My, See How We've Grown

Pretty amazing that, at the recently concluded New Year League, there were over 30 teams!

Video posted by Ian

I've been playing competitive disc for over three years now, and it amazes me how things have changed since I began. Our team itself has had its share of changes...

Warriors then... (I think this was our first league)


...and now

It's weird that only six people (including myself) remain from that first photo. People have moved away, gotten married, had kids, moved onto other things. We've experienced everything from being in Pool C and being happy just scoring a single point, to becoming Pool B champions. I've said goodbye to people, welcomed new--not necessarily young (hullo to those above 30!:D)--teammates, tasted the sweetest of victories and the most bitter of defeats. I have played and partied with the Warriors, both in and out of Manila. And while during the odd league or provincial tourney, I may play for the Roaches or the Lolas, I keep going back to the Warriors, again and again. It's my family; it's home. It's where I was born as a disc player, and it's where I'll retire.

But not just yet. As long as my knees, my clumsy ankle, and freckled skin allow, I'll be out on that field. If my body permits, I'll be playing until I'm a true Lola!

Training Day

So this is what running 15K feels like...

I used to abhor running. Back in college, the warmup before dance practice was sometimes a one-mile run. I could get through it pretty quickly (eight minutes, to be exact), but it was torture. I would bitch through those eight minutes and think about how I would much rather be learning a new routine. Cheerdancer training was no different. We sometimes had to run about half an hour, all around the Ateneo campus, and it was my absolute least favorite part of training.

When I started working, I didn't have regular dance training anymore, so I had to resort to other forms of exercise. Running became one of them. I would push myself to do interval training (increased my speed and endurance) and 5K runs on the treadmill (personal best: around 29 minutes. Obviously, it involved some walking!). For a time, I kind of enjoyed it, especially after a rough day. Running in Ateneo on cool evenings also helped me clear my head when I was feeling particularly overwhelmed.

Last year marked the first time I ran about 11K. It took a while, but I did it. I would've been so proud of myself if only my husband hadn't kept on running for 10 more kilometers (for no apparent reason other than he can), leaving me--and my personal record--behind in the dust.

Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had no desire to join fun runs. And then my husband signed me up for a half marathon. That's 21 frickin' kilometers. Our phone conversation:

Hamil: Ano, register na kita? (Should I register for you?)
Tisha: Ummm... Magkano ba yan? (How much?)
Hamil: P1,300.
Tisha: MAGBABAYAD AKO NG P1,300 PARA LANG MAPAGOD?! (I'm paying P1,300 just to get tired?!)

After much thought, and despite being in the worst shape in recent years (I hardly had any exercise in November and December, and I had the holiday fat to show for it), I relented. I figured that this was the first and last time I would ever run that long. And I figured I had one of my 100 kisses waiting for me at the finish line.

Hamil outlined a training program which I haven't been able to follow. The weather was uncooperative last week so I wasn't able to get in the miles I wanted to get in. I did, however, have the best possible trainer for my first 5K run of the year--Marie, one of my really good friends, who just happens to be the editor in chief of Runner's World! She's run the New York Marathon twice and an ultra marathon (that's over 100 kilometers!) so I'd say she's a bit of an expert in this area. She gave me some helpful tips and, more importantly, distracted me from the boredom that inevitably accompanies seemingly endless rounds at the Ultra oval.

Last night, as per Hamil's training schedule, we had to run 15 kilometers. All my old feelings about running resurfaced. (See first paragraph.) By the seventh kilometer, I was already bitching about the pain in my stomach, my knee, my ankle. I wasn't the most pleasant person in the world to run with, but my husband stayed positive, cheering me on and waiting for me. I knew that he was kind of holding back, that he was raring to run ahead. But he stayed with me. He wanted to practice running with me because he doesn't want to leave me when we finally run the 21K, personal record be damned. More than anything, that's what's going to push me to the finish line.

Wish me luck.

Image from here.

Now I Know Why People Cry on "Biggest Loser"

I started this workout I found about from Macy...

...and now I understand why people bawl through their workouts on reality show, The Biggest Loser! In this workout, trainer Jillian Michaels really pushes you to work through the pain. I was only thankful that she wasn't here in person to yell at me as I did my poor excuse for pushups. I couldn't imagine what the contestants on TV had to go through as they suffered through three hours of Jillian's special brand of torture.

I read stuff about the workout before I got started on it, and there were things like, "It will hurt to live." Thankfully, I'm relatively fit so I didn't think I would drop dead in the middle of all those jumping jacks, but I still did find it challenging. It's scary thinking about what she has in store when I reach Level 3.

A bit of info on the 30 Day Shred, in case you're interested in trying it: It's supposed to get you shredded (duh) in 30 days (DUH), and it does so with a 20-minute workout. Jillian leads you through circuits made up of two minutes of strength (free weights needed...although I had to do without), two minutes of cardio, and one minute of core. The most difficult parts for me were the pushups, as I do not have upper body strength--I tend to avoid anything that'll make my naturally bulky biceps any bigger, so I'm a bloomin' weakling. The lunges were also a little tough on my injured ankle; the jump rope, on my injured knee. I did work up a sweat, but over all, it was manageable.

I like that it's just 20 minutes because, given my crazy schedule, I don't have time for hour-long runs. Jillian says things like pain tells you that it's working, that change requires pain. I try to do everything right, no shortcuts. Cheating won't give me the results I want. I've really gotta whip myself into shape to get my body bikini-ready for our upcoming trip! If only Jillian were around to keep an eye on what I eat!

Back at the Barre

I was bored the other night and wanted to give my (relatively) sedentary body a little shake. Plus, I wanted to hang out with Marie, one of my most favorite people in the world. So I decided to attend a barre3 class again after months. (The third Charmed One, Tata, joined us for dinner and drinks after class.)

Photo from here.

As I explained in my old blog, barre3 is a mix of Pilates, yoga, and the ballet barre. The first time I tried it, I found it a bit challenging, but it seems Teacher Marie has upped the level of difficulty. That, plus my decreased endurance and flexibility equals pain two days later. My core (under the omnipresent layer of flab) is feelin' the burn! I wonder how the lone dude in the class is feeling though. I could see him struggling, but I was so rooting for him because he just soldiered on!

Even though I faltered during some poses or reps, I felt like such a star in class because Marie kept saying, "Nice one, Tish!" Unbeknownst to the rest of the class, it was probably just because our teacher knew my name. Har.

I've got a short checklist of new sporty things to try for this year. I'm aiming for one new thing a month, but so far, I only have three things on my list. Well, five, but I'm iffy about the last two I just thought of. Keep y'all posted!


barre3 classes are held at The Spa, Bonifacio High Street, Fort Bonifacio, and at Alabang Town Center. Get more info, including class schedules, here.