Regent Fun Run 2012

August 12, 2012
Accomplices: John Paul Reginald Pabalate, Ronnel Castillo Sunga, Kelyn Ascaño Das (the birthday girl)
Venue: Bonifacio Global City

"Thought I'd be dead in the end.

But it was the other way around.

I felt even more alive."

I was afraid that this event might be postponed because of the recent heavy rains and flash floods experienced around Metro Manila and nearby cities. A major announcement and a notification from a friend ensured me that I will have a fun run on August 12, 2012.

Weather for this pas week improved. Announcement that event takes place rain or shine made me look forward to running again after not having any for almost two weeks (for a runner, that is too long). Other major races cancelled their scheduled events leaving Regent Fun Run 2012 the last event standing! To make things more in line with the recent calamity, the event featured a drop off tent wherein participants and spectators can bring their old stuff ad donate directly to Red Cross.

This event was anticipated as this is the first time Regent will be organizing a fun run for their 24th anniversary (probably a beta-test for the 25th anniversary fun run) and in my standards, this was successful.

Let me point out why:

Freebies - How often do we receive a pre-race loot? Registered runners were given a Regent Saver's Pack upon registration (see contents here) and upon finishing your category, you will receive yet another loot bag (see contents here) plus a medal and a finisher shirt (for 16k runners only)

Marshal/Photographers - Need I say more? Check out the Facebook Fan Pages of Running Photographers, TAKBO.PH, Leadpack, Grupong Pagong Runners, Sigue Correr Runners, VVLF Runners and pinoyfitness.com; looks like our marshals took some "happy pills" before the event, they were as lively as ever

Cause - this run is for the benefit of Red Cross and with the recent calamity, it just made this event more timely than ever

Hydration - abundant water and Gatorade for the 16k runners plus pineapple pie (replacing the traditional banana) at the 10k turn

Baggage Counter - service was good, I have not heard any complains as of this writing, have to check on that in the forums though

What was missing is the trash bins where runners are supposed to dump their used plastic cups after drinking. This is one item that needs to be addressed moving forward to be more successful.

Overall, it was a good race. It was nice to see a lot of my running friends, some are participants while the others were marshal and photographers. This is my first 16k experience (funny though, I have to first taste a couple of half-marathons before this) and it turned out to be okay. Now I realized I had to be  more prepared for the next half-marathons I will be joining. Good thing I have enough time for that.

Here are some pictures of me in action courtesy of running friends:

Starting Line Photo by Pinoy Fitness

At the 7th km. Photo by Running Photographers/Yani C

At the 7th km. Photo by Spongebob Runner

Walking towards the 10th km. Photo by Xtian Sunga

Last turn and few hundred meters photo by Yani C

Last few hundred meters photo by Kelyn Das

Last few hundred meters photo by Kelyn Das 

Last few hundred meters (almost there!) photo by

John Paul Reginald Pabalate

And here are some post-race pictures of me enjoying the event:

Proud finisher photo by John Paul Reginald Pabalate

With Mr. RUNtarantantan Bearwin Meiley :)

When everybody else left, I fooled around at the stage pretending to be the host for the event, photo by John Paul Reginald Pabalate

The reward when you finish a long distance category:

Bragging Rights! A finisher shirt and medal should say a lot :)

See you on future races guys! Remember, don't forget to say "Hi" when we meet at the road. Happy training and don't stop running!

De La Salle Green and White Run

April 1, 2012
Accomplices: John Paul Lipardo, Jayson Agustin, Bert Ortiz Dela Victoria, Jonah May Trapal, Joseph Sibal, Yongsky
Venue: Bonifacio Global City

My inspirational for this morning's run:
"No magic potions... No fairy dust. No one to push me... No one to do it for me. Just one determined foot in front of the other."

Unang araw ng aking birthday month. Unang Sunday. Unang Fun Run para sa buwan ng April. Unang beses kong tatakbo ng 10k sa Bonifacio Global City. Unang beses akong nahuli sa gun start. Unang beses na ako ay naghabol sa mga naunang mga runner. Unang beses na magpabasa sa bumbero.

Tamang-tama lang ang aming dating sa race village para sa 5:15am gun start para sa 16k category ni John Paul. Ako ay tatakbo sa 10k at si Jayson naman ay sa 5k. Habang naghihintay sa aking gun start ay pumila muna ako sa Adidas sponsor booth. Nagbakasakaling manalo sa "pick-a-prize". Hindi ako nanalo :)

Pagkatapos ng panandaliang aliw, nag-check in na ako sa baggage counter. Pagkatapos naman ay nagtungo sa comfort room para ayusin ang aking sarili at makapaghanda. Dito na nagkaroon ng kaunting "problema" inabutan ako ng gun start habang pabalik sa starting line. Ito ang aking unang beses na nahuli sa gun time at kinailangan kong maghabol sa mga naunang mga runners.

Ayos lang, ilang sandali lang at naabutan ko na ang mga nasa hulihang runners ng 10k category, may mga nakasabay pa akong mga runners ng 16k category. Medyo nawala na ang aking pagkabahala. Inabutan ko na ang bandang gitna ng "race pack".

