Global City Fort Bonifacio - Measured Running Routes

In Metro Manila finding ones self an ideal venue for a daily running workout is becoming difficult should conditions for personal safety, pollution free, traffic, road condition, and environmental conduciveness be taken into account.

Global City or Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City is one of the ideal if not the most ideal place in Metro Manila to do your daily running workouts. The locality has been the haven of local runners in as much that the Fort Bonifacio Administration has been very supportive to running and has open its doors to local weekend road races. The best the place could offer is the security of a runner as practically there is a security and/or traffic officer in every major intersection of the compound. Further, in view that the traffic regulation within the compound is strictly enforced, drivers have been observed to be more road safety concern… following the traffic lights, not a usual thing in the Metro Manila.

In this light and to share with other runners my usual route within Fort Bonifacio, I made distance measurement on three LOOPS that can be used. Knowing the actual distance will provide any runner without the usual GPS and/or running aids possible for them to evaluate their run.

The following conditions were noted in the measurement of distances;

• -       Garmin 310xt was the tool used.
• -       Running was done always opposite the traffic flow at the curve side along the road within a meter or two in and out of road but never on the pedestrian alley.
• -       There is no back tracking anywhere in the loop.
• -       You can start anywhere within the loop provided you finish at the same place as where you started to complete the measured distance.

THE SMALL LOOP or HIGH STREET LOOP – 1.3 kilometers

Start at 11^th Avenue heading toward 28^th Street

Left at 28^th Street head towards 7^th Avenue

Left at 7^th Avenue head towards 28^th Street

Left at 28^th Street head towards 11^th Avenue

Left at 11^th Avenue and end where you started ……….. 1.3 Km Distance

THE MEDIUM LOOP – 3.2 kilometers

Start at 11^th Avenue head towards 32^nd Street

Left at 32^nd Street head towards 5^th Avenue

Left at 5^th Avenue and head towards McKinley Parkway

Left at McKinley Parkway and head towards 11^th Avenue

Left at 11^th Avenue and end where you started ………. 3.2 Km Distance

THE GREAT LOOP – 7.4 kilometers

Start at 11^th Avenue head towards 32 Street

Right at 32^nd Street and head towards C5

Left at 38^th Street (University Drive) and head towards 8^th Avenue

Left at 8^th Avenue (new road) and head towards 34^th Street

Right at 34^th Street and head towards St. Lukes at 32^nd Street

Cross 32^nd Street and proceed straight to 3^rd Avenue towards Rizal Drive

Upon reaching Rizal Drive turn right and head towards 32^nd Street

Right at 32^nd Street and head towards 5^th Avenue

Right at 5^th Avenue and head towards Old Lawton Avenue

Left at Old Lawton Avenue and head toward McKinley Parkway

Right at McKinley Parkway and head towards 11^th Avenue

End at 11^th Avenue at the point where you started your run …. 7.4 Km Distance

Run safe and see you on the road.

10.10.10 Pasig Run - Awesome 101,000 Runners / 116,812 (?) Phil. Star

Sometime early August during one of my early morning workout at Ultra Pasig, Coach Rio informed me that he just signed a contract to handle the race operation for the A Run For The Pasig River 10.10.10 with respect to the 10k/5k/3k events (21k event is a Ceremonial Run for the Armed Forces and the National Police). Coach Rio was very excited about the event as it would be the first time that he is going to be involved in this magnitude of an event, an attempt to break the GUINESS WORLD RECORD for the LARGEST ECO-FOOT RACE being 110,000 runners at the "Bay to Breakers" race in San Francisco, California in 1988.

In the Philippines, I am not sure what is the record, however, I am pretty sure that it cannot even be half of the figure. Further, it is going to be a mammoth task just to handle the logistics, security, traffic, race organization and all the basic needs of a decent running event and the gargantuan task of crown control.

