Month of Marathon Madness

February 2012 will go down history as the month that I ran in 3 fun runs. The famous flood of 2011 that devastated Thailand for 3 months prevented some marathons on schedule and they had to be postponed. This will explain why the medals that we were awarded in February 2012 had November 2011 engraved as the date done.

The photos will show the three runs: "The North Face 100" "Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon" and "International Half Marathon."

My daughter did the three marathons with me.

The North Face 100K Marathon

February 2012 is what I call Marathon Month Madness. 3 marathons would be held on this month: The North Face 100K; Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon 2011 and Bangkok International Half Marathon.

The most popular of the three is the Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon, because it ranks together with the other chartered marathons in the US and the recent one done at Singapore. For this reason the North Face only attracted the ultra marathon guys but not the regular fun run marathoners like me.

The photos will show how my daughter and I fared in this one-of-a-kind marathon. JJ tagged along and took control of the cam while we were in the midst of the event.

the flyer for the event. we paid up 3 months in advance and started training every other day.

in the van to samut songkran. we disembarked at maeklong.

famous umbrella market maeklong...

with the train passing all umbrellas and tarps give way to the passing train and veggies are just centimeters from the wheels. a few seconds after the train passes the scene is just a market again. this happens 8 - 10 times a day.

checked in @ Baan Imoun resort

beside the grand maeklong river

soaking in the scene while hydrating for tomorrow's race. the beer can wait after the race.

got this room @ 1,400 baht

off to wat Kaew Charoen to get our racing kits.

wat Kaew Charoen

race kit includes: champion chip, shirt, bib/number and some snacks.

my age category shows i'm the only non-Thai. the rest were senior citizens.

kai's category... only 5 of them.

dinner by the roadside

my plate!

wat kaew charoen @ 4:30 AM

100 & 50K runners getting ready

25K runners at the starting line

5:45 getting ready. she didnt bring a singlet for racing coz she planned to wear the north face shirt only to find out that the shirt was too big and bulky for running. so she wears a cotton top that she had for other purposes.

stretching almost felled the tree.

first in line for photo purposes. the thai lady in red beside me never misses marathons in thailand. she shouts "pilipins" every time she sees me, which is approx 7 races already

oldest runner in thailand 93 yrs old

yeeaahhh.... ready!

that's us... 10K runners... my best time ever for 10 kilometers

finished! the sun is barely out @ 7:30 clocked at 01:09:34 which is my best time so far. I found out later that i was the 6th in my age category.

kai clocked in @ 01:16:35

still panting from the run

with Grace an american from Guam

in the official shirts

free massage

the only run were massage was free

breakfast @ the temple grounds

awarding: kai placed 3rd in her category

about 30 years ago I also placed 3^rd in a 14K marathon in Davao. I was about Kai's age too then. my price was a whole roasted turkey.

the winners

7 years more and he'll be 100!

back to the hotel

a short nap before checking out...the trophy.... hahaha

 mini bus station for Bangkok

back in Bangkok wet and tired

missed this little girl!

Facebook Blues

My timeline states I’ve been with facebook since 20 zero eight

That means I’ve been “posting” and “liking” for 4 years straight

This game with a click has wrought such mighty wonders for me

Gathered up all my friends and brought back memories and glee.

Old crushes, legit girlfriends, classmates and students reconnect

“I was your friend” one said but I can’t recall when, what the heck!

This world’s so huge and I’ve been around longer I did realize

Fb is a brain substitute and for my failing memory would suffice.

Some guys in my childhood I have been wanting so long to see

Seems they don’t have an account or refuse to, is a mystery to me

I bet they’re contented with life or maybe are too busy to say hi

If they only knew what I’m relishing there is no saying goodbye.

The click of “like” I discovered conveys a thousand meanings

“Unfriend” on the other hand keeps out the nasty old feelings.

A former girlfriend’s hubby may over react to some friendly post

A suspecting wife hovers over the thread like an insecure ghost.

It takes more than just wit and humor to stay alive in this game

You can’t twist the meanings to suit what you want to your name.

One person’s thoughts on a single phrase may not be akin to yours

You can’t see the mood or feel the pulse right from the very source.

You’re right on the track to senility and you’re trying hard to cope

Old friends in facebook offer you happiness and maybe some hope

Holed up in your insecurities held up by some stinking old grudge

Friends push you to think clearly but it seems that you won’t budge.

Yeah old friend, the enjoyment or the misery is all inside your head

Whichever you choose may either bring fun or take you down instead.

Just like life itself this online friendship is the attitude that we choose

You either ride on the wings of delight or live with the bitter FB blues.

Reasons why the claims of a Sunday Law is absurd from the Biblical point of view

1. It is not mentioned, hinted or supported by the Bible and is an actual addition to the prophecies already stated. This is not allowed by the Bible. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Rev22:18,19

2. The Christian is not bound by a specific day of worship. “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord... For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Rom14:5-9

3. The “Sabbath - God’s seal” as claimed by the author and advocates of this prophecy contradicts the biblical seal of God as outlined in the Christian’s covenant. (Eph1:13,14)

4. There is no sin in the Christian’s covenant with God with regards to a day of worship. Any sin regarding the Sabbath is limited to the Israelites’ covenant and does not apply to the Christian in the New Covenant. “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Col2:16,17

5. The Sabbath law alluded to by this prophecy was a covenant with the ancient Israelites and has been rendered “obsolete” by the creation of the Christian’s covenant – the New Covenant. “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” Heb8:13

6. Any attempt to uphold the Sabbath Law to influence one’s salvation renders the death of Jesus needless and useless and severs one from fellowship with Jesus. “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Gal2:21; “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Gal5:4