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Team BisaKol Nailing the ATM500 Virtual Run Race

by pinksoda June 21, 2020

254 teams, 1016 road and trail runners, and 9 Asian Countries, one goal, that is to crush 500kilometers as a team in 14 days! Welcome to the Asia Trail Master 500-kilometers Virtual Run Race.

ATM 500 – “RUN ASIA, RUN VIRTUAL” aims to keep everyone in a good physical and mental shape, and adds an element of competition into the mix. It is a team format on purpose because in times of social distancing, it is important to keep fostering team spirit and interpersonal connections.

The Rules:

“The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” – James Cash Penney

Team BisaKol

Thus, team BisaKol was born! I wasn’t actually expecting to be a part of this team because joining the ATM500 Virtual Run was NEVER in my head! Like NOT AT ALL! But someone was crazy enough to think I can do it and added me to the group to complete the team. It was a pleasant surprise though honestly I was nervous as hell! It was like toeing the line for another 50-miler ultra trail race! But, since I am already in, I said to myself, let’s do this!

BisaKol, means Bisayang Bicolanos, us 4 being descent of Bisaya/ Bicolano, we decided to call ourselves BisaKol (thanks to Capt. Coy for the fun idea). We are all trail runners in the team who have missed running the trails as we haven’t been into the trails since the lockdown with Mt. Kalatungan Trail Ultra (50miles) as our last race together. Team BisaKol is composed of Capt. Coy Calleja, Jun Doble Santos, Tim Tuscano and yours truly. So, Why did we join the ATM500? What urged us to register? That I had to ask my teammates! And here’s what they have to say:

Why Did I Join the ATM500: At first I was undecided to join ATM 500 since I am a Trail Runner and here on my location there is no near accessible trails because of the Pandemic but I took it as a challenge, discover new strengths and weaknesses of road running. To add this up I only run on an average of 40km maximum per week as a daily maintenance. So to answer the question why? Simply because it’s a new challenge for me.

Mindset: Mindset? What was mindset? Oh believe me I have my mind but it was not set to the whole duration of my 128km contribution to the team, I just repeat my daily mantra “I’m tired but I’m gonna do this tired”

Why Did I Join the ATM500: I joined the ATM Virtual Run challenge to experience the NEW Normal race and for self-fulfillment. Due to quarantine I haven’t had any outdoor activities for 3 months.

Mindset: To contribute to my team and enjoy this new normal race.

Why Did I Join the ATM500: I joined the ATM500 because I have missed running especially in trails as I haven’t been running since the ECQ. It wasn’t easy not going outdoors to run since running to me is a lifestyle and I needed something to push me to run farther while having a specific goal. I thought this virtual race is perfect to get me back into my feet running and I was quite sure I’ll enjoy the race with great teammates.

Mindset: Simple! To enjoy the race, kill mileage on a daily basis and finish the race ahead of time. Not too fast, not too slow. I will just really have fun running again keeping the goal to finish strong in mind.

Why Did I Join the ATM500: It wasn’t part of my plan to join this virtual race. First because I am not a fan of long distance road running (I am your trail kind of girl), plus I know joining this would mean waking up extra early to do some mileage and I am NOT a morning person! In this time of the pandemic, I was just aiming to run at least 15km a week, 50km being the longest but I have never achieved that since March – running on a 260meters loop infront of my house. I got myself to agree to do this because a new challenge is not bad at all plus running outside is already allowed! I wanted to do something new and worthwhile in this time of the pandemic as well. Plus, it’s thrilling and exciting to be running along with some of Asia’s elite trail runners who are also registered to the race. And hey! I am teaming up with 3 fun and committed gentlemen! 😉

Mindset: Run first thing in the morning, don’t be an ass, work with your team, you’re a girl but it’s not a license to be weak! Do your best, hustle harder, prove the doubters wrong, overcome yourself while enjoying the race and finish strong!

