News: Run United 3

The third and final leg of RunRio Trilogy: RUN UNITED 3 is happening this November 13, 2011 (Sunday) at SM Mall of Asia grounds and features the various race distances and their respective registration fees:

500m (kid's category): Php 250
3km: Php 500
5km: Php 600
10km: Php 600
15km: Php 700
21km: Php 750
32km: Php 900

Only 21km and 32km finishers will get their own finisher shirts and finisher medals as long as they finish their respective race distances.





Registrations will start on October 3rd, 2011 and can be done two ways:

1. Via Online Registrations: Just go to http://www.runrio.com (registration period from Oct 3 -30, 2011)

2. Via Onsite Stores: RUNNR Stores (BGC and Shangri-la branches), Planet Sports Stores (Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Trinoma), The Athlete's Foot Store (Robinson's Galleria)

As a special bonus for those runners who were able to complete the 21km distance for both Run United 1 and Run United 2 and finish the 32km distance for this race, they will be invited to the RunRio Trilogy Award Nights and be given a special award for their achievements.

On a personal note, I will be gunning the 32km Race Category, my very first and my longest distance for 2011. First time 32km distance finisher = automatic PR! :) I think it is also time to level up as well after doing a series of (good and bad) 21km road races.

Run Rizal 16km - Sept 18, 2011

These were the only photos I spotted of myself via Facebook. Oh well, I guess it's (a LITTLE) better than nothing.

I haven’t been joining races for a month now and that’s saying a lot as I usually join on a weekly basis. But with the slow time I had in Run United 2 last August 21^st, it was time to take things down a notch and focus on real “training” care of Ultramarathoner friend Alvin.

Being out of commission so to speak made me excited to join for a race again. Unlike my other road races wherein I always start my race late, this time around, I was there a few minutes before gun start and was able to do some warm up walk and stretching as well. How’s that for improvements?

The course for this 10-miler race starts from Luneta Park (where the Rizal Monument is located) and heads out to Buendia Avenue via Roxas Blvd. but instead of going up the flyover, we turned right and ran on Diosdado Macapagal Avenue for the U Turn near Coastal Mall and retraced our steps back to where the starting line was. I pretty much liked the route given that there were a few turns made, no flyovers to climb on, and gave me the motivation that I needed for the last few kilometers (kept imagining the finish line to be right in front of us).

There were ample water stations and a few Pocari Sweat drinks were given out along the route as well. At the start till the end of this race, I was having pains from all over my body. From the calves and shins to just the calves and once that disappeared, pain went to my left knee and right shoulder. It was strange but I was able to deal with it and kept on going. Breathing was important for me (more so for the last 4 kilometers when I was exhausted and just wanted the race to be over) and wearing my barefoot shoes for this distance took more effort as well (no cushioned heel landing when I’m tired). At this stage, I was running for a few seconds at a time with my eyes closed (and missing my comfortable bed)! But I kept going (hard to stop especially with the hard stares I’m getting from Alvin) and even skipped the last few water stations to try and finish this race as quickly as possible.

And finish it I did at a pace wherein I was out of breathe, dizzy and about to vomit (but didn’t) and at a good time too. I was able to beat my 15km PR for 2011 with a 26 second faster pace (6:57). So this is what racing feels like!

After crossing the finish line, I received my 19^th finisher medal for 2011 and a loot basket composed of vitamins and supplements samples. The loot basket was taken by my wife but the unique Rizal medal will be mine to cherish!

Thanks to Alvin for pushing me for the near 2-hours time on the road. Now it's time to vomit!

Finish time here (according to my Garmin): 1:50:57

A very unique medal! Won't happen again in any of our lifetime!

Halloween - VFF Style !

My favorite holiday is just around the corner.

When other people favor Christmas songs, Santa Clauses, Eater Bunnies, or bow and arrow-armed Cupids, I favor Ghouls, Ghosts and Monsters!

The best part of this holiday is the creativity used in making one's Halloween costumes. Per and i have an extra challenge of making costumes that fit as a couple (we were Matador and Flamenco Dancer for 2009 and as seen above, the Flintstones). I knew there was another use for my VFFs aside from running! Hehe.

So it's time to get our creative juice running. It's time to think of another couple costume. We may even wear it in the upcoming ADOBO RUN AFTER DARK (as said race has a 3km Costume Category)!

News: Nike We Run Manila 10k

Nike We Run Manila 10K Set in October

Run Offers Runners the Platform to Connect, Inspire, Share and Motivate Others to Own the Sport of Running

Manila, September 2011 – Witness the fusion of running, music and Manila's night urbanscape come to life as Nike Philippines launches We Run Manila 10K. We Run Manila 10k pays homage to runners and aims to connect Manila’s running community even further by celebrating the concept of We Run – where runners connect, motivate and inspire each other. Furthermore, We Run Manila 10K takes pride by being the first-of-its-kind run that invites Filipino runners to gather and celebrate their love for the sport, music and the country.

