ever get to see. This photograph was taken from the International Space Station. Everest (29,035 feet) is near the center of the image. The peak to the left is Makalu (27,765 feet).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065913812131833874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/Rk29xZLc6BI/AAAAAAAAABE/EzCoUG9Gz5M/s320/MtEverest_2_from_space.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Photo Credit: NASA</span></em></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">View full-sized image </span><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/57380main_MM_image_feature_152_jwfull.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></div><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Link: </span><a href="http://www.pinaysoneverest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pinays on Everest</span></a></p>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119464979215326006.post-7052980627838790512007-05-17T00:45:00.000-07:002007-06-16T22:48:00.824-07:00Men's Health All-Terrain Race 2007<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RksyXpLc5-I/AAAAAAAAAAs/2COOEMNGDVw/s1600-h/logo.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065197587680520162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RksyXpLc5-I/AAAAAAAAAAs/2COOEMNGDVw/s320/logo.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><div><div><div><div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>LAST MAY 6</strong> I joined the second installment of the Mens Health All-Terrain Race held at Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal. I joined the race as part of my preparation for the DOT 24-hour Mountain Bike Challenge (previously slated for May 28-29, but which has been postponed to sometime in June).<br /><br />My last adventure race was the 2004 Samsung AXN Challenge, and so for the next two and a half years my mountain bike was pretty much neglected and under-utilized (just like me). Not wanting to disappoint my 24-hour race teammates, I had to get the bike and myself back into shape.<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/Rksxy5Lc59I/AAAAAAAAAAk/o3m9bRHrp-o/s1600-h/497246827_7e641fca62_o.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065196956320327634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/Rksxy5Lc59I/AAAAAAAAAAk/o3m9bRHrp-o/s200/497246827_7e641fca62_o.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The race course was approximately 12 kilometers long, and I finally got introduced to the popular Maarat mountain bike trail. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had some pretty scary moments during the technical downhill portions, the highlight of which was an <strong>endo</strong> (a combination of three things: 1. putting too much weight near the bars; 2. a steep downhill and; 3. the front wheel meeting an object it could not roll over. Just like </span><a href="http://www.io.com/~beckerdo/mtb/pictures/dbendo.gif"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">this</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.) just 20 seconds into the Roxas Trail. Luckily I escaped with a few minor leg and shoulder bruises, and </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/Rksz85Lc5_I/AAAAAAAAAA0/O80Aqns__rU/s1600-h/679.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065199327142275058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 197px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" height="127" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/Rksz85Lc5_I/AAAAAAAAAA0/O80Aqns__rU/s200/679.jpg" width="175" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">vowed to dismount when the trail was too technical for me (which was OFTEN).<br /><br />Long story short, I finished 75th out of 103 participants (13 of whom did not finish), arriving 51 minutes after the winner. I was super kulelat, but the fact that I had not broken anything and that I had crossed the Finish </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">line was already a personal victory. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And I earned my Finisher shirt! </span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065194181771454402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MwZIYnLdNOQ/RksvRZLc58I/AAAAAAAAAAc/Hd7qoeOLfCo/s200/DSC01999.jpg" border="0" /> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lessons learned:<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the race course prior to the event.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. </span><a href="http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11461757/Rush_Fitness_Water.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rush Fitness Water</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> tastes REALLY good when your heart is doing 200BPM and it’s 33C in the shade.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Don’t eat two packs of Pancit Canton an hour before the race.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Links:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.menshealth.com.ph/events/allterrain2/results.html">Official site and results</a></span></p></div></div></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jovanpuyo/sets/72157600178531479/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pre-race photos of the race course</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.bisikleta.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">jovan</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">)</span></div>Markohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793894683766995459noreply@blogger.com0