Afternoon Rush: Run, Race, Run at SunPiology Sunset Run (My First 3k)

SunPiology Sunset run is an afternoon fun run held to raise fund for Piolo Pascual's and Sunlife Philippines' favorite Charity, Hebreo Foundation (a non-profit organization committed to bringing scholars to school)

 

SunPiology banner

My First Free Race Kit

This is the first time I ran a race for free. I was just browsing through my facebook notifications when I found one of my friends had posted his information in the Timex Sports Philippines FB Page. So, I went to that page and discovered that they are holding a promo for free kits to Milo Finals and Sunset SunPiology Run. I posted my information as well and 2 days after they announced me as one of the winners of the free kits for Sunset SunPiology Run.


Pre Race

Since I was only running 3k (but my first 3k in an actual race), I decided to do other things. In the morning, I did house chores. Then after lunch, I went to ABAP for my boxing session with Coach Mitch. The race day was on December 10 and it was already the start of the Christmas season. So when I arrived at ABAP, the advanced students was already prepping for a Christmas salu-salo which I was surprised to run into. It was really awkward to just watch them eat so the advanced members invited me to eat with them. I had a hefty serving even if I already had lunch since the buko pie and the cookies was really heavy for the tummy. It was great to get to know some of them, especially I will be joining them once I get used to the basics of boxing. But this blew my schedule out of plans since I had to start my lesson at 2pm instead of the usual 1pm schedule which left me little rest time to prepare for the race.


Race and Run

As I arrived back at the condo, I just grabbed things I needed and headed out to hail a cab to the Fort for the race. I was almost tempted to blow the race off but it was only 3k so it won't hurt me that much. The venue of the race was at Mercato Central which I had never gone too. I arrived in the venue just at the time the 10k runners started running. As I was trailing to the registration area I even saw Team Leader Drew of ANR Ortigas running at a relaxed pace. Since I had won the race kit, I had to find the Timex people first before running my first 3k race.

The muddy assembly area

Lucky for me, I was able to get the race kit, leave my stuff in the baggage area and make my way to the front of the line (feeling elite runner lang) in time for the gun start of the 3k. My strategy for this run was to run as fast as I can since the distance was only 3k. Unfortunately, the weight of the Christmas Salu-salo from ABAP weighed me down and I was forcing myself to finish 3k instead of sprinting. I continued running despite of the difficulty and finished at 18 to 19 minutes.

The only proof I was at SunPiology

This was also the first race that I ran alone so the post race stuff was pretty boring. I got my photo from Canon and headed to the booths for free flyers and left before the program started. I even missed seeing Piolo Pascual finished 10k sub-60. I tried contacting TL Drew but I later found out he left the race early too.

 

Get the lootbag full of flyers!!

Overall, it was still a nice experience but I would rarely be participating in afternoon fun runs.

Worst Run of 2011: 9th Animo Run 2011

Last Dec. 4, DLSU Running Club organized the 9th Animo Run 2011. For the ninth year, this fundraising run aims to generate funds for charity.

  

with Emon who ran his first 10k in this run

I originally planned this run to be my first 10k but another fund raising run came and I was enlisted in 10k category and I decided to take the challenge so this became my 2nd 10k run. I wasn't really expecting a superbly organized run since only students organized this run but the failure to plan and coordinate logistics of the race cannot be excused. I was only planning to run with my DLSU Alumni Friends but some Pex Runners decided to join too, which was a welcome addition to this run's experience.

At Chikka.com Back drop

Token start/finish line photo

What was wrong with this?

1. Late Gun Start.
2. No Hydration until the end of the run and if you fell behind, you wouldn't had gotten any hydration.
3. No marshals, at all. The route passed by another fund raising run and the route included going through a crowd of Red Cross Million Runners run.
4. The host acted like drunken kids. I know they are kids but this is a professional event.
5. I had to go back the registration venue to get my timing chip which was really an inconvenience.

Group Picture with PEx Runners

It was a fun experience nonetheless as I was able to run with DLSU alumni friends and Pex running Club members. I would, however, think twice before joining this again.

Credits to Emon and Cath for the photos.

Running for Tuloy Kids: Michelle Estuar's Fund Racing (My First 10k)

I did my First 10k in Michelle Estuar's Fund Racing.

 

Fund Racing Poster

I registered for 5k but I was assigned to 10k. I decided to take on the challenge. I was planning to do my first 10k on Dec. 4 (Animo run) anyway.

I ran with Miguel who paced with me until the hills of Ultra and he left us right after. My running buddy Dom ran 5k. I finished fast with I guess was actually less than 10k.

 Ran this road twice from greentenial

It was a great event. I was able to see Team Titans and was able to be included in their photo ops.

 with Team Titans from Titan Runner

I hope there would be more charity runs like this where racing is all about a cause, not about the organizer, the singlet or the freebies.

