Longest Run of My Life (updated)!

At Starbucks SM, waiting for my husband while he does his thing with the ADV 160 Club event. I was supposed to be watching CESAFI with my friend Leo while he did his thing, but today’s games got cancelled. I was bummed because I was really excited. I was hoping I’d get Leo hooked too.

Anyway, before I dive into what I actually want to talk about in this blog, let me just say it, I LOVE BASKETBALL! My husband and I get particularly hyped when it’s CESAFI season. We’ve been watching for years, but last year, we really got into it, watching every weekend. My husband has become a fan of UV, and I had been too, but this year, I’m rooting for USJR. Most of the players were high schoolers last year and even played against Ateneo for the championship. They’re good, and although they’re not superstars (yet), I love their never-say-die attitude. I can’t stand players who show a defeated attitude. I mean, what’s the point? I adore watching those who fight until the very last second. Those are my people! Anyway, I’m super excited to see them tomorrow!

Soooooo… September just flew by. I didn’t write anything. I don’t even know what kept me busy. Well, there’s CESAFI, and my runs are getting longer. Can you believe 9K is now an easy run for me? Like a normal Tuesday run. I mean, ghorl, who you?? Hahaha! Anyway, September just zipped by, and now we’re in Q4 of 2025. Man…

Last weekend, I ran my longest distance yet: 15K!!! I KNOW! These 42-year-old knees can still handle 15K. I am so proud! This is part of my 13-week, 10K plan by Runna. I registered for a race on October 26, the Puma Cebu Half Marathon. I’ll run 10K, and that’s what this training is for. I AM SUPER DUPER EXCITED! I’m hoping for a PR, but I’m not aiming for a specific time. I’ll just be there to enjoy it, soak in the race, the event, and watching my husband take one-million videos of me (he looks so funny!), where maybe only one or two actually make me look cute. Hahahaha!

So, how was the 15K run? Tiring. My body felt heavy that day. I ate too much breakfast and drank too much water. I had to do two pee breaks! What I’ll change for my 14K run tomorrow: stick to my oatmeal breakfast, salad and protein for lunch, and boiled camote for pre-run fuel. And definitely not chug two liters of water a few hours before the run. The NB 1080 V14 felt heavy too. I even joked to my husband about buying the Adizero Evo SL… and just a few minutes ago (before going here), I bought one. I loved the pink colorway on Zalora, but when I found out it was in SM and discounted, I immediately called my husband for a consult and snagged it. Right now, I sooo want to open the paper bag, look at it, wear it, but, like I said, I’m in Starbucks, and the tetta is a little shy. Hahahah (y angay). But yup, can’t wait to use it tomorrow!

Anyway, here are some pics from that run! After this 10K training, I’ve decided to train for a half marathon. I mean… it’s just 6K away from 15K! And I will train for it. I GOT THIS!

Thank you for reading, and wish me luck tomorrow! ’Til the next blog! 💛

Update: October 12, 2025

So, it's tomorrow.. In my pink era (char, naki-era! Hahaha), I ran 14K today! IT. WAS. EASY. Unlike last week’s 15K (above). Maybe it’s because I didn’t overeat this time, I always overthink fueling my body before a long run, but not today. Or maybe it has something to do with my new shoes, I have to say, the hype about the Adizero Evo SL is true, these shoes are amazing, and pretty too.

I did make one rookie mistake though, I wore my Pilates socks and ended up with blisters on both feet. Still, I loved this run! It felt smooth, light, and it even came with a new 10K PR at 1:19:04! I know I said I’m not chasing a specific time for my October 26 race, but after today, a sub-1:10 suddenly feels possible.

And of course, hubby took all the videos because who else? Thanks, Langlang! 💕 Here's a quick vid of today's run (if you're not sick of my face yet!):

Alright, that's really it for this one! Thank you! 💛

Dear Diary...

WARNING: Long post and unorganized thoughts/emotions 😁

“Pieces of Me” by Ashlee Simpson has always been one of those songs I super duper love. I know it’s also the infamous song that made her infamous (that SNL moment, yiup), but honestly, I’ve never cared about that part.