Ilang sandali pa, umabot na ako sa may Kalayaan Flyover. Dito ko nakita ang aming HyperSports training friend, Bert Ortiz Dela Victoria. Maganda ang costume ah, dito na nagkaroon ng bagong pangalan si Bert - "Bertong Bumbero", sa kadahilanang binabasa niya ang mga mukha ng mga dumadaang runners sa pamamagitan ng spray. Refreshing! :)

Habang ako ay pabalik naman, tiniyak kong mayron akong mga "self-centered" photos habang binabagtas ang nasabing flyover. Narito ang mga nasabing "self-centered" photos:

Ilang sandali pa, nakasalubong ko naman si John Paul "The AMDATEX Running Celebrity" Lipardo at Jonah May "The Accenture Running Icon" Trapal na lumahok sa 16k (10 miler) category. Papayag ba ang dalawang ito na walang picture sa Kalayaan Flyover? Malamang hindi! Narito naman ang pictures ng "icon" at "celebrity" ito:

Seryoso na! Kailangan ko nang makarating sa finish line. Mainit na kasi, perobago tuluyang magseryoso, ako ay napadaan sa line of sight ni Lestsky Les (LeStSkY Runner Photography) :)

Kaya naman tuwa ang aking naramdaman pagkalipas pa ng ilang minuto dahil abot-tanaw ko na ang finish line. "Ilang sandali na lang", ang nasabi ko sa aking sarili habang ako ay papalapit na finish line.

Ang ilang sandali na ito ay nadagdagan dahil na din sa kagagawan ko, pero eto pa ang isang magandang kuha na hindi ko na matandaan kung saang banda ito sa Bonifacio Global City mula sa Hendrick Or Photography :)

Ako ay napadaan sa "Look Back" photograpthers at dahil ako ay masunuring bata, pagkasabi nilang "Look Back!", agaran naman na ako ay lumingon pabalik. Salamat sa ∂пБ€Ŀōʹś PħōłŏģЯą‽ħỳ para sa aking "Look Back" photo at Greentennial Photographers (Rowena Ison) para sa pangalawa, pangatlo at pang-apat na mga larawan.

Hindi pa ako nakuntento. Napansin ko na sa aking bandang kanan ay may truck ng bumbero na nag-spray ng tubig. Alam na ninyo ang mga sumunod na eksena. Tama po kayo. Parang isang bata na gustong maligo sa ulan - ako po ay dumaan sa man-made drizzle upang magpalamig bago tumawid sa finish line. Ganun talaga. Masaya at nababaw ang kaligayahan eh. Salamat sa Pinoy Fitness sa aking picture sa may truck ng bumbero sa Greentennial Photographers (Ryan Moral) sa picture pagkatapos ko na "mag-shower" sa may truck ng bumbero.

"Praise the Lord!"

Tapos na ang side trip. Diretso na sa finish line. Pero bago tuluyang tumawid sa finish line, isang pamatay na kaway muna sa mga fans (parang mayroon ah). Salamat sa picture mula kay Yani-si (Ynny Cee Photography).

Pagkatawid sa finish line ay agad kong hinanap ang nagbibigay ng medal. Sila pa ang lumapit sa akin (salamat Doc Minnie). Pahinga ng kaunti. Photo shoot naman pagkatapos. Salamat kay Joseph Sibal para sa picture na sinasabitan ako ng medal.

Ang aking results:

Official result via http://www.results.runningmate.ph/index.php/event/result/67

Overall 10k

Rank: 230

Bib Number: 2120

Time: 01:24:16

Pace: 0:08:25

Okay na. Ang hinihintay ko na lang ay yung dalawang nakasalubong ko sa Kalayaan Flyover. Si John Paul at Jonah May.  Habang hinihintay ang dalawa, nagpasya akong kumuha ng ilang larawan ng mga runners patungo sa finish line. Ang isa sa nakatawag ng aking pansin ay ang dalawang ito na pinannindigan ang "Running Duo in Green and White", silang dalawa din ang nagwagi sa nasabing side event ng fun run. Walang nagbalak na humamon sa get-up ng dalawang ito! Very clever, ika nga.

Wala pa din yung dalawa. Habang naghihintay, nagpasya ulit akong kumuha ng ilan pang "self centered" pictures. Narito ang mga nasabing larawan:

Sa wakas! Natatanaw ko na ang dalawang hinihintay ko. Upang mapaghandaan ang pagdating ng dalawang ito, isang magandang sequence shot habang sila ay papalapit na sa may kinatatayuan ko.

Bago matapos ang kanilang sprint, isa munang commercial para naman mai-plug ang efforts ng Department of Tourism para sa ating bansa. Salamat sa ating model runners. #MoreFunInThePhilipines

Ituloy natin. Siguradong ikaw ay mapapatakbo kapag ikaw ay hahabulin ng isang miyembro ng Samurai Gang! Takbo pa aabutan na kayo!

Kaunting pahinga lang sa dalawang bagong dating. Photoshoot naman kaagad sa race village. Alam na ninyo ang mga sumunod na nangyari. Unang picture galing kay Jonah May Trapal na may energy pa para kumuha ng ilang shots at ang pangalawa naman ay galing sa Pinoy Fitness, salamat Jeff Lo.

Papayag ba akong walang #MoreFunInThePhilipines moment? Ako at ang aking mga kasama sa pagtakbo ay buong pusong sumusuporta sa tourism campaign ng Department of Tourism kaya naman ito ang aming ambag sa pambansang campaign:

Next Run: April 15, 2012; Earth Run 2012

See you on the road guys! Run Inspired. Run Happy. Run with a purpose.

Running for Love ♥

"New" Running Shoes - Adidas Supernova Glide 3

March 14, 2012: Got a pair of "new" running shoes - presenting Adidas Supernova Glide 3. A "steal" from Sports Central clearance sale at SM Megamall Megatrade Hall B.

Running for love ♥