Starting point for the 21k was at SM Marikina, 5K at CCP Complex and 3K at MOA with all categories to finish at SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

I was entered at the 10k event and the starting line was at Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue (Manila Peninsula Hotel area). I was at the vicinity by 5:00am and traffic was already building up at the corner of EDSA and Ayala, which was already closed for traffic. Immediately I noticed that designated CLUSTER AREAS 1-7 were posted along Ayala Avenue. I was not aware what it was for nor where I was supposed to position myself. I looked at my bib number and it started with number 3 so I inched my way to Cluster No. 3. While awaiting for the gun start it was then that it came to my mind the logic of clustering in the starting line, as with the magnitude of the runners, it was for the safety purposes that runners are dispatched by batches to avoid stampede. I noticed that all efforts were made by the organizers to cope and handle for the various needs of the runners. Impressive indeed. Over and above I was greatly impressed on the safety and security handling which was very visible within the staring area.

Even before the race it was an establish fact that race of this magnitude is more of a FUN RUN in nature rather than of a competitive nature. There is no way that you will have a clear running field on our own. At 5:40am the starting gun was sounded. It was not until 5:47am or 7 minutes after the 1^st cluster was released that cluster no. 3 where I was positioned was released. You could just imagine the volume of runners. It makes me wonder what time was cluster no. 7 was released.

From 0km to 5km mark it was zigzag running or jogging to be precise, as I doubt if any runner has a clear field to run. However, it was A GREAT FEELING to see and be part of a massive volume of runners like a flow of human being in the streets. Awesome is my only word for it.

From 5km to 7km or from the junction of Buendia and Roxas Blvd all the way to Macapagal Highway was a WALKING STRETCH. It was at this point that the 5km runners and 10k runners join on one route and now the volume has quadrupled.

From 7km to 9km marker the 10k runners deviated from the 5k runners and a little legroom was experienced.

Finally from 9km to the finish line it was a parade of a sea of people. Now the 3k, 5k and 10k joined on the same route to the finish line. It was around 7:28am by this time and the temperature was at about 31C and very humid with volume of people around you. I could hear then a band singing in the stage and a great number of people looking for their lost friends and relatives. After crossing the finish line, it took me a good 10 minutes to inch my way to the exit area where a number of marshals are doing a hand counts of the runners as they exit. I assume this is to verify the number of running finisher participants against the number of registered participants but may have not actually run.

After my exit (and being counted) it was another 15 minutes before I could reach my car. My daughter-in-law PAM who was also entered in the 10k actually had to walk from MOA all the way to their residence at Makati for another 7 kilometers. I was joking her that her event was more of a 17km.

Just before completing this blog, I heard from an ABS-CBN newsflash that the 10.10.10 Run for Pasig was able to have 160,000 registered participants with 101,000 counted actual runners as per SGV tally. It was a Philippine Record, but, it was short to break the GUINESS RECORD of 110,000 runners.

I am proud to have taken part on this event, I am proud of the different schools, corporations, individuals, organizations, Armed Forces and National Police who were part of the event, I am proud of race organizer (Coach Rio) and I am proud of ABS-CBN to spear head this event.

In the end I only pray that the event would awaken the people to save Pasig River and our environment.

What better way to communicate the message than via our love for RUNNING.

Post Script : Oct. 11, 2010 0940 hrs.

I have just gotten hold of the Philippine Star and on their front page they have a captioned of "116,812 join Run for Pasig River" . The figure quoted was certified by Sycip, Gorres and Velayo (SGV). At this stage I am a bit confused as to the actual recorded participants. Anyways, the official figure should be out in a few days. hereunder are scanned copies of the front page photos from the Philippine Star and The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

 

Running A Therapy In Life

Everyman has his own favorite nook in a house where he spends most of his daydreaming, meditation or just passes the time. To me my favorite place is our sitting area with a panoramic view Metro Manila and even a view of the Corregidor Island on a clear and smog free day.

It was during one of my lazy time last weekend that a question pops out in my mind. “What is really the reason why a person gets hook-up into running?” I wanted to find an answer and I need not go any further and have only to find out from myself why I keep on running?

