Slowly but Surely, I Hope

I injured my right knee last May as I trained for my first 10K race. Come the day of the race, my right knee was still injured. Although I was lucky to finish the race, I do not want to experience the same kind of physical pain—not to mention the anxiety of the moment—in my future races.

As I prepare for the Adidas KOTR run on the 24th, I was able to evaluate my training habits  in light of what happened last May and tried to correct the training don’ts that I employed. Looking back, my first 10k run taught me that there are things one cannot rush—and that includes preparing for a race. It is just that I sometimes get too excited in trying out something new that I overlook constraints that matter.

By Stuff No One Told Me
For more illustrations, click this.

Let me share with you some techniques that I have learned (the hard way!) from my previous race experience. It has been over a month of training, and so far the following methods are delivering results—no signs of my previous right knee condition with prolonged jogging (i.e. 50 minutes of non-stop running, the longest so far).

1. Long Hiatus – I had to refrain from running/jogging for over three months to give my right knee sufficient time to recuperate.

2. Warm Up – My pre-injury warm up routine includes the five/ten-minute walk and not-over-two-minutes stretching exercises, if it happens (I skip doing stretches whenever I wake up a few minutes late). After the injury, a serious warm up routine is now obligatory. I also adjust the warm up routine depending on the target mileage/jogging time on schedule.

3. Light and Slow – There is a need to resist the tendency to speed up when the adrenalin rush kicks in (it is usually at the start of the jog for me). Sometimes I do not realize how fast/slow I am going, especially when I am jogging  alone. After the injury, I have learned to pay attention to my body and to adjust my movements accordingly.  This technique also best applies to uphill routes.

4. Stick to Schedule – When I started to train for the KOTR run, I followed the five-minute-run-on-week-one routine—pattered after Sir Gene’s Recovery Attempts from ITBS—that has a weekly five-minute progression for the succeeding weeks of training. Although I had to modify my weekly progression after a month, the incremental change is based on how my body is catching up; what is important is that the weekly increase is not  too drastic. The difficult part comes at the end of the running session, because one might feel that the body could still handle a few more rounds/minutes but one has to stop nevertheless. The other difficult part is foregoing other running opportunities scheduled before the race.

5. Cool Down – The temptation to change clothes, prop the legs up, eat, and bathe is so strong after a long run. This is why before the injury, cool down meant walking for not more than five minutes before heading straight home. Only recently have I incorporated proper cool down into my routine, which includes a ten-minute walk and stretching exercises. This probably explains why I no longer feel dizzy and sore after a run.

6. Change of Route – There are two uphill routes in our neighborhood. When I trained for my first 10K run, I always took the one that has a steeper and longer uphill route for two reasons: it is a longer route and I feel safer—home owners wake up early in that side of the neighborhood. This route, being the more challenging one,  must be avoided without due preparation. During the first five weeks of my (KOTR) training, I managed to avoid the longer route. It was only last week when I was forced to take the longer route—thanks to the dog that greeted me on my usual route as I was warming up. The next time I take the longer route, I just have to make sure that my steps are light and slow.

7. Gait Adjustment – I still do the impromptu remedy that I discovered during the Nature Valley run. This technique eliminates the need for new shoes and knee band.

You're Only a Day Away

 

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3: 22-23

Vintage Comeback and Style

I attended the talk titled Fashion 911 yesterday given by my friend Esther. The talk had three main parts--vintage comeback, must-haves, and look for less. The talk is an update of the Do You Want to Be Stylish? Have You Found Your Personal Style workshop for students and young professionals held last November.

The Speaker: Esther Ong

The talk started off with a description of vintage style followed by a brief background on the eras that defined vintage style as we know it today. The speaker gave examples as to how socio-political events then influenced style and fashion. For instance, floral prints and earth-tone colors were typical of the hippie culture that advocated back-to-nature way of life. The puffed/padded sleeves symbolize women prowess that has its roots in women rights movements that consequently empowered women over the years.

The background on puffed/padded sleeves reminded me of Lady Gaga. It all makes sense now.

Esther stressed that the contemporary vintage look is the current fashion trade. Boutiques such Top Shop, Zara, and Mango have incorporated the vintage designs into their pieces. Aside from floral prints and puffed/padded sleeves, vintage style must-haves include brown belts, sailor/nautical/navy designs (i.e. stripes), and denim, among others.

