Spotted...

While looking at UP Running Coach Rio's website (www.runrio.com) to get info on Mizuno Race, I saw a picture of me running in previous run held in Marikina (guy in blue on right side) and looking dead tired already...

Saw also pictures of my niece and nephew on another race organized by Coach Rio too. This race was held at UP Campus and think they did the 2.2km challenge..

Julianna in red shirt with brother Cameron in white cap next to her...

Champion Run Along The River - Marikina Run

First time for me to try this route so was interested to do it eventhough I will be ill-prepared for this run as coming in from late flight in Singapore the night before. Had only 4 hour sleep and almost missed this when my cellphone alarm didn't go off (or maybe it did but sound chip was broken). Good thing I had a secondary alarm set next to my bed so got to the area 5 minutes before the race started.

Since path is quite narrow, Race organizer Rio had the 10KM runners start on one side and 5KM runners start on the opposite side of the river to both finish at the same point (which is at the starting point of 10KM runners). There was also an announcement prior to start of the race, saying that the course has now been extended to 11KM instead of 10KM (5K route remains the same).

That morning was very hot but good thing there were ample drinks set along different areas of the race course. Lots of sights to see along the riverbank such as turtle, giraffe and snake statues, the giant shoe on the river and even a statue of Marikina.

All in all, a good run for me when I finished at 1:09:17 with average pace of 6:13 minutes/ km and ranked 405th place on the Men's division. Speed better than previous Sunday's run at UP where I finished 10K at 1:04:45 with average pace of 6:29 minutes/ km.

Course map for 10K run (before 10K run was extended to 11K). 5K start point right across the 10K start/finish point.


Marikina Statue

One of many shoes found in Marikina.

Fellow 10K runners Meynard and Gigay



Me and Kervin's respective races

Some creepy dead Janitor fishes on the riverbank

May's Many Runs

One Month, Three Runs, Three Different Places!

First Run (Runnex 25th Silver Annivesary Run) will be this Sunday (May 3) at University of Philippines Campus. I will be doing the 10KM course (which just means doing the 5KM course twice, so I need to psyche myself that once I cross finish line, I will only be at half way mark and still need to run another loop before I can finish race). Race will start at 6AM.

Second Run (Champion 2nd Run) will be on May 11, which will be along the Marikina River. It will be my first time to try this route so I'm curious on how it goes. Course pretty simple as will just be one full loop around the river to cross finish line. View will be just the riverbank so might get bored by it. Also doing the 10KM route. Both these races have the same organizer so expect similar water stations alloted at different points of the race.

Final run for this month will be on May 18 at Fort Bonifacio. Registered for this one two months ago when I saw it being advertised at a New Balance Store in Makati. One of cheapest I paid for (only P100) but also shortest run for me at 5KM. A lot of friends and family have joined this one as well so lots of familiar faces come race day. Also, it will be a Pringles Run (with Mr. Pringles on the Race Bib, so probably the best bib of all the ones I have) and unique twist on the race in that if you ran all the way to the finish line carrying an empty can of Pringles, they will replace it with a new one upon surrender of old can. Already have an empty one stored in Per's house but still deciding whether to bring it to race given the fact that I have to carry and run with it all the way to finish line just to get a P55 worth of chips. Hmmm...but it should be fun if a lot of people do it on the race (set-up for possible Pringles Relay Race in the future).

Total of 25KM worth of races!