This weekend will be busy with races all over- Challenge Subic 70.3, The Dream Marathon and also Tokyo Marathon 2015. I can’t believe it’s been a year since I ran in the cold, beautiful streets of Tokyo for my fourth World Major.

Amidst all these marathon posts on my feed and as I hit the halfway point of a tough London Marathon training, I find myself once again asking why I run marathons. It’s not exactly the most fun thing in the world to lace up and run when everyone else is in deep slumber. And not everyone is crazy enough to clock in 60-70 kilometers a week on foot, much more than what some friends cover, driving to and from the office for an entire work week. And yet I still choose to do it and train hard for it, traveling many miles just to run. So why do I run marathons?

The goal is clear.
The goal has different permutations over time but one thing does not change – you need to run for 42.195 kilometers. That’s clear and nothing will change that. In the past years my goal was just to finish safely. Then it was about finishing under five hours, then under four. And then it was about finishing all six marathon majors so now the goal is running it at 3:35. But every single time, the goal is crystal and this has made the experience motivating, knowing what you are set out to do and taking concrete steps to get there. Things may not be as clear in other aspects of life but in the marathon, there is nothing vague or arbitrary.

You get as much as what you put in.
It is a fair game because you reap what you sow. There really are no shortcuts. Yes you can run a marathon even if you have not trained properly but you can’t fully enjoy running it and I assure you that it will be a really long day. With the marathon you can choose to calibrate your efforts depending on what you want to get out of it. Say you want to be a faster runner. Then you train for speed, doing specific workouts that increase your threshold for faster paces over prolonged distance. This may include just running specific workouts or also incorporate strength training that’s also speed-focused.

This principle is also entirely new to me but something that I have come to appreciate as I become more disciplined as a runner. Before it was all just by feel with no gadgets and program. But to become a better runner, there are specific steps to take and methods to embrace. There are a lot of resource out there but you have to find what works for you. Before I was content to just run and build mileage but now that the goal has become more challenging, the guidance of a coach is needed.

It gives you a sense of purpose.
The clarity of a marathon goal casts an overall sense of purpose in my life as well. This does not mean that I plan my day and my life just around my training. But what it has given me is a road map that allows me to define the other aspects of my life with the same rigor and determination as I have done to running. Because of this, I have also been inspired to be passionate in the other roles that I play. It has taught me that excellence is about practice, about putting in the time and giving each aspect of life the time that they deserve.

Interestingly, marathons have also helped define our plans, well at least our travel plans. Trips are twice as fun because I am racing and races are much more meaningful because I get to see the sights and see my family at the finish line.

It makes life more interesting.
Now apart from being a mom, a wife, a daughter, an employee, a start-up founder and all the different roles that I play, I am also a triathlete and international marathoner. I really find joy in this because this is something I do to be me. It is a role that I chose to play to celebrate something that I am passionate about. I have always believed that I am happier doing all the other things I am doing because I have made a commitment to find time for something that makes my heart truly sing.

It gives me renewed confidence.
Running a marathon is no easy feat so finishing one has given me a stronger belief that I can take on a goal if I set my sights on it. It has given me grit and resilience, strengthening my resolve to do more and be more despite adversities. It has honed mental toughness amidst an uphill challenge and it has taught me the importance of practice. It is only by constantly doing that one achieves mastery. And just like in any field, it is practice that breeds confidence.

On a more superficial note, the training has also enabled me to still confidently wear an extra small size despite having two kids.

Ultimately, I run marathons because I love running marathons. There is nothing like crossing the finish line knowing that you have trained for it and that you showed up every single day.

Have a safe and fun race to all marathoners this weekend!

We are not really big on Valentines but it’s always good to have an excuse to travel and spend time together. It’s also a good time to hang out with interesting people to listen and learn from their life experiences.

Today we had the wonderful opportunity to just chill with successful and experienced entrepreneurs who were generous in sharing what they have gone through in their business journey.