RUNNING..
Hello to my running girlies! I just wanna know, do you wear makeup before running? On Sundays, I do wear makeup before I run, just a little blush and lip balm. And here’s the funny part, when I start running, my cheeks turn all flushed and pink. By the end, after sweating it all out, the makeup’s gone, leaving just a pale pink “natural” glow. I know it’s not really natural, but I still keep doing it. It’s funny to me, and I don’t think it’s bad, just one of those little quirks.

I recently signed up for RUNNA, a running app that I like because it also includes the strength exercises I need to improve my runs. And it’s cheap, less than 200 pesos a month (Netflix costs more!). Thanks to RUNNA’s plan, my longest run so far is 9K, and surprisingly, it felt easy. Maybe it was also my shoes that day, my Puma Deviate Nitro 3, which has great cushioning and energy return. Whatever the reason, that run felt really good.

If you don't want to spend money, I highly recommend NRC. I trained 5k using their plan and it worked! 

Link: 5k Training Using NRC Plan (8 weeks)

LEARNING, LEADERSHIP, AND SIBLINGS (?!)..

Work has been a lot of fun lately, and by fun, I mean busy. If you know me, you know how much I love my job and my team. This week was full of collaboration with both my team and leadership, and I couldn’t be prouder of everything we’ve accomplished.

This was during my birthday celeb. Thanks, Iresh, for the photo!

Today marks the end of the week, almost like the culmination of everything we’ve worked on. I can’t wait for it to be over, but I’m also very proud of how it went and what I learned. I feel a little sad the week is ending, but as always, I’m happy for the weekend. Not just to rest, but to spend a full weekend with my husband! ♥

I've always looooooved our wedding invite! 

The reason I love training is because I love learning. Whenever I’m with someone I look up to or a leader I want to emulate, I’m always in observation mode. I watch how they talk, lead, act in meetings, and stay authentic. That’s how I’ve learned from the mentors I’ve had.

A lot of who I am as a leader now comes from them, plus from my current boss. But lately, I’ve been seeing my leadership in a new light. Learning from my team has become just as fun. I’m mesmerized by how brilliant they are, not afraid to voice opinions, collaborative, and helpful. Being able to hear their ideas, develop them, and turn them into something beautiful feels like magic.

I’ve always been surrounded by brilliant people. My siblings are some of the smartest people I know, and so are my parents. Growing up, it was always fun outsmarting each other for the easier chores, to control the TV remote, or to get favors from our parents. We even created our own rules, like who cleans what, or what the “remote control” rules were. We figured it all out ourselves, with a lot of shady moves and mind tricks, and without needing our parents to intervene. There’s always been some sort of “order” in our home, one we figured out ourselves.

Now, as adults, that teamwork hasn’t gone away. These days, my siblings and I are focused on protecting our mother at all costs. Whenever something heavy or not-so-good is happening in our lives, we always talk first: does Mama need to know now? What’s the perfect timing? Who should be there when we tell her? She knows everything, but we do our best to protect her heart. It’s the same teamwork from when we were kids,  just with higher stakes and deeper love.

we miss you everyday, papa!

GOODBYES..

As a leader, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to saying goodbye to a team member, whether they move to another team, leave, or take a higher post. I care deeply about my team, so it’s always hard. At the same time, I know it’s part of the job. People come and go. It’s never going to be easy, but I try to be genuinely happy for them. 

Goodbyes with people I’m close to can be emotional. I might even cry if I say goodbye face-to-face. Being their leader has always been real. and the joy I feel far outweighs the few sad moments ("c'mon!" - they know this! 😁).

Even though these moments are hard, I’ve accepted that it’s part of the journey. It’s part of what I signed up for, and I’m here for it. But, it's sad.. 

MY BRAIN, AND FOOD..

My brain almost killed me, as you all know from my previous posts. I notice my brain doesn’t lag anymore. Sure, I feel tired by the end of a long, focused day, especially if I’ve been using it nonstop during my shift. But I take my lunches and breaks seriously, and the fatigue always fades after a run, pilates, strength training, or yoga. I’m really impressed by the changes in how I think now. It’s crazy, in the best way! Although I'm a little bit forgetful but it could just be the age. I hope!

