711 Run 1000: A 21km "Recovery" Run

Sick before Cebu Marathon (January 12) - STRIKE 1.
Sick after Cebu Marathon and before 711 Run 1000 (January 19) - STRIKE 2.
Sick after 711 Run - STRIKE 3.

After STRIKE 3, I got confined in the hospital for three days.

I've been ignoring my on and off fever, sore throat, cough and colds with all the running mileage I've been collecting this January. I was self-medicating with lots of Bioflu and Biogesic and even decided to intake 1-week worth of antibiotics before the 711 Run. All these took their toll on my body which never fully recovered, thus the morning of the 25th of January, I was rushed to the ER. My tonsils were swollen and I had high fever. It was difficult to even swallow and I can barely talk.

My CBC results indicated my white blood cell count was beyond the normal range - WBC count is at 23,500 versus the normal range of 5,000 to 10,000 only. The doctor explained this was already in septic level, or sepsis of the blood, and the bacteria in my blood is way too much that it had to be treated with a very strong antibiotic which will be injected directly to my veins. Slowly, I felt better and after 3 days of confinement, I was discharged. It was recommended by my doctor for me to take a week rest, while continually taking the prescribed antibiotics for another 5 days. Next week, I'm hoping and praying for a full recovery. I miss running and I miss the gym and I miss the company of friends.

Well enough of the drama. I just wanted to justify the delay of my 711 Run post-race blog. Haha!

So let's flashback to the events the day of January 19:

I arrived at a very early 3AM at Aseana and to my surprise, no more slots at the parking lot across McDonald's. I settled to the next available parking area which is across DFA. Met Team Banana Becky Runner, Syril and Wyatt. Agreement was to wear the Cebu Marathon finisher shirt but Wyatt did not follow instructions. Haha!

We were hanging around and relaxing at McDonald's, confident that the starting area was just nearby (We assumed it was similar to Sante Barley Domination Run's starting area) but we were dead wrong! It was probably a 500-meter distance away from our assumed starting line. Our warm-up jog became a fast-paced run as we heard the gun start from afar. It took us about 3 minutes before crossing the starting line arc.

It was a never-ending zigzagging, overtaking fellow 21k runners left and right. But with 4500 registered 21k participants, overtaking was just plain hell. Becky Runner and I lost Syril as he sped off.

Halfway through the race (at the Cavitex Road), Becky Runner told me to go ahead. I was still eyeing a sub-2 finish but I was not that expectant given I know that going back would mean multiple merges with lower distance categories would make it more difficult to run. 21k runners had to battle it out for road space with 16k, 10k, 5k and 3k runners on their respective U-turn spots.

Action shot courtesy of Faces of the Race. Thanks for the capture!

The good thing though, is that amidst the sheer number of runners, the weather was cool and hydration is abundant (though the variety of sports drinks could mean trouble to runners' tummies). Disappointing for me though is that a number of participants (who might be newbies) are not following basic running etiquette - runners doing abrupt stops, walkers walking side by side eating up road space, runners overtaking and eating up the lane of runners already on their way back. Well, with 17000 total runners, this is probably something difficult to control.

I crossed the finish line with a chip time of 1 hour, 57 minutes and 31 seconds, meeting my sub-2 target. This is actually the first time I did a 21k a week after doing 42k. I used to think people who do this are crazy. So I'm crazy after all. LOL!

Simple yet nice looking finisher medal. 

Team MAMAWS! From L-R: Cholo, Jaycee, Archie, Wyatt, me, JP and Rolly (Photo courtesy of Cholo)

Team BANANA! Team CEBU! Hahaha! Or Team BLACK (Photo courtesy of JP)

Team LOYCE! Celebrity Barefoot Runner Loyce and fans (Photo courtesy of JP)

Team BIRDIES / Team SURVIVOR - Thirdy, CJ and Junjun (Photo courtesy of JP)

Post-race breakfast at KFC with Team SCR (Photo courtesy of Wyatt)

Results were released a couple of days after, which is a quick turnaround given the large number of participants. Official results may be viewed at http://www.myrunti.me/race/Run1000/

Top 9.5% ain't bad!

Kudos to 711 for staging an organized, massive event such as 711 Run 1000. Congratulations as well on your 1000th store. We're all looking forward to next year's edition!

