The 35th Milo International Marathon

I signed up for the 10-km race, but I did not run today.  Making that decision wasn't a very proud moment of mine, but in total, from Friday's shift, I only had three hours of sleep for Sunday morning, and it didn't feel like I was going to survive.  Even as I read those lines now, it feels disgusting.  The itch to run was pretty bad.  But as I was walking around, I was sort of glad I skipped today's run.  

Today's races were about breaking records.  For the run itself, there were two:  200,000 participants, and 10,000 free shoes for young aspiring runners in public elementary schools all over the Philippines.  Having said those, I think those are enough to conclude that it was a success.  

I recognize that those records are really amazing, but I was referring to much greater feats.  Everywhere I looked, there were parents congratulating their kids for many sorts of achievements.  Among that I heard of were a little boy finishing a sprint race minus a few seconds off his fastest, pre-teen girls pledging to sign up together for the next one but for a farther distance, and another little boy finishing his first 3-km run.  Most of the participants were minors, but the sense of achievement did not spare the young-at-heart--I heard a couple of middle-aged marathoners exchanging personal PR's made today.  It was inspiring.  (Kudos Milo and RunRio for publishing deadlines for each race category's timing system--everybody just needed a little incentive, and this one really worked.)

But by far, the best thing that I saw today did not have anything to do with everybody's numbers. The two adjacent parking lots in front of the IMAX area was a sea of green singlets, but there was a more beautiful sight other than that.  As I continued to walk around and the cheerleading competition was going on, a group of young boys, probably fourth graders, running towards their other classmates.  They all had two things in common--they were all sweaty, and they were all wearing green and white running shoes.

Today was a good day.  

3rd Quezon City International Marathon

Registration:


Available at SMDC residences, the Quezon City Hall and select Mizuno branches. 


Race Kit:
Includes race bib with the time chip attached to it, ad inserts, literature about the rules and regulations of the race, and a running shirt.  I'm not a fan of the shirt.  Though it's comfortable, I personally prefer sleeveless tops when running, and I didn't like the design so much this year, so I wore last year's singlet (which is one of my favorite singlets because of its good material).


Race:
The QCIM organizers used the same route as last year, and for the 10 km route, it was good and simple.  For the 21 km and 42 route, and what's unique about it is the bit of it that passes through the Eco Park (La Mesa Dam).  Part of it meant that you had to go through a village wherein belt bags were not allowed, a policy that doesn't make sense to me if I may add, so if you were conscious about your time, it would've been a hassle to leave and later look for and pick it up again.  However, the scenery in the Eco Park would've made it all worthwhile.


Program:
The races began a little past 4 am for the full and half marathoners.  The 10 km runners began shortly before 6am.  As the runners were rolling in to the activity area, the hosts reminded the participants that in order to claim the raffle prize, the winner must be present to claim it from them.  The raffle was announced to be drawn at 11am.  Seriously.  I did not bother turning in my raffle stub (which was attached to the singlet).  

Million Hectare Challenge

Organizer:
Haribon Foundation


Registration:
Could be done online through the Haribon official website, Runner's Runner, R.O.X., and many different Mizuno branches.  I'm not sure if they got more than 200 people to sign up, and I think that the marketing strategy could have been better.  My first suggestion for next year's race would be for the organizers to revisit the accessibility of the registration details--postings on different web pages should not only focus on the online process, which based on the comments of some runners in www.takbo.ph would be out of the question for non-credit card holders, and had there been more information (or more venues, for that matter) on walk-in registrations, it might have helped drive the participation rate from running communities.  The elusive race map might have been a factor in the low turnout, as it was only available in the race kit, though the websites did say that it will be in the Pasay area (CCP Liwasang Ullalim).  I heard there was information available in the FAQ's, but I didn't have the patience to look for it there.


Race Kit:
Includes singlet, race bib with attached time chip, race guidelines, route map, and inserts about Haribon.  Per the literature provided, participating in the run also means you adopted a seedling in support of the movement "Road to 2020", which aims to plant 1 million hectares of native trees all over the Philippines.  Excellent cause, which is why it was quite regrettable that there weren't that many participants.  


The Race:
The 15-km route was made of two laps around the CCP area, and fortunately today was a cloudy day, so I didn't finish my run "two-toned", as my boyfriend puts it.  There were only a handful of water stations along the way, but after the U-turn point on Roxas Boulevard, they were giving away full bottles of mineral water, which makes up for the scarcity of the stations.  The race marshalls at the turning points of the second lap were no longer there to help direct traffic and inform runners of their turning points, which worried me because I am probably the lousiest of the lousiest at directions on this planet.  I'm sure other runners there would agree that we appreciated their encouraging cheers when they were there, though.  At times they made me chuckle, too, those nuts.


