Nathan Ridge Run 2011 - Breath Taking Run

Nathan Ridge Run 2011 was held at Tagaytay Highlands on 20Nov11. As planned by the sponsor and race organizer, the event met the number limit of of its participants at 1000 inclusive of the three categories 21k/10k/5k.

There had been more than a couple of races held this year at Tagaytay Highlands, but all of them are trail runs. The Nathan Ridge Run was a road race along the access roads of Tagaytay Highlands, Midlands and surrounding exclusive housings of the Tagaytay Highlands estate.

At 5:00 I with my sons Dax, Dennis and daughter-in-law Pamela arrived at the starting venue at the Sports Club Center with most of the parking already taken giving us no other alternative but take the furthest parking lot just beyond the go-kart track and just before the open arena. It was maybe a good sign as to find ourselves in the starting line required us to walk a good distance of 300 meters of uphill climb getting ourselves warmed up and familiar of what to expect during the race.

Gun time was 5:30am fro the 21k, 5:45am for the 10k and 6:00am for the 5k. As I was entered on the 10k event, I took the opportunity to watch the gun start for the 21k event participants and just watching these guys makes me envy their determination and drive not because of the distance but the elevation for the whole length of the race that is definitely the touhest there is for a road race in the country.

At 5:45am 10k was let go on an uphill climb starting at elevation 410 meters to elevation 625 meters or a climb of 215 meters in 3.3k distance all the way to the Peak Bar. From the Peak Bar it was a down hill run to elevation 320 meters or descent of 305 meters in a distance of 4.0 kilometers. While this segment was a descent it was not as easy as it looks like as running down hill was risky and dangerous. Then it was the back breaking climb from elevation 320 to elevation 500 or a climb of 180 meters in 1.7 kilometers that would make you ask “why am I doing this”? Finally the last segment was a downhill run a descent of 90 meters in a distance of 1 kilometer before hitting the finish line.

My 10k was timed at 01h 34m 01s which was a mixture of run, race walk, walk and even a snail’s walk.

My official timing as posted by Nathan is as follows;

Congratulations to Nathan for a very innovative race event. 

The Nathan Ridge Run 2011 was “breath taking” with views and scenery and with stiff elevation clim you need to tackle during the run. Breath taking indeed!

Canon Photo Marathon 2011 - The Artistic side of a Marathon

Today I joined a marathon, it is not the 42.2k in running, but a photo marathon, specifically the 5^th Leg of the Canon Photo Marathon 2011 Metro Manila edition. There were four other events namely Mindanao Region – August 27^th Cagayan De Oro City, Visayas Region – Sept 3^rd Tagbilaran City, Northern Luzon Region – Sept. 10^th Vigan Ilocos Sur, South Luzon Region – Sept. 17^th Legaspi City Bicol.

Canon Photo Marathon has been on going since 2006 and is now on its 5^th year. For the last 3 years I have tried to enter this event however everytime they open up the registration via internet, registration quota is normally filled up in less than 24 hours. This year I made sure to be in my computer when they opened the registration last October 28^th at 8pm. It was only at 4am on October 29^th that I was successful in opening the registration page. Registration is FREE and the event is well provided for with lunch, snack and dinner with shirt/cap and ID to use during the event.

I arrived Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) located at Sen Gil Puyat Avenue and Roxas Boulevard at 6:45am and the crowd was already quite sizeable considering the event is only to kick-off at 8am. I was surprised that the registration was WELL ORGANIZED and systematic more than what I could say of certain running events in Metro Manila. T-shirt sizes, caps, info flyers, ID card, giveaway, brochures and what have you are all in a packed identified bag. Registration is computerized with more than 40 stations/counters to attend to participants by their surname basis. And to think all of these are FREE and whatever logistical expense was shouldered by Canon Philippines.

For those that are not familiar with the photo marathon the mechanics of the competition can be seen in this link to better understand the event.