The speaker shared practical advice on achieving a vintage look for a fraction of the original designer price. The tips were useful, since Esther was able to name establishments to visit and which brands to look for. Her personal favorite is SM department store, because of its up-to-date collections and quality items. The basic technique is to take advantage of price differentials by finding chic but inexpensive alternatives.

Identical beadwork design from Zara (left) and a department store-bought top (right)

Congrats, sis!

Stubborn Dry Cough

It was early last year when I first started to have allergic reactions to dust, smoke, and certain scents (i.e. cologne/perfume and chemicals/solvents). The allergy cough went on for months, because I delayed checkup. You see, I don’t like checkups for two reasons: I don’t like going to hospitals, because the sight of sick people—especially the older ones—depresses me; and I don’t like taking medicines, because I have reservations about western medicine. I always preferred doing it the natural way—fluids, rest, natural sources of vitamins. When my parents finally succeeded in talking me into seeing a doctor, the coughing was healed after a week of treatment.

Lately, I’ve been coughing again—the same kind I had last year. Once again I tried to avoid checkup for reasons stated above. However, after two painful months, I had to come to terms with reality that no amount fluids, rest, and vitamin intake could cure it; especially because I commute to work and the air pollution in Metro Manila is really bad (the early morning/late afternoon Ortigas skyline view from my area would attest to that).

And so I caved. Besides, last year’s treatment was effective.

My first appointment with the (same) doctor was last July 17. The doctor prescribed medication for allergy/asthma and antibiotics (since the day before I caught a cold). I was also advised to sleep early and avoid stress. The follow-up checkup was last Saturday, wherein I learned that the coughing is caused by asthma. Aside from what the doctor prescribed the last time (sans the antibiotics and cough syrup), he also prescribed inhaler, which I refuse to take because I fear that the side effects would do more harm than good. Antihistamine et al. should do it for me, at least for one more week.

Checkup 1 Medication

For the one-week challenge, I resolve to: take my vitamins and medicine on time; sleep early; avoid cold drinks/food; avoid sweets; avoid strenuous activities.

Intramuros

Raewyn invited me to join her and Migs (her classmate in photography workshop) in a photo shoot in Intramuros last Sunday. I was excited to go, because the last time I went there is when I was still in college to take pictures and jot down notes for a school project. I remember that I enjoyed the trip then, although visiting Intramuros this time for leisure and leisure alone is more fun.

Intramuros 1

Intramuros 2

This photo shoot is different for two reasons: It is my first time to take pictures of someone willing to pose for me (with concept, props, and make-up); and it is my first time to ‘model’ for someone. I was really impressed by the talent of my three models--Raewyn, Lee, and Migs. I felt like working with pros--they were willing to follow my directions, not to mention their ability to smize and pose. Meanwhile, I was uncomfortable in front of the camera. I just could not pull off a serious or candid orchestrated look. Perhaps it is because smiling is my reflex response in front of the cameral; and I prefer spontaneity during pictorials.

Raewyn 1

Raewyn 2

Raewyn 3

Raewyn 4

Lee 1

Lee 2

Lee 3

Lee 4

Me - By Lee

Street Fighter-inspired fight scene

Lee and Migs

I enjoy being with fellow hobbyist, because it is always a learning experience. Some of their inputs and perspective are not something you can learn from books and tutorials. Their eagerness to try something new inspires me.

Running the Good Run

I ran my first 10 K today at the Nature Valley Run; and by God grace I finished it.

I arrived at Global City early (I was there before 4 AM). I had time to do some serious stretching in hopes of reducing my chances of triggering my knee condition during the course of the race. The stretching served its purpose, because I was feeling great before the race started. I was wide awake and energized. The patella band that Memots lent me was also a source of comfort. I was quite convinced that my right knee would not be a problem.

My knee condition was the source of my apprehension towards joining the Nature Valley Run. I have been having trouble with my right knee for three weeks. The pain recurs after the first 15 to 30 minutes of jogging/running. It usually starts with a dull knee discomfort, which progresses into a sharp, unbearable pain in a matter of minutes. When that happens, I usually have no choice but to stop, because my right knee weakens.

