PAF 65th Anniversary Run

First, let me congratulate the men and women of the Philippine Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their 65^th anniversary!

A salute to the airmen for successfully staging their Anniversary Run dubbed as “ Takbo Para sa Karunungan, Kinabukasan ng Kabataan,” a fund-raising event for the children of the enlisted personnel of the Philippine Air Force who died or incapacitated in the line of duty.

The Race

Swthrt and I arrived at the venue, Mc Kinley Hill in Forth Bonifacio, to register on-site. We met with Gigi (huggingfit mum) and Bards (banana running) who also had to register on-site.

It’s been a long time since we raced at Mc Kinley Hill. Swthrt and I registered for the 5K category while Gi and Bards registered for the 10K. The race course proved to be challenging as they have set the start and finish arch in an elevated road.

Post race presentation and awarding of medals

The NAMRIA Running Club also participated in the event. Here are some of our runners from our Hydrography Department in Binondo, Manila.

The PAF Marching Band had a presentation before the awarding of medals for the winners.

  

Awards were given to the fastest runners in each category.

A fly-by helicopter poured confetti at the venue.

It was a fun-filled experience for everyone!

After the race, the four of us went to McDo for breakfast!

Congratulations to the PAF Officer’s Ladies Club and to Coach Joar!

Photo Talks - RU2- RunPix Analysis Result

2012 Run United 2 Race Recap

This blog post is not to justify my dismal performance in the recently concluded Run United 2-2012 but to log my experience and learn from whatever lessons it may bring. Run Rio Trilogy of Unilab is undoubtedly one of the most awaited running events in the country today. The second leg of this series held last Sunday, June 17 was again a success with a record 5,000+ runners registered for the 21K alone. More runners were registered in the other distance categories. Swthrt and I ran the 21K hoping to bring home the second slice of the pie medal.

Having experienced the Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or simply acid reflux, this hampers my training for the RU2. There were few short runs and gym workouts prior to the race but this does not bring back the fitness level we aim for a race. Running countless 21k races, we decided to push through and be prepared for any eventualities the race may bring.

Race day
We arrived at the starting venue at the BGC at around 4:00am. With the big crowd eagerly awaiting the start of the race we luckily bumped into our running friends near the Riovana store. The runners were released on time with our group joining in the 3rd wave. Swthrt and I started on a very comfortable pace. I was trying to assess myself if I could go on with the race. Thankfully, I did not experience acid reflux. I was able to sustain a run up to the Kalayaan Flyover approach. What was bothering me was that I was already gasping for air. It was a clear sign of lack of training. Swthrt was constantly checking on my condition and I was always assuring her that I ‘m fine and will go on with the race. At the Kalayaan Flyover, I was already doing a run-walk mode keeping my walk as fast as possible. I was trying to apply the run-race walk method which was introduced to me by coach Edsel Vengco of Gold’s Gym in Libis. The difference between the two methods was in the walk part in the run-walk method or known as Galloway method, it was a short walk between runs while in the latter method you can extend the walk part by doing a race walk style and have longer time for leg muscles to rest. As we reached the 5K marker along Buendia Ave., Swthrt told me that it was a 40 min lap time. As we moved on, I was spending more time walking than running. Reaching Roxas Blvd was a relief for me as I exclaimed to Swthrt that I survived Buendia! With 11K to go, I kept on egging Swthrt to continue on her run for her to finish in sub-3hrs. I assured her that I’ll be fine and will finish the race. The running and walking along Roxas Blvd was a welcome treat although I started to feel pain in every part of my body (again because of lack of training). It was cold and windy and less pressure at crossing road intersections. The saga continued as I approached the final 2Km and the last 1Km of the race route. As I near the finish line and saw the clock nearing 3:10:00, I summoned all my remaining strength to run the last 500m to be able to beat the 3:10 clock time*. Swthrt was happy to see me at the finish line!

We immediately proceeded to the 21k finisher’s booth and to the bus pick up point for our way back to BGC. It was really a race worth joining. Race route was fully manned by marshals, long table of water and power drink with enough supply and well-planned route for all categories.

The partnership of Runrio and Unilab did it again, a very well organized race! Congratulations!

*according to Runrio Inc. there was a discrepancy in the finish line timer clock and the actual time. Official time will be release soon.

