The North Face trail run in Nuvali is one of the best trail runs I have ever joined due to the following :

• Cheap registration fee.
• Near Metro Manila (no need to bring a tent or get a hotel room)
• Shuttle Service was provided (although I didn’t avail of this service)
• Nice race distance – although it would’ve been better if they had a 50k category  (something to look forward to in TNF Baguio)
• Ample water stations
• Lots of marshalls

TNF and PUR really did a great job with this one; the trail wasn’t that difficult but it gave people like me who haven’t hit the trail in quite a long time just the right dose of endorphins

Congratulations to TNF and PUR for a job well done.

The 22k starting line. The race started at 5:45 am instead of 5:15.

The Dawn

Blue Skies

(Road) signs of the times

George of Team Hardcore - he covered more than 22KM as he was running back and forth the trail. IDOL!!!

Nice view! Never mind the runner, hehehe

This pair used to be color gray ....

The second river crossing - view from the top

Nice stairs

There were a few of these rock formations along the trail ... I miss trekking

It has been a well documented observation in the  running community that organizing races has turned into a profitable business with some organizers more interested in making a quick buck rather than satisfying their participants. That is the reason why starting this year, I am choosing the races that I join (and being a bandit with the rest, hehehe). I know that quality has an expensive price tag that goes with it ; so even if I had hesitations in joining this race due to the expensive registration fee , I still joined the 42K event and I’m glad that I did.

Fireworks lit up a seemingly cold and tense morning where the 42K runners were preparing for the end of the countdown that would start the event. This is a refreshing scene compared to the usual Sunday morning race start.  Everybody was happy and excited to run!

The challenging but enjoyable part of the race started early on as we ran around the Fort area , claiming one ascent after another before we scaled the Kalayaan flyover towards Buendia – this part of the route was dark since the streets we traversed had no lamp posts on it.

The vertical path which was the Kalayaan flyover as well as the rest of the Makati area was well lit and lively with the presence of various bands along the route – I was particularly energized upon reaching the corner of Buendia and Pasong Tamo when the Philippine Army band played the theme song of the movie The Magnificent Seven –  I felt like Yul Brynner  riding his horse, hehehe!

Upon entering the skyway, I said to myself – “Finally!” and took the most challenging path of my asphalt loving career. The ambience on the skyway was cool, exciting and bright …. Did I say bright? I thought it was, but somebody turned off the lights! Running the skyway was reminiscent of running Lawton Avenue about an hour ago – dark!

When the sun  finally rose,  the view from up there was spectacular, it’s different when you’re running it compared to just driving through it.

When we reached the turn around point near the Bicutan exit, I felt a bit sad because this feeling of enlightenment is half-over. It  didn’t also help that there were  small specks of matter floating in the atmosphere which some runners have inhaled and worse – ingested.

Just as I thought that the challenging part was over comes the most difficult ascent of this race – Condura hill. Well, like what most runners did , I just simply walked this part and enjoyed the view, I even took some pictures while I was at it. The sun was already up at this time as I saw it took its toll on the band that was supposed to perform the lively music for us runners.

Then came the sign at the bottom of the skyway which read “Congratulations, you have conquered the skyway!”. At  least now, I can say that I have completely conquered it  compared to just half of it last year.

… and there it was , on my return trip I met the generous souls  of Takbo.PH and Reinier Pacific. The banana I got from them gave me a boost that I was able to run up to Makati  Avenue.

After the short lived energy burst,  I jogged /walked until the finish line. I finished the race in 5:46. 12 minutes slower compared to my first marathon.

All in all, this was a fun race : very unique and challenging route , water trucks, long water/hydration tables, sponges , fire works  and bands. Did I say it was a race? Oh, I thought it was a party .

Condura Village the day before the race

Along the Magallanes area

Blue skies ...

Condura Hill

Another view of Condura Hill

Near the Bicutan Exit

I don’t usually bring an mp3 player, but it sure would’ve been nice to listen to this while running :

A short presentation for the 21K route was shown, and I’d like to say…I think there’s a formula to everything, especially running (even if I’m just a recreational runner / enthusiast). You don’t just run, because you’ll only end up injuring yourself…just an observation = )

The Century Tuna goodie bag was the second one I’ve received (the first coming from RunnerSpeak for the video below…)

Check out details from my first Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010 entry

Derek Ramsay, Crazy Grace, and the Ladies from World Wide Fund
for Nature (Chrisse Olayres, Mayj Tolentino, and Joanne Ignacio).

