PATAFA Grand Prix Road Race 2nd Leg - I Had Roxas Boulevard For My Own

Philippine Amateur Track & Field Association (PATAFA) conducted today July 1, 2012 the 2^nd Leg of PATAFA Road Race Grand Prix.

I arrived at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park at around 5:10am and was worried on parking availability and safety at the venue. To my surprise I was able to enter and park just opposite of the Grandstand as there were only a handful of cars. Considering that the gun start for the 10k event was scheduled at 5:35am there were not so many crowd. A short while later, I found out that the 21k event has not yet been gun started so I was wondering how this event was going to transpire.

I was approached by a foreign participant and was asked if it was the norm locally that race scheduled are late as he was entered for the 21k event and it was already 5:30 and still awaiting for their start. I was embarassed to reply that it is not so and that local races do start on time and I just do not have any idea why this race was running late. Anyways, at about 5:45am the 21k event was gun started and to my surprised I saw that there were no more than thirty (30) participants all in all for the 21k event.

At 5:51am the 10k event was started and again there were no more than 30 participants in our group. About 2 km from the starting line, although I felt bad that there were so little participants, I could not complaint as the route was well supported by hydration, marshals and police force to ensure the safety of the route. From the Cultural Center of the Philippines all the way to the Japanese embassy (the turning point) marshals have strictly enforced that only registered runners are on the road. This was something new to me. I have no traffic and have the road all by myself. I could even close my eyes and not worry to trip or bump on something. No bad.

From the Cultural Center until back to Quirino Grandstand although the road was primarily for runners, non registered runners and bicyle enthusiasts were as well using the route. I do not mind sharing the road with them as the atmosphere was pleasant and encouraging.

01h23m47s I crossed the finished line on my race walk mode. It was a very pleasant workout with the route all by myself.

To PATAFA it was a good event, but, I hope they could have marketed the event more as they could have made more runners happy . Other than the late start things were well handled and managed. I shall support you again on the 3^rd leg and hope that you will be able to generate a bigger crowd.

Ensure To Endure Run - The Weather Factor

In the past "weekend road races" have been an integral part of my workouts. However, due to injuries and sickness in the past three months, I have barely participated on any road races which has been a big void in my regular life. Blessed lately that my injuries are recuperating and with the ultimate goal to find oneself back to my regular routine, I decided to participate in ENSURE to ENDURE 10k event sponsored by Abbott Laboratories.

ENSURE to ENDURE Run has a very unique form of registration. Instead of the usual cash registration fee for the road race, the sponsors opted that a participant purchase any ENSURE products and with a pre-determined amount of purchase, this qualifies a person either to the 5k, 10k or 15k event category. At least registration fee is converted to a product that you can enjoy and benefit from.

To qualify for a 10k event I purchased an ENSURE “Gold” 400 grams chocolate flavored energy powder and a 250ml ENSURE Liquid Nutrition the cost of both is about P810 which about equal amount should a registration fee been collected.  The purchase receipt served as proof of purchase which I did my registration at Riovana at Fort Bonifacio.

Today 20May2012 I arrived the venue at Fort Bonifacio BGC at around 5am and you could easily determine if the race is well participated by the difficulty of obtaining a parking space, which on this occasion was quite easy which translated to a forecast of not so well participate race. Overall with the three different categories, I would guess that there were no more than 2300 participants. Anyways, it is not the number but how the race was to be handled and executed.

At 5:23am the 10k event was gunned off which brought the runners lonly within the Fort Bonifacio Global City circuit of roads. With what I have seen and personally experienced, I would congratulate the organizers of the event as all logistical needs for a good race have been duly taken cared of. The any thing missing is the volume of participants.

The weather was hot and humid but was much better than the previous days. 01h24m21sec after the gun start I crossed the finish line on my racewalk mode dripping wet all over. It was a very slow 10k for me but I would take it gladly considering the weather condition and the long hiatus on my weekend road races. The race name I think more than describe my performance for this event, ENSURE to ENDURE. Yes, I just barely ensured myself to endure the event on a very humid and hot morning. A weather factor indeed.

Celebrating 61 years with 16 Km

Today May 3^rd 2012 I turned 61 years old! God I am old! To celebrate the day I think and wish that my age is numerically reversed … 16 ….. what better way to convince myself but do 16km workout early today at Fort Bonifacio which took me along the streets of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) then to Lawton Avenue to Bayani Road until Heritage Park then to C5 all the way back to Market Market and end at 26^th Avenue and 5^th Street. On a racewalk mode I completed16km in 2.5736 Hrs . It was my worst 16k time. It is the sad reality in life that age is catching up on my body. A lame excuse is that it was too hot and I did not have the right preparation.

I shall be limiting my road races from now on to 10k distance and probably do only the 21k during the Condura events. I still foresee myself to do work-outs on the road but now with a modest distance log of 30-35km/week or 100km per month (use to be 200km/month a year ago).

