Robinson's Buddy Run

I wasn't able to join the Robinson's Buddy Run last year. But I heard so many good stories about the buddy run last year that me and my office-mate Narod decided to join this one.

The buddy run from its name means running along with a buddy. The rule of the race is simple, and that is to finish the race together with your buddy.

To introduce my buddy, Narod is one of or if not the most athletic persons I know in our office. He swims, plays basketball, runs and pretty much anything involving endorphine intake. He was also a part of UP Los Banos track and field team before, with a 5K PR which I can only dream of achieving. He also happens to be the person available during the evening to join me in runs around Bonifacio Highstreet.

We registered kind of late though, and it was divine intervention that we got the last 10K race packets at Robinson's Place malate. The person behind us unfortunately wasn't able to register because of us.

The Robinson's race was also to be another achievement for my wife who would be teaming up with my brother's girl-friend Lits. It would be her 2nd 10K and would be her 1st for a road race (the first one was on trail).

When the gun sounded we rushed and overtook some runners in front of us. It wasn't too long when we reached the 5K runners. I was counting the number of runners coming back at the turning point and it was evident that we were inside the top 10.

As we finished the race I was so happy to get a loot bag filled with give-aways. True to what they say, Robinson's Buddy Run is the running event with the most give-aways. But the surprise didn't end there. I was sure they were only going to call the top 5. But I was surprised when they began calling the top 10 from the 5K category. I told Narod that if they are going to award the 10K runners, I was sure we will be inside the top 10.

True enough our names got called bagging the 6th spot. And the prize was a bigger bag of grocerry items.

My wife and Lits finished the 10K and it was an amazing experience for them. She was so happy the she kept talking about it during our breakfast at Mc Donalds.

Me and Narod will once again be partnering on the relay run at Ateneo after the Globe's Run for Home.

Run Radio

For the past few years, running as a sport has increasingly become popular among Filipinos, leading to the prevalence of road races around Metro Manila. The aforementioned races have become a congregation of people from all walks of life united in their love for running and their resolution to lead a healthy and fit lifestyle. From elite athletes to weekend warriors, from multisport enthusiasts to the weight-watcher, running has become an integral part in the public's efforts to keep fit.

With running at its peak, the idea for producing a viable medium to promote and sustain the sport's presence in the public eye came, hence the idea to produce Run Radio.

Run Radio will be a 60-minute radio show featuring the following segments that both newbie and serious runners (and to an extent, non-runners too!) would find interesting -- product review, advice segment (docs, coaches, nutritionists), power songs (to pump up your adrenaline as you run!), hitting the wall with our guest runners (from celebrities to running groups), and the 5k challenge where non-runners from all walks of life will transform into a 5k finisher in a matter of 6-8 weeks.

The show will be hosted by Jaymie Pizarro, a known catalyst for influencing people to take up running as a lifestyle choice, and Jay Nacino, a former Ateneo track team member who has rekindled his love for running. Both hosts are known figures in the running circuit through their blogs (http://thebullrunner.com for Pizarro and http://prometheuscometh.wordpress.com for Nacino) where they give detailed accounts of their training, their races, and running in general.

Also to be featured in the nutrition, coaching, and injury prevention segment would be premiere race organizer and running coach Rio dela Cruz, nutritionist and triathlete Dr. George Bodegon, and ultramarathoner and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paolo Punsalan. They are among the many other experts who will give the running public advice on how to keep healthy while training for higher mileage.

Moreover, our resident product tester would be shoe expert and ultramarathoner Hector Yuzon, founder of the Second Wind running store.

The Nike+ 5K Challenge aims to dare non-runners to make running an integral part of their lives. For this season, our challenger is an MBA student who seeks to combat the unhealthy , sedentary lifestyle. Ten Outstanding Young Students awardee and Ateneo de Manila batch valedictorian Patrick Echevarria will be trained by the Nike Running Clinic for eight weeks until he starts running his first 5k race.

Run Radio will start airing on July 24 at NU 107, and will continue to air every Fridays, 9-10pm.

Run Radio is made possible by Nike, Print Avenue, Botak, Finishline.ph, Pinoy Ultra Runners, Second Wind Running Store, and RUNNR.

For the latest updates please visit http://www.nu107fm.com/profile/runradio

The Fifth Octoberun Festival: The Start of a New Life 2

Our running club The Fort Striders will once again organize the 5th Octoberun Festival that will be held at the Fort Global City. Mark your calendar, its going to be on the 4th of October. Again like last year, the proceeds will go to The Real Life Foundation. You may register at R.O.X. and for more info please contact Felsie at CP:0908-4340208, Landline: 896-1954 or 890-2372.

If you experienced the Octoberun last year, then you’ll know why you could miss the October Fest but not the Octoberun.