Keep on Learning

The world is replete with ways to learn you just gotta have the insatiable desire to keep on learning. In a world where information is very accessible there is no excuse to stay stagnant. You also have to know the best method by which you learn the most. Not everyone can do it by reading books so talk to people instead or read blogs or listen to podcasts or watch videos- whatever suits your personality best. I like to learn by doing and following, sometimes complementing it with reading. But I cannot keep up with my husband’s reading list and am just content to listen to the gist of what he has read. I also learn through the company I keep and get inspired by their success and undertakings.

Get Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone

It is quite common to hear this but today it was further validated by a friend who thrives in going beyond the comforts of what he has created. It is easy to be caught up in the trappings of success, thinking that these are the ends in themselves. But for innovation to continue to flourish, there has to be a desire to pluck yourself once more and again and again from what your norm is, sort of creating a new normal. It may seem at the surface that doing so is just about the thrill of the chase but more than this, it is truly a desire to constantly give back and give more to a world that has bestowed an abundance of blessings to you. I am inspired by this because it is a reminder to keep evolving, to continue reinventing one’s self in the process of doing and becoming more to the world.

Surround Yourself With People Who Will Keep You Grounded

Corollary to creating new norms for yourself as you evolve as an entrepreneur, it is equally important to keep yourself together and grounded despite all the movement. It is easy to be caught up in one’s success and new found power that is why it is important to have a set of people who will remind you of who you are and what is important to you. When you are successful, people tend to say yes to everything you say, creating a bubble where you are the center of the world. But this limited worldview is dangerous and self destructing. It pays to choose the company you keep and to constantly allow them to get you back to reality.

Allow Nature to Set the Lid

We are always told to think big and dream big. But how big is big? We often pick an arbitrary number that we think is big enough or we think of baseline numbers based on what other have set before. But greatness comes when we allow nature to set the course of things. It is not just about asking the “why” but also the “why not”. It is challenging the norm and finding non linear ways to grow. It is about working hard and putting your heart and mind into something you believe in and also working smartly as you adapt your mindset to what is available. This is one of the most striking learnings I got today since it teaches me to expand my worldview beyond what I think I am capable of, very apt as I am embarking on a new and exciting business.

Submit Yourself as a Vessel of Change

Beyond the business and the material or experiential results of it is a higher purpose why successful people do what it is they do best. They have fully embraced their role as agents of change in our society. By building successful businesses, they channel the blessings that they are bestowed with to help more people build their own lives. They are inspirations for upcoming entrepreneurs to also give back. They are a testament that making money and doing good can co-exist and even fuel each other. Through their lives I am reminded of the core of true entrepreneurship, that is , creating value for the greater good.

Have Fun and Enjoy the Process

There is too much stress happening in the world to make one’s business stressful. Yes it is no easy task especially in the first ten years with all the birth pains and life adjustments but that does not mean that it can’t be fun as well. I guess if your heart is in the right place there is joy even in the hardest of times. I think if the intent is clear and the vision is meaningful, the process can become worthwhile and enjoyable despite the ups and downs. Or sometimes it is the roller coaster ride that gives it double the fun.

Have a great love day and continue loving and learning!

As I have posted in the past weeks, I have been loading up on my training for the London Marathon. But I have to build up as well on my fund raising for charity since I have a target to hit by April 1.

From now until April 1, I hope to reach Php 100,000. I have lined up some initiatives that I hope you will support:

1. Product Auctions
– Every week I will be auctioning off products from various brand sponsors who have been generous in supporting this project. These will be posted on Facebook and you may bid/purchase. All proceeds go to Scope for Disability.

2. Bespoke Travel Planning
– Friends usually joke about asking me to make their travel itinerary and preparations. To those of you who have travel plans this year, I am very much open to create a customized, fun and interesting trip plan for you in exchange for any donation to the fund raising.

3. Rally for Brand Sponsorships
– I will continue to reach out to brands who may be interested to be part of the project. If you know any brand who I may tap, please do send contacts my way. I would really appreciate any leads.

4. Direct Donations via www.virginmoneygiving.com/MenchieDizon
You may directly donate via the fundraising page. Any amount will be very much welcome!

So apart from the training, there is still a lot more to do on the fund raising front. I hope you will support me in any of the endeavors listed above:)

My heartfelt thanks to everyone! Happy Sunday!

(Photo from London Marathon Facebook account)

I love New York and I don’t think the 10 days we spent there last year was enough to try out all the things that this bustling city has to offer. This time around we didn’t bring kids with us (our last New York trip was with a ten-month old Julian) so we got to try out stuff we can’t do with kids in tow. I’ll just do a run down of the top things I really enjoyed on this visit. Quite timely too, with Valentines fast approaching, since this can also be a fun and romantic guide when visiting New York.

1. Go on a food trip.

Apart from the marathon, one of the predominant themes of this trip was food. Everyday was an opportunity to pick from the many dining choices available in the city. As I mentioned in previous posts, we choose to spend more on experiences over stuff so whenever we travel we try to look for interesting things to do. Food is one of the few things we like to enjoy and spend a little bit on. We like taking boutique culinary tours that are unique and give you a very local flavour of the place. We usually book these tours directly or discover them through the following sites:

• http://www.vayable.com
• http://www.sidetour.com
• http://www.viator.com
• http://www.peek.com
• http://www.gidsy.com

For this trip, apart from just sampling various restaurants we went on prearranged food tours around Greenwich Village, around the Flatiron District and around Williamsburg. Each one was unique and came with historical highlights of each area. So far my top resto picks from this trip are as follows:

• Pio Pio for Peruvian chicken
• Momofuku for their meat-filled buns
• Milk Bar for their biscuits
• Levain for their cookies
• Bleeckers for their pizza
• Beecher’s for grilled cheese
• Luke’s Lobster for lobster rolls
• Eataly for all sorts of yummy finds
• Cubana Social for empanadas
• The Bagel Store for everything bagels
• Hill Country Barbecue for the best ribs
• Tre Giovani for their ravioli

Amen to this!

2. Walk and have fun exploring the five boroughs.

We didn’t have enough time to visit all boroughs and only got to explore Manhattan and Brooklyn. But between those two there is so much to cover on foot. I particularly liked getting lost around the Soho area, going around Williamsburg, exploring the Greenwich district and just walking up and down the busy streets of Manhattan. Unlike my past life of check list travel, we were just content to have a flexible schedule with just an overall direction on how the day will flow, leaving lots of time for just slow travel.

Getting lost in Soho

3. Watch a comedy.

We were lucky that our home for this trip was centrally located right at the heart of the theater district, 150 meters away from Times Square. It’s so hard to choose which show to watch but given our budget and interest we decided to go for one lower priced, bang for buck show and another mid-prized one that we have always wanted to watch. We ended up with “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” which was staged right beside our apartment building. We also went to the afternoon show so it was cheaper. Then we watched Book of Mormons and were rolling in laughter for the entire show. Such a fun way to end the day:)

Funniest musical ever!

4. Bike around Central Park.

New Yorkers are blessed to have such a gorgeous park where they can run and exercise anytime they want. For the early part of our trip, we wanted to have an overview of Central Park and decided to go on a DIY bike tour following a suggested map. It was a good alternative instead of aimlessly walking around to explore it’s expansive grounds. We like taking bike tours in every city we visit especially in places where cycling is a popular mode of travel. It is like being a local even for just a few hours.

Bike date at Central Park

5. Have a leisurely brunch.

Since the weekdays are usually fast paced and packed, weekends start slow with a relaxed brunch. One nice place is Sarabeth’s near Central Park. The lines are long in these brunch places on weekends so try to go early or after 11 am to beat the crowd. Or if you are just on vacation, hit the best brunch places on weekdays so you are sure to get a table without the lines. We also liked the comfort brunch food at Fairways.

Forgot to take photo of my brunch at Fairways but was enthralled by the variety of energy bars at their grocery.

6. Have a drink at a rooftop bar.

This was the first thing we did as soon as we got there (talk about priorities). Despite the chilly weather, rooftop bars are usually full from dusk onwards, with Manhattanites unwinding after a long day at work. I like the vibe better than an indoor bar because you can enjoy a nice conversation with drinks without having to shout above the din of blaring music. The alfresco atmosphere is also more relaxed and laid back. For this trip we went to Brass Monkey at the Chelsea district.