711 Run 1000 on January 19, 2014

WHAT: 711 Run 1000
WHEN: January 19, 2014 (Sunday)
WHERE: Aseana City / Cavitex
RACE CATEGORIES: 3km, 5km, 10km, 16km and 21km

711 Run 1000 Assembly and Gun Start Times

ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY at: http://www.run711.com/

REGISTRATION FEES:
- 3km: P400
- 5km: P500
- 10km: P600
- 16km: P700
- 21km: P800

INCLUSIONS:
- Singlet
- Race Bib with timing chip

711 Run 1000 Singlet Design

POST-RACE:
- Finisher Medals for ALL categories
- Finisher shirt for ALL categories

711 Run 1000 Finisher Medal Design

711 Run 1000 Finisher Shirt Design

RACE MAP:

711 Run 1000 Race Map

711 Run 800: A Photo Blog

Everyone's ranting about how the 711 Run 800 race got postponed a number of times, with participants refunding due to race and schedule conflicts or just for the loss of interest and trust that the organizers will still be able to push through with the event. In my humble opinion, the organizers behind this race more than made up for the postponement hassles. It was a great start-of-the-year race for me. New route, overflowing hydration and more importantly, a number of volunteers, race marshals and medic along the course.

This is my first race this 2013, with my last running event way back October 2012's Run United Philippine Marathon. I rested for two months to nurse my injured right ankle. Come to think of it, what a crazy comeback run doing 21k! I made sure though that this will just be an LSD, so I told my running blogger friend CJ (Run Adobo King) that I'll just pace with him all throughout.

And since we're on LSD-mode, I brought my phone with me and be on photographer-mode as well. So I'll share my race experience through the pictures I captured during the event. Here goes:

I arrived and had a bit of trouble finding a parking slot, but alas, the road near DFA became one big parking space. I met CJ and Thirdy and passed by the race kit claiming area/on-site registration booth.

The stage is set! We were surprised that the starting area of the race was still far from the race village. We had a bit of warm-up and realized we were already a few minutes late for the gunstart. 21k runners were already off. Running host greeted us as we crossed the starting line area.

As we started the race, I was excited to be running on new ground. Along Coastal Road, road cones were placed  to give runners an entire lane for safe running. Kilometer markers were aptly placed as well.

With the recent incident in PSE Bull Run, I was not surprise to see a lot of medical personnel along the route. They particularly paid attention to this critical part of the race.

I had to have a photo in the Coastal Road toll gate area. This area is prohibited for runners so this day's a first!

The race progressed and we got to the pivotal part of the race route which is in Cavitex. I got to see a number of familiar faces already going back. At half-way point is another photo opportunity! Haha!

Sorry, blurry shot by tired CJ! Running in Cavitex is fun!!!

Here's the end of Cavitex. We're about to go back to Coastal Road to retrace our way back to the finish line. The sun is rising! Oh no, heat! Haha!

At the flyover, we had to take a picture with Cavitex as the background. That's where we ran!

Another shot at the flyover. Vehicle volume now increasing as we were heading back.

Can't get enough of the toll gate. LOL!

Medics treating a runner who was suffering a bad case of cramps.

Almost at Macapagal! The shadows of walkers - me and CJ!

With a few meters separating the hydration stations, it was really great to see different hydration brands in one race event. I think 711 is the only one that can pull this off. FIRST STOP: POWERADE!

SECOND STOP: GATORADE!

THIRD STOP: POCARI SWEAT! I don't see any possibility of someone dehydrating with the overflowing hydration.

We crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 48 minutes. The last wave of 3k runners were just sent off as we finished the race. There were a lot of runners going around the race village. There were a lot of sponsor booths and freebies!

Among a number of sponsor booths, there's only one that caught my attention: ENERVON HP! This is my favorite recovery drink. I think I had four cups of their delicious chocolate drink here. :)

Happy Runners! Everyone had a blast in 711 Run 800!

Me, CJ and Thirdy having our post-race breakfast at McDonalds.

With the event's success, I'm sure there'll be a repeat of the 711 Run, and I'll be one of the first to register for it. Congratulations to the organizers! 

711 Run 800: Running Cavitex

In celebration of 711's 800th store, our favorite convenience store is bringing runners to a different race location: Cavitex! With 5 different categories to choose from, everyone gets to traverse a route not normally open for running.

WHAT: 711 Run 800: Takbo Para sa Kalusugan
WHEN: August 26, 2012 (Sunday) - NEW DATE: October 14, 2012 (Sunday) - NEW DATE: January 20, 2013 (Sunday)
WHERE: ASEANA, Paranaque (Race route at Cavitex)
CATