For the second time in two weeks, i had a chance to bond again with my group from the Takbo.ph runners, this time, a post race Carbo-Loading Party (CLP) at The Old Sphagetti House, along Valero Street in Makati where i got to hear more first-hand accounts of their horrific experiences at the SIM; the recent Adidas KOTR race and a potpourri of everything on running.  The biggest issue is still the lack of water or the absence of water stations, whichever you want to put it. If the absence of drinking water was bad enough inside the La Mesa Dam Nature Reserve (how ironic) and beyond during the recent QCIM, the situation at the Subic International Marathon was 5 times worse, among other things, according to those who ran the 42k course.

As one blogger asks time and again, “When Shall We Learn?”. It’s the most crucial issue i think any race organizer have to devote himself to! If he thinks, that water has been adequately addressed and is more than enough to meet the runners needs, he should think twice and not be complacent about it. The race organizer should be able to double or triple the supply and EXAGGERATE the need to have more than what is needed! In my experience of running these recent races, water and water stations have never been enough to satisfy these runners so additional tables should be purchased, marshals manning these water stations should be added and water sponsors should provide piles and piles of these drinking water (and cups, too) to assure a continuous supply!

Back to our CLP. On a lighter (or heavier) note, the inaugural “Biggest Loser Contest (BLC)” was launched at this get together affair. The BLC is a spin off from the famous reality TV contest wherein contestants who sheds off the biggest percentage loss in terms of body weight, wins! The idea, hatched by Rico Villanueva and those who belong to the “heavyset” group are out to redefine that running may not be enough to stimulate weight loss. In this 6-week contest, sheer will, determination and discipline play an important part, as well. Here are the mechanics:

– Any runner male or female can join and has to join a participation fee of P1,000.00 payable until November 8.

– Contest duration is from October 30 (weight-in) until December 13 (final weigh-in)

– Initial weights of candidates and their progress in terms of weight loss/calorie control shall be posted in Blogs/Facebooks/Multiply accounts of participants.

– Total pot money from participation fees are to be split among the sole winner and two runners-up.

Non-participants may bet on who they think will be the biggest loser. Mechanics will be announced within the week after the launch. As of official weigh-in, 16 runners have joined the battle of the bulge. I would have loved to join the contest and at 180 lbs, i would have benefited a lot if i could only lower my weight still. However, i think i already reached a plateau wherein i have been stucked at my minimum of 170-180 lbs. From 217 last year, i had gone down to 170lbs last August of this year and have been steadily increasing up to 180lbs as of last Friday. No way i’ll ever win or be even near the top 10 losers! So, good luck to those entered. May the biggest loser win!

Rico explaining the mechanics of the Biggest Loser contest

The early runners at TOSH

Runners occupying another table

Doc T playing around, as usual

Lovey-dovey pair: Bryan and Doc Erin

Taking a break

Running ladies

Bodies to die for?

Rico gets to win this one

Squeezed-in (Pix by Ace B)

Ryshel, Doc Pinx, James, me (Pix by Ace B)

Ryshel and Pinky

Beer pa?

Some of the participants of the Biggest Loser contest

By some twist of fate, we were transported into a very different environment as MUSIC would be the focus of interest. Doc Topher and a host of others left ahead to catch some concert he said he had tickets to and we just wondered what concert they would be attending. Turns out that they would be watching the annual NU Rock awards at the World Trade Center near MOA and called us to say that he had 19 more complimentary tickets.

So off we went to listen to some Rock music! Not really my cup of tea but i was really interested to see and hear what the new and upcoming Pinoy bands had to offer:

The "Itchyworms" on stage

Inside the concert hall

Rakista Runners?

Peace to you too, Pepsi!

Hmm, this is better than listening to rock!

Are we listening yet?

Hitting the wall too early?

Marga, at left--my bet for the biggest loser!

In one of the booths inside

While rock music was blaring inside the concert hall, typhoon Santi was beginning to wreck havoc outside, its cold winds and continuous rains alternating with the drum solos and shrieks from fans inside. Had to rush home and put on some Miles Davis and Dave Holland on my CD player to soothe me a bit.