Loving my cold IPA.

7. Walk the High Line.

The High Line is an ideal example of a community led development that is both transforming and sustainable. It was a project to make better use of the elevated train tracks that have been abandoned for several decades. Instead of just demolishing these historical infrastructure, a group of like minded individuals banded together to push for its conservation and development. The result is an innovative and ingenious use of space that has given the district a unique sense of place. It is nice to just stroll or sit here to take a breather from all the walking.

Waiting for the sun to set at the High Line.

8. Go to market.

Weekends are also interesting for all the markets around the city. I used to love flea markets but ever since I stopped buying stuff I now go for the food markets. First on our list was Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, made famous by the ramen burger craze. We also visited the produce market at Union Square. Although these are not seasonal and open air markets, I also loved the Chelsea Market and the more deli type Eataly.

Market day at Union Square.

9. Celebrate Halloween on the streets.

We were not prepared for Halloween but it was too fun to not take part in it. So we bought impromptu costumes from one of the many pop up stores set up for the occasion. Then we went with the crowd, wading in a sea of people as we waited for the parade to pass by. But more than the parade, it was just the overall revelry that made it a fun night. Everyone was just game and happy to be out in the streets. The city came prepared with the mighty NYPD all alert. It was interesting that although the crowd was thick and it would have been easy to just wreak havoc, the general atmosphere felt safe not just because of the presence of the police but because people just genuinely wanted to have clean fun.

Tita gone wild.

10. Run the world’s biggest marathon.

And let us not forget the main reason for the visit, to run the New York Marathon. It is always romantic to see the hubby at the finish line of every race. But of course nothing can beat the preparation and support to get there.

Nothing beats running the five boroughs of New York.

So as a believer of everyday manifestation of love versus the showy grand gestures during occasions like Valentines, I wish everyone a year of loving:)

Last month was the start of my London Marathon training program. It is the first time that I am training under the watchful eye of a running coach. When I first saw the training plan, my tummy twisted into uneasy knots. I was told that it was just a build up phase, to get me up to speed after coming from last year’s injuries. It sure did not look easy and  I doubted if I will ever accomplish it. But I am happy to report that I tried my darndest to stick to the plan.

Snapshot of my January program

To survive, I took it a week at a time, treating each accomplished week as a milestone in itself. I think dividing the task into smaller chunks helps make the program more doable. I try to do the same approach when running long distances too. So a marathon is just four (4) 10k runs. I can hold the thought of running 10k in my mind quite easily versus running 42k. I also celebrate the half way point by eating a treat or giving myself a little jolt of encouragement “Hey you’ve reached the half point, it’s all easy from hereon…. just a little more”. Of course sometimes it’s easier said than done, especially on days that I really don’t feel like running. But breaking the program into more bite sized pieces helps a lot.

The real driver though is the clarity of the reason. It is crystal why I have gotten into this program in the first place. There is a clear metric to deliver and there are concrete steps to get there. So every time I feel like slacking off, I go back to the intent. And I have a coach who constantly reminds me what it is I am training for. I like it too that he does not mince words and says things like “O, bakit ganyan lang di ba Boston Qualifier ang goal mo?”

I was very excited when I sent him the summary of my January actual training. I felt that I did an excellent job by trying to follow the program as much as I can (except when I did not have house help to tend to the kids). So imagine my surprise when I was told that my performance was just “decent” and that he was being lenient because I just came from a previous injury. Again, he went back to the objective and reiterated that I am not training for a sub-4 but a BQ. Same thing with my strength trainer. I told her that I was gaining speed in my runs. She just shrugs and says that I still have a problem with my landing. It’s good that I am training under people who are tough as nails and who do not accept mediocre output.

Upon seeing my February program, I cringed once more and was swept with a fresh wave of self doubt.  Eleven weeks to go till the performance, time to step up the game and show up as much as I can, everyday.

