The Tour of Hope 2010

Since I have developed an interest to biking, I have always heard or read about this annual event called “The Tour of Hope”. I have quietly wished that sometime soon, my biking skills will be that good enough and my time will be managed effectively so that i will have some to spare for joining an activity such as this.

At this delicate stage, I know that I will have to pass up on this chance to be able to participate. But then again, let me share to you folks this interesting event that you cyclists or cycling enthusiasts may want to venture into.

Basically, The Tour of Hope (TTOH) is an annual international non-profit initiative, made up of like-minded individuals who regularly set up biking tours as a charity project to help in fund raising efforts and awareness campaigns for Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Alliance Program of the Philippines (CECAP).

For more info on this year’s event, below is the letter from Team David’s Salon’s Joyette Jopson, a member of The Tour of Hope’s Organizing Committee. Many thanks to Team David’s Salon Team Captain Kaye Lopez for sharing this info.

The Tour of Hope 2010

Dear friends,

The Tour of Hope Philippines 2010, “360: Fighting Cervical Cancer in Full Circle” is all set on March 20 – 24, 2010. We will be riding from Makati City to Baguio City to help spread the word on the fight against the disease.

Originally done in Thailand, we started this tour locally 3 years ago with about 45 core riders from Vigan to Subic Bay. Last year we had 70 core riders that rode from Alabang to Camarines Sur. This year we hope to attract more riders, as we go back up north, with the tour’s highlight being every local cyclist’s dream (er, fantasy?) to be able to ride up to Baguio City.

How does a rider actually help?
1. We get pledges from family and friends (every P500 can screen 12 women from cervical cancer)
2. While we are on the saddle, lay lectures will simultaneously be conducted at the chosen stops on how cervical cancer can be prevented. By the time we finish the ride, the TTOH team would have talked to at least 1,000 barangay health workers, midwives, women.

The following is the itinerary:

March 20, 2010, Saturday

5:00am        Bikers registration and assembly, University of Makati Track Oval
6:30am        Programme Start
7:00am        Bikers flag-off
             
Bikers will ride along EDSA all the way to Monumento, and take McArthur Highway all the way to SM City Clark. 95kms.

10:00am       Start of lay lecture in SM City Clark
12:00nn       Welcome of bikers in SM City Clark
12:30pm       Ride 7kms to Holiday Inn Mimosa where the group will stay overnight.

After lunch, bikers are free to enjoy the facilities of Holiday Inn Mimosa, visit the Duty Free shops, etc.

6:00pm        Welcome Dinner

March 21, 2010, Sunday

6:00am         Breakfast
7:00am         Bikers send-off

Because Tarlac is not that far from Clark, we will ride the “figure-8 loop” inside Clark before taking the SCTEX to Tarlac.

10:00am        Start of lay lecture in Tarlac Recreational Park
11:30am        Welcome of bikers at the Tarlac Recreational Park
12:00nn        Bike 10kms to Microtel Inn in Hacienda Luisita

In the afternoon bikers are free to visit the Ninoy Aquino Memorial Museum, enjoy the amenities of the Hacienda Luisita clubhouse or simply hangout in Plaza Luisita.

6:30pm         Dinner

March 22, 2010, Monday

6:00am        Breakfast
7:00am        Bikers send-off

We will first bike around Hacienda Luisita before proceeding to the national highway towards Pangasinan. Then we will pass the towns of Bayambang, Malasigui and Calasiao before we reach Dagupan City. The roads here are less busy than the national highway going to Baguio, but expect some traffic as we pass through the towns mentioned.

10:00am       Start of lay lecture in Dagupan City Museum
11:00am       Welcome of bikers in Dagupan City Museum
11:15am       Bike 10kms for a seaside lunch
1:00pm        Bike to Lennox Hotel
6:30pm        Dinner

March 23, 2010, Tuesday

6:00am        Breakfast
7:00am        Bikers send-off
10:00am       Start of lay lecture in Diego Silang Hall, La Union Provincial Capitol
11:00am       Welcome of bikers in La Union Provincial Capitol
11:30am       Bike 5kms to Ariana Hotel
7:00pm        Dinner

March 24, 2010, Wednesday

6:00am        Take a huge breakfast =)
7:00am        Bikers send-off

We will take the national highway back south and take Marcos highway up to Baguio. Very hilly.

