iVolunteer

Last Sunday, the 30th of September, I went to join hundreds of volunteers for the Maine Marathon. It was my second volunteering stint [B2B was my 1st] and my 1st for Maine Marathon. It was an awesome experience despite the weather.

I left the house at 5:20am. It was not raining yet when I left and reached Portland a couple of minutes before six. It didn't take long for me to find Julie Scala, the lady in-charged of the Food Tent where I was assigned.

As soon as I saw here she checked my name from the list and handed me my t-shirt, towel [both with Maine Marathon prints on them] and are you ready for this? Sea Dogs ticket!

After we set up the table we waiting for few minutes for the food to arrive. As soon as the food supplies were unloaded, we started chopping, slicing, unwrapping and preparing them. I have never sliced hundreds of oranges in my life until that soggy morning. It was fun!

About 30 minutes before the race starts, runners started gathering in front of the food tent.

I was overwhelmed at the sight of them and a little jealous I guess. Well, it's a "marathon", I don't do marathon. I'm a 5k lady. I was already happy to be a part of this event and one of the 400 volunteers who made the event successful.

I only volunteered for 3 hours [6am to 9am] so that I can take photos of the race. However, I did get the chance to snap some photos before the race start and was so happy to see all these things happening before my eyes.

It was then, that the rain started to pour steadily. I wanted to take more photos but I am afraid that the rain might ruin my camera.

 Taking it all in.

 The Big Bang!

 Here they come!

 The stampede.

 The Lady in rainbow Tutu.

 The Riot in the Cellar guys.

 The moose guy.

As soon as I know I had taken enough photos of the event.

I left hoping that next year I will be able to volunteer again. But deep inside me, I know I am secretly wishing that - one day, I will run the race! wink*

Why RUN if you can ride... the waves!

So I didn't get the chance to run in the Philippines the way I planned to due to several storms we had when I was there. I didn't get the chance to even just do my regular 3-mile run as my work out because I was working hard on pigging out on my favorite foods that I have not tasted for 5 long years. And yes, if I was not dining out with friends and family left and right, I was on the road exploring different places and doing different activities.

So, my dear brother Japol brought me up north to visit Vigan City to walk back in time and immerse ourselves to the history of the past.

Then, we went straight to Urbiztondo, San Juan La Union and stayed at San Juan Surfresort for the night and met up with my TSS Sistah and Blogger friend Zen of the Letters in November.

The next morning, despite the natural signs of brewing storm, Japol talked me into doing something I never thought I would do in my whole life - surfing.

At first I was a little adamant to try it knowing that I am not a good swimmer. But then, with his constant bugging and persistent. I did it. I have no choice since he already made the arrangement for my first surfing lesson.

And so I did. Despite the fear of drowning and getting chewed on by sharks... I tried it. The instructor gave me quick lesson on Surfing 101.

Next thing I knew...I was riding the waves!

So there... I hanged loose!

 

Author's Note: Special thanks to my brother Japol for the photo coverage, the encouragement and the surfing lesson fee. hahaha

Home Run

My 7-week vacation is over and I'm back to home base. It was such a wonderful vacation despite the 4 storms that the Philippines had during the duration of my stay. I had a wonderful time with my family especially with my 3 nieces and a nephew whom I love to pieces.

I also had such a wonderful time with my brother Japol who brought me to different places. But I didn't get the chance to run a race which we originally planned because of the storms and Japol's hectic itinerary for me. Oh I love him so much for all his efforts to entertain me. So blessed to have a brother like him.

I really wished I had a chance to run because 7-weeks of non-stop pigging out on my favorite foods [that I have not eaten for 5 long years] and no exercise took a great toll on me. I gained 15 lbs. back at the end of my vacation.

Though I had one opportunity to run on the first day I was home with Toby [my Nephew], but that was all about it. It didn't even make me sweat because people I passed by along the road would stopped me and chat. So I just ended up buying more food in the market instead. wink*

Good thing, Japol once came home during one of his day off and we ran from Liliw [my hometown] to Nagcarlan [the next town where I went to High School] and met up with my former High School friend, Aida and her HS sweetheart, Allan.

Japol and I got the chance too to walk with Allan and Aida from Nagcarlan town proper to Sinipian... a well-known Barrio which is frequented by devotees during 1st Friday of the month. And yes, it was First Friday that day.

And of course, a visit to Sinipian will not be complete without buying and pigging out on those yummy treats which I believe is one of the reasons too why people go to that shrine in the first place. wink*

 

YUMMY indeed!


NOTE: Photos all courtesy of  JAPOLogy. Thanks a bunch Japs. Love you.

For the Tots

I have a flight schedule to the Philippines on Monday, the 26th of June and a birthday party to plan tomorrow. It's crunch time folks but I still have one race to do before I succumbed to panic attack.

I set forth early this morning for the 2nd Annual Trot for Tots 5k at Back Cove in Portland. The place is already familiar so I don't have to set my GPS to get there. I just drove off, picked up my packets, put my number, warmed up and ran. I did pretty good beating a 7 year old kid and his Dad. LOL. I clocked in 36:19 at 11:43 pace and placed 58th among the 79 participants. Not bad. Not bad at all, huh.

Then, timely, the free massage bed was empty on my way to the parking lot and a volunteer Chiropractic came up to me and offered me a free massage. Awesome. She said my muscles are tight. I wondered why? wink*

Then, I went home to bake my very first cake pops for Brandon's birthday tomorrow and blogged this. Tomorrow... the schedule is - packing for my trip back home right after clean up. hayyyy!