Time to step up the game and just keep on running. Throwback to 2012 running around the Belvedere Palace, Vienna.

I grew up being exposed to people and instances where looking for the quickest, shortest solution was normal. It was always about “kaya yan” and “hanapan ng paraan” even if all odds were stacked against the situation. On one hand, this was good because it taught me to find creative and alternative ways of doing things and to thrive in very tough conditions. On the other hand, it also did not allow me to appreciate the process and to learn from the steps that needed to be taken to achieve the objective. A key point in my life happened and it made me realise that a life of shortcuts will eventually catch up on you. This was when I decided that from here on, in all that I will do and strive for, I will always do the right thing and be mindful of the process to get there.

I see this at work, especially now that I am embarking on something new, scary and exciting all rolled into one. I think I have finally found work that does not feel like work but something that I can truly see myself in. But this is not accidental. I believe that my various experiences have prepared me for this challenge. This is a very comforting and reassuring feeling, especially to many of us who have been searching for a vocation that truly matters. All the things that we go through is not wasted but is just part of the journey to find ourselves in the work that we do. And just like in all the roles I have taken on, I start once again as a newbie, trying to figure out things as I go along. What is different this time is I am really starting something, building it from ground zero and assembling the blocks to make this project come to life. It is also more apparent that I do not know a lot of things but that there are steps that I can take to learn more. I am just blessed to have mentors and idols who are generous with their resources, time and guidance, people who have gone out of their way to make sure that we are up to speed so we can go full steam ahead. These individuals have made being successful look so easy but from them I learned that there is no such thing as an overnight success. It is a process of constantly trying, of continuous iteration and of choosing purposefully.

I see this also in my running training. I have always been passionate about my running but I realized that if I wanted to be the best runner that I could possibly be, I really have to put in the hard work needed and be comfortable with speed. This is not easy since I have always been a steady eddie, intimidated by fast runners. I have also not followed a strict program for my running since I have never trained for a race that required me to finish at a certain time. But this time the goal is crystal- finish the London Marathon at a target time of 3:35 so I can use this race as my Boston Qualifier (BQ). So I have followed my program as much as I can and welcomed my coach’s constant reminder that I am not pushing hard enough. If this is what it takes to get there then I have to embrace the process. For me, there is no other way.

I also see this in my family life. I have just recently shared that finding time to be with your partner is very important. You can’t just expect that your relationship will be rosy and happy if you do not put in the time to nurture it. Same is true with the kids. Our children are creatures of routine and they have set ways of doing things. From them I learned that to get to a desired outcome, I have to take specific steps to get there. Take for instance sleep time. The ritual starts with bath, then brush teeth, then write a letter (I write a letter/journal for each of them every night), each one reads their letter (I read to Katy), read a funny book and make it sillier, read Katy’s book, read Julian’s book, drink milk, close light, touch mommy’s elbow and belly button. Whew. But this process has proven to be successful in getting them to sleep at a specific time. Crazy things happen when this is not followed, let’s not get into that.

So live a life with no shortcuts, find your purpose and live fully. Have great day!

As cliche’ as it sounds, revel in the journey and not just have your eye on the destination. Taken enroute to the Sahara. We took a lot of stops to just enjoy the trip, allowing ourselves to be amazed by the scenery. Throwback to 2008 🙂

In a few days we will be celebrating our eighth year of marriage. My husband and I have always been friends and I think over the years we have evolved into being each other’s best buddy. We can talk for hours about anything but also can stay quiet, just comforted by each other’s company. We rarely fight and I think this is largely due to having the communication lines open. We each revel in our individual pursuits but genuinely enjoy the intersection of our lives. As I look back over the years, I realized that the foundation to all these is the commitment to find time for each other.

Date Night is Not Enough

With all the demands from the various roles that we play it seems like having one night a week for date night is enough. Yes dates are important to keep the relationship exciting but I personally think that quantity of time purposely spent trumps a two hour dinner date.