Things went smoothly during the first 1.5 kilometers. Things were going as planned--I started well and was able to maintain my pace. My target time was still in sight until 10 minutes had elapsed when the reality of my condition started to set in. Once again, it started out as a slight knee discomfort. I did not want to entertain the idea that what I was feeling was that knee pain, and so I tried to ignore it. I was able to sustain my pace for about five minutes until I had to stop. The pain was more intense than the usual right knee discomforts that I have had. I stopped three or four times to adjust the patella band to no avail. After five minutes of having difficulty walking, I removed the band (it was too tight). At that point I felt panic and sadness. I still had eight kilometers more to go.

As I laboriously relocated myself to the sidewalk, what came to mind were Sir Gene’s words regarding my knee condition. He told me that if it were ITBS, I might not finish the race. The pain was such that I was convinced that it must be ITBS. After five minutes the pain was still intense. I still could not lift my right knee. As I struggled to walk, other runners overtook me. I started to feel that I was already at the bottom tail of the pack. Sir Gene’s warning regarding the possibility of not being able to finish the race started to sink in. PR was no longer a concern. I just had to make it through. Not finishing the race was not an option. This is my first 10K race, the one that I had been preparing for, I thought. Besides, there were no marshals in sight, and so I took it as a go signal to continue.

I tried tricks in order to provide temporary relief to my right knee. It included massaging, stretching, and flexing the knee--all of which did not work. I knew that I had reached the limits of my physical strength after the first 15 minutes of the run. I prayed for healing and asked God to increase my pain tolerance, which He granted. Thankfully, I remembered what Sir Gene mentioned--one of the probable causes of ITBS is the running gait. I suspect mine tends to tilt inwards, and so I made a conscious effort to adjust my gait to tilt outwards. During the first few steps, the pangs of the injury still had not left my knee. I continued with the makeshift therapy however painful it was, because it was the only technique that allowed me to move my right knee. I just had to make sure that my right steps were quick and light.

After finishing the third kilometer, my right knee started to improve. I could still feel the pain, but it was bearable. I was still limping, but it was no longer that apparent; my right knee had adjusted and could support my weight. I then started to slowly regain and maintain my pace. I had to be much careful though, in order not to trigger another round of intense pain. I also had to stop at almost every water station in order to allow my right knee to recuperate even for a while.

The sight of the finish line excited me. All of a sudden it was as if my right knee were perfectly fine. I was able to increase my pace and I was smiling for the cameras. When I crossed the finish line after an hour and fifteen minutes of running, walking, and limping, I was overjoyed and thankful. I was so close to not finishing the race, but God’s grace enabled me.

Happy to see the finish line

Last few meters

Obligatory solo pic by the route map

Nat Geo moment with Raewyn

***The pictures are from Raewyn and Photovendo.

Thankful for a Month’s Supply of Tea

Earlier today during our departmental meeting Mr. Yap entered the room to give our boss a plastic bag full of different types of teas. Afterwards, our boss announced that she will share the teas with us. I was thrilled to hear that because I know that the teas will be extraordinary.

Four of the five variants (the fifth is the pouch of tea leaves) that was given to us today:
Catherine English Breakfast (Black Tea), Stash Chamomile Tea, Pickwick Green Tea & Jasmine, and Nestea Black Tea

I can’t wait to try each one of them next week. Thanks for the love! ♥

P.S.: I’m the custodian of the tea leaves pouch.

What Ever Happened to the Dark Cloud?

A huge dark cloud covered the EDSA-Ortigas skyline at around 8 AM today. I was thrilled, because I thought it’s the beginning of the end of the insane summer heat. But no! A few seconds later, the cloud formation headed north-west leaving the view from my area in its usual sunny luster. If it rained in other of parts Metro Manila, it could not have lasted for more than 30 minutes, because the dark cloud left no trace after 30 minutes or so.

The view from my area at 8:10 AM

I can’t wait for summer to end. I'm not a summer person--never was and never will be. I’ve always hated the sun and the heat. What keeps my sanity for the past few weeks is going to the office where there is A/C and I’m shielded from the sun. Having ice-cold drinks/treats (I suspect this is why I’ve been having coughing fits lately) and taking cold showers have also helped a lot.