To better understand and explain matters let me first provide you the meaning of THERAPY which I think is the keyword.

Therapy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

For other uses, see Therapy (disambiguation).

Therapy (in Greek: θεραπεία), or treatment, is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a diagnosis. In the medical field, it is synonymous with the word "treatment". Among psychologists, the term may refer specifically to psychotherapy or "talk therapy".

Preventive therapy or prophylactic therapy is a treatment that is intended to prevent a medical condition from occurring. For example, many vaccines prevent infectious diseases. An abortive therapy is a treatment that is intended to stop a medical condition from progressing any further. A medication taken at the earliest signs of a disease, such as at the very symptoms of a migraine headache, is an abortive therapy.

A supportive therapy is one that does not treat or improve the underlying condition, but instead increases the patient's comfort.[1] Supportive treatment may be palliative care.

RUNNING is a THERAPY and the cheapest form at that. When I run, my inner self has the undivided attention as to my worries, problems, needs, and expectations may any or all of these be concerning a family member, a friend, myself or any person under the sun. It is during my run that I talk to myself and find solution or plan to address situations or just ignore situation at hand. It is my psychotherapy or "talk therapy".

Running has been my Preventive therapy or prophylactic therapy at it is then that I am able to evaluate and see things as they are. Running has been my An abortive therapy as in running I do plan corrective measures or just address the issues at hand. Running has been my supportive therapy while there are times or even most of the time, the things that goes into my mind do not actually get solve or do improve the issues at hand, however, my just talking to myself in running makes me open up to reality and see issues as they are. My state of denial is overcome making  me acceptable to the situation or just ignore the whole issue.

I tell you all runners talk to their own selves whenever they run, knowingly or not. I think by some unexplained chemical or biological reasons our body when put on the stress of running reacts by opening our mind and allows us to talk in within. Does this sound crazy or logical? To me it does and I think to most if not all runners. It is this very reason I think that makes running additive and high. It is a time to be on your own, a chance to talk one on one with oneself. You can be honest, realistic, open and acceptable to issues or just take the opposite stance of all the good characteristics and play the devils role without actually causing any immediate damage to anyone as everything is still only in the mind. It is a MENTAL EXERCISE. Running makes your mind awake and active either you like it or not.

On your regular run, begin with a short prayer and meditation of POSITIVE actions and dreams so that your mind would have been primed up for positive actions. Anyway, your run will not only test your physical well being, but, will keep your mind moving and wandering with each stride your make.

All these for what they say “sound mind and a healthy body”.

10,000 Km Club

Yes, as of October 1, 2010 I am now a member of the 10,000km Club.

I started my daily running on April 27,2007. After 3 year 5 month and 5 days (lapsed time not running time) I have logged a total of 10,010.23km. I started documenting my daily run with a NikePlus and after 4 months shifted to Polar and a year after shifted to Garmin. Presently I am using a Garmin  310xt.

While I feel great to have reached the 10,000km mark, I find that my age is catching up on me. I do not feel as strong as I was 3 years ago. Not that I am sickly at present, but, I could just feel that as I am about to enter my 60 years of age, my legs are getting heavier and my lungs are getting smaller. With these in consideration, baring any major health problem and with God’s guidance, I hope to reach the 20,000km by October 1, 2015. I have given now a time frame of 5 years due to conditions provided earlier.

To those of you who are still young, make good use of your youth, easy on the liquor, night outs and invest on healthy foods and exercises so that you will have a much stronger and healthier mature life when you reach your 50’s and 60’s. How I wish that I could have been as health conscious then as I am now.

See you guys on the road!

Camsur Marathon 2010 - My Personal Experience

Camsur Marathon 2010 is now history. September 26^th 2010 was a big day in Camarines Sur. The local government and organizer made sure that no stones were left unturned that the day shall be a great success.  The result…..it was what was expected… a great success!