Athletes in Action - "Schools Run for School Rooms"

Last June 11, I received a message on our fb page regarding a fund raising event/run dubbed as "Schools Run for School Rooms". It was also an invitation for a bloggers meet to be held June 20, 2012. Unfortunately, it falls on a Wednesday in which we host a regular bible study at home. Since this is an advocacy run, i will be very much willing to share some of the details i have received on this event. Here is an excerpt of the letter i have received:

"Iligan City was among the places in Northeastern Mindanao that were worst-hit by typhoon Sendong. The typhoon, which ravaged the region with its heavy rainfall from December 15 to 18, left a total of PhP 1,033,131,515,100. 00 worth of damages in infrastructures, agricultural crops, and school buildings. Six months after the disaster, the situation in Iligan City remains bleak. Many people are still living in so-called tent cities and living off relief goods. As the school year starts, the children would have to make do with makeshift classrooms, as 12 schools and 136 classrooms in Iligan City were among Sendong's casualties.

Athletes in Action (AIA) believes in making positive changes in people’s lives through sports. That is why the international humanitarian organization of athletes is organizing an advocacy run on July, which proceeds will fund the rebuilding of the classrooms in Iligan City.

Titled "Schools Run for School Rooms" (SRSR), the advocacy run will gather student-runners from major colleges and universities in Metro Manila to compete in distances of 3K, 5K, and 10K on the urban environment of the Bonifacio Global City early morning of July 7th. Besides college students, groups from government agencies, churches, and private corporations have also expressed their interest in joining the SRSR."


Athletes in Action is an organization of athletes, coaches, and trainers that has presence in 94 countries, including the Philippines. Its members include Michael Chang, David Robinson, Avery Johnson, Kevin Durant, Tim Tebow, Chris Paul, Michael Redd, and Coaches Tony Dungy, Lorenzo Romar, and the late John Wooden. In the Philippines, Chris Tiu, Alvin Patrimonio, Danny Ildefonso, Coach Tim Cone, Akiko Thompson, and many other athletes from the national, professional, amateur, and collegiate teams also support AIA.

This event is co-presented by the preferred sportswear brand FILA, the run is also in partnership with the Department of Education, for the benefit of the Kapuso Foundation and iCARE Foundation and supported by Gardenia, Pocarri, Pascual Lab, Cherifer, Mentos, Milcu, and Sony.

Let's support this advocacy run and help the children of Iligan City!

RUNNING ESSENTIALS is back!

Skechers GOrun, along with ultramarathoner and running expert MICHELLE ESTUAR, bring you another round of FREE running clinics to help you run safer and more efficiently! From June-August 2012, this series of running clinics will equip you with just what you need for your next run!

NEXT UP: Running Essentials - TriNoma
Date: June 23, 2012 (Sat)
Time: 4:00-7:00PM
Venue: 4th Level, Cinema Lobby TriNoma

Brought to you by: Vitamilk Philippines, 100 Plus, TAKBO.PH, Juice.Ph, ZALORA Philippines. :)

Simply confirm with your FULL NAME at 0905-3905883, and we'll see you there! Tag along 5 running buddies to maximize the clinic! ;)

Other dates and venues to follow!


Get updates from our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SkechersFitnessPhilippines

Big Blue Run VI

UPD, haven for runners

June 10, 2012, a week before the much awaited Run United 2, Swthrt and I decided to run at UP Diliman. It’s been quite a long time since we ran in the campus. UPD was our training ground when we started running in 2008 and has been our favorite for many years now. The lined up trees along the Academic Oval is a welcome treat to all runners who want to be fit and healthy, whether recreational or elite.

Running groups and companies are also organizing regularly running clinics or group runs which promote healthy lifestyle.

One of them is the Toby’s Group of Companies which conducted the RUNNR Lab, Running 101 Clinic at the AS Parking Lot. It was conducted by Coach Edcel Vengco a U.S Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach who happened to be my personal coach at the Gold’s Gym Libis.

Coach Edcel had a brief talk on Natural Running. He also gave tips on preparing on a race. 

Questions have been raised during the open forum after which he taught drills that would certainly help runners in their pursuit of better performance.

Swthrt likewise participated in the drills.

There was also a fitness assessment area wherein runners can be assessed of their fitness level.

Raffle prizes were also given to the lucky participants.

It was unfortunate that we have to live early and not be able to finish the event. It was great to run again at UPD.