With the strong CAMANAVA Runners

50K in 7:56:40

When we arrived at the Bataan shrine in Mariveles, it felt quite different, considering that the first time I have been here , it was dark … because the 1st BDM strarted at midnight.

The 1st 7 kilometers were well, very difficult, most runners (me included) walked the up hills.  We were very lucky last Saturday that the weather was a bit overcast, because had it been sunny all throughout, I may not have been able to finish the race.

Now I understand what Isko says when he speaks about attitude and mental toughness … having completed a couple of full marathons, I thought that running for 8 more kilometers would be easy – I was wrong!

My easy pace became  difficult,  my target times – lost … I was worried that after 4 hours, I haven’t even reached the 30 KM mark. In fact, I had doubts that I will be able to complete this daunting task.

Then, it all came to me – the reason why we were all doing this :  to pay tribute to those brave souls who marched these same streets of death more than half a century ago.

After all, who am I compared to them? What is running a mere 50 kms compared to the distance our martyrs have traveled? Who am I to complain?

102 kilometers may just be a moment in a poet’s play, but for me this is as real as it gets.

Pardon me for my un-educated question, but why is it that races tend to be more expensive when  there are brand sponsors ?

I mean, what is the point of having them if the runner pays for the entire shindig anyway ?

And honestly, how much really goes to the selected beneficiary ?

I was supposed to do a single loop around MOA and then to CCP, knowing that the Black Nazarene was in Quirino grandstand and that there will be a lot of devotees there.

But then again, when I met Ian who was about to start his bike training, I changed my mind and eventually ended up going to the Quirino  grandstand anyway.

 I have been to the Quirino grandstand a lot of times before, but this is the only time that the atmosphere was so solemn.

Devotees on their way to the Quirino Grandstand - Most of them are barefoot

Mass

After running, I returned to MOA but ended up limping again, this was due to the blister on my left big toe. Since I didn’t anticipate a long distance run, I just used ordinary cotton sports socks when I should have used running socks instead. ( I only use them during races since they are a bit expensive).

The thing about running socks is that it provides proper cushioning (that is why they are left / right foot specific), it wicks away moisture and most importantly, they don’t have extra threads protruding near the toe area. – I think that was what caused the blister on my foot.

Nike Running Socks

Nike Elite Running Socks - No Show

Don’t get me wrong, ordinary cotton sports socks work for me for distances  up to 10 miles.

I was about to call it quits after 20km but I ran (pun intended) into Ian (he is running this time, after 60km of bike training)  who convinced me to do another 2km. He then treated me to some snacks before we ran our final kilometer together.

It would have been great if I could still accompany him for a few more kilometers but the blister won’t let up

All systems go for tonight's concert at the Mall of Asia

Ne-Yo's Poster at the entrance

Good luck to all the participants of the Cebu Marathon!

My first pair was the Adidas Adizero Mana, it worked well for me. In fact, I still have it with me and it almost looks brand new since I wasn’t able to use it that much since I immediately increased my mileage  so that I could run the Condura half-marathon a few months after.

While training for my first half marathon until I completed my first full marathon, I was using the Asics Gel Cumulus Eight – for me, this was the perfect pair, it carried me through new heights during the Condura half-marathon in the skyway, the dust of the 1st BDM 102 while we were pacing Isko and finally,  the cool asphalt layers of the SCTEX during my first marathon.

.. and just like any other pair of running shoes, it has already reached its maximum mileage. After 10 months of sweat and pain,  I have retired it after running the Subic International Marathon – a fitting end for a shoe so great.

Since we were in Subic at the time, we decided to drop by the Nike depot and there I found my new running partner – the Nike Structure Triax 12  (and it was on sale!) .

I was so excited with this pair, thinking it will outperform my old Asics.  So when it was time for the Pasig International Marathon, I put on this pair with much gusto – it felt good at first; but after around 25 kms of running , I felt a pain in my inner foot, just below my right ankle.

