CCF Run + Forbes Run = 21km Weekend Run

Saturday (May 7, 2011):

I first ran 3km inside the village before heading out to Tiendesitas for the CCF Run to Build 10km event.

I parked my car at Tiendesitas before heading out to the starting line where I saw a lot of familiar faces all doing the 10km race (Benny, Jay, Nat, Dave, Carolyn, Gigay, Mich, Meynard, Alvin, Anson, Vincent, Jobel, etc.).

With a very hilly route, PR is thrown off as people ran to have fun and for a bigger goal, which was for the construction of CCF's future building.

I walked a lot of times as the sun got to me and I was careful not to run too fast as I had to run 3km more after the race, my longest slow run since March! Wow, fitness level is definitely at its lowest for this RUNNING FATBOY! But no choice for me if I am going to survive the following weekend's Goldilocks 21km Race!

I finished this race at a super slow time of 1:13++ (I think.. as my name wasn't posted in the official results), got the nice loot bag and disappeared quickly!

So sad! I didn't want to leave yet but knew if I delayed this further, I wouldn't have done the 16km self-imposed target I set for myself (as it was getting hotter and hotter)! Well, it was good that I left and re-fueled as I was able to finish the last 3km and with enough energy to run some more. 16km distance conquered! Confidence re-built for a 21km run!

Congrats to all finishers for this race! Even with the hot weather, there were ample water stations located strategically along the route.



Sunday (May 8, 2011): Forbes Earth Day Run

This has got to be the most expensive 5km and 10km run in the Philippines! To note, a 5km race which includes a bib and a singlet costs Php 800, while a 10km race which had the same items as a 5km race costs Php 1,000. There are no chip timers, no finisher medals, no loot bag, nada!

And you can't run this alone. It's a buddy run so in order for you to run a 10km race, you need to get a partner and each of you shell out Php 1,000! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!

It's for charity... but still....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!

So I ran bandit! I knew the route anyway and I made sure not to stop at any of their water stations for the 5km race. I even went out to the next street to make the turn instead of going down the road
to head back so that's another 500 meters for me.

5km route was just a simple 2 loops around North Forbes Village. Another come-on for this race was that you will be running with Ms Earth Philippines Contestants. But still.... Php 1,000 for a 10km race is really expensive!

I kept wondering what made this run so expensive: is it because it wants to target the exclusive residents of Makati Villages only (as registrations only available there)? Do the Ms Earth Philippines contestants charge high fees for this run? Is the singlet made of gold threads? Is the "every-corner" direction signboard too high of a cost for the race committee? Does the nice luxury car that started the 10km race command a high fee from its owner?

After finishing the 5km run, I still did not have an answer but just glad that this run is for charity. Then I saw the faces of the runners and they were all cheerful and smiling. They held hands as they crossed the finish line (requirement for the Buddy Run). Lots of kids running with parents, spouses running together, friends with buddies. All in all, they had a great time! And that is something you can't put a price on....


A proud Bandit runner !

Takbo Breast Friend - Post Run

I am back in my old pair of New Balance shoes and old Adidas watch in a race that I have done before (but throug a different organizer). I am back in my competitive mode, after a month of easy runs. I am back with a goal in hand, to beat my personal best ULTRA time of 1 hour and 4 minutes and to find out if I still have what it takes to do it or if I have gotten slower as I do fewer practices these days.

One of the good things of being in an Ultra race is how late I can wake up for it as my house is just a 10 minute away from the area. We got there around 5:45AM but the race started late at 6:30AM, as the organizers had to clean off the road works along Meralco Ave., so that it will be safer for the runners passing through it. The 3k, 5k, and 10k races started at the same time and almost immediately, there was some uphill climb aswe head out of Ultra Race Trace and into the city streets of Ortigas City. There were two ambulances waiting nearby as well and lots of water stations (though not enough attendants as at certain stations, I had to fill up the cups myself). There were no Km markers and only way to gauge how far you've run is when 3km runners turned right at one point making me assume that was the 1.5km mark, and also at the 5km mark at Ultra entrace as we had to do two loops to finish the race.

There was no pain in my legs in this race and I was glad for that. The uphill was hard as expected but I managed to run–walk till I reached the top and make a right turn heading to Ultra. The part I wanted to finish the fastest was along C-5 as it was terribly hot there, having no shade at all and with the sun hitting you on your left side. The air was also polluted in this area given that a lot of jeepneys pass by here.

In the end, I finished the race at 1 hour 3 minutes 55 seconds. It was just a few seconds shorter from my 1 hour 4 minutes target but a Personal Best is still a Personal Best! It gave me enough confidence for my long race next week. No official time too for runners after the 10th fastest one and even the first 10 people to finish, there were some complaints with regards to their finish time. Host kept saying that all complaints will be honored 1 hour after the race but we didn't stick around anymore for that, choosing instead to fill up our empty stomachs with warm yummy food c/o Next Door Restaurant on J. Vargas Avenue.

This morning, there were some pain in my calves and shoulder area but that’s about it. This is a big improvement versus my first race here, where I had to really struggle going down the staircase and was in pain for the next two to three days. It is nice to know that this Fat body is slowing adapting to running.

Till the next run!

General happy mood now that our race is over.

A very hungry RFB doesn't want to let go of his pandesal and even eyeing the ones held by the girl in front of him..

Siblings Jeanne & Janine's 1 year Anniversary Run!

Ultra Race Track: where race began and ended. Good thing we didn't have to run the 4oo meter loop to cross the finish line!

Takbo Breast Friend - October 5, 2008

I have already registered for this race along with fellow runners Per, Janine and Jeanne.

Last time I did an Ultra Fun Run was for the Exodus Run last March 16,2008 for the 10Km distance. My finish time back then was at 1 hour & 4 minutes so hopefully I can do better this time around. I need to push myself especially for the killer uphill portion near the motel area.

There is some doubt though on whether I can beat my Ultra 10Km record as training less speedwork these days and more focused on long runs at easy pace in preparation for the Half Marathon race. I will focus on running on treadmill at inclined pace this week for this race.

For Per, this will be her first Ultra run and for that, she will do the 5Km race. Last time here, she was the official photographer, spectator and video person so nice to know she will be an official runner in this event.

For Janine+, this would be her first Ultra 10Km run (after doing a 5Km last year). It will be hers and Jeanne's first year anniversary run so I am hoping they would treat us for breakfast! Hahaha.

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Takbo Breast Friends... Forever!

Race Details

Assembly time at 5:30AM and race will start at 6:00AM. The 10Km course will be two 5Km loop from Meralco Avenue, down J. Vargas Avenue, C-5 area and back again towards Ultra. Entry fee is P200 and comes with race number, race info, and a shirt (size Large only). You may contact Emeline at 0922-8948728 for more details.