10:30am       Start of lay lecture in SM City Baguio
12:30pm       Welcome of bikers in SM City Baguio
1:00pm        Bike 5kms to Manor Hotel n Camp John Hay

Enjoy the nice and cool weather in Baguio, do a trail run, go horseback riding, shop for ube and strawberry jam, or just sleep 

6:30pm         Thanksgiving Dinner and Fellowship night

PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!!!

Registration fee is P12,000.00* to include accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner for 5 days, jersey, water refills, and a Jun De Leon framed photograph (worth P20,000).
 
*Does not include gels, bars or other nutrition you may need, and a ride back to Manila. Please make your own arrangements for the travel back home. 

I’ve attached the registration form for those interested.

The Tour of Hope Philippines is a joint project of Bravehearts, Cervical Cancer Prevention Network (CECAP), GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Creative Juice, Geiser Maclang, in strategic partnership with Team David’s Salon.

For any question, please email joyette.jopson@gmail.com or text 0917.8827352.

Please also check out www.thetourofhope.com for more details. The local website is still being updated.

Thanks,
Joyette Jopson
Team David’s Salon
Member, The Tour of Hope Organizing Committee

Download PLEDGE SHEET
Download REGISTRATION FORM

Choosing Between Two LOVES

I have always found it easy to juggle my outdoor activity schedules for running and mtbiking with ease. I love doing both but when it comes to organized races (for running) or rides (for mtbiking), I never had the problem of having to choose between the two because the events I always want to join in doesn’t conflict with the other. Oh, there was one time that they did, but I was still able to do both – joined a running event but opted to do just the 5k and went to join a trail ride right after running.

But last Sunday was to be my greatest challenge. There was the scheduled Greenfield City Run at Sta. Rosa organized by Finishline and then there was this yearly biking event called Tour of the Fireflies (ToF). Weeks before, I already knew that I have to do some choosing. I can in no way do both because venue and time are directly in conflict with each other. I realized that I really like to do any of the two, making it hard for me to come up with a decision. Napakahirap! Even with a “pro-and-con-list” (yes, I made a list to compare both!), I can’t choose.

Then on Holy Thursday, Pol dropped by the house and gave me, as he said, “my” ToF jersey. Unknowingly, he also registered for me when he did. So with all the painstaking thoughts and what-nots, I decided to join the Tour of the Fireflies and passed on the Greenfield City Run. My justification? I have been without any runs – practice or otherwise- since my Condura 21k last March and it may be better to start getting back into the physical activities doing the less intense one (they say that biking is less demanding physically than running) AND of course, I could not disappoint my friend who thoughtfully registered for me for the ToF and hey, he did get the correct size for my jersey ha. Perfect!

The events happened yesterday. My friends who were at Greenfield enjoyed another well-organized race which has been the signature of all races falling into the hands of the “Coach Rio-and-Vince-tandem”, who we now know and recognize collectively as Finishline. Half of my thoughts were with them yesterday and I must admit, with all the pictures that I am seeing so far, I cannot avoid feeling envious. I could have been there too but then, I chose to have fun someplace else. Oh, much fun i really had! I had a great time at the ToF, I biked the whole route of EDSA together with Pol, running buddy Bobby, who I was able to invite last minute but still decided to join, and some 5,000+ other bikers albeit the super annoying heat of the sun. I will be sharing my ToF 2009 experience and pics in a while, watch out for it.

Ha! There you go folks! It’s nice to be loving a lot of things and liking and enjoying every moment that you indulge in it. But when it comes to having to choose to do just one of both, it is really hard pala. One is equally good as the other. And in choosing, you just have to rely on your decision, stick with it and make the most out of it. As for me, I just psyched myself with the thought – “ok lang yan, marami pa namang runs!”.

See you at the outdoor!

Running, MtBiking and the Woman’s Legs

I started with gym training in late 2005, joined runs/races on the early part of 2006 and got into serious running and mtbiking on the latter part of 2007. For some girls these activities will be a no-no because of their fear of getting bigger thighs and legs.

But hey, my thighs and legs were even bigger when I was a 20+ pounds overweight woman having a sedentary lifestyle.

my legs and thighs - better than before!

Why, do you say, am I blogging about it? Because my dear friends, I have heard in such different instances and just earlier today have accidentally eavesdropped in a conversation while i was riding the elevator some girls’ fear of developing bigger thighs and/or legs from running and or gym training.

This is a MYTH. Don’t let this myth prevent you from experiencing what the outdoor has to offer you and what good benefits exercising/running/biking will bring to you.

