Brooks Run Happy and Why Not Everybody Was a Happy Camper err, Runner

Was it a happy run for you?

It almost turned into an upheaval.

No, the runners--particularly the men--were not revolting against being forced to wear neon yellow singlets that would make them glow in the dark. It was about starting late. Yes, you read it right. Filipinos hate being late. At least in this facet of Pinoy lives, being late is a bane. The gun was supposed to be fired for the 15k runners at 5:30 am. The giddy runners were all in front of the start/finish arc minutes before that. But more than a quarter of an hour after, no signal to start has yet been commenced. A couple of runners booed. Others joined the banter by doing their own countdowns. Some perhaps grunted an expletive. While, I, being alone in this yellow crowd, waited patiently and quietly. I didn't bother complaining to the runner beside me. I don't want to get stressed out with something I can't control. 

I almost came late or even missed the entire race. I set my alarm at 3 am hoping to be at the Fort where the race is to take place at around 4:30 am. I heard the alarm and stopped it but I went to snooze mode right after and woke up an hour later. Not bad though, because I was out of our apartment and walked as fast as I can and got to there before 5:30 am. 

Anyway, my fellow 15k runners were already restless and the hosts were catching the brunt of the organizers' inefficiencies. It was almost 6 am when the hosts signaled the start of the race with a party popper which caused a runner beside me to exclaim 'Yan lang pala ang hinihintay!'.

And off we went. Some, mostly the elite runners started off fast. The others a lot faster than me. I was pacing myself to begin at a 6:30 pace until the 2nd km. I was aiming to finish at 1:30 maintaining a 6 min/km pace all through out the race.

Running Bitoy Will Run Happy for L. Margie at Brooks Event

When my Ilongga grandma was still alive, she always told us to get some exercise. We did not heed her advice and well, we carried on with our couch-potato lifestyles. Almost four years after her demise, I would have taken it upon myself to live a healthy (or semi, if you factor in my penchant for staying up late) lifestyle and I got into running and never looked back.

Tomorrow Brooks--one of the world's most trusted brands when it comes to running shoes--will hold its first major running event in the Philippines, entitled 'Brooks Run Happy' in which I have signed up for. The race kit comes with  a cool singlet what's cooler is the shout out bib where runners have the liberty to put anything they want to. Some will sign in their 'words to live by' and some will put encouraging words to motivate the other runners who might chance upon their SO bibs. In my case, since we just commemorated my grandma's supposed-to-be 84th birthday today, I signed my bib with these: 'Running Bitoy Runs for L. Margie." This is just a simple deed to thank the woman who made our bellies happy with her delicious cooking and for helping us appreciate the value of good health in a way or another.

Will Run Happy for you Lola!

The best cook on my Shout Out Bib; the best sardines on my Race Bib :)

Running inside the Walled City: Intramuros Heritage Run 2011

before racestart

Who would pass up a chance to run inside the historical city of Intramuros?

I have been picky about the races I've been joining and opting to join the smaller events either back home in Pampanga or here in Manila. I also just discovered the joy of trail running so I might join some more trail races for the rest of the year. A couple of marathons and ultramarathons are also in the lineup.

I read about the Intramuros Heritage Run organized by Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Inc. on the 15th of May and got interested. I had no plan going home to Pampanga the weekend this was to happen so I gave it a go. Anyway, the main comeon of this race is its venue--Intramuros. As its teaser says, 'Run down the path where many once walked.' Imagine the likes of JP Rizal and other Filipino icons who walked down the erstwhile cobblestoned streets of Intramuros and among the Spanish-era structures in the area.

How about Climbing for A Cause?

Not sure how this would be related to running but I remember a friend telling me that he includes hiking in his trainings to strengthen his knees and legs and what-nots. I was going over a fellow blogger's site when I came across this post for a bloggers' event. Called "‘Akyat Pinatubo’ Bloggers’ Climb for a Cause", happening at Mount Pinatubo on the 28th of May 4th of June this year 2011 and organized by LetsGoSago.net, this will bring together a number of bloggers who will climb Mount Pinatubo and a part of the fees collected will be donated to Tahanang Walang Hagdan. 

 

The event has a number of sponsors who uhm sponsored the tokens and some raffle items for the blogger participants. The sponsors are as follows:

• SM
• Jollibee
• Havaianas
• Unilab
• Travel Factor
• Solid Hosting
• Blogger Manila
• Nufffnang Philippines, ChurpChurp Philippines, and Orange Magazine TV. 

I'll register in this one just to finally see Pinatubo up close and to somewhat prepare me in the trail runs I'll be doing in June. 

For more details check out Letsgosago.net. 

TNF100 Camsur 2011: My First Trail Ultrawalkathon err, Ultramarathon (Part 2 of 2)

Me displaying my running Oscar

Running Oscar

We treaded upward to the next aid station. We sat down when we got there and asked for some water. Robert was already saying that he can’t go on anymore. And then in just a few minutes while I was busy changing the batteries of my headlamp, Robert just fainted. It was a good thing the marshalls were quick to respond and was able to revive him. He already told the marshall that he won’t go on. The next challenge was to get him down to the clearing for the ambulance to pick him up. He was tall at 6’4” and said he was 80 kilos. There were about ten people who took him down in a stretcher. I was just fervently praying that he gets help ASAP and nothing serious happened.

TNF100 Camsur 2011: My First Trail Ultrawalkathon err, Ultramarathon (Part 1 of 2)

Getting jittery before the race

It was the height of naivety.

First, I never did a trail run. I am a road runner. Second, while the endurance of my first road ultramarathon helped me with the endurance and all that, a trail ultramarathon is far different. And last, what the hell was I thinking?

I did finish it though. It was not a strong finish. But it was a good one. 

With Roch before racestart

TNF100 was supposed to be my break into ultramarathoning. But as luck would have it, Mayon 360 came around calling. I remember likening TNF100 as the main course and the Mayon 360 as just the appetizer. I could go without the appetizer but still went with it anyway. I was almost in taper mode after the run in Albay with 21 kms as the farthest I have run. That was for a month! I basically slept my way to the start line.