The Activity Area:
Among the numerous booths in the small activity area were the onsite registration booth, baggage area, food stalls (which offered "real meals", not just pre-packed "silog" meals--a plus for me), free massage area, first aid, and the Haribon booths that sold different Haribon products, offered free face painting service, activity areas for kids, and informational booths about the many initiatives of the Haribon Foundation.  Of course, during the program, they awarded the fastest male and female runners of each race category, and they also raffled off prizes from sponsors.  


Overall, it was a good run.  I sincerely hope that next year's MHC would entice more people to sign up than this year.  

Unilab Run United Leg 3

The Race Kit
Includes singlet, race bib, Unilab goody bag (contains items that vary per race category), and possibly a time chip.  The finisher's kit includes various items as well, and this time, the actual goody bag is a shoe bag.  For the long distance runners, the  21km participant's kit comes with a silver medal, and gold ones for the 32km runners.
Registration
The time chip according to the RunRio staff in Planet Sports Trinoma Mall is reusable, which makes perfect sense.  There are no instructions on any of the literature provided or on the time chip itself that says it is so, and if you threw out your time chip from the previous race, well, that's too bad, because you will have to pay Php 300 for a new time chip on your next RunRio run.  It's absolutely free though if you're a first timer.  I seriously doubt that they still get to accurately track that, because upon purchasing the race kit, they asked me what was the most recent race I joined, and if I joined the Rexona Run in particular (and because they had to ask, and they did none of their magic taps on their iPads to verify that, anybody can easily claim that they have  no time chip).  When I gave them a quick run-down of the races I joined, they decided not to give me a time chip because apparently, the chip provided in the KOTR race can be reused for the Unilab run.  However, when my boyfriend signed up at Planet Sports Glorietta, who also joined the KOTR race, they gave him a brand new time chip and they said the one he used at KOTR cannot be reused for the Unilab Run.
Wish list item:  consistency in the information provided by the RunRio staff.  At the race itself, I approached the information desk to confirm if I needed to buy a new chip (which I shouldn't have to in the first place) but get this--this was the answer that I got, and it's a direct quote--"Sorry ma'am, I have no idea."  That's customer service for you.  As of writing, the race results aren't available, so I have yet to find out if the KOTR time chip that I used last Sunday is indeed just as good for Unilab.  Good thing I have my own tracking system so I'm not so fussy about it, but if I didn't, it would be a shame if I wouldn't be able to see my numbers. 
Race Course:
There were enough hydration stations along the way, but there was room for improvement on the locations.  They set a two-kilometer stretch right before the finish line under the effing sun without hope for a shade from trees or nearby buildings, and sadly, the last hydration station before that stretch did not distribute sponges (should've kept the one I got mid-way, had I known).  As it was towards the end of the race, the supply of fluids in my water bottle and my body were running out, so it was torture.  Good route though, with one flyover along Roxas Boulevard.
Post-Race Program:
I had no strength to check out the booths in the activity area due to the compelling need to cool down during a long bath.

When Things Go Wrong, Run

Of course, the initial reaction would be, "I'm no coward!", but really, what's wrong with being an escapist from time to time? After all, eventually, you will have to go back.

I am not talking about abandonment though, and skirting responsibilities and all that. I am talking about putting on your running shoes and getting your fat ass off the bed to hit the road. Endorphin trips seem to be the answer to all of my issues lately. I'm about to fall off the nicotine-free wagon. The boss is really riding me. I can't seem to get my team to shape up. I don't feel so pretty today. This month's bills just arrived. I'm feeling blue, and I'm binge-eating again.

Why run? I guess I like the thought of figuratively leaving stress behind on every step I take. I like taking in the scenery. I like the "runner's high". I also like the way my clothes seem to fit better.