Upcoming Runs

Late last year I had to temporarily stop running due to reasons I stated in one entry. Early this month I registered for three fun runs for the next four weeks. The run on Saturday is going to be my first fun run for 2010. The next run is my first 10 K run. I am really excited!

Event	Distance	Date
Sun Sportsfest	5 K	May 22
Nature Valley Run	10 K	May 30
Sun’s Freedom Run	10 K	June 13

Election 2010

As a first time voter, I was excited to vote. The voting hype started in October after I registered. My experience during the last day of registration made me eager to vote. The four-hour ordeal simply increased the value of voting.

Months before the election, I was quite assured that my voting experience would not be long and tiring. Whenever my parents leave the house to vote, they would be back after an hour, tops. I remember this very clearly, because I always asked why they are back so soon. And so until May 10 I had the impression that my first voting would be just like the CoverGirl tagline--easy, breezy, and beautiful.

I underestimated the effect on the queuing brought about by the election automation. The three-hour waiting period in a crowded and secluded area at noon at this time of the year made my first voting experience a nightmare. Thanks to my habit of taking into consideration Murphy’s Law, I was equipped with tools and tricks that helped me through. Looking back, I realize that my voting experience taught some tips that will be handy next time:

Ate almost missed her turn by just a few minutes, because she had to go home just to use the restroom (the restrooms in that school was that bad).
You want to avoid: Leaving the waiting room to buy food or use the public restroom.
Do: (1) Have a hearty meal before heading to the school/precinct; (2) bring food and water; (3) regulate water intake two hours before leaving the house.


It is a miracle how I (and the rest of my family) survived the heat of that day. The air was warm and the place was full to the brim.
You want to avoid: Bathing in sweat, fainting, and heatstroke
Do: (1) Take a shower before leaving the house; (2) bring a fan; and (3) wear comfortable clothing.


My friend and I scheduled a lunch date that day, since it was our only common free time that week. After an hour of waiting, I had to reschedule our meeting.
You want to avoid: Missing/rescheduling an appointment or being late for an appointment
Do: Set a meeting at least five hours after your estimated time of arrival at the school/precinct.


Waiting under harsh conditions could seem forever.
You want to avoid: Boredom
Do: (1) Bring a book (or a gaming device) and MP3 player; (2) talk to a friend.

The scene in front of the school

On our way to the waiting room

People outside waiting for their priority number

This baby entertained us.

Ate and her ballot

Cheers to those who voted this year despite all the inconveniences. (Quoting Elaine) Mabuhay ka!

My Alibi II

I have none, really, except for (wait for it, wait for it) Happy Aquarium!

I love my first aqaurium (Emerald City). My second aquarium is still due for renovation.

Pardon my absence in blogosphere. Now that I have adopted a new routine in an effort to manage my time spent online, you can expect new posts soon. Thanks for dropping by. I really appreciate it. ♥

Alice in Wonderland (Movie)

I was a bit disappointed when I watched the movie Alice in Wonderland. This is despite my colleague’s warning that the film is not good. When I heard my colleague’s negative remark on the film, I was not surprised. The original story (and the reader’s imagination) will always be the benchmark. The ability of the filmmaker to interpret the book’s essence with precision and creativity would greatly determine the opinion of those who read the book. It is an example of the classic equation: expectation(s) – outcome (or reality) = disappointment.

I expected Alice in Wonderland movie to follow Lewis Carroll’s plot of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. As it turned out, the movie has a different plot. The scenes (most of which are not found in the book) were so skillfully corroborated to create a logical and coherent flow of events that is far from what the two-part series is all about.

Alice’s adventures in Wonderland as based on the original story are a series of random and mostly independent/ stand-alone scenes, which is part of the book’s appeal. Alice’s encounters with the different personalities in Wonderland make a unified theme of a strange new world--the feeling of inadequacy, unfamiliarity, confusion, anticipation, and disappointment that children and young adults face in their course of making themselves known to the world. Although the movie was able to capture the strange new world theme, it was on a superficial level due to film’s overemphasis on believing the impossible and its simplistic representation of Wonderland. The plot of the movie also centered on the-good-triumphs-over-evil theme, which is not found in the original story.

