Globe "Run 4 Home 2011" - Am Back on Big Events

After trying on and experiencing the small race events on weekends it was time to go back to big events and last March 27, 2011 it was the Globe “Run 4 Home 2011”

The Globe “Run 4 Home 2011” had the 21k/15k/10k/5k/3k events which practically catered to all types of runners. I arrived at Bonlfacio Global City (BGC) at 5:00am with plenty of time to spare for my 10k schedule gun start at 5:30am. While I was expecting a good number of participants my best estimate will be only around 5200 which compared to the Unilab Run United 1 last 6Mar11 which accounted for 17,000+ participants dwarfs this event. I could only assume that the Yakult 10 Miler at CCP got also a good number of participants as it was also held on the same day and with a very minimal entry fee.

The 10k event started as scheduled at 5:30am and took the reversed route of the usual BGC-Kalayaan-Buendia. On most occasions the route goes first to the different streets/avenues in BGC and University area before leading to kalayaan all the way to Buendia/Paseo before returning to BGC. This time, it was direct straight to Buendia/Paseo and returning to BGC before going to the University area at BGC. I personally like the route last Sunday as you have to tackle the Kalayaan flyover while still fresh and strong and adjust your pace in reaching the university area. The race proper was of course handle by coach Rio Dela Cruz and nothing much can be said as he always deliver an international standard race event. I was even surprised that just about a couple of hours after the race the results were already posted at the internet.

I completed the 10k at 01h03m04s with the following detailed posted race official result;

I normally do not stay around after the race and immediate head back home to catch my family Sunday Mass and this time it was even an extra effort to head back home faster as I was to pick up my daughter Dawn and her husband Alex who have not been home for 7 years. With them in Manila and until 17Apr11, I will be easing up on my usual weekend races and just hope that I would still be able to log my usual daily early morning runs.

By the way, I am not sure if Coach Rio handled the after race events i.e. distribution of loot bags and water at the finish line or if Globe handled this themselves but just heard that it was a little bit disorganized that collection was bunch up for all categories and the difficulty to get water after crossing the finish line. Anyways, whoever was task to this job we hope that an improvement will be done in the future.

See you on the road!

The CamSur Marathon 2010 - Registered and Race Packet Issued

The CAMSUR MARATHON 2010 “Race To Rebuild The Nation” will be on September 26, 2010. With Coach Rio De la Cruz as Race Director and having partnered with the province of Camarines Sur under Governor LRay Villafuerte this event is something to look forward to. The former being a no nonsense race organizer who has a good track record of delivering good service to the running community and the latter being an energetic and action man provincial executive who has made CamSur Watersports Complex a world class venue and has put the place in the map of the world for sports enthusiasts and a tourist destination. With the reputation of both the gentlemen, this is a marriage made in heaven. Over and above the event is an IAAF recognized event making it a “world-class event”.

With the above reasons, I have calendared the date as well to be our family bonding time wherein I have entered myself and my daughter-in-law PAM for the 21km event and my wife HERMIE and sons DAX and DENNIS for the 5km event.

Yesterday with even more than 3 months before the event, I have received by delivery the race packet for all the family members. The packet consisted of the usual singlet (very good quality), race bib and the timing mechanism – the D-Tag.

I have in the past been blogging and wishing that this mechanism be used instead of the championship chip to be at par with practically all races abroad. Needless to say not only is the mechanism good but will bring down the COST. I am not sure if in the past there had been races that the D-Tag been used locally, but, I am very happy that Coach Rio has again stepped forward to improve the local race scenario.

I am posting herewith the D-Tag instructions flyer as issued by RUNRIO. The instruction is in English as well as Tagalog. Great! No excuse not to understand.

After coming back from my USA vacation, I saw Coach Rio at the Ultra during one of my daily runs and he provided to me where I could book my family at CamSur. For those of you who intend to join the CamSur Marathon 2010, the sports complex itself (CWC) are offering varied types of accommodations of one’s choice and budget needs. It was only after I have done my booking accommodations that I found out that the whole complex itself and all the facilities thereat at are owned by the provincial government (I have to remit 50% of my accommodation in advance payable to the provincial treasury of Camarines Sur). Please check here for accommodations

With three months more to go, I strongly suggest to the running community to join this event. See you at CamSur on September 26, 2010.