May 31, 2011

Yamaha Run For Heroes

Yamaha Run for Heroes - The 2nd Runrio Series Manila 2011 will be held on July 3, 2011 at Bonifacio Global City. Boasting of 4 race categories 3k, 5K, 10K, and 21K.
Registration Details:
Online registration period is from May 30, 2011 to June 19, 2011 only. Delivery of race kits will start on June 5, 2011.

In-store registration period is from May 30, to June 25, 2011 from 12nn to 8pm at the following venues:
RUNNR – G/F Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City
R.O.X – Level 2 R.O.X. Bldg. Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City
Toby’s SM Mall of Asia – G/F Entertainment Mall, Roxas Blvd., Manila
Planet Sports Glorietta – 2/F Glorietta 3, Makati City
The Athletes Foot ATC - Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City
Planet Sports Trinoma – 2nd level, Trinoma, North EDSA, Quezon City
The Athlete’s Foot Galleria – 3F Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Pasig City

Special Registration Site (May 30 to June 25)
Yamaha YZone Flagship Shop – ADB Ave. cor. Opal Road, Ortigas, Pasig City

Registration Fees:
  • 3k Php500
  • 5K Php600
  • 10K Php600 - Inclusive of Race Kit, (New Balance Singlet, D-tag, Timing Chip, Bib Number, 20% Off Coupon from Planet Sports & Athlete’s Foot Stores & 10% Off Coupon from Toby’s / Runnr Store), Race Analysis, Finishers Kit, Certificate, Free photo
  • 21K Php750 - Inclusive of Race Kit, (New Balance Singlet, Timing Chip, Bib Number, 20% Off Coupon from Planet Sports & Athlete’s Foot Stores & 10% Off Coupon from Toby’s / Runnr Store), Race Analysis, Finishers Kit, Finisher’s Shirt, Finisher’s Medal, Certificate, Free photo
Important Reminders:
Registration may end earlier than announced deadline therefore; race kits may run out before June 26, 2010.
A valid ID must be presented upon registration. For group registration, a photocopy of any valid ID must be presented.
Singlet size availability will be on a first come first served basis.
A disposable timing device will be used by all participants.
Medals and Finisher’s shirt will be given to all 21km finishers only.
Finisher’s kits will be given upon finishing the race.
For questions and inquiries please contact (call only) any of the following Runrio hotline numbers from Monday to Friday (9:00am – 6:00pm).
Globe 0915-7827126
Globe 0927-3990043
Landline 02-703 1736

May 24, 2011

Drenched: A Speedo and Brooks Weekend

I was at the ace water spa facility in pasig city as early as 7:00am saturday for the speedo novice swim carnival. An hour later I was warming-up in the 8-lane pool. The pool was full to the gutters as participants made their way to the water. I made 20x25 of freestyle swim and 2 sets of 4x25 individual medleys. I felt I was burning when I exited the pool just after the warm-up, but after the event, I felt I was more drained. The competition was challenging and exhausting. I was with the company of strong swimmers from different schools, nationwide, and boy, they all "swim". They're in it to win it! With hardwork and determination and with a stroke of luck, I was able to break my records from my previous swim a week ago.
On the next day, a sunday, was my usual long run. I did the 15km distance of brooks run happy. The start time was supposedly at 5:30am but the race started 20mins late. In road races that's a big NO. However, this sort of thing is not an issue to me anymore, I was in this kind of situation many times before. I guess it's the newbies that were greatly affected. I always see to it that stuffs like these will not affect my performance or be it my reason for not doing well.

I was in a good rhythm from the start up to the british school after the gun start. I was relatively pacing well and was closing-out to my desired finish time when reality struck, the summer heat was overwhelming that it drained me inside and out. I always wanted to be near a water station just to satisfy my thirst and drench myself. My usual pace came slower and my walks became frequent. I ran with two cups of water in both hands, just to have a reserve. I was running wet from head down to my socks for the remainder of the route which I never do more often in short distances like this. The long open stretches of bonifacio global city seem to be a deserted path, heat's from up and down. The walks cooled me down and brought me to the finish unscathed, but I finished 9 minutes behind my target time. I had no recourse but to blame myself, I was not training well on my runs nowadays. One good reason to bounce back. Although it was a not so good run, result-wise, I had a great chance to share the road again among friends. I'm glad to be back into the races again.

See you (again) at the starting line.

May 21, 2011

Mizuno Infinity Run 2011

This 2011, 5000 runners are expected to go up against their biggest challenge, the challenge of beating themselves.
True to its "Never Settle" philosophy, the Mizuno Infinity Run introduced an idea of a time trial started the "Beat Your Own Time" concept in 2009. In 2011, it has returned with a greater challenge for all runner out there. Mizuno shall have its first 21k course, replacing the 15k distance. This seeks to answer the runners' demand for a longer, and more challenging distance.

The Mizuno Infinity Run 2011 will be held at Bonifacio Global City on June 11, 2011. Assembly time will be at 4:00am. Gunstart for the 21K ruuners will be at 5:00am. The 10K and 5K distance runners will follow soon afterwards with a 10-minute interval between distances.

Registration has already begun since March 20, 2011 at all Mizuno branches in the Metro Manila area. Runners may also register at the Mizuno Sports Outlet in Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna, and at the Mail and More Convergys’s Branch.

Registration fee is priced at Php600 for the 5K distance, Php750 for 10K and Php800 for the new 21K course. All previous participants will also get a Php50 discount from registration.

There will be a discount of Php100 taken from the registration fee upon purchase of any shoes from the 2011 Running Collection. The race packet will include the race bib, timing chips for 10K and 21K runners, Mizuno discount vouchers, and the claim stub for the official Mizuno Infinity Run 2011 singlet, which can be claimed during the Infinity Run Expo on May 29, 2011.

Please visit www.mizuno.ph or Mizuno Run Club in facebook for more details.

May 20, 2011

AKTV Run: Ready, Set, Launch

TV5 invites all active and sports-minded Filipinos to participate in the much-awaited AKTV Run this June 5 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City. The Kapatid network will introduce AKTV, the new primetime sports block that will become the home of sports and active lifestyle programs on IBC channel 13.

AKTV Run will give loyal Kapatid followers a preview of what to expect from AKTV, which caters to Filipinos sports enthusiasts, health buffs as well as people who enjoy an active lifestyle.

AKTV Run features a race in four categories: 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K. TV5 has partnered with RunRio, the country’s leading race organizer, in mounting the event. The early morning race program will be hosted by Manu Sandejas and Chiqui Roa, hosts of the TV5 Saturday sports profile show Astig.

Participants and their families can enjoy a fun fair after the race at the Mall of Asia grounds. There will be sports tents where people can watch and participate in demonstrations and instructional coaching for billiards, boxing, basketball and mixed-martial arts. There will be photo booths of various TV5 shows like Bagets, Iskul Bukol and Bangis. Kids can enjoy booths from Cartoon Network, Disney and Batibot. Food and Beverage booths will also be made available to everyone.

Interested participants can register online at www.interaksyon.com/ aktv. Regular in-store registration will run from May 5 to May 22, 2011 at the following sports and running stores:
  • Runnr (Bonifacio High Street, Taguig)
  • ROX (Bonifacio High Street)
  • Toby’s (SM Mall of Asia)
  • Planet Sports (Glorietta, Makati City)
  • The Athelete’s Foot (Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa and Robinsons Galleria)
  • Planet Sports (Trinoma, Quezon City)
Late Registration period is from May 23 to May 29, 2011 at the following venues only:
  • ROX
  • Toby's SM Mall of Asia
  • Planet Sports Trinoma
Registration Fees
  • 3km - Php450
  • 5km - Php600
  • 10km - Php600
  • 21km - Php750
Assembly & Gun Start Time
  • 3km - 4:00 am - 5:55 am
  • 5km - 4:00 am - 5:45 am
  • 10km - 4:00 am - 5:35 am
  • 21km - 4:00 am - 4:45 am
Important Reminders
  • Registration may end earlier than announced deadline therefore; race kits may run out before May 29, 2010.
  • A valid ID must be presented upon registration. For group registration, a photocopy of any valid ID must be presented by the representative.
  • Singlet size availability will be on a first come first served basis.
  • A disposable timing device will be used by all participants during the race.
  • Finisher’s kits will be given upon finishing the race.
  • For questions and inquiries please contact (call only) any
For more details about AKTV Run, log on to the TV5 news portal www.interaksyon.com/aktv.

May 16, 2011

First Plunge Novice Swim Meet

It is quite surprising to see myself in the water, I am more of a runner than a swimmer. It happened accidentally when my son backed-off from his summer swimming class, that opened the opportunity to replace him in the program. I was hesitant first since most of the participants were minors but the school have a program for adults as well.

A Runner In The Water.
It was the first time for this experienced runner to be in the water, scientifically. I am a totally novice swimmer. Although I have been swimming since the time I can remember, I am more of a do-it-yourself swimmer, a non-technical, non-scientific individual. I learned on my own. I just used to do the "langoy-aso", until I knew the freestyle and backstroke as I grew up. And as I progressed in this swimming program, I learned the butterfly and breast strokes, the proper breathing, coordination and other techniques.

Why Me?
One day at the pool, a teacher invited me to join their competition. It is an annual challenge where all of their school branches' select swimmers are competing, all of them novices. Why me, I only just had five days (or five hours) of swimming lessons, besides, I am just here to know the basics. "But you have the technical knowledge and good skills as a swimmer", he said, with an assurance that they will train me for the competition. The last three days of my program were done at the non-stop swimming lane (lapping pool) of the venue instead; I am on training mode.

Medal Haul.
On the day of the competition, I was with the enlisted young talents, but was surprised that there were number of adult swimmers like me who are competing as well. The coaches entered me in the four individual events; the butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke and the freestyle, including four relay events. And the rest was history, I won two individual golds, a silver, and a bronze in a 25 meter novice distance. Our relay team won two golds and two silvers. Oh boy, the event was tiring, considering that my body was not used to something like this. The swim was a continuous cycle, event after event, heat after heat, wherein the finals were on a timed basis. The fastest swimmer in each event in each heat wins the gold. Overall it was a fun-filled activity, a different experience on my part.

After arriving home I was proud to present my winnings to my son, and wished it was him who joined. Maybe next year, God willing.

P.S. In the evening, our coach send me a message that our team emerged as the over-all champion from the 31 teams that competed that day and send me an invite to compete again on the next day, but I declined. I still have a 21km race to complete the following morning.

Photos below are some action shots from the competition and the awarding.
More photos here and here.