Globe Run for Home

There are lots of reasons why every runner should be excited about this race. It would be the first time in the country where we could expect perks that are only available to other countries before. Here’s what you should expect from this race:

- Timing Chips which will allow runners to get incredibly accurate times.
- You can immediately see your race results in the internet as soon as you crossed the finish line.
- A software in the internet is available that will allow you to do an analysis of your run. You can determine you ranking within your age group, who was in front of you at a particular kilometer, or even determine were where you when the first lady crossed the finish line.
- The run will also provide live updates of the run so your family members can see in the internet where you are exactly during the race.
- There will be a lot of food stalls in the finish line.
- When you join the race, you are extending help to Habitat for Humanity and Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig.
- The registration is so cheap considering your using a timing chip, and you get to earn a phone load.

Please note that the LAST DAY of Registration will be on July 3 so hurry!

You can register at any Globe Business centers, RUNNR at Bonifacio High Street, or any Fitness First branch. To join Globe’s RUN FOR HOME, new Globe Prepaid subscribers can purchase a Globe Prepaid SIM for P45, load 300 worth of credits and register to Unlitxt All Day for P80. Existing Globe Prepaid subscribers can load P300 worth of credits and register to Unlitxt All Day for P80. Globe Post-paid subscribers and Globe Platinum members need to pay P300 fee and register to Unlitxt All Day for P80 to join the run. Otherwise, anyone can opt to register to the 3 kilometer, 5 kilometer or 10 kilometer run by paying P500 and P700 for the 21 kilometer run.

From July 16 to July 18, 2009, exactly three days before RUN FOR HOME, registered participants can pick up their race kits which include the official race number, safety pins, route maps, singlet and the disposable electronic timing chip, at the Bonifacio High Street (in front of ROX).

Log on to www.globe.com.ph/runforhome or visit participating Globe Business Centers and Fitness First branches in Metro Manila for more information regarding RUN FOR HOME.

Nike Lunar Glide+ Test Run

A number of us runners were invited to run and test Nike's newest running product called the Nike Lunar Glide+. The Nike Lunar Glide+ has the features of Nike Lunar Lite, but has been improved by adding a technology that wasn't present before called the Dynamic Support.

Dynamic support simply means it can dynamically support both a neutral gait and feet that tends to overpronate. Most runners, even those who considered themselves are neutral still tends to overpronate when our feet gets tired. This is where the Nike Lunar Glide+ comes into play and dynamically supports your feet when you begin to overpronate.

We did a couple of loop around Bonifacio High Street and so far it felt really good. I have always been a fan of lightweight trainers, but I was looking for a lightweight training shoe that still gives great support for running long distances, and Nike has given me a Father's day present to test.

It's also a great shoe not only for runners, but also for those who want a casual everyday walking shoe because of the dark sleek design for men.

I'll probably be running tonight to do more tests. Lets see how the shoe helps during a tempo run.

The Men's Health All Terrain Experience

I wasn’t really sure what to expect during the Men’s Health All Terrain race last Sunday. Sure I’ve joined the TNF100 last year and this year, but when I joined this one, it would really be my first to race it. The TNF last year was a “Hey lets just try it” pace, and the TNF this year was to accompany my wife for her first 10K Trail run. But the Men’s Health All Terrain would be my third race so now its time to give my all for this one.

I wasn’t sure how to adjust my pace in this trail race since there are too many variables involved. I was pretty sure racing on trails will give you a lesser time, but my biggest question is how much? But just to get me going, I gave myself a target time of 46-47 minutes which would be less than my normal road race time.

I lined myself in front of the starting line hoping to get a fresh start. When the race started the first 500 meters would be road. I looked at my Garmin as I reached 4min/km to 4:26min/km. Then thought I just needed to maintain a pace below 5 throughout the trail. However, contrary to what I expected the trail wasn’t really relatively flat. It was practically rolling all the way. The trail had also plenty of twist and turns. The pace slowed down to 5 to 5:30. Halfway on the trail I was pretty much drained and exhausted. It was kind of crazy that I was now running at a much slower pace, but my heart rate was shooting rapidly. So I slowly tried to regain my composure, slowed down a bit, and when it feels I can speed up again I’d go for it. As the last stretch of the trail approached I was, in someway hanging for dear life. As I crossed the finish line I knew this would be one of my most memorable races. I clocked 53:04 with a distance of 10.29KM according to my Garmin. It was funny I was targeting for 46-47minutes and the 53minutes almost took the lights off of me. Next time, I shouldn’t under estimate a trail again.

Thanks to Rio, Finishline and Men’s Health Magazing for organizing such a fantastic event. I hope there will be another one close within this year.

The results are also out in Run Rio. I was surprised to see myself to be in 9th place.

After the race, I had my photo taken and saw Tiffin well, who also had a unique experience at the 10K race. We waited for Mark to finish his 15K and we ate breakfast Sta Elena country club afterwards.

Men's Health All-Terrain Sta Rosa Laguna

Do you want to run in a place where no one has ever ran before? If so, I'm pretty excited in the upcoming Men's Health All-Terrain race this coming June 21. It will be held in Sta Rosa laguna. The venue is a newly opened trail and it a once in a lifetime experience to join this one.

You can register at R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street. The event categories involve 5K, 10K and 15K.

See you there. Now I need a new trail running shoe. :)