One thing that surprises me is that I honestly don’t crave fatty food anymore. I look forward to going home for my cup of monggos, roasted fish, and kimchi. That’s really crazy for me! The only thing I still crave, and I’ve mentioned this since 3-4 blogs ago, is pancit from Bentang. Sundays just aren’t complete without it.

Typical everyday balon when I have a run. Isn't my yellow notebook the cutest? Thanks, Ez!

BKFC..

Lately I’ve been watching a lot of fights from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. I’ve been a fight fan ever since I can remember, thanks to my father and my brothers who influenced me. I’ve watched a ton of boxing and MMA fights, both live and on TV. But bare knuckle fighting is a whole different world. The fights are short, obviously, since they don’t have gloves, and while I love the slugfest, the knockouts, and the sheer rawness of it, I can’t say I love the blood part. What really pulls me in is seeing just how much strength one person can have, to the point where it feels like it could literally kill someone with one clean shot.

Hubby and I with my idol, Edward Folayang, about 10 years ago at the Team Lakay gym. It was so awesome watching him actually teach MMA classes in person! He's so nice!

At the same time, I miss the technical aspect that’s more visible in boxing and MMA. If you’re a technical fighter, I honestly feel like you don’t stand much of a chance in bare-knuckle, it’s just too straightforward. Still, I give all the kudos to those fighters because what they’re doing is incredibly brave. The women fighters especially, I can’t even imagine stepping into a ring without gloves on. Personally, I’d never do it, no matter how much I love combat sports. My worry is always about the long term effects when they grow old. Still, as a fan, I have to admit I’ve had a lot of fun watching. It’s raw, it’s intense, it’s something else entirely.

And that's it! 'Til next blog! 💛

Chapter 42 (A Birthday Blog)

 How do you celebrate a birthday when you know you almost didn’t get here?

Right now, there’s about half an hour left before my birthday ends. My head is crowded with thoughts, and I’m not sure which ones to share first. This birthday isn’t just another candle on the cake. It’s a reminder that I fought hard to be here.

And here’s the part I can’t sugarcoat, the stroke I had was my fault. My lifestyle, my choices, my “I’ll be fine” attitude. All of it played a part. Admitting that stings, but it’s also what keeps me moving now.

I woke up at 12:45 a.m., realizing I’m 42. I’ve made it. While lying, I heard the rain outside and thought, “Please let it stop.” I had a 7.5 km run scheduled, and I didn’t want the weather to cancel it. By morning, the skies cleared, and we went to my favorite running ground in Ayala. I ran the full 7.5 km and walked another 1.5 km to cool down. Since I’m signed up for a 9 km race at the end of the month, I wanted to feel that distance on my legs. The verdict: VERY DOABLE!

After the run, we had breakfast at Bentang’s, because Sundays without their pancit feel incomplete. Then it was straight to Mass. The Gospel hit me hard. It was about selfishness and what happens when you only think of yourself. The priest spoke from his own experiences instead of taking jabs at others, which I loved. Somewhere during that Mass, my husband and I decided Sunday Mass should be part of our tradition again. We used to go every week, then laziness crept in. 

7.5k run and 1.5k walk after...

I signed up for Runna. I love it! It has everything-yoga, pilates, strength, mobility, pre and post run stretching. AND, their customer service is so responsive!

Bentang's pancit is a favee!!

From church, we went to SM city for my birthday buffet at Vikings. It’s tradition (buy-one-get-one promo for birthdays) and we’ve been doing it since 2017. The food’s definitely improved since last November (new chef, apparently). I avoided the dumplings because they still felt like chewy stress balls, but everything else was so good. I loaded my plate with salad, drank only infused water (okay, and one tiny sip of Sprite), and skipped rice and fried food entirely. My husband, now my unofficial “food police”, was quietly inspecting everything I ate. This is the same man who used to bring me random greasy food from the office, buy me cakes for no reason, and supported my “eat now, think later” habit. Times have changed, and I’m grateful.