I have in the past written that any project, event, program that is envisioned locally cannot be a success without the support of the local government. Camsur Marathon 2010 had not only the support of provincial and city government, but, it has the full support of ordinary and well meaning people of Naga City. To you guys, there will only be but one direction and that is for the prosperity of Naga City. Congratulations!

The event generated 17400 registered runners. Majority of the number of participants are from Naga City. I asked the local people and they said that most were “requested and/or required” to participate either from local government offices, schools, private companies. It is not “hakot” as what we normally associate with, as these participants are “registered paying participants” and not “paid participants” (big difference in meaning). I was surprise that some people I have talked even said that those that were short of registration fee were provided by cash advances on salary deduction just to participate. However, these same people were unified and one in saying that they need to contribute their own share of sacrifice and input for the benefit of the province and local government itself. This is what I call a noble gesture of the local people of Naga as all efforts need to come from all direction. One local taxi driver justified the action based on their local experience that the people of Naga will eventually be the recipient of blessings. He made example of the tourism/job that has been generated by the “Ironman”, CWC , and now the “Camsur Marathon” should the latter be a success as the former. They already have a working model to pattern their efforts.

On my personal experience in my participation in the 21K run, The Camsur Marathon 2010 will be something to remember personally for so many reasons namely-

• -       registered and got my race family race bibs/dtag as early June only to misplace all items. Thanks to Coach Rio and Jon Teves was lucky to obtain replacement bibs/dtags although costing me a sum. I now can confirm my memory weakness.

• -       First time to travel by Bus, eight hours travel time. Found out that we have quality and comfortable buses that service the road. Got over my scare to commute by provincial buses in view of recent news accidents. The aircon was so cold and the lazyboy chairs were relaxing. There was even a CR onboard. The cost was reasonable P980/person.

• -       It was a family fun event. A short vacation with my wife HERMIE, son DAX, daughter in law PAMELA and youngest son DENNIS. (Sorry for Dawn/Alex who are in Moreno Valley Ca.)

• -       After so many cancelled/no show my wife HERMIE did her first 5km run. A milestone in the family if you know the efforts that has been made in the past to no success.

• -       My daughter in-law PAMELA registered her 21k PR of 02h31m (unofficial) Hopefully my son gets to improve he is still on the 5k level.

• -       My most unforgettable experience was my participation in the 21k. My time was one of my worst 3h00m19s (unofficial) but it was the cheers and the applause that I have received during the event that will keep me smiling on my own. The first 4k I was on my running mode but after that I shifted to my race walking mode. Race walking is already pretty strange to most, but, the barrios that we passed by on the 21k route in Naga were so amazed on the movements of race walking that I was like a celebrity being given applause and high fives that I could not barely respond. I had even other runners with me enjoying the cheers and applause.  Dave McGovern an authority in racewalking once wrote to me “ Dear Amado – if racewalking is not popular in the Philippines it’s your job to make it so! By walking in the local races you are a visible ambassador of racewalking. Don’t be afraid to be vocal. Let people know about the health benefits of racewalking….”  In Camsur, I think I just did that and had five feedbacks from individuals wanting to learn and adapt the same.

• -       The food and hotel MANSION SUITES at CWC was great the Presidential Suite was very cheap for P3000.00 after an upgrade. 

• -       The tri-cycle drivers, taxi drivers, waiters, cooks, shuttle service drivers, receptionist and the people of Naga were friendly and always with a smile.

• -       As in everything there is a DOWNSIDE… it was waking up so early during the race day at 2am for a shuttle pick-up at 3am with a gun time of 5am. I never had it so early like this, but, life in this world is not perfect.

Again, Congratulations to Coach Rio and his team, Governor Villafuerte, the local government of Naga City, the Police/Military, and most especially to the people of Naga.

Dementia - Lost Five Race Bibs And D-Tags Camsur

Dementia (taken from Latin, originally meaning "madness", from de- "without" + ment, the root of mens "mind") is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type, (SDAT) Primary Degenerative Dementia of the Alzheimer's type (PDDAT), or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia.