With the reduction of my road workout, I intend to dedicate more time in my old passion....golfing. Since I picked up running I sacrified a great time of my golfing to running.  I could still remember that between 1994-2006 I was practically playing golf six (6) times a week and that there was a time that my handicap was down to single digit (+9) compared to present which is +22. My problem is that practically all of my golfing buddies either have, passed away, too sick to play or have aged that I need to make new golfing buddies. But, I still love my golfing buddies in Valley Golf and Tagaytay Highlands. They are down to earth and we have shared lots of jokes and laughter during a game and most of all they allow me to win.

I have stopped my oil painting….. since last quarter of last year for whatever reason all the inspiration and drive that use to push me to be prolific and produce a painting a day has died down… the urge that just came all of sudden from no where then has all of a sudden vanished life a wind… I just could not explain why I can not lift the brush now…I pray that the inspiration and talent would come back on another cycle in my life while I still have vision and strength.

To all the people that have greeted me on my birthday, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR REMEMBERING. I hope and pray that in my own simple way I was able to touch your life as you have touched mine and you being a part of my life in that 61 years span. Certainly you were somewhere in that span of 61 years. We may have laught, cursed, fought, smiled, ate, drunk, work, golf, run, played or just talked and shared stories but without you people my life would have been empty. Thank you for being there! Let me continue counting till 100 and I will still be meeting more people till then.

Timex 2012 Run - Time Is Running

After just a week since the opening salvo of RunRio, they followed another running event for today 22Jan12, the TIMES 2012 RUN – TIME IS RUNNING. The event covered the 16/10/5 kilometer categories.

As expected the race event was another big success. Although I do not have the official comparative attendance count, I would say that today’s event has a greater number of participants from last week. Timex has established from the past years a good base of followers. Having said this, Piolo Pascual who has been the endorser for TIMEX on previous run, is still a force to recon as he still commands a good number of female fans (even males)  The guy could really run as well having a personal best of 47minutes for the 10k distance. Today also coincide to be his birthday. Happy birthday Piolo. 

To Timex congratuilations for a successful event. To coach Rio and his staff wishing you all the best and hope for your continued endeavors to bring class and stature to the Filipino runners.

I completed my 10k run in 01h08m50s (unofficial time) which was also an improvement from my last week’s timing. 

Another Sunday in the road. The way I would always want to complete a week and start a personal Sunday bonding time with the family.

PSE Bull Run 2012 - A Great Start For A Running Year

In the last four consecutive years, I have started my year in running with one  event and that is Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) BULL RUN – “Takbo Para Sa Ekonomiya”.

I have witnessed the said event evolved from a so-so running event and gradually improving as the years pass by to what it has been today…a well attended and managed running event. If such a success of the initial running event of the year would be the basis  for all other races during 2012 then the running community will be in for a great running year.

The 2012 edition od the PSE Bull Run covered 21/16/10/5/3 km categories. The unofficial attendance fro the event is about 8000 runners. Each individual category was started by the sound of the TRADING BELL of PSE instead of the usual gun start.

Congratulations to sponsors Philippine Stock Exchange for their continued support and commitment for the past four years to the running community and may you continue for the coming years. Congratulationa as well for a job well done for the event organisers ADEVENTS who have improved over the years.

I joined the 10km category and finished in 01h 15min 49sec nothing spectacular for any young person but for a forthcoming 61 year old guy, it is a good start for the year. I just hope I will have the longetivity to continue my running to my 70’s.

See you on the road this 2012.

Running Log For The Year 2011

As with any other endeavor, any task or undertaking will only be considered completed should the same be documented for analysis and record purposes. In this respect, I submit the above REPORT CARD of my Running Log for the year 2011.

Total distance run for 2011 - 2,146.16 kilometers
Total Calories burned running for 2011 - 149,050 Kcal
Total distance run since April 2007 - 12,760.50 kilometers

Unlike on previous years, I was hitting 3000+ kilometers a year. However age is fast affecting me (I am turning 61 years old this 2012) and I have noticed a big difference in my stamina. For the year 2012, I shall limit now my race participation to 10km distances and workouts to 40km/week. The main consideration now is maintaining good health so that I could run till I am on my 70's.

Wishing all runners a great year ahead. Keep healthy, safe and injury free. See you on the road.

Las Vegas Touring 10.51km Run

Las Vegas Touring Run 24Dec11

Early morning on December 24th at around 6:36am with temperature at 6degrees celsius, I started my morning workout from   Trump Hotel in Las Vegas all the way to Four Season Hotel and then back.

The main purpose of the run is to take a leisurely run at the Las Vegas Boulevard and take pictures along the way.

I wish to share the pictures taken during the run which can be viewed on a slide share presentation above. I do also take this opportunity to greet all my readers a BLESSED MERRY CHRISTMAS AND  A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Let keep on running for the year 2012.

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!

My Sentosa Island Run

This week I had to attend a business meeting in Singapore from 29Sep-02Oct. As in my previous trips abroad, I have made it a point that I try as much as possible to sneak in my daily run as possible.

I was booked at the Hard Rock Hotel in Sentosa Island so I was delighted that given the time I shall be a able to do a run around Sentosa Island which is far away from the traffic congeste streets of Singapore and has ben lately developed as a resort island where Universal Studio and so many attraction parks are located.

On Saturday 01Oct11 true enough even with a full daytime schedule I made sure to wakeup earlier to make my run. With my hydration belt and camera on I have decide to make a 10k workout. I started from the hotel lobby at 5:58 am which was still dark as daylight only came at 6:45am. With no particular route in mind, I just took off leading my way to Seloso Point on the the beach fronts of Palawan and Tanjong beaches then to Sentosa Golf Club and backtracking until I found myself back at the Hard Rock Hotel lobby.

The workout was more of a touring run on a relaxed pace giving myself opportunity to take photos along the route. The site and route is really superb and attractive with clean air. I logged 10.60km in 01h43m51s.

An early morning run Sentosa Island in Singapore is a great place to get yourself ready for a day of work ahead.

Fort Striders Run 2011 - Another Race By Runners For Runners

Three weeks has passed since my last road race not that there has not been any road races since then but rather that the past three weeks has been raining and the weather has not been endusive to running.

This Sunday with good weather forecasted I made sure that I had myself registered in the Fort Striders Run 2011 which is a local running club who are based at Fort Bonifacio Global City. You may check their website here  The race event consisted of 16K/10K/5K/3K and was flagged off with the16K runners first at 5:30am followed by the other categories every 5 minutes interval. As what was expected the number of participants were not that spectacular but would be on the modest scale.

I was enetered at the 10K event and at 5:35am we were gunned off with basically the normal route in Bonifacio Global City however extending a third of the Katipunan flyover span as an added attraction. Hydration support are more than enough with well maintained security and marshals on stratigic points. I have all praises for The Fort Striders Running Club in sponsoring a well organized road race. Fort Striders used as their race organizer MIB Road Race Specialist. I have one minor comment which I hiope the sponsor and organizers could improve, the distance for the 10k was short of 0.25km maybe a more diligent distance measurement in the future. However, the distance markers were positioned along the route. The main attraction of this race was that the registrration fee for 10K was only P400.00 somethoing that you find very unusual now a days particularly on commercialized races. FS Run 2011 is another race event by runners for runners.

I completed my 10K in 01h16m38sec (unofficial) nothing spectacular but a well spent morning with fellow runners.

To Fort Striders Club Congratulations for a good race.

Run United 2 - 16000 Runners

Today 21Aug11 as early as 3am all roads were leading to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for the Run United 2 which is the 2^nd Leg of the Runrio Trilogy. The event marks also the 4^th year of RUNRIO in organizing local road races who are primariy one of if not the main driving factor in the popularity of running in the Philippines today which has never had it as big as what it is now.

In 2007 when Runrio did their first race event there were only1888 registered runners which at that time was already considered a big crowd. Today, after 4 years Run United 2 generated 16000 registered runners (21k/3500 10k/5000 5k/3k/500m/balance). For a single day event I think this number is something for the records. In this magnitude of participants a major factor is crowd management which I would like to congratulate RUNRIO to have a done a good job in making sure of safety and orderliness during the event.

Participants that joined the event have their own individual reasons for picking up the sport of running. Whatever they may be, it is still a step forward for the well being of each individual person. What has fascinated me were the smile and glow in the faces of the participants and even the non-participants who came along to see their family and/or friends.

As I was entered in the 10k event I was able to watch the gun start for the 21k which was a sight to behold with all 3500 runners just for the 21k event. The 10k event due to the number has reached 5000 the gun start was in two waves starting from 5:30am and folowed 3 minutes after for safety reasons. This was followed by the 5k/3k/ and the 500m events for kids.

I completed my 10k event in an unofficial time of 01h11m51s and a ton of joy in my heart to share the road with the different runners in all walks of life.

Happy 4^th anniversary to RUNRIO and may you continue to deliver world class road races in the Philippines.

Tagaytay Highlands Woodridge to Saratoga - 4.52k Photo Blog

It has been more than 3 months since the family visited Tagaytay Highlands, given the good weather on the week end between 15-17 July 2011, late evening on 15Jul11 we headed our way to Tagaytay Highlands for a much needed weekend rest.

Waking up early on Saturday 16Jul11, I decided to take a short workout run from Woodridge to Saratoga within the Highlands estate. I firmly believe that the place has one of the best scenery for a road or trail run not only locally but comparative to any place in the region.

I have done a photo blog of the run point by point hoping to capture the beauty of the place. I usually have my 10k route but this time I decided to take only the 4.52k segment of the said route.

I hope the picture gives justice to the beauty and freshness of the place.