After the race, I ended up with a very big blister in that area of my foot – an area that used to be blister free. I thought it was because I haven’t  broken it completely yet. But after almost 300 kilometers of running, the blister machine is still at it.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the new pair is an excellent shoe, except for its blister-creation mechanism.

I wonder if there are any other Nike Triax users who has the same problem ?

Anyway, this is how I feel when running with Asics:

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I haven’t had any training and running in awhile, and what better way to start the year right? By training and being fit and healhty! Derek Ramsey will be there, together with the Century Tuna Bods Finalists. A photo booth will be installed and serve as a go-see for interested participants who want to qualify as one of the next Century Tuna image models! If you think you have what it takes, then join in on the race and have your picture taken as well!

Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010

There will also be fun and interesting activities after the race, only happening at The Fort, Global City, with 3km, 5km, 10km, and 21km distances to be covered. Don’t forget the date: February 21, 2010, and don’t forget the event: Century Tuna Superbods Run 2010!

RockEnRun would like to thank RunnerSpeak and Century Tuna for their bag of goodies! Watch them on Sunday, January 10, on QTV, at 1445H-1515H for details. Also, check out Nuffnang’s post for more details or visit Century Tuna’s Official Website!

Here’s a good 90’s beat to jumpstart my training in getting ready for this run:

]]> http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/century-tuna-superbods-run-2010/feed/ 5 http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/a-good-running-year/ http://rockenrun.com/2010/01/03/a-good-running-year/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:46:08 +0000 bolt http://rockenrun.com/?p=781 2009 was a good running year for me … I have joined a lot of races and have completed 2 full marathons before my 1st year running anniversary – a feat that I thought wasn’t possible due to the corporate-sponsored stress which was given to me for free.

.. and what better way to end it than to run two half marathons (NB and Philstar), an unplanned trail run and the Rizal day 32km run.

Happy new year!

I have resigned from work, tho, and I MIGHT just have enough time to run every morning before I start on my freelance web projects. All that will have to wait, until I finish what I am busy with right now. The past several weeks had mainly consisted of me hosting the Friendster Live Sessions: The Bar Tour, while working on pending personal projects and freelance web work that I want to finish before the year ends.

Hail 2010! As for now, check out some of my gigs with friends on the following dates found below. Next week, I am back to running! Wooohoooo!!!!!

Support me and my friends on the following dates: FREE ENTRANCE! GAMES AND PRIZES TO BE WON! Party the night away, ladies and gents!

Chill out at Friendster Live Sessions, the Bar Tour, from December 3 to 19. Catch the hottest bands live at the Food Parks, Food Patio, Food Odyssey, Franky’s, Torio’s, Mediterranean, 1962 Bar, Jimmy’s Bar, Chatterbuzz and G-Mix. Friendster Live Sessions is brought to you by Premiere Condoms, Modess, and Dream TV!

1. December 3, 2009
Location: GT Towers, Ayala
Bands Playing: Zynchro, The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies

2. December 4, 2009
Location: PBCom Tower, Ayala
Bands Playing: Salt n Pepper, Paraluman

3. December 4, 2009
Location: LKG Towers, Ayala
Bands Playing: Zynchro, Paraluman

4. December 5, 2009
Location: Franky’s, Katipunan
Bands Playing: August Rush, Ecoustic

5.December 10, 2009
Location: Torio’s, Timog Avenue
Bands Playing: August Rush, Zynchro

6. December 11, 2009
Location: Mediterranean, Filinvest, Alabang
Bands Playing: 7Seasons, Blue Ketchup, The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies

7. December 12, 2009
Location: 1962 Bar, Timog Avenue
Bands Playing: The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies, Blue ketchup

8. December 18, 2009
Location: Chatterbuzz, Malate
Bands Playing: The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies, Higher Ground

9. December 18, 2009
Location: Jimmy’s, Timog Avenue
Bands Playing: Saia Band, The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies

10. December 19, 2009
Location: G-Mix, Shaw Boulevard
Bands Playing: The Daughters aka Pin-Up Pixies, Higher Ground