The Race

So finally, Day 1 came and everyone being all set to smash the 500km, ran and booom! Team BisaKol registered a total of 100+km distance on the first day! Whoah! Fired up much? Chill guys! This is a 14-day virtual run race for fun right? And we are still on our first day! Hahahaha! It dawned to me that these guys I am with are in it to smash it, not in 14 days but definitely in a wayyy shorter time! Though there were teams grinding extra hard on day one that they finished the 500km or registered an amazing 400+km total distance on day 1! Crazy! But then again, most of the trail runners registered are ultra trail runners, so you know, crazy is in their genes!

**Our Common Ground! Si Jabeeee! Napadaan lang guysh!**

No one said anything or set the deadline to finish in our team but by the looks of it, with the daily mileage these guys are clocking in, I was certain these guys are looking into finishing the race in less than 7 days! The daily grind was craaaazy! Seeing other teams also busting their butts off to finish increasing their daily mileage, there was this sense of friendly competition and a little pressure! Positive pressure as it definitely added extra push, challenge, and pumped up the adrenaline rush! It felt like we were in an actual race. Though we’ve constantly reminded each other to just chill, relax, and enjoy the race, we have this kind of silent agreement that by Day 6 we will reach the 500km mark.

The Daily Grind

Was that an easy task to do? Well maybe for some, but to me personally, it was not the easiest but also did not see it as tedious because it felt like a real race that I committed myself into, therefore I will finish it with no qualms. That was the first time that I ran 6 days straight. LSD running everyday! Well not too slow, but was on my decent pace throughout the duration of the race. I had to consistently wake up at 4:00AM to prepare and ran 20-25km – now that is something NEW!

**We made a commitment to hustle for that goal! Enjoy each grind, push and encourage one another, and finish strong!**

Not the usual me but it’s part of the commitment. And I am quite sure the BisaKol boys had their own struggles to keep up with the daily mileage contribution considering their schedules and personal commitments and priorities.

Day 5, I decided to rest and the boys said, yes it’s okay, you go ahead and rest. Well I did, but the funny thing was, while I was just chilling at home, the three guys were rocking their Day 5 mileage that I felt the need to do my share at least? They encouraged me to just rest but dude! You guys are clocking in crazy mileage! I told them I will just be cheering for them, but goodness! Their commitment and energy is too contagious! Too contagious that in the afternoon I finally gave in and laced up and ran a quick 8km just to close my personal mileage to 90km on day 5 and do my little share for the day 😀 ! See what hardworking teammates can make you do? Hahaha! The BisaKol guys are nothing but motivating!

500KM Sealed and Completed

Day 6, just me, Jun, and Tim were grinding since Capt. Coy closed in already on Day 5 at 129km. Way beyond the 125km individual target. It felt like we were all giving out our all towards the finish line! I was seriously pushing and forcing myself to dig deeper because man! I am already feeling a sensation on my right iliotibial tract with every stride I was making after my 12^th kilometer for that day. I was aiming for 25km but was just able to finish 21km. The 3 of us were simultaneously running while Capt. Coy was also cheering on us! The real time updates on our GC was fun! It was like running together, checking on each other, and cheering one another to keep going! And before the day ended, we completed the 500km challenge! See Asia Trail Master Day 6 Race Report – HERE.

That was truly one for the book! I ran a total of 112km for 6 days, supposedly 125 but the boys got my 13km covered. Yay! So proud to be a part of a team where everyone is level headed, humble, committed, supportive, and most of all, great team players! You can never go wrong with these guys! So thankful that they picked me to be their female team member. Gotta live up to the expectation and hustle as hard as they do! Thank you, gentlemen! That was quite an ultra-race experience again with you! Congratulations to us for finishing the race early and for winning against our self-doubts and limitations! Thank you Sportslicious Malaysia and Asia Trail Master for coming up with this fun Virtual Run Race!

So which one is our next? ?