Sayang naman. For me, it was the other way around pa nga. I like my thighs and legs more now. And what’s best, my “almost-flat-b*tt” from the past have now developed into something more acceptable. Ei, yep! I have a ”shapier” behind! Makes me appreciate wearing pants/jeans more than ever.

Now, do I hear girls planning on hitting the roads to either run or bike? Don’t just take my word for it.  Try it, see for yourself, enjoy and reap all the benefits these outdoor activities has in-store for you. Go girls!

The McKinley Trail

I was off the saddle for most of the latter part of the year not because I want to but because of some circumstances that were way beyond my control.  Luckily, I had running to keep me busy during these times but still I have that certain longing to ride the bike again sometime soon – the question of “when” still a tough one to answer. Or so I thought.

Alas on the night of Christmas day, as if he is my Santa just late for Christmas eve, my biker friend Pol (PMTB handle : LOOP) gave me an invitation that is too good to resist. – a bike ride the following day where I was to ride from our home in Pandacan, meet up with them (Team Paco Bikers) at Paco then ride all the way to the Fort then into the McKinley Trail inside the Philippine Army Camp.  Well, if that isn’t a chance too good to pass up on – a comeback ride with the promise of a taste of my first trail experience and what’s best, one surefire way to burn the previous day’s caloric excesses. I did not think twice and replied with a YES.

The ride on the way to the Philippine Army Camp at the Fort was not without the jitters naturally – do i still know how to shift gears, how would i react to the fast vehicles passing by me, will i be super intimidated by jeepneys and hey, do i still look good on a bike? That and the grumbling on my hungry stomach kept up with me during the first half. But then as I got my groove back, I realized that I am doing fine. I still have it, I still know how to ride. I just need practice…

the trail as viewed from the top

I have been hearing and reading about the trail inside the Philippine Army Camp which have just been recently opened to the public. Bikers at the PinoyMtBiker.Org forum named it as the “McKinley Trail”, the trail being in close proximity to McKinley Hill and overlooking the McKinley area at the Fort. For now, entrance and use of the trail is free for the public, one just have to bring one valid ID to be able to enter the camp’s premises and go to the trail.

We arrived at the camp a little past 9 am, registered and had our IDs surrendered at the gate and upon issuance of a biker’s ID/pass we proceeded to the trail. As promised, it was one good trail with two different routes – the red and blue routes. Arrows/markers point to the blue route as the one for leisure/beginner bikers and the red route for expert/technical bikers. I naturally chose to follow the blue route.

litoy, kuya toto, pol and me

pitstop

pol and litoy fixing my rear tire

The trail for beginners is one difficult trail not to mention slippery because of the previous night’s rain. Or perhaps, difficult for a first timer like me. I still have shadows of fear following my hard downhill crash during our Makiling, Laguna bike ride which left me with bike-related scars on my left elbow and knee, that I haven’t summoned enough courage to tackle all the steep and slippery uphills, downhills and switchbacks.  The trail were mostly of single tracks which will keep both your hands busy navigating, twisting and turning. I kept telling myself that I should avoid the risk of injury and that I can just dismount whenever I feel like I can’t do it anymore. And after a flat rear tire, I decided not to complete the route all the way to the top. I just remained riding on the lower part surroundng the lagoon, took pictures and even tried to do one lap of running. Plus making a mental note of scheduling a good number of bike rides in the future for me to be able to practice and thus equip me in making a braver comeback to this beautiful trail.

roland and pol preparing to ride the whole circuit one last time

me on the trail

By noon, we were back on the road all the way back home. I was able to complete some 33kms of bike ride for the day and that is enough to make me smile for now. Many thanks Pol, Roland, Kuya Toto and Litoy for letting me join your ride. Next time, Inday (that’s me in MTBiking, hehe) hopes to be able to ride with the whole gang again.

View all photos here.

Missing MTBiking

I haven’t had any honest-to-goodness, decent mtbike ride for almost 3 months now. Though I had more than enough of running activities – from training, practice runs and races I realized just now that I miss going out on a bike ride. My bike’s been in storage for quite a while now. I need to ride it or else my mom might sell it or worse donate it to the binatog vendor! lol!

missing bike rides...

As i review my calendar I saw that I only have Nov. 22 to squeeze in even a short urban ride, to MOA perhaps. If not, bike rides will have to wait until December. Hay! For now, will prolly just wear my bike gears to sleep in the hopes of riding the bike in my dreams. Yikes! Ang tigas pa naman ng helmet! Of course i was just kidding.

my mt bike