I got the above definitions in the web and I am afraid that I might be losing my memory!

Camsur Marathon is just a few days away and it is no secret that I have been excited to participate in the said event that I have registered myself and my family, five of us, as early as June. I have already posted twice about the marathon and the preparation for travel and accommodations. I was in possession of our race bibs and d-tags in June and in as much that it was still months before the event I just place the packets in my cabinet.

Last Sunday 19Sep10, I retrieve the packets and distributed the singlets to the different member of the family, however, I held on to the race bibs and the d-tags fearing that they might lose/misplace/forget to bring them when we do leave for Camsur. I even wrote on the back of the bibs our names so that the numbers will not be interchanged. On Tuesday 21Sep10, I was looking for the envelope where I placed all the bibs and d-tags. I started looking from 5am to 8am then continued from 4pm to 8pm. God I cannot remember where I placed them! I was already getting mad of why I cannot remember. I have emptied cabinets and drawers and the family also assisted me in looking for the items to no avail.

By 8:30pm I have already surrendered and told the family that in as much that we have already paid for the transportation and accommodation we better go ahead and even though we do not run there are a lot of things to do in Camsur. Before sleeping, my last action was writing an email to Coach Rio if he could assist me in getting a replacement number/dtags as late as it was and that I was willing to pay for the replacement cost. When I woke up at 4am the following day I saw an email from Coach Rio endorsing my request to Jon Teves to facilitate my request for replacement bibs/dtags. There was also another email followed by a text message from Jon Teves that I may collect the replacement bibs/dtags at CWC before noon of Saturday.

Coach Rio and Jon Teves, thank you very much for your assistance and accommodating to my request although it is going to cost me, I have only but myself to blame.

If you think my early symptom of dementia is only of the above incident, well its not and the worst is when also last July when I cleaned my cabinet I got a garbage bag and threw items that I was not in need of. At that time, I removed my Garmin 310xt from my wrist and placed it somewhere. After a day I was looking for my Garmin 310xt but could not find it. I tried my best to trace what I did the day before. I almost went crazy looking for the item but also in the only to surrender to have lost the item. On the hind side, I could only assume that I could have also placed the Garmin 310xt on the garbage bag. I have now a new Garmin 310xt but then it cost me the replacement.

God I hope that these are not early signs of an Alzheimer's disease.  

We will be leaving tonight for Camsur and the only thing I wish to forget and have a dementia are problems at work and wish only that the family have a great vacation and run on Sunday.

RUNNING SAFE

Running/racewalking early in the morning has been my habit since 2007 and it has been part of my daily life. I have chosen the specific time between 4:30-6:30am as it provides a kickoff for my daily chores putting my mind and body ready for the day. Further, doing your run at this time of the day has a lot of advantages as the weather is cooler and the streets are still not as carbon polluted as when there are already many vehicles on the road.

However, the biggest risk is SAFETY. When I say “safety” I am not referring to safety in running that you have control of such as, running opposite the traffic, wearing luminous gears, running with hydration, or others of the likes. Instead, what I am concern is safety of the road from “trill seekers”, “drunks”, “thieves”, “muggers”, “high on drugs”, or simply “those that have no better things to do in life”.

I was shocked and angered to read from JONEL MENDOZA aka Bugobugo’s blog titled CHEAP SHOT  (read as well the comments of readers which is very interesting) that he had a very untoward incident last 11Sep10 wherein some stupid bugger threw a raw egg on him while he was running hitting him directly, a “cheap shot” indeed. What on earth was the purpose or satisfaction did the guy have? What is his mentality or state of mind that drove him to do such thing? Your guess is as good as mine. Such an incident like this is what I am more concern on safety in running.