We had planned to watch a movie after lunch, but we were so sleepy from waking up early that we went for a massage instead. I don’t remember half of it because I slept through the whole thing. Then it was home, and more sleeping. Here's a quick vid:

My birthday weekend started yesterday. My husband and I went to Zane's 1st birthday and Zach's  christening, where I was a ninang. They're both Janjan and Binbin’s son. Janjan is my husband's childhood friend.  I hadn’t slept since my night shift, so the trip to the church left me weak. Heat and exhaustion tend to lower my voice, and I felt it again that day. We still stayed for a while, enjoyed catching up with my husband’s friends who truly feel like family, and laughed watching him dance during the party. Thanks, langlang, for saying yes to sharing this video because it’s too funny not to!

children's parties are soooo fun!

So... how do you celebrate when you know you almost didn’t get here?

You celebrate with purpose. You run four times a week, you do Pilates (even if the side planks on the left side still feel like an Olympic event), yoga twice a week (and yes, I can now do a side stand on the left side! Progress!), and strength training once a week. You pass on fried food not because you’re vain, but because you’re fighting for your life.

Because I want to grow old with my husband and make fun of his wrinkly face
Because I don’t want my mama to lose me so soon
Because I want to be there for my nieces and nephew and see them grow old
Because I want to grow old with my siblings (laughing at the same dumb jokes)
Because I want to teach, lead, and train more people
Because I want to travel until my passport can’t keep up

Because I don’t want to lose me so soon

I still have fears, especially about food and health, but those fears keep me careful. My faith in God is what anchors me. I know I’m still here because of Him, and I’m choosing to make that mean something. 'Til next blog! 💛

From Hospital Bed to 8K: A 3-Month Check-In

From dragging my left side to finishing 8.04 km today, something I attempted to do maybe three or four times pre-stroke. I’d say that’s a pretty solid plot twist. It was a Sunday, too, which is when I’m supposed to do my long runs. The irony hit me while I was in the CR doing a #2. Not even kidding.

another Sunday at Bentang's

Link to what I wrote about my STROKE (while at the hospital): STROKED

Link to my recovery: STROKE RECOVERY

I now weigh 57.6 kg, which is more than 10 kg lighter than when I was hospitalized. I’ve also gained a bit of muscle in my arms and legs from moving daily and exercising at least 30 minutes a day.

My meals, especially on weekdays, are all homemade and usually look like this:

Breakfast: Overnight oats with chia, flax, and pumpkin seeds, walnuts, Greek yogurt, and nonfat milk

OR lugaw with boiled egg, turmeric, pepper, lots of ginger and garlic, spring onions, and chicken breast

Lunch: Any protein like chicken breast or lean pork loin, and salad (usually tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce)

I made spicy cabbage rolls one time. It has chicken breast, potatoes, carrots, green peas, sayote.

my husband's fave: roasted pork loin wrap, wwith cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, cream cheese, and wasabi paste

Pre-run fuel: Whole wheat bread with peanut butter, or boiled saba, or boiled camote

Dinner: Fish or chicken breast with utan bisaya or munggos (with everything on it (no meat), basically still utan bisaya) and kimchi, half cup of mais

My husband eats the same meals but in larger portions. I also make my own matcha tea. 

Weekends are when we indulge a little by eating out, but we still choose the healthier options. The canton at Bentang is my favorite post-run meal these days!

The result? Over the past three months, all my lab tests have come back normal. The most recent one was described by my doctor as “gwapa kaayo.” I thought she meant me. 😁

I also make sure to sleep early now. No more watching “everything i ate” videos on YouTube at 12 noon, sometimes until 3 PM. I work night shift, so yes, this was bad.

As always, deepest thanks to my husband and family for the overwhelming love and protection. To my doctors and caregivers at Chong Hua, the best hospital in my book. And to my boss, peers, and my amazing team at work, thank you for picking up the slack and for giving me grace as I ease back into this slightly slower version of myself.