I expected the characters to resemble Lewis Carroll’s representation. I expected Alice to be an adorable, headstrong, inquisitive, and carefree seven/eight-year-old kid. Instead, the Alice that I saw in the movie was a conscientious and apprehensive teenage girl. The Mad Hatter in the movie adaptation was kind, helpful, and hospitable that is far from the aloof and inhospitable Hatter in the original story. I imaged the White Queen to be old and stern, which is in stark contrast with the movie’s depiction of a young and extremely pleasant queen with a personal vow of avoiding violence at all cost.

It is also noticeable in the movie that some memorable characters in the two-part series such as the as Humpty Dumpty, the Red Knight, and the Duchess were dropped, while some characters were made into major characters such as the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar, the Knave, Tweedledum, and Tweedledee.

I would have enjoyed the movie had it not been for the glaring contrasts between the movie and the original story. I watched the movie with the expectation to see the filmmaker’s depiction of my favorite scenes, characters, and dialogues. What I saw that night was a plot different from the original story, so much so that a different title --Alice’s Return to Wonderland (as it is a sequel of the two books)--would be more fitting. A new title would significantly lower the expectations of the people and would consequently draw the viewer’s attention to the film’s merits.

As for the film’s merits, the filmmaker's casting and animation are noteworthy. The cast in general is good. My favorite is Helena Bonham Carter who portrayed the Red Queen. Johnny Depp also did well in the film; he definitely put the mad in the Mad Hatter’s character. The animation is a treat for those who love visual effects.

Long Thursday

Thursdays are supposed to be just another day before Friday-- a “steady” workday and no-scheduled-plans-after-work day. March 11 was different for three reasons: (1) the big news; (2) dysmenorrhoea; (3) movie date with Ate.

The Big News

At around 9:00 AM last Thursday our VP entered the room and hinted at the big announcement. I was in the room seated at my work station when I heard our boss joke about my supervisor getting married. Then I heard her say “O, you tell them na” before leaving the room. I forgot how the conversation about the big news started; perhaps I did not hear it.

It was the official announcement that my supervisor and mentor, Ms. Jen, has received her immigrant visa and will soon leave for Canada; so soon that this week will be her last week in the office and she is scheduled to leave next month. Upon hearing the big announcement, mixed emotions filled the room.

It is always sad to part ways with someone who was there with you when you had your share highs and lows, but the thought of great opportunities and blessings in store for the person leaving helped to counter the sadness of the moment. The tension was off when our boss returned to our area and asked who cried upon hearing the news. When she scanned our faces looking for traces of tears, I had to suppress my smile.

I am excited for Ms. Jen. This is really it for her.

With Ms. Jen during her birthday last year

Dysmenorrhoea
I did not expect the pain to be as intense. It started at around 11:00 AM. At first the pain was bearable; I hardly felt any discomfort. Come noon the pain was so severe that all I wanted to do was sleep. I was feeling dizzy. I was also cold I had goose bumps all over. The pain distracted me from focusing on my work. I had a hard time typing, because a slight movement might cause another wave of pain. It was that bad.
The shawl that Ms. Jen lent me helped ease my discomfort. It took about four or five hours before the pain finally disappeared.
I somehow manage to avoid dysmenorrhea by drinking cola; it usually works like a charm. The last time I experienced dysmenorrhoea this intense was about four to five months ago. I wonder why the remedy failed to work last Thursday.

My makeshift medication

Movie Date with Ate
I was with Ate at a Chinese restaurant in Power Plant at around 7:55 PM, waiting for our food to be served. We were still right on schedule for the 9:00 PM screening of Alice in Wonderland. After 15 minutes, my food was served. I wanted to wait for my Ate’s food before starting to dig in. The serving was good for two, and so we started to eat while waiting for Ate’s food to buy ourselves time for dessert.I t was already 8:25 PM when my Ate’s food was finally served. We were running out of time and so we tried to finish the food as fast as we could. We finished around 8:35, but we had to wait another five minutes for the receipt and change.

Our next agenda was to buy dessert. Although the yogurt shop is at the other end of the mall, it only took us less than five minutes to reach the place. The mall is small, which is why Ate and I managed to walk at a leisurely pace without having to worry about the time. We made it to the movie house five minutes early.