I had my own share of untoward experience in the past. Sometime last December 2009 I wanted to try different areas in Metro Manila for my daily run and it was then that I decided to try Quezon City Memorial Circle. I arrived the area at about 4:15am and parked my car at the Quezon City Hall proceeding to run along the inner perimeter of QCMC, which is sparingly lighted, but in as much that it is a very busy street even on early mornings, I thought I was safe from hooligans, I was wrong. I have not even completed one lap while within the vicinity between North Avenue and Quezon Avenue Extension that I was surprised by a “flying paper bag” of “what have you” inside which almost hit me and landing just inches from my side. Shocked, I looked around and saw a speeding FX with noisy men inside. I was about to shout back when the FX stopped about 100 meters from me. I thought these guys really want to have “fun”. My anger immediately turned to fright. I stopped and positioned myself in the middle of the road so that all the vehicles passing by have a clear view of me. It was then that the FX knew that I did a safe and preventive move, rather than being exposed, the FX moved on. I must admit, it still took me a good 10 minutes to recover from my shocked. I had my doubts to continue my run, but told myself that doing so will just make those guys successful in their intention. I continued my run, until I finished 5 loops for a 10km distance. However, it was a lesson learned by me from then on.

For the above reasons, I stopped my street running in the early mornings and returned to ULTRA for my daily morning run. However, with the closure of ULTRA since early August for early morning users to give way to ASIAN GAMES athletes, I have no other recourse but go back to the street. The safest area is Fort Bonifacio.

To Run Safe, I now keep on the well-lighted area of the Fort from 4:30 to 5:15 am before venturing the outskirts of the Fort from 5:15am onwards. It is also quite reassuring to see ample security along the intersections. I must admit that the drivers within the Fort are more disciplined (maybe because of the securities posted). However, if I am not time pressed, I now start my run at 5am.

Nothing much we can do from these kind of people, but just exercise due diligence and AVOID them as possible. If confronted, move on and do not even bother to react. Turning your back is not an act of cowardice. We runners have better things in life to deal with and a fruitful life to spend.

Be safe in your runs.

Camsur Marathon 2010 - Travel Arrangement

It was as early as June 25, 2020 when I first blogged “The Camsur Marathon 2010 – Registered and Race Packet Issued”  to show my excitement and anticipation for this coming event. And now with only over a fortnight to go travel arrangement for the family needs to be finalized.

In the past month or so, accidents involving BUS TRANSPORTATION has been hugging the local headlines causing numerous death to passengers. Needless to say, there is still that much talked about BUS HOSTAGE CRISIS last 23Aug10. I do not know for whatever reason but INCIDENT/ACCIDENT involving public bus transportation doesn’t favor the present local travel scene. With this at the back of my mind, I tried to consider other alternatives as air travel or driving owns transport to Camsur. However, economics, practicality and convenience still tip in favor of bus transportation by a great margin.

The Camsur website provided me with a list of different Bus Companies (Penafrancia, Isarog Bus Lines, and Philtranco) that run a regular service from Manila to Naga. After much consideration, I decided on using PENAFRANCIA TOURS  for their Lazy Boy Coach which on the Camsur website showed to cost P750/passenger. However, the messenger whom I asked to buy me the ticket at their terminal in Cubao QC called me that the cost for one way travel is P980/passenger. According to the bus company, the P750 was only a promotional price when Camsur was still beginning their operation, but, now that they have a lot of tourist and the place is well established they have gone back/increased to P980. Another issue I was confronted was that they would not sell return ticket in Cubao as return tickets need to be purchased only from their point of destination (Naga) to avoid double/over booking of bus seats. Anyways, solution need to be done so I tried to find a friend who knows a friend who lives in Naga and buy our return ticket in Naga so I can be assured that my family has a definite return date. This I am still in the process of finalizing. Those who may want to consider the same travel arrangement may want to visit the website of PENAFRANCIA TOURS complete with video and details of where to get their tickets.

With race packets issued, accommodations arranged (Mansion Suites)  and onward travel tickets issued (PENAFRANCIA TOURS) I am on my way to CAMSUR MARATHON  schedule for September 26, 2010.