Canon Photo Marathon is also held in other countries in Asia such as, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hongkong, Vietnam, South Korea. However, the Philippines today established the RECORD of participants during today’s Manila Leg gathering 2670 participants, the biggest in Asia.

The 1^st Theme for the competition was “In the concrete jungle of our nation, Find the beauty of your own imagination use your creation …..” and all participants were let go at 10:30am with deadline to submit their single entry on or before 1:30pm. I choose to head for JONES BRIDGE and ESCOLTA area to take my picture. In the end I have this photo to submit for my 1^st entry…..

The 2^nd Theme for the competition was “In this City of Wonderful people, Different lifestyles, we venture A Mirros of our Colorful Culture truly preserved for our Future”. Participants were let go at 2:30pm with deadline to submit their single entry on or before 5pm. I choose to head to BACLARAN CHURCH to take my pictures. In the end I have this photo for my 2^nd entry…..

 At 3:30 pm having already submitted my 2^nd entry and feeling tired and exhausted due to the heat, I decided to head home without waiting for the result and formal closing of the event which still has a dinner and show. Whatever be the result, I think I am already a winner as I feel very satisfied of the two pictures that I have submitted. I had both printed on a canvass size 16x24’ for P500 each which was done in less than 5 minutes at the venue itself courtesy of Canon Pixma Printer and I had them framed earlier tonight at SM Mega Mall for P650 each. They both now occupy a space in the walls of my home.

I Share the following pictures during the event... (click on the link)

https://picasaweb.google.com/100678127252451474640/CanonPhotoMarathon201112Nov11?pli=1

Congratulation to Canon Philippines! And congratulations to all the 2670 participants. See you again next year.

The Trill - Running In The Rain

November 6^th was the schedule Chevrolet New Balance Power 2011 covering 5/10/25K events. I was looking forward in joing this event being one of the longer running and popular running events locally. However, the family as a confirmed booking for the Mount Pinatubo Trekking schedule for 05Nov11 so I have to forego my intentions for the Chevrolet New Balance Power Run 2011.

From the 2-4^th November it has been intermitently raining in Central Luzon and Metro Manila that the Pinatubo Tourism Board declared all Pinatubo Trekking for 5-6Nov11 cancelled due to the danger of lahar flow and swelling of the river leading to the volcano. What a downer! I had already my bags packed with the necessary trekking gears and change clothes. I was looking really forward in swimming in the crater and having a relaxing massage that is quite popular after trekking. What to do? Nothing much, but, I know it was for safety reasons and our trip to Mt. Punatubo is now rescheduled for the 26^th of November.

I woke up early today 6Nov11 at 4:00am and told myself to instead do my own running at Fort Bonifacio. As I looked out of my window I saw that visibility was down due to heavy rain. My mind started playing around if I go back to bed or go for a run considering the rain. My better instint prevailed so off I proceeded to Fort Bonifacio.

As I approached Fort Bonifacio at about 5:10am I already came accrossed the lead runner for the 25K event of the Chevrolet New Balance Power Run so I have to criss cross the diferent streets to find a suitabale parking area. Then I saw the main pack of the 25K and noticed that inspite of the heavy rain there was quite a big number of participants.

At 5:28am I started my own run on my intended route from 30^th Street westward all the way to 1^st Avenue then northward to 32^nd Street going eastward all the way to 11^th Avenue turning south to 11^th Avenue till I am back on 30^th Street. This route covers an approximate distance of 2.6km per loop so intention was to make 4 loops. The temperature was down to 22C due to the heavy rain that it was difficult for the early part of the run. During the course of my run within the loop I encountered the 25/10/5K runners as often as I made the loop and I thought I was already crazy running in the rain, but, there was still a bigger number out there crazy as I am.

I completed my 10.31k run in 01h18m29s. It was a great run in the rain, but now I much proceed as fast to take my hot shower to avoid colds.

In running RAIN is not a deterent but rather an added incentive for the trill in running.