June 21, 2020 1 comment

Lifestyle and Food

Filipino Sailing School Trains Students on World-Class Bénéteau Boats

by pinksoda June 10, 2020

written by pinksoda

Like a beacon beckoning boats to the shore, the Lighthouse Marina Resort stands as the most distinctive landmark at the Moonbay Marina Complex, a small community nestled in the heart of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. This delightfully charming seaside location, situated some 100 km from Manila Bay, is the headquarters of the newly established Europa Sailing School, now regarded by many as the premier sailing school in the Philippines.

Stepping into the beachfront, visitors to the resort will find the surest sign that the Philippines’ newest sailing school has made its home here: a fleet of brand-new Bénéteau First 14 boats. These state-of-the-art compact watercrafts are now being used by students here during their practical sailing classes with their instructors. Provided by Europa Yachts Philippines—the country’s top distributor of sailboats and motorboats from leading European boatbuilders—these vessels were awarded to the school as part of a collaborative endeavor with the Subic Sailing Club and the IYFR Subic Sailing School to raise the level of sailing education in the Philippines.

Introducing the Bénéteau Brand to a More Filipino Sailors

According to Richard Sarinas, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Europa Yachts, their company expects the Subic Sailing School to be the initial base for the expansion of the Bénéteau brand in the Philippines, a market where other names in the yachting industry have found success in recent years.

“Since Europa Yacht’s establishment in 2012, the catamarans made by Lagoon have been our bestsellers. With their well-balanced configuration, expansive volumes inside and on deck, and shallow drafts that allow boaters to get close to shore, they’re simply perfect for nautical adventures in the Philippines. However, we would like to show boating enthusiasts in the country that monohulls from Bénéteau are just as stylish and as practical to own as their multi-hull counterparts,” he said.

June 10, 2020 0 comment

Fitness

5 Reasons Why Workout Is Better with a Buddy

by pinksoda May 30, 2020

written by pinksoda

Working out oftentimes requires mental toughness especially when you do it alone. Though on a personal note, since I got myself into this active lifestyle, working out solo has never a problem to me as I prefer to workout alone for some personal reasons. Reasons which I will talk about in a separate post. BUT I have to admit, there are times where I reaaallly don’t feel like working out and not too motivated to get things done! That’s where I could use an extra push! Enter workout buddy! Having someone to workout with always gives me the extra motivation and boost. I have heard a lot of friends saying they don’t like working out or going to the gym alone. That surely is a huge roadblock for them in achieving those fitness goals. That is understandable especially for those who just started their fitness journey. I actually talked about working out with friends briefly few months back. Click Starting Your Fitness Journey to read further.

Anyway, back to our topic for today, here are 5 reasons Why Workout is Better with a Buddy or a Friend

Fun – yes! It’s more fun to workout with a friend. Chances are, you are going to do it more and working out is something you’d look forward to doing in a day thinking you have someone to do it with. If you have someone to laugh with as you work out, you’ll have more positive emotions related to working out and you’ll stop dreading it.
Accountability – you and your workout partner can hold each other accountable. The other person is counting on you to stay on track with them with the workout and even with the diet. If one is demotivated, the other can help re-motivate you. Guilt is an effective motivator! You don’t want to let your friend down by bailing out on him/her, so you would rather pull your ass off that couch and go out to exercise with your buddy. Someone is counting on you to show up! Now, that extra level of accountability increases your odds of success.

