3rd Place in the McHappy Day fun run 2011

Didn't expect to win really. My brother just decided to sign me up for this race since he wanted to join as well. We both signed up for 5K. I convinced him to start running a few months back since he'd gained weight from eating a lot of hotel food and whatnot while he was still employed at Resorts World Manila.

I think all that bone-breaking, breath-stealing muay thai training paid off. To say that the McKinley Hill race course is rolling would be an understatement. It was a killer. Just a few more degrees and we'd be climbing a perpendicular wall. Okay maybe I'm exaggerating, but yeah it was pretty tough. But I think I handled it pretty well. I didn't see those stars you see when you're almost out of oxygen. Usually happens to me in a race, but this time it didn't. I loved the weather, cool not cold. The air felt a crisp and slightly dewy. I warmed up alone along Campus Drive, where it was quiet. I studied Enderun College and its castle like structure. I was in a dreamy state (slightly because of the fact that my excited brother woke me up at 3:30am when I'd set my alarm for 5am pa) O_O

Anyway fast-forward to the race. It was organized really well. Route was blocked properly for the safety of the runners. Clear signages. Ample drinking stations (not that you need many of those for the distance I joined). Luckily, both my brother and I made it through. He was boasting about how he didn't even get tired and didn't need to walk throughout the race. Looks like those daily runs worked.

Oh, and I even went home with a 3rd place medal. Not bad, eh?

My Medal...a big shoe, hmmm

Lots of freebies. Gotta love em!

I wish they'd post the photos already so I can post them here as well. :)

Next Up: Grasslimb Journal

Received an acceptance letter from the EIC of Grasslimb Journal on Saturday, for my poem "The Train Comes." Out of a suite of 5 poems only one made it through the editorial fire. Thank God this one made it. Here's how the letter went:

Dear Anne,

It's my great pleasure to accept

The Train Comes

for Grasslimb volume 10 number 1, due out in January, 2012.

We can offer $10 for this work; a check will be sent shortly, your
payment on acceptance.  We can also offer payment via PayPal if this is
preferred -- please let me know as soon as possible if so.  Your two
contributor's copies will be forwarded after the printing.

We purchase first serial print publication rights; you retain all other
copyright.

Thank you for submitting to Grasslimb!  Your work will enhance our
publication.

Warmly,

Valerie Polichar
Editor, Grasslimb
editor@grasslimb.com

Can't wait to get my contrib copies!

3rd Issue | 2011–2012: TAYO literary magazine

This'll be a very quick post since I got lots to do. Four of my poems are featured in TAYO literary magazine, and you might like to have a peek.These poems are: Along Edsa, Tin-ag, this is how light hits circumstance and Pilgrimage.

Thanks. :)

Got my ALR Contributors copies

They arrived during the weekends and I'm able to blog about them just now. Cover is excellent. The copies came in a brown envelope with cute airmail stamps. Had I a cork board I'd have tacked the envelope there. :)

Good thing they sent 2 copies so I can give one to my close friend and fellow writer/poet, Denver Torres.

Autumn 2011 issue of the Asia Literary Review.

I still get a dreamy feeling when I look at this... Still somewhat unreal.