“If you have a body, you are an athlete,” Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, defining how he viewed the endless possibilities for human potential. In the same tone, we pay tribute to our runners who routinely push themselves and motivate others to achieve that extra step, pace or mile and ultimately be the best runner they can be

The race is part of the Nike We Run City 10k races happening in multiple cities such as Seoul (South Korea), Monterrey (Mexico) and Santiago (Chile) that promises a unique run experience combining running and music. The 8,000 runners from Manila will be part of the 150,000 runners from cities across continents to run in this year’s Nike We Run City 10k runs. Manila is the 3^rd city in Southeast Asia and one of the 15 cities around the world participating in the Nike City 10k races from now until the end of the year.

This night run will happen on October 15 and will take the runners traversing the heart of the city’s rising business and lifestyle district – Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. At the end of the race the runners will be treated with performances by Chicosci, Parokya ni Edgar.

“With Nike’s very first 10k run in Manila, we want to harness the energy of runners and celebrate their individual and cumulative achievements and motivations as we usher in a new season of running,” shared Nike Philippines Marketing Manager Mae Dichupa. “We all have experienced coming to that point in our run when that extra step or mile is a little harder but we feel that adrenaline kick in when we visually register another runner keep pace or pass us on our running route and once conquered, we feel better motivated and more in tuned with ourselves and other runners. We Run Manila 10k is all about just that – it’s the best avenue for runners to relinquish their love for the sport and place it a notch higher by appreciating it against the vibrant culture of urban Manila.”

The registration for Nike We Run Manila 10k race will commence on September 5 (Monday) at Nike Park Fort, RunnR Bonifacio High Street and Shangri-la Plaza, online through www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH and in select universities. Registration fees and categories as follows:

Age	Entry for 1 person	Entry for 2 people
Under 25 yrs old	PhP 750.00	PhP 1,300.00
25 yrs old & above	PhP 1,000.00	PhP 1,300.00

A special discount for registered runners will also be available at select Nike stores.

Categories:

Individual

1. Women's Under 25 - For women aged 24 years and below on the race day
2. Men's Under 25 - For men age 24 years and below on the race day
3. Women's Open - Open to women of all ages
4. Men's Open - Open to men of all ages

School Challenge - School Team Category – Colleges and Universities

In the spirit of WE RUN, Nike will launch the Run Buddy Run Nike+ Challenge to celebrate the motivational aspect of running with a buddy! Running has long been referred to as a personal endeavour, but despite the individual nature of the sport, running is an intensely communal pursuit too. The Run Buddy Run Nike+ Challenge takes on the idea of run clubs, training groups and community to broaden the appeal of physical running into the virtual world. Driven through Nike Running Philippines Facebook page and the Nike+ platform, the challenge will see pairs of run buddies race it out to win a VIP Race Day Experience at the We Run Manila 10K, and other Nike prizes.

Challenge mechanics below:

1. Visit Nike Running Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH and check out the WE RUN MANILA 10K tab.
2. Click on RUN BUDDY RUN and sign up with your run buddy.
3. Once you’ve joined the challenge with your run buddy, lace up your running shoes and hit the road!
4. Sync your KMs to Nike+ and follow the daily leader board updates on the Nike Running Philippines Facebook page.

Join us at the Nike We Run Manila 10K race to run for yourselves, for buddies, for fitness and for fun and when it’s all done, join us at the Race Village for a host of music and entertainment to celebrate being a runner.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH or follow us on twitter via @NikePH.

REGISTRATION SITE UPDATE: SCHEDULE SITE DAY TIME START DATE START TIME NIKE STADIUM ATC DAILY 11:00AM - 8:00PM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 3:30PM NIKE PARK GREENBELT 3 DAILY 11:00AM - 8:00PM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 2:30PM NIKE FORUM GREENHILLS DAILY 11:00AM - 8:00PM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 12:00NN TOBY'S ARENA SHANGRI-LA DAILY 11:00AM - 8:00PM SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 11:00AM NIKE STADIUM POWERPLANT MALL DAILY 11:00AM - 8:00PM SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 2:00PM

Some other questions that were answered during the Press Con:

1. What time will the race start? The race will start at 5pm (Saturday).

2. Where will it be held? In BGC but not at the usual starting/finish line of RunRio.Inc races. Venue for this race will be near Mercato Centrale, BGC.

3. How’s the course like? Flat terrain, new course experience.

4. Any other race categories? Only 10km for this race. For beginners, Nike Running Philippines will offer a series of running clinics to get them prepared for this race distance. Just add Nike Running Philippines in facebook (or click link above) to get the latest updates (such as schedules) on these running clinics.

5. For the buddy run, do they need to finish at the same time? No need! You can leave your buddy as soon as you cross the starting line! Or you can run together. Basically, it’s your choice!

6. What is included in race kit? Nike drifit shirt, special discounts at selected Nike store, Water bottle. There won’t be any bibs in this race. Race numbers will be printed on your Nike shirt!

7. Why the price difference for 25 years old and above vs below 25 years old? Nike Philippines is targeting students more and knows that they have more limited allowances versus working people. But if you register with a buddy, it will be cheaper than even the registration fee for the below-25 years old category.
   

This looks to be an exciting race and one that Per and I will definitely join for this year! This will be Per’s comeback run and we will run together here (just like the good old days). Quite nice that it’s a night run too as we don’t have to wake up too early for this race and can even have a nice dinner afterwards at Mercato Centrale.