Working Girl v. 3.0

At present, I'm counting the days until I start with my third job. But let's start from the very beginning: 

Back in 2008, I had a real office! Hehe

My First 5k Run

My first 5k run ever was anti-climactic. I've been looking forward to joining a fun run since last year, but due to lack of motivation to wake up before 4 in the morning, I never got to join a race. Finally, after almost two months of training at the Milo Apex Running Clinic, I had the opportunity to join a fun run with a group. I felt my first fun run would be the culmination of all the hard work I've poured into training/running exercises thrice a week at the clinic. I envisioned myself at the starting line before sunrise, properly warmed-up, waiting excitedly alongside hundreds of other runners before the race starts, strategizing my speed and form from start to finish. None of it happened. Underestimating the distance between the mountains of Farview and Bonifacio Global City, I arrived at the venue late and I got to the starting line 11 minutes after the gunshot. The sun had already risen but it was a bit cloudy and humid. Without any warm-up at all, I dashed from the parking lot to the registration area (which I didn't find immediately). One of the organizers saw me frantically running to the registration area that he told me to "take it easy" and laughed. By the time I started running, most of the runners have gone far ahead that I had to exert extra effort to catch up with them. Thankfully, a lot of the participants joined for a leisurely walk and not exactly to race, so I caught up with them soon enough. I took comfort in running beside them; at least I wasn't running by myself anymore. 

This week at the running clinic

It's our second week at the Apex Milo Running Clinic, Level 2. (I signed up for all three levels) It has been raining sporadically the past weeks, but it hasn't stopped us from running. Strangely, and fortunately though, the skies clear up every 6 pm just in time for running class. It drizzles for a few minutes, but that's it; nothing that would inconvenience the running groups.

Rayray!

Two Sundays ago, I had fun shooting this cute baby :D

An Afternoon with Agos Kulay Maynila

The group with Ms. Sunshine Cruz-Montano and her three lovely daughters :)

Art is still my first love. I was drawing even before I began to write. Of course, so many things got in the way and I never got to pursue it as a career or a hobby. Thankfully, I still get to express myself through photography but I think I want to get my hands dirty again with a pencil and paper. 

Inspired by my artist friend and D12/discipleship group co-member Jemina Reyes (who launched an exhibit last month at Ricco Renzo Galleries), I sought art workshops that teach watercolor. She told me about Agos Kulay Maynila, an artists' circle that focuses on watercolor (or any water-based media). They meet every two weeks at the Ayala Museum. It is open to everyone, and there's no need to pay any joining/entrance fee. You can simply drop by during their sessions, grab an available chair and easel, and just paint away. They're very accommodating so you can ask the artists about their techniques. 

Rehoboth

"The word 'Rehoboth' means 'broad and spacious.' The Lord has broadened my space. If you let God fight for you [and] you let God choose for you, oftentimes, He leads you to the best. The best of the very best: Rehoboth."

Ptr. Peter Tan-chi

CCF Service on "Practicing God's Presence"

Post-morning run post

I just had heavy breakfast after my weekly morning LSD (long slow distance running) with my 5k group at the Milo Apex Running Clinic under Coach Janet. We usually run around the U.P. oval at least three times but today, we passed slopes and inclined roads around U.P. for 45 minutes straight. I found myself lagging behind my groupmates (I thought this was a 5k beginners' group??), most of which were older than me, so I tried my best to keep up though I was catching my breath during the last 10 minutes of the run. My running pace and endurance have improved so far (thank you Endomondo for tracking my runs). Having a coach and a group to run have, of course, been really encouraging. I had my misgivings at first about signing up for the beginners' 5k because I thought I might be setting the bar too low for my standards (since I've been running - though inconsistently - at the gym for years already). But most of my 5k groupmates in Q.C. are competitive and being with them has motivated me to push harder every time. Now I can confidently say I'll be able to breeze through a 5k race. I'll aspire for a marathon next time. Baby steps. Hehe.