I'm just a beginner though, and I am far from seasoned, as they say. And to those who are about to start taking up the sport, I have a few tips for you:

1.) Don't overdo it. Start with 15 minutes a day, then build on your endurance gradually until your body gets used to it. Overdoing it may lead to injuries (trust me, I did; knee issues are the worst things to have, especially when you live in two/three-storey buildings without elevators).
2.) Keep a running log. I use Nike+ (sportband), which records the date, time, pace, calories burned, distance covered, and total duration of every workout. A visual reminder of my daily/weekly achievements keeps me driven.
3.) Reward yourself. I like milk, and I don't let myself drink milk unless I've run at least __km's (depends on my goal for the week). Sometimes, it also helps to give yourself little incentives whenever you reach a goal, like new running gear, a tall EXTRA THICK vanilla shake, a dress that will fit only if you lose so and so pounds. My most expensive gift to myself so far is a pair of Nike Lunar Glide's.
4.) Join Fun Run's. It promotes competition, and it drives you to push yourself harder. Plus, they give freebies, and most of the time, they're fund-raisers for charitable institutions. Honestly though, I'm just after the singlets. (I so love my Adidas KOTR singlet!)
5.) Listen to music. It distracts from the fatigue and the pains. Personally, I prefer listening to the radio, especially when my favorite deejay's are on. This way, I get new bits on current events, and it's as if I were carrying on a conversation while running.
6.) Get a running buddy, or join communities. Get each other going to help fight the laziness. Set a friendly competition. Share best practices, and update each other on the latest and biggest running events.

Well, it's almost sunrise. I'm about to try the track again this morning. Time to put on my shoes.

Energizer Night Race

The Race Kit

Includes race bib with the time chip, singlet, route info, black Energizer cap, and head lamp.

The Singlet Design

Comfortable fit, but the material is likely to cause chafing through the arm hole when wet--not good for a run on rainy days.  Black, Energizer logo on chest. 
Cool Factor:

Because of the free head lamps, there were dancing white lights on the streets--definitely a Kodak moment. 

The Race Course

Set at night on the dark and wet streets of BGC.  No uphill or downhill routes, but because of the rain, parts of it were slippery.  Runners with 20/20 vision also had advantage over the others at the muddy bumpy part of the course. 

The Post-Race Program

Kapuso hosts facilitated over different games and raffled off many prize packages from sponsors, and while the programme was on-going, the friendly Energizer battery mascot was roaming around the audience to pose for his fans, if not joining the hosts on-stage.  Apart from the male and female winners of each race category (3km, 5km, and 10km), they also gave away prizes to recognize the Oldest Runner and the Youngest Runner in the pool of participants (like!). 

Adobo Night Run (October 29, 2011)

The Race Kit

Includes race bib with the laminated time chip, singlet, route info, and two glow sticks.

The Singlet Design

If I were to grade it, I'd give it a 5 out of 10. Good material, cool design, but the printing made it heavy to wear.  Also, I am not sure I liked how it felt when the print got soaked with sweat, because the print somehow felt like dampened sponge against half my torso. Ick.  Cool reflectors on the back though.

The Race Course

The start and finish lines were on Aseana Avenue near Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, left on an unnamed road (per Nike+ GPS route into), right on Bradco, turning on yet two other unnamed streets, back on Bradco, another turn going to Aseana, and back to the start/finish line, where we were to turn around to follow the same race route two more times to complete fifteen kilometers. As there were no buildings around with the wide roads in excellent (newly constructed) conditions, it was a great course because there was plenty of space for running (unlike in the Nike We Walk este, Run Manila, where the pictures looked more like a rally than a fun run). No uphill or downhill routes--perfect for runners with knee issues.  There were a lot of race marshals and hydration stations, to the point where a runner behind me, who for some reason felt that he had to drink water every time there is a hydration station, became exasperated. The marshals also cheered on the runners--very good for morale. It also helped me to know that I was running beside V for Vendetta, Wolverine, a mental patient, Cloud, and "Coach Rio" (the race was also a costume party). It was one of the best routes I've ran on so far, and I do hope that there will be more runs to be held there while the area isn't so urbanized yet. The only problem I have with it is that it is inaccessible to commuters like me (the closest that a cab can drop us off was about 1.25 km to the activity area, and upon going home to hail another one is to walk just about the same distance--not good after running fifteen kilometers).

The Post-Race Program

After the race, a series of bands took on the stage in between raffle draws, and acts like Ebe Dancel, Jeepney Joyride, Roots of Nature and many others kept a party going. The crowd wasn't so enthusiastic about it though, perhaps due to the exhaustion, though there was a lot of free Manila Beer. There were food stalls, a changing area, a booth for the St. Luke's medical crew, a baggage repository area, and booths that sold sporting goods. And no, there were no issues with the loot bags like last year.

Overall, I'd say it was one of the better runs organized this year so far.

Next reviews: The Energizer Night Race