This means turning the drive home into an opportunity to catch up on how each of your days flowed. Instead of cursing the traffic or snoozing on your partner, talk about how your day went or even about stuff that you read. It may also mean having a quick drink before heading home to unwind after a long day. It is also about finding things that you enjoy doing together and making this a part of your weekly routine. It could be exercise, a hobby or just meeting up with interesting people. Personally, nothing beats the stuff that you repeatedly do everyday or every week versus the bursts of sweetness or surprise (although admittedly this adds spice to life).

Travel Together

Traveling together is sacred for me. Every year we try to find time and save for a trip with just the two of us. I think this is one of the key things that has strengthened our relationship. It is the deliberate focus on each other (you’ve got no choice, right) that allows for the rediscovery and renewal. There is nothing like spending 24/7 with someone you truly love. Just sharing some key tips to get the most out of it:

1. Don’t feel guilty.
It is understandable to feel uneasy with the decision of leaving your kids behind for several days or even weeks. But this time off with your spouse is also important for you to become better partners and ultimately better parents. There is a time for everything, a time for family travel, a time to travel together, a time to travel with best friends or even a time to travel alone.

2. Don’t overly fret.
You won’t enjoy your time together if you are constantly worried about what’s happening back home. Instead, make sure you prepare and cover all possible bases within your control before leaving for your trip. Make sure to also have someone that you trust with your life to be with your kids while you are away. It is also important that you trust them enough to allow them to make decisions on your behalf. In addition, have a set time to contact home and try to keep at it (despite changing time zones).

3. Do stuff you both enjoy.
The time away is a chance to do things together, new or old things that you both enjoy. So go for a run if you like that or join a culinary tour or maybe a bike tour. Or for adrenalin junkies, try out the extreme sport that a destination is known for. Or just watch a show. Or do nothing as you just observe a new city and take it all in.

4. Focus on each other.
At home, there always are other things battling for your attention. This time, stay attuned to your partner’s needs, wants and whims. Treat it as a retreat to find each other again, to rediscover each one’s quirks and reaffirm why you chose to be with this person for the rest of your life.

5. Talk and be quiet.
Part of focusing on each other is taking time to talk. Talk about anything and everything. Talk about your dreams, your fears and frustrations. Talk about how you see yourselves in the years to come. Talk about the people who have shaped your lives. Talk about your kids and laugh about all your booboos at parenting. Just talk. Or choose to just be quiet as you ponder about the year that was or as you think about what life has in store for the coming months and years. Or just be quiet as you hold hands and revel in the thought that you are in this life together, silently committing to your very own tag team and believing that if you work together, great things can happen.

Just recently I read an article about the importance of having a passion project, something that you do beyond the day to day work. It reminded me of the years when I felt stuck and constantly frustrated that work just took so much out of me. At that time, I worked long hours and sometimes ended up crying because I was still in the office when everyone else had gone home. I was clearly in a rut and didn’t know how to get out of it. I went to all sorts of retreats and forums, some quite expensive just to figure things out. After all these self discovery sessions I realized that I should set out to find that which makes my heart sing and that I should find time to nurture it. I also got to accept that work never ends no matter how much time you spend in the office. I had to carve out time for myself so I can give more in the other aspects of my life.

I was also inspired by my husband who seemed always happy knowing what he wanted to do in life. He loved to make games and has found a way to make this his life work too. If it’s possible for him to find his true passion then I could discover it too.

I bought hobby books, joined photography classes, opened a bar, among other things, in my quest to discover my passion project. I also tried blogging. But nothing really caught on. Until I discovered running.

In 2008, we were required at work to field a representative for the intercompany olympics and no one wanted to sign up so I volunteered. It included free coaching and even stipend so that was a no brainer. So we did training two to three times a week and also joined some weekend fun runs because the company sponsored the race kits as well. I found that I enjoyed it and didn’t even mind training by myself. I felt that running kept me attuned to my thoughts giving me tangible and conscious time to spend with myself.

So I pursued it, finding time to run every single day. I remember squeezing time to run even if I finished work late at night, parking my husband at a bar for some night out with friends while I ran outside. I guess the focus on this interest built up my love for it. Whatever one really focuses on expands.