HSBC Anniversary Run 2011

My November run was the HSBC Anniversary Run 2011, a fun run to celebrate its anniversary by supporting Aklat Sisikat Foundation (SAS) is a non-profit professional Philippine organization that promotes the love and habit of reading in Filipino children.

Photo at the Starting Line from Cath

I ran with Cath and Dom (who was late) in the 5k category of this race. It was also Gee Ar's first 10k race so we didn't see each other until the end of the race. This was an aimless run and my pacer Speedy Dom wasn't there so I didn't really achieve another PR. It was my first time running a race in MOA, though. The Jose Natori singlet didn't hug my body well so I initially wanted to wear my MH Urbanathlon shirt but Cath urged me to wear it so I wore it over this shirt.

After Race Photo from Dom

It was a fun race but it was just okay for me.

Setting my 5k PR: 2011 Adidas King of the Road

Adidas King of the Road is a championship race that was held in various places in Asia like Simgapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. the Philippine leg was the culminating race where other Asians had qualified to join.

Pre-Race

After my un-eventful performance in AXN runs Philippines, I made it a goal to finish 5k in less than 30 minutes. My training goes like this:

Tuesday - 10 x 30 secs at 90% effort
Thursday - 5 x 800m at 5k pace
Weekend - Slow Running in 60 to 80 minutes

At KOTR 2011

I pretty much followed this training plan but I rested 2 days before the race. This run also required its participants to register and pay online. So we had to go to a pre-event event to claim all the race kits. It turns out that the singlet is too big and you can't change it to the size that fits you. You had to buy another one for P500. I didn't have extra budget to buy one so I didn't get one even if my singlet was too big for me.

Race

In the Running Zone

When I woke up, I started meditating by saying "I will be finishing 5k in less than 30 minutes" over and over again as advised by Coach Ani de Leon from a Multisport 101 event. I hailed a cab extra early as I was expecting a lot of people since this was a big running event. And just in time since the baggage counter was hard to find and was included in the 2nd wave of 5k. I ran with Dom and her sister since Gee Ar was included in wave 1. Part of the obstacle in running this trying to pass the crowds who block the roads. I did speed up so I would be able to get in front of the pack. The training paid off and I finished at around 28 minutes and achieved my 5k Personal Record (PR).

Post-Race

All finishers was able to receive a very thick medal which as Gee Ar says can be used as a weapon against villains. We had a messenger style loot bag with freebies from all the sponsors. I got to see swimming buddy Christian there who was also getting addicted with Running.

PEx Runners waiting for CJ to finish 21k

Everywhere the venue, running teams' presence was very much felt and so many runners joined this run that it was a great venue to meet other PEx runners by having breakfast in Market! Market!

Finisher's Medal

I would believe that Adidas KOTR 2011 is the best race of the year. It was really organized and worth every peso. I just hope that next year they would support a charity.

How Ortigas tortured me? AXN Runs Philippines 2011

From a 3 week business trip, I went back to running in Fun Run events in the AXN Runs Philippines that was held last September 18, 2011. I joined the 5k category which meant this was my fourth 5k run.

 5K Runner

 Nung una, okay pa yung road eh.. But towards the end, uphill was torture.

 with Running buddies: Dom and Lee

I was gunning for a sub-30 5k but I didn't really seriously train as I was only running aimlessly around my hotel. So I wasn't able to achieve that goal. Plus, the route was deadly with the uphill near Home Depot. I ran with Dom and Lee in this event. I tried to pace with injured Dom but he was still so fast that I couldn't catch him (Adik lang si Dom na kahit injured eh naka-sub 30 pa rin). There was also a lot of people who ran this event so we started walking at gun start. It was my first time to experience that so that was really annoying.

Highlight of the Post race activities

Post race wasn't that exciting as we got a boring loot bag containing only a box of Athena, a specialized milk for women. The highlight of the post race festivities was the Enervon-C booth where we played the ball catching game with enthusiastic cheerleaders cheering you on. There were a great number of runners too that why the freebies ran out.

Overall, this race was okay. the route was challenging but the start and finish is too congested for that many runners.

Credits to Andrew, Dom and AXN for the photos

Takbo.ph Runfest: My Third 5k

Back in July 2011, I joined the third Takbo.ph Runfest. The run was the celebration of anniversary of the premiere run site of the Philippines, takbo.ph.

Thirdy in Action at Takbo.ph Run Fest

Being new in the running community, the takbo.ph runfest experience was refreshing since there are people who had formed and flourished friendships through the passion of running. The run featured marshals who cheered you on and hydration of powerade or water.

 

Hanapin niyo ko sa Takbo.ph Run Fest

This was Dom and Gee Ar's first run so I decided to pace with them but Dom turned out to be really fast so I tried to catch him while Gee Ar left us by running slower.