Variety of Workout/Routines – We are all unique individuals so it is natural that though you both love to workout, your interests when it comes to the type of workout will have a, if not big, a slight difference. Maybe the other friend likes running, while you like dancing, or perhaps strength training, HIIT routines, or lifting weights. The beauty of having different workout taste is you both get the chance to have variations of workout. It’s always a good idea to get out of your comfort zone! Changing things up can support the goal of making exercise both enjoyable and challenging. And hey! If it means burning calories, definitely go for it!
Friendly Competition – competition is good! I mean healthy competition! We only encourage lifting one another and that means you get competitive when working out together through pushing yourself a little bit more. Surely each of you have your individual strength and you will learn from each other. Become each other’s inspiration to push further, or maybe farther, for those friends who run together ? . Let me remind you, don’t be so competitive that you’d secretly becomes envious which eventually makes your friend your “frenemy”. Let this be something that will make the friendship stronger.
Someone to Celebrate With – Surely you both have goals WHY you started with the workout. Achieving those goals, like being able to run 5km together at a shorter time, or longer mileage together, completing a grueling High Intensity Interval Workout, OR this, the best reward, shedding off the extra pounds after weeks of working out together! Can you imagine the thrill?! Having someone to celebrate wins whether small or big is an added bonus when you have a workout buddy to celebrate it with. You’d keep your eyes on your fitness goal and you’d look forward to smashing those goals together and then celebrate the victory after!

There! You see working out with a friend can keep you motivated, it can push you to be better and up your game, give your best each time. It can hold you accountable for getting into your best shape. So if you are having trouble committing to your workout regimen because you get bored easily and you are the type who likes to do things with a company, call a friend and invite him/her to sweat and burn calories with you!

May 30, 2020 0 comment

Random Musings

What Makes Me Feel Better – Always

by pinksoda April 9, 2020

written by pinksoda

When life gets tough, when things don’t go my way or how I wished them to be. When things gets so upsetting, when people get into my nerves, when those I trust betray me, when my genuine friendship is returned with betrayal, when my efforts are unnoticed – — how do you respond?

How do you respond to life’s tantrums, bitterness, and blows? Personally, when I am feeling so down, mad, disappointed, and confused – whatever state of emotion I am in, I always choose to be on my knees to PRAY. As cliche it may sound but really, praying does a lot of wonders. I have proven that each time for years now since I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

April 9, 2020 1 comment

Blogging & Random Musings Fitness

A Recent Photo Of Me

by pinksoda April 4, 2020

written by pinksoda

So it’s basically the 4th day of the 30-day blog challenge and damn it’s true old habits are hard to break! I am just starting and here I am starting to fall off the wagon! hahaha! I’ll catch up promise!

So today is … well still in quarantine mode due to the corona virus threat. I lost count already as to how many days have we been into this community quarantine. Technically staying at home is not new to me since I have been working from home for years now and the only routine that has been change since the quarantine is my time going out to workout at the gym, or run to just sweat or train. The bonding with friends of course I miss it too. So anyway back to today’s challenge.

Me Recently

**Me clocking in an 8-kilometer run just outside my house on a Friday afternoon**

Photos above and below are photos of me taken just recently (Thursday & Friday). As I have mentioned this quarantine affected my routine in terms of training (running and strength/weights training at the gym). Since our city was put into Community Quarantine (CQ), everyone is strongly advised to stay at home and subsequently a lot of businesses closed including the fitness gyms in the city. The advised to stay at home also discouraged runners to run outside at any given time. So now what? Does that mean, we give in into a sedentary lifestyle because we cannot go out to exercise? OF COURSE NOT!

April 4, 2020 1 comment

Blogging & Random Musings

My Character Traits and Strength

by pinksoda April 2, 2020

written by pinksoda

Today’s challenge is a bit of challenging. Writing about my Personality Traits I am proud of, the top 3 personality. I have to dig in a bit before I go further as I automatically thought of “character traits” which brought a bit of a confusion so let’s go ahead and differentiate the two.

Personality refers to the combination of qualities, attitude and behaviour, that makes a person distinct from others. Character refers to a set of moral and mental qualities and beliefs, that makes a person different from others. … At the same time, character indicates the traits of a person which are hidden from sight.

Now that we know the difference between Personality and Character, let’s focus on highlighting the Character Traits shall we?

I initially wanted to ask friends of my characters they liked about me the most so it’s more fun and exciting hearing from them. But due to the lack of time to do so, I will have to do it myself. Anyway, who knows me better than myself right?

April 2, 2020 0 comment