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  • Published: Jun 9th, 2010
  • Category: Races
  • Comments: 7

Of Running as a Bandit and Donna

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When I was in college, one of the “skills” I’ve learned was the art of cramming. I’d usually study a day before a major exam and still get away with it. As most of my major subjects (mostly Math related) didn’t require me to memorize words, I thought this “skill” would come in handy. I survived college somehow and I was known to be good at doing things in the last two minutes. Come graduate studies, I somehow still manage to pass comprehensive exams on 5 major units and…still got away with it.

Several years later,  I would still try my luck to “practice” my art. I decided to join Nature’s Valley run on the last minute and I thought I could still get a bib if I ask around. And so a night BEFORE the actual race, I managed to announce over my FB that I would need a 21km race bib, got several leads but as fate would have it, I was not lucky this time. For the first time, I woud be running a race with no race bib and as such, I would be labeled as a “bandit”. For noob runners out there, running as a bandit means you’re joining a race with no race bib (you’re not registered). As I was not registered for this race, I’ve made just one rule for myself, I will NEVER compete with runners for their hyrdation. Hence, I did brought my hydration belt and a handcarry bottle as source of my hydration. It was a bad idea really, the last time I’ve used my hydration belt was several months ago when my waist line was 34″, and without any yabang added, my waist line now is 30 and I expected the hydration belt would fell several times during the course.  And it did, three times!

As I have no PR to beat, I just promised myself to just keep on running until my hydration goes empty….and run with Donna Cruz Lardizabal. God knows I kept on singing “Kapag tumibok ang puso, wala kna magagawa kundi sundin to” on my brain I thought I was suffering the worst LSS (last song syndrome) of my life. Unfortunately, I stopped near the Kalayaan Bridge at Jolibee on my way to The Fort. Hydration went poof and I thought it was over. After a brief chat with the bossing of Team CB (Chelly Bautista), I proceeded to the starting line and, Brian gave me his ice cream instead.  Hows that running with a celebrity, as a bandit..and going home with an ice-cream. Priceless!oh and some photo-ops!!!

It was a bad idea to wear that green thing on my head!

It was a bad idea to wear that green thing on my head! One of the race marshall there forced me eh hehehehe

PS: I do not promote bandit…really!

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7 Responses to “Of Running as a Bandit and Donna”


  1. notsquare
    on Jun 9th, 2010
    @ 8:54 am

    you look smitten! ;)


  2. patrick.concepcion / runningshield
    on Jun 9th, 2010
    @ 8:57 am

    i was wondering where your race bib was when i saw you? sorry if i was not that talkative i was in race mode and kinda tire that time. but it was great to see you till next time again. thank you regards – patrick concepcion


  3. rene
    on Jun 9th, 2010
    @ 9:38 am

    Sam, you really looked concentrated there…at Donna!:-)


  4. Roelle
    on Jun 11th, 2010
    @ 3:15 am

    haha! I have to agree with Rene. parang inlab na inlab ka ke Donna! :)

    I saw you walking to Jollibee along Rizal avenue as I made my way there (probably along km8-9?). good to see you racing again.

    see u!


  5. Noelle De Guzman
    on Jun 13th, 2010
    @ 2:36 am

    Wow! I didn’t notice you had no bib :)


  6. Jan
    on Jun 13th, 2010
    @ 2:59 am

    Wow, parang movie. A guy chasing the woman of his dreams! :) Have great runs Sam!


  7. FFS
    on Jun 16th, 2010
    @ 7:58 pm

    Nice one runningninja! Free race and a free photovendo with Donna cruz. :) But i dont promote bandit either. haha!

    nice blog btw!

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