Nature Valley Tree Planting and Maple Tree Foundation

"Going the extra mile seems hard at first but simple endeavors make a big difference

when done with all your heart." -journeyingjames

May its roots grow deep, its leaves bloom and its trunks a refuge to many.

Most believe that one of the ten things you must do before you die is to plant a tree. And so together with more than 200 tree planting volunteers on the morning of August 7, I planted some Molave and Ipil-Ipil trees at the Ipo Dam, Norzagaray Bulacan. I am thankful to Nature Valley Philippines for this "make a difference" project. Each of the volunteers planted about 5 trees after 1 hour of hike. It feels good to be doing something not only for yourself but for your kids, you future, for nature. I just hope and pray that the Dumagats and DENR would be serious to nurture the trees we planted.

The volunteers on their way to the mountain

Start of the 1 hour hike

We are happy to plant trees

TBR Marathon Classmates

The advocacy started when 11,200 runners joined the Nature Valley Run last May 30, 2010. I'm glad that Nature Valley is true to their words as this tree planting activity is already the part 2 of the 3-part tree planting endeavor. Thankful that I'm part of this worthy advocacy.

With some Dumagats & fellow volunteers (Odie, Leo and Odette)

On a personal level, I joined because I love nature, the mountains, the trees and I'm an outdoor person. It would break my heart to climb a deforested mountain. Also, I learned that this would benefit the Dumagat tribes that are living near the mountains. During college, I have had a lot of opportunities to help the Dumagats of Aurora province and I think this is a good follow up, this time the Dumagats of Bulacan. For more info, you can visit the Nature Valley website.

After the tree planting, Nature Valley kind enough to give us loot bag. Double Kudos to Nature Valley! I was looking for the Haagen Dazs ice cream but there is none.hahaha

How I wish all 'runs' that are being organize are like this. This is really what we call run the 'extra mile.' But of course you also want to be part of it. Sorry, but the activity already ended. Maybe I can offer you some suggestions to start in your own little way:
1. Stop littering and teach others to do the same.
2. Segregate and Recycle.
3. Bring your own bag when going shopping.
4. Bring your own mug at Starbucks/CBTL.
5. Stop using straw in fastfoods, its plastic. Its cool to drink without the straw.
6. Buy 1.5L of Gatorade instead of the usual 500ml bottle.
7. Help my friend Kassy. Read further for more details...


Let's hold our hands together, go the extra mile- for NATURE, for the FUTURE!

http://mapletreefoundation.net/

Kassy, a marathoner friend is running her 2nd Marathon at the SC Standard Chartered Marathon on December 5, 2010. She will do this for the benefit of The Mapple Tree Foundation. She is raising some bucks "to help deprived and underserved mountain communities live healthy, productive, and peaceful lives with sustainable resource development programs that provide basic services, livelihood development, and education."


Please check out her blog HERE and help put smile on the faces of the kids living in the mountains. You don't need to do something BIG or be FAMOUS in order to make a difference. small things make a BIG difference when done with all your heart.


Note: Some pictures are from Odie, a fellow runner and tree planting volunteer. Nice meeting you guys!

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thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

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Nature Valley Run 2010: Injured yet Inspired

Event: Nature Valley Run 2010 (Leg 2 of RunRio Trilogy) 

Race Distances: 3K / 5K / 10K / 21K 

Race Date & Venue: May 30, 2010 (Sunday) at Bonifacio Global City

Race Organizer: RunRio

Beneficiary: Bayanihang Bayan Legacy Project. 1 Runner = 1 Tree. Trees will be planted at the Ipo Watershed in Norzagaray, Bulacan

More than 9,000 runners showed up last Sunday morning at the Bonifacio Global City to be part of Nature Valley’s advocacy run. It promises to plant 1 tree for each runner.

I don’t have any plan of joining this race for several reasons: (1) I wanted to take a break from running until my left knee has fully recovered; (2) its expensive (P750 for 21K); and (3) I am bored of races held in The Fort.

A 10K RACE KIT AND A BAD LEFT KNEE

Still I found myself wishing to take part because I am one of those people who does everything to save the planet (running to have a tree planted seems great), I would say I like and promote green living. I even tried blogging about having free 21K race kit. Anyway, a day before the event a friend was offering a 10K race kit for free. Wish granted? Yes. Thanks Runnerisms, someone gave her a 21K race kit so she gave her 10K kit. Its like déjàvu of my forced half marathon race last month. Anyway, for the love of running I decided to run.

Knowing that my left knee is still aching after some short runs last week, I still pushed myself to run on my race pace. I can be easily see as I would run on the grass whenever there are grass to run on. It minimizes the impact of the ground on my knees and I love the feeling of running on grass. I was having a great run until I reached KM4, knee is acting up already and I don’t have any option but to slow down. In my mind, I know that I can have a new PR when I reached KM5 but after 7 kilometers my left knee continued to ache, it was painful. I have to slow down and finally walk the last 2 kilometers, pretending to run when approaching Photovendo. I told myself, at least I have good pics. So I finished the run 1:01:18, with an injured left knee.

RACE REPORT

Water Stations are enough, over-flowing 100 Plus drinks and cold water on long tables.

Race Route: It seems that Coach Rio and team are really doing great on plotting new routes. Good job!

Loot Bag and Freebies: Hagen Daz ice cream for 21K finishers, Photovendo and iFlick photos, post-race massage, Games, Onesport mag, Tuna Pandesal, 100 Plus bootle, and many more.

Race Results from Finishline can be seen here.

Race Pictures from Photovendo here, just look for Nature Valley Run 2010 at the bottom. Next time, you should smile at the camera. =) You can also check out the post race photos from iFlick.ph, just be patient to look for your face.

Race Analysis from Runpix here.

GETTING SOME INSPIRATION

It is my first time to really spend time watching 21K runners crossing the finish line. I saw runners from all walks of life trying to live the moment as they approach the last meters of their run. Someone raises his hands in triumphed, 3 would hold each others hand in unity, friends posed a jumpshot, others crying, others all smiles, cramps mean nothing just as he approach the finish line and kiss his hard earned medal, someone even proposed of marriage, most all wet because of the heat, perspiration and constant cold water dabbles on the head and face, Never Run Alone got lots of applause for the nice and fast finish, others having nirvana as they look at the clock knowing they beat their PR, a lot of TBR classmates joined for a recovery, every finish a different story, all half marathoners an inspiration.

Here are some of the photos I got:

Nature Valley Executive Tri Team

Never Run Alone gets lotsa applause

Argonaut and co.

TFC Runner

Mond still strong

some running friends

Running friends from ANR Alabang

Medals for podium finishers

trees that will be planted for our kids future

One Runner = One Tree

If you feel depressed or you know of someone who needs to be inspired bring him/her to a race (especially 21K / 42K) and let him/her watch runners as they approach the finish line. Inspiration guaranteed.

LEFT KNEE INJURY

When I got home I noticed that I cannot climb the stairs. My left knee is really injured. I have to pull

myself up to reached the 2nd floor and I have to go down the stairs backward. Knee is very painful I cannot walk properly.

Is this good-bye to running? I hope not! Maybe I should have a break. How long? I do not know. I need to visit a good doctor and hope that he/she gives me hope that I can still run. After all, I cannot think of any sports that can replace running. How it changed my life and how running help me discipline myself. Lord, I hope this is nothing serious. I hope this is just rest not good-bye from running.

I don’t want this to happened:

(image from www.tombunny.com/gallery/)