1st Malacca International 12 Hour Walk - Dec. 11-12, 2010

Today 30Aug10, I received an email from Mr. KHOO CHONG BENG, Deputy President of RACE WALKERS ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA extending their invitation to foreign participants for the 1^ST MALACCA INTERNATIONAL 12 HOUR WALK 2010 which is scheduled to be held at St. Paul’s Hill A-Famosa Malacca Malaysia from 8pm of 11Dec10 until 8am of 12Dec10.

It was in September of 2008 that I was introduced by email to Mr. Khoo Chong Beng by Capt. Ferdinand Espejo who coaxed me to participate in a 12 Hour Race Walking which eventually I did participated the 1^st Putrajaya International 12 Hour Walk 2008 on 13-14 December 2008. I officially completed the Men’s Category 12 hour event at 45^th place completing 62 km out of 263 competing men from Malaysia, Belgium, Ghana, Singapore, Hongkong, Japan and Philippines (solely represented by me). There were as well 175 registered female participants so its open to both gender.

I would like to encourage walkers, runners and those who are looking for a great adventure to try this 12 Hour Walk. The Rules and Regulations for the event is quite simple. The race circuit is a 1km loop. All participants starts on a Saturday at 8pm and last until 8am the following day. You CANNOT RUN/JOG but can only WALK ( there will be judges along the loop either to penalize or DQ a participant for violation) during the 12 hour period it is up to you when to take your rest, eat, drink, relieve yourself or just take a sleep rest. Each participant has a timing chip and every 2 hours a distance summary for each individual participant is posted in the track.  The event is of endurance and stamina and how to keep yourself awake during the night. To add trill you continue walking even if it rains (which normally it does). 

With cheap airfare between Manila and Kuala Lumpur either by Cebu Pacific or between Clark and KL via Tiger Airways the event is great incentive to participate. Those interested can download Entry Form which provides even early bird discounts.

What are you waiting for?

Have You Been To A RUNNING DATE?

With the increasing popularity of RUNNING to people of all ages, goals and motivation for each individual person is as varied as any under the sun. Others have embraced the sport for the physical challenge, others for medical reasons, others just for fun or the pure love and pleasure of the joy in running and the social friendship that it brings.

However, a very unique and impressive purpose or motivation that I have observed during the races that I have participated at is RUNNING DATE. We are pretty much aware of “Blind Date”, “Lunch Date”,  “Dinner Date, or whatever kind of usual DATE there are between two people in love or two people in the process of getting to know each other with the ultimate driven purpose of LOVE.

Yes, people of all ages have been having RUNNING DATES wherein a guy and gal instead of going to the usual date venues they have now embraced RUNNING DATE. For me this is great and wonderful, its not only healthy but you have the full attention of your partner for at least one and a half hour to a full two hours for a 10K event.

Today during the MILES FOR SMILES, I had a very close encounter of such date. I was entered in the 16k event and upon reaching the 15^K mark I came close to two very loving young couple who were entered on the 10K event and were by then on their 9K mark. It was a sight to behold that I could not help but take a picture of the couple. As I was on my race walking mode then, they went passed by me only for me to meet up with them 300 meters to the finishing line. It was then that I decided to approach both couple and show them the picture I have taken and commented that they are a sweet couple. They had the same sweet smiles to acknowledge my comment. I then informed them that I shall blog on them of their “sweetness” which has gotten a much bigger smile from both. As it was still a race event for me, I then overtook them and left the couple in their sweet time to cross the finish line. I did not have the time to ask their names, but, when IN LOVE you need no identity as we were either once in the same road, now on the same road, or had been always in the same road.

The Miles For Smiles Event today was a successful event, it was well organized and handled. My congratulations to the event organizers and sponsors. I shall not go in detail of how the event was handled, instead just provide a mark of 8.5 out of 10. My only minor comment is that the 16k distance just recorded a 15.5K in my Garmin 405. It was a great morning having completed the distance in 01h55m44s.

With what I have observed the event was really MILES For SMILES. It is great to be IN LOVE!