WEDNESDAY, May 17, as I write this.
Earlier this morning, I woke up at 5 am to run the 11.8 kms from Dumangas Plaza to Dumangas Plaza; or from our ancestral home, the PRIMA CT Building, back to PRIMA CT Building.
I also call it the Dumangas Coastal Road Loop because the run goes through the coastal road strip called the sea wall from the poblacionthrough the barangays Tabucan, Dacutan, Sapao, Talusan, Jardin, back to the poblacion.
If things went well, I would have run and successfully finished the Philippine-Australia Heritage Run, 10 kms from the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand to Freedom Grandstand last Saturday, May 20.
(Update: Things went well, I successfully finished the 10K run.)
***
I ran alone today.
I wanted to check my personal pace without the pressure and influence of my marathoner-friends.
After the run, I met one of them for coffee.
James also ran this morning, but on a different route.
We went to our usual coffeeshop in Dumangas.
I drank three cups of coffee.
***
We talked about the Philippines-Australia Friendship Day Heritage Run.
How I could make it even more fun.
So yeah, if things went well, I would have also run it with the best costume. Haha.
I just finished talking to my dressmaker friend.
He’s a little busy today, but he promised to make me a fun run dress.
I tend to trust people, but I brace myself for disappointments.
A rush costume is not really my idea of fun.
So, we will see.
(Update: I ran with a most distinct magenta costume, ruffled sleeves and all!)
***
I bought a melon yesterday.
Yes, the fruit that is also called the cantaloupe.
I was thinking of having it for dinner last night, but I ended up eating oysters instead.
So I kept the cantaloupe for today.
Maybe cantaloupe after the coffee?
***
Then, I remembered asking the roadside turo-turo earlier if they had fish soup.
They said, they were preparing to cook sinigang na bangus.
I finished my run.
I had coffee.
Then, I checked on the turo-turo.
They have reserved a bangus head for me, so I ordered it.
***
I’m still not opening the balikbayan boxes that contain my newer running shoes.
I’ve been running with an old blue Nike, and an almost torn black Sketchers.
My shoes are really trash looking now, but I’m running comfortably with them.
They’re probably on their last runs with me.
But until I break in my newer shoes, they’re my go-to for distance running.
***
After breakfast, I washed the two pairs of shoes.
They may be old, but I don’t want them stinking on my Saturday run.
As I wash them, my mom is starting to bark like a female dog.
The bad, angry one.
She has ordered a job done, and they needed the ladder.
Remember I have borrowed the PRIMA CT service ladder six weeks ago?
Well, that ladder has not been returned yet.
I got my cabinet painter to blame.
Same guy who insists on painting my room as if it were a museum piece to last 100 years.
***
Mom is going crazy.
I asked her what her painting job was.
And she was just screaming, “We need the ladder!”
So I finished washing my running shoes, laid them under the sun, and huffed along to go get a tricycle to get the freaking ladder from my Casa Dom Pedro, like a good kilometer and a half from PRIMA CT Building.
But I double checked.
I asked the houseboy for what he needs the ladder.
***
Houseboy says, “Oh, the job is done. We don’t need the ladder anymore.”
I asked three times, and he pointed out what he did.
It needed a ladder all right, but it wasn’t something that standing on a stool won’t solve.
Sometimes, I hate my mom for just being angry for the sake of being angry at me.
The temperature is a killer today.
I can understand people being short-fused.
But they should just stay out of my way.
***
If it’s not scorching hot, I’d run off my steam from people’s impatience.
I’ve already run 11.8 kms today, what’s another 10 kms?
Instead, I ordered two young coconuts — meat and juice, for P50.
I’m replenishing my liquids.
I’m not going to be short-fused today./PN