When the movie was finished, we saw Rajo Laurel across us exciting the cinema.

Thanks, Ate for the treat!

All in all I enjoyed the movie date. I enjoyed Ate’s company. We are planning to do this on a regular basis. She already mentioned to me the upcoming 2010 movies that she is looking forward to see. Maybe next time I will buy her dessert.

Obligatory pic by the much-awaited-movie streamer

Hello, Mobile Phone Camera!

I rarely use the camera feature of mobile phone cameras. I did not develop the habit of taking pictures using my cellphone, because my Samsung unit of five years (yikes!) has no phone-to-PC feature. The company phone that was issued to me has the phone-to-PC capability, but somehow the camera is a dispensable feature for me until now.

I recently received a text message from the service provider that my outgoing services will be temporarily barred. If it were not for this slight inconvenience, I would have failed to appreciate yet again the usefulness of mobile phone cameras. I realized a while ago that I have to make the most of the situation by maximizing the use of the camera. All of a sudden I had the creative urge to shoot.

The view from my area, 44F, at 2:00 PM

The view from my area, 44F, at 6:00 PM

The view from my area, 44F, at 6:50 PM

I have been too accustomed to carrying a digital camera whenever I go out, which is why the role of mobile phones with built-in camera was downplayed in my everyday life. I tend to forget the convenience of having a cellphone inside my bag/ pouch/ pocket that is very useful for must-capture random moments/ sights / objects.

I would have failed to capture this sexist menu had I forgotten to bring my cellphone with me during our OB in Cabanatuan.

The dull and grainy quality of most mobile phone camera pictures can be remedied by tweaking the brightness, contrast, and color. With this old trick as my new mantra, you would probably see more remedied pictures in my future entries.

Quick Recap

December was busy month, because of all the holiday preparations and celebrations. January- February was just as busy, because it's (my) de-clutter season. Since I was not able to write about events that I intended to post, I will just make a quick recap of where I was and what kept me busy.

Office Christmas Party 1

- Christmas Party 1 is my first stint as an official photographer to cover an event. Six of my pictures were published in the Christmas issue of the company’s official magazine (Thank you, Lord!).
- I bumped into my fellow Marketing Interns (in a telco company). They now work in Brand.
- Murphy’s Law at work: I experienced wardrobe malfunction and I lost my white flash diffuser.

The pictures above were published in Access December 2009 issue.

Office Christmas Party 2 (44 F)

- Our week nights before the event were spent practicing our moves for the presentation. It was a sing/dance medley, where each of the group members performed solo. Our group chose Hip-Hop, since we wanted a theme that is unflattering. Our group placed second.

- The theme of the Christmas party is “My U.N. Christmas”. The participants were asked to wear something that can be associated with a particular country. I wore Saudi Arabia’s traditional garment for men, which I borrowed from Sherwin. Yes, I cross-dressed that night (complete with beard and mustache!). Thankfully, I won the best costume award.

- Games galore: Picture frame, charades, trivia game, and karaoke challenge. My favorite is picture frame—lots of LOL moments there.

ERMG, CMS, MSAG, and CorpProc Christmas Party last Demember 11, 2009

Christmas/ Holiday Gatherings

- IEP Christmas Party: I attended a house party at Micky’s place. The party must have ended at around 4:30-5:30 AM, because we left Micky’s place at around 4:00 AM and we were among the first guests to leave. We reminisced about our IEP days.  

- Christmas Get-Together with the Barx: It’s a Christmas tradition since we were in High School. The 2009 celebration was different, because we celebrated it by dining out instead of the customary house party until past midnight. We would also normally celebrate it before Christmas. Last year’s deviation from the "Barx Christmas Tradition norm" is due to our busy schedules.

- Albay Trip 2009: We went to Albay to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. I kept myself busy by scouting my Tita’s place for interesting subjects and landscapes. We went to some of Ligao must-sees such as the Kawa-Kawa and Centro at night. We also visited Daddy (my paternal grandfather). It’s good to be reunited with family.

With friends and family

Albay 2009-2010 pictures: Herrera, Kawa-Kawa, and Centro