If it's not on Strava, did it even happen?
Didnt think I’d ever do this again, but here we are, now sharing twice in a lifetime experiences.
Moments of the Week (Jan 23-29)
8 days, 7 nights in Coron Palawan. Half that time would have sufficed to hit the highlights of the “Coron Super Ultimate Tour”, “Island Escape”, and local highlights. All this extra time meant breakfasts that extended into lunch, eating our way through town, and taking in the live music every night.
The kids will remember the St Michael’s liter-sized boba and Chicken Inasal from Inasal Eats Co. We got 30+ orders and Feris has gotten pretty efficient eating with her hands and stripping bones clean.
The biggest laughs and smiles came during dinner at Kuya’s Kocina, where they had Just for Laughs playing in the background and then at Sharky’s, a surprise over-the-top drag queen performance with a mostly Beyoncé cheerleading-mixed mashup with swishes, whips, and bops.
Feris had the itch to read and with limited options, she picked up The Holy Bible and started with Genesis. I had to define mistress and circumcise. Shocking of all was hearing her recount the story of Lot and his daughters who got him drunk and then…
Maricar instituted a no-device rule for this trip which meant more conversations, hypotheticals, and senseless talk. I would give the kids a question, and they would have to share a believable answer. How does sweat cool you down? Why nose hair? What does “dooab” mean?
Ever hear of Pilipino Time? It doesn’t exist in Germany or Hong Kong. We were scheduled to leave between 8-830 but our shuttle didn’t arrive til 915. We then waited on a boat sitting until 10. Finally, because we were in a group of 20, there always seemed to be someone we were waiting on at each stop. A reminder to go with the flow.
When Maricar and I toured Southeast Asia 16 years ago, Coron was a, if not the highlight for its Barracuda and Kayangan lake and Twin Lagoons. All are enclosed natural swimming pools of crystal clear water surrounded by limestone cliffs, each having a distinct appeal. For example, The Twin Lagoons is entered by climbing over a cliff or swimming underneath it at low tide. The enclosed lagoon has two layers, a cool fresh water surface followed by a geothermal base which is strangely satisfying to move between. After all these years, the place is still beautiful, pristine, and a liberating experience. The biggest change is how commercialized everything has become with boats of people being shuttled from one location to the next. I remember we had these places all to ourselves and it felt like our little secret.
The return flight from Coron to Manila was a sauna. How hot? The person next to Jero took off his shirt for the entire flight!
Upon arriving in Hong Kong, I turned around and hopped on a 14-hour red-eye to Zurich. Maricar is at home holding down the fort while playing host to her parents.
Thinking Aloud
If you don’t share an experience, does it really happen? Is having an experience enough?
If it’s not on Strava, did it even happen?
Endurance athletes are religious about tracking and logging their activities, myself included. To get the most out of any experience, I think there is the element of sharing. You can share it with yourself with self-reflection, retell it live or on social media, and then there is the act of sharing an experience. Although 80% of my runs are solo adventures and I do enjoy the alone time, it’s most rewarding when I’m able to run with someone. And just by having someone with me, the same course I may have done a dozen times feels brand new.
Many highlight life experiences are “one time is good enough”. Palawan was one of those experiences. When Maricar and I went, it was unchartered territory and took so many transfers. It was worth it and instantly became a gem, but once was all I needed.
Coming back to refresh these experiences with the kids has been a blessing. And, these are the shared memories that will pay dividends when the bickering gets forgotten and we are able to rehash the story with each person contributing a piece.
On The Move
Run With Me on Strava - 55.99mi, 2055 ft Elevation
Running in the Philippines is challenging. Although not a Hong Kong summer, it is humid and the smoke from the morning burning trash makes it hard to breathe. Rarely do I find an easy stretch. I’m usually running to the other side of the road to avoid a stray dog or goat, tiptoeing over a pothole, or avoiding an oncoming tricycle by jumping into a ditch.
The only speed work was a 3x10min threshold run. I didn’t even come close to hitting my targeted paces.
All week my HR was high for the easy runs I was doing. Lingering fatigue? Philippine humidity?
I forgot my watch charger so I borrowed Jero’s Garmin. My Zurich 18-mile-long run around the Limmat River didn’t load. Corrupt file. It was an easy and consistent pace in “feels like” 24 degrees. It would have been nice to see it mapped out in my activities. Darn.