AND HUGE HIGH FIVE TO MYSELF! For not giving up. For working hard to recover, even when it gets sooooooo exhausting. For learning about my condition through hours of reading and watching videos. For resisting the temptation to eat my favorite cakes, pata, and chicharon. To be honest, the last part wasn’t that hard. The thought of having a second stroke and going through all of this again is so terrifying, my mouth just shuts itself off at the sight of those foods or when i hear the words deep fried, buttery, creamy. Although, a very small bite won’t hurt once in a while.

I have come so far. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m here, right now, out and about, doing the things I love to do. Here’s a quick video of the huge difference in my progress. I cried while watching my past vids. It wasn't easy!

I am still not 100%. My left side is still a little weak especially my arms/hands but of course I'm going to continue to fight. Ako pa?

As always, thank you for reading this, for indulging me. I hope this helps, inspires, or maybe even scares some of you into facing the very real possibility of a stroke if you’re not taking care of yourself and eating well.

'Til the next blog. 💛

Solo

I spent Sat-Sun without my husband. His team is having a team building activity in Bohol, and if you know me, I never join those. I want my husband to really enjoy without thinking about me, especially after my stroke. I MISS HIM!!!!!

Right now, I'm in Kaayoo Cafe and it's so silent. I'm alone and not used to not having him to talk to about everything, or eavesdrop or just gossip!

This is what I'm having here.

I think this is the most post-stroke friendly food item they have. I was gonna go to Birdseed Breakfast Club but they open late and I’m hungry, so here I am. It's clean. It's silent. It's 8AM so that could be why. The embutido is not dry. I didn't eat the rice and just ate half the embutido and eggs.

Anyway, yesterday after driving my husband and his teammate to Pier 3, my team and I went to IT Park for karaoke. I was afraid I couldn’t handle the noise, especially the bass from the speakers. I was so hesitant to go in and was thinking of walking out the whole time, but I kept thinking about the quote that says not to avoid something just because you’re afraid. So I observed for a little while and actually began enjoying the noise.

My team is hilarious and I was trying so hard not to exert so much energy because I don’t want to go home with just 5% body battery left. I’m a changed person now. Before, I used to still do my long runs with just that much. Yeah, I did abuse my body, but definitely not anymore.

After that we went to Taoist Temple. I’ve been there probably almost 20 years ago. I forgot it had looooong stairs! We made it to the top but not without a few minutes' rest and my knees shaking. My gosh! I need to do an incline walk!

Thanks, Irish, for the photo!

After that I went to an empty and silent home. It's so different without my husband there. I watched some episodes of Desperate Housewives (which I’ve rewatched more than 10 times) and ate my leftover roasted chicken breast, kimchi, utan Bisaya, and lugaw. Had a looong sleep after that.

At around 3:30 AM this morning, I ate my pre-run oatmeal and a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter.

This is my run today!

There’s a running event in Ayala, so I had to park at the office. Sooo happy with my run. This is my longest, even pre-stroke, and I am not tired at all! I walked the first 10 minutes, jogged for 20, walked for 5, and jogged for 20 (repeated 2x).

After here, I’ll again go home to a silent home. Uli na, tweet! 😁

Update: Okay. So I didn't go home. I went grocery shopping for the prep meals. Happy Sunday! Now I'm home. Here's the pic I sent to my husband to show off!

'Til next blog! 💛

Stroke Recovery

Scroll down for the latest update.. 

June 5, 2025 - 5:59 pm

Quick Health Updates:

BP: Normal

Blood Sugar: Normal

Weight: 63 kg

Height: Still below 5ft 🤣

I didn’t really tell everyone about my recent stroke. I know I wrote about it here, but I also know that only my family and a few close friends read this. So when I posted about it in my FB stories, a lot of my friends messaged me. They asked how I am, what I felt, what happened. Some of them came here to read and find out more.

That made me think:

maybe blogging about it can actually help people. Maybe it can help raise awareness, or at least show how hard the recovery process really is so that maybe, just maybe, they’ll start eating better and living healthier. Because if you’re my friend, I KNOW that one of the things that bond us is probably food (buffet and cakes, right?) Haha.