I kept running even after I had kids. I was talking to someone recently and she felt that having kids will derail her practice. I think there will just be a momentary delay, a beautiful pause as you give life to another. But it will find its way back to you if you find time for it again. And just like at work, I find myself having more to give to family because I have given time for myself.

I am on my seventh year of running and as they say, there is that seven year itch. Just like in marriage, I’m rediscovering it just as I am finding out things about myself in the process. For this next phase in pursuing my passion project, I choose to embark on mastery, on becoming the best runner I could ever be. I have put out my goal, and my heart, out there through this blog with the hope that the universe conspires to make my running dreams come true.

So yes, go out there and find your passion project. You owe it to yourself to find that which makes your heart sing. “If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders.” So let me leave you with seven insights that have marked my seven years of seeking out my passion project:

1. Be open and try out new things.

2. Once you find something you like, focus and master it.

3. Carve out time for your practice.

4. Get your loved ones involved.

5. Put your goals out there.

6. Fall in love with it over and over again.

7. Rediscover yourself in it. Evolve with it.

Yay to finding one’s passion project!

The London Marathon this coming April is slated to be my Boston Qualifier (BQ). I have decided to put all my eggs in one basket, focused on London as my sole chance to get a slot for Boston 2016. There are other options this year but due to budget constraints and limitations on mental bandwidth I choose to just zero in on one.

Back in my favorite training ground.

For the next four months I will be coached by Ige Lopez, one of the country’s top triathlon and running coaches, known for his stringent programs. I am both scared and excited especially since I just came from a series of injuries.

The past seven days marked my first week of training. After not being able to run for over a month, this week was critical in just getting me back in the rhythm. It was not easy and I just got reminded by my coach that my pace is not at par with my goals. But I like this tough treatment to keep me on my toes given the clear objectives that we have set to accomplish. This week also crystallized my worldview when it comes to tackling a challenge – that I can push towards a singular purpose with tunnel vision if I set my sights on it. This commitment to a goal is also further magnified when I am given a general direction on how to go about it. Clarity of goals allows me to pound at something with stubborn persistence.

So despite the uphill climb of this first week, I stuck to the program by showing up every single day. I chose not to miss a day of training since this week was about setting the foundations for the weeks to come. I finished every work out even if I wanted to quit the moment I started. I remember my first day of treadmill training last week. I had to stop twice at the start to reset. I could not even last a full two minutes without thinking of stopping. But the task was to carry on and finish no matter what. It was stop and go until it became easier.

I am also intimidated by speed. I have always been a steady runner and cannot imagine myself running to the point of exhaustion. But this program is meant to build up pace. I asked my coach how I can overcome this self imposed lid and he said that I should start running with people who are fast runners. I have yet to sum up my courage to take on his invitation to join their Tuesday and Thursday running sessions. These guys are fast and just the thought of keeping up with them make my tummy swirl. But if this is what it takes then I shall muster all my strength to show up.

The rest of the program for January will be about building a solid base so that I can get used to a heavier run load. It will be the foundation for the weeks to come. It is also about learning how to measure results and performance to see how these bring me closer to the objectives. I like the thought of seeing one’s progress with every effort put in.

So week one down fifteen more to go on this exciting road to BQ. Happy Monday everyone!

It is the start of the new year and I am sure a lot of us are planning for trips this year. Maybe you have already bookmarked the list of long holidays and have even gone ahead and booked some flights. Some may be planning for their bucket list trips while others may be signing up for destination races.

For the next weeks I will be sharing useful tidbits of information about some of the most recent cities I have visited. I hope these will be helpful tips that you can use as you plan for your trips. In no particular order, I will be featuring the following destinations:

• New York
• San Francisco
• Chicago
• Berlin
• Tokyo
• Munich
• Copenhagen

Feel free to let me know if there are specific cities that you would like me to feature. Also, I would be very happy to work with you in building your trip itinerary and planning for your travel. Just message me via Facebook Messenger 🙂

Happy travels everyone!

Nothing beats putting together passion for running and travel 🙂