Post Race with Dom and Gee Ar

The run didn't have a lot of sponsors but this is the first time I earned my first finisher's medal and it was such a rush to get a reward from finishing a 5k course.

My First Finisher's Medal

This run had a lot of mishaps like some runners being led to the wrong route and race results being erased but the overall experience was still great since it was a celebration of running and friendships formed due to running.

My MH Urbanathlon 2011 experience

MH Urbanathlon is the only run with obstacles in the Philippines so I didn't pass by the chance to join it. I planned to train for this one but I wasn't able to so I just winged it.

I ran with fellow urbanathlon newbies, Dom, Lee and JR. It was a fast paced run where we had to stop to do obstacles then do more face paced runs.

Obstacles and the Race

The first of which was the UP and Down Obstacle where we had to go up a block.

 

Up and Down Obstacle started with going up a block 

Then, we had to crawl down a net.

Urbanathletes crawling down a net

Then we went up and down a platform.

 

MH urbanathletes walking on a platform

Lastly, we had to jump over a hurdle. Then, went back to fast-paced running.

 

MH urbanathletes jumping over a hurdle.

The next obstacle was the Scaffolding Race. We had to go up and down, testing our flexibility.

 

The Scaffolding Obstacle

 After more running, we jumped over hurdles near the British School of Manila.

The fourth Obstacle was the Monkey Bars presented by Century Tuna. I feared this one the most but the marshals helped me crossed this obstacle so it wasn't that difficult after all.

A SM Model leading the pack in the monkey bars.

After more running, the last obstacle was the wall where we had to climb up a wall and climb back down before sprinting to the finish line.

That's me climbing up the wall

Overall, it was great experience I would want to to again. According to people who ran the race last year, this year's urbanathlon was a great improvement. I will run this race again next year!

PEx Urbanathles

Post Race

After the race, we met the other Pex Running Club members, Noah, Nollie and Cath to have breakfast with the runners who ran Unilab Run 3 and we had lunch at Gerry's (PRC's favorite hangout).

PEx Urbanathletes meet PEx RU3 Runners

I love the medal's lanyard that I decided to use it in work everyday but I got 2 copies of November to January issues.

 Finisher's Medal

My 2011 Christmas Wish List

It's that time of the year yet again.

My most favorite time of the year. CHRISTMAS, the season where I get to give and receive gifts.

This entry enumerates this year's wish list.

• CirqFit Passes from Gym FTX or Circuit Training Passes from 360 Fitness. 

FTX December Promo

• Closed Cap - I know di na uso pero inarbor kasi yung closed cap ko kaya I want a new one pwede rin kahit hindi. Black, Grey or Blue.
 

 

Closed Cap from Google

• Boxer Brief. Size 30-32 (Medium) Handford Ice ang Brand ko. - Got one pero I want more. :)

Hanford Ad from Google

• Slacks/Chinos. Black, Blue, Grey or Beige. Size: 30 Straight Cut
 

Slacks from Google

• Long Sleeves. Slim Fit Small. checkered or Stripes only. Color na bagay sa kulay ng Pinoy. - Got two pero I want more
 

Checkered Long Sleeves from Google

• Nathan Hydration Belt pang LSD 

 

From Google

• Blender - Sira na kasi yung amen - I got this already... Yung Rice Cooker naman!

Blender from Google

• Rice Cooker - Luma na kasi yung amen

 

Rice Cooker from Google

• Gift Certificate - Pwede na rin Cash... Pambayad ng Bills...

Gift Certificates from Sodexo

360 Fitness Club Challenge: Things I get myself into

After my first urbanathlon finish, I went on a whim and tried the 360 Fitness Club Challenge. The challenge entailed an inidividual to do a circuit with a 12 lb kettlebell. Since the rest of our running buddies are still on the road, I said to myself, "Why not?" and signed up for the challenge.

 Unsuspecting Victim

The challenge

The challenge included 50 kettlebell swings, 25 squat-shoulder press combo on each side and 20 one sided squats. It looked easy but it really wasn't. Kettle bell swings were easy at the beginning but towards the end I could feel my body giving up. Then, I had to do the squat - shoulder press combo. I couldn't even control the kettle bell on the position the trainer told me to do. At the right side, I completed the 25 reps with the last 10 reps extremely wiggly. On the left side, I could only do 10 reps. Then I rested a lot and the trainer was already helping me to raise the kettle bell to a shoulder press. That was my limit.

 Kettle bell swings are not easy at all

More Swings you do that harder it becomes

To end the torture, I was finished 20 one sided squats. At that time, I was thinking about joining a gym again. Apparently, not following a regimen hadn't improved my muscles so at that time, I decided to join 360 Fitness Club by next year. I got vouchers from FTX and MAP so I have myself covered in attending gyms for the next 3 months.

 Resting at the combo

Struggling at that shoulder press

Trainer is already helping me

Come February though, I have to join a gym on the top of my list is 360 Fitness Club.