So… here we are.

Today’s Milestone:

I've been walking 2km for the past 3 days. I feel good. Today, I used both hands to put the laces on my shoes. It was hard. It took time. But I made it. Tiny win? Maybe. But for me, it’s a huge step forward. I can also already peel kamote using both hands. Again, it was hard.

I also tried typing on my laptop, and yep, it was kind of a disaster. I typed one sentence and my arms got tired. I also found out that my ring finger isn’t that strong. I’ll try again tomorrow. Because that’s what progress looks like:

one slow, stubborn miracle at a time.

June 9, 2025 - 6:27 pm

Logged my longest walk and hit my fastest pace yet! Still working on my balance and refining my gait, definitely not at 100% there, but I’m moving forward (literally).

Tried standing on my left leg (the weak side), held it for around 5 seconds before I wobbled

My left arm is noticeably stronger now, and my fingers are starting to catch up. Little by little, strength is coming back. Last weekend's "swimming" aka kapay-kapay sa kamot helped A LOT! 

June 14, 2025 - 10:15 am

We all have to start somewhere.. :)

June 20, 2025 - 6:42 pm

I’m typing this using both my left and right fingers on my phone, so yes, it took time (haha!) but it’s much faster than before. Yesterday, I did a typing test on my laptop and hit 20 words per minute. For someone who couldn’t move her fingers a few weeks ago? That’s a huge deal. Progress is coming in fast these days

On top of that, I’ve been walking 3KM daily for the past 3 days. The best news? My doctor officially cleared me to return to work on the 30th! YES!!! I’m honestly so excited. Life, my life, our life, is slowly piecing itself back together.

When I was in the hospital, watching my left hand and foot weaken, losing control over them, I didn’t know if I’d ever come back to this kind of normal. At that time, just standing up without fear was the dream. Today, I’m living what I once prayed for. I’m so, so thankful.

While I was at the clinic, I met another stroke survivor, his happened 5 months ago. He said he went through a period of depression because his body became so weak. I realized, I never really had the space to feel that way. My husband constantly smiled and cracked jokes. My siblings would call and make me laugh about everything (including my condition 🤣). My mom was on daily food patrol, always checking on my meals and reminding me not to stress.

I AM SO BLESSED.

Between laughing with my family, doing my exercises, planning meals (and mourning humba nga tambok and lechon 😅), and taking 2-hour naps from sheer exhaustion, I didn’t have time to spiral. I was laser-focused on healing and getting my life back. And now, step by step, I am.

ANYWAY, I did a 15-minute hand-and-foot coordination dance routine. My left hand kept up with the rhythm, it didn’t fully open or stay raised for long, but it moved the entire time. It showed up. That’s what matters.

Yes to life. Yes to healing. Yes to coming back stronger. 💛

July 8, 2025 - 12:21 am

It’s been about a week since I returned to work, and I just wanted to say, it feels sooooo good to be back. Seeing everyone again, hearing the same laughter in the halls (and in the group chats), and getting back into the rhythm of work… it’s like coming home to something familiar.

My left arm is still at about 80%, so typing is slower than usual, but I can catch up just fine. Yes, I typo a lot.. 😂

There’s also been a big shift in the company. Same team, smaller in number, but bigger in purpos. It’s a good kind of change. I’m grateful for every "welcome back" message and every quiet moment of kindness shared with me. Those things mean more than you know.

The milestones don’t stop just because I’m back at work. Yesterday, I walked 5.05 km and even ran for a total of 12 mins in 3-min increments. A small run for most, but a huge leap for my healing body. From barely standing on my left leg to running (slowly, but surely), I can’t even describe what that felt like. I did a little victory/happy dance yesterday when I was done. My husband filmed it. I may show it here (let me think about it.. haha!)

This post will be the last bit of my stroke recovery blog, I’ve written enough about survival. I’ll share new milestones in a separate space, where recovery no longer sounds like rehab, but more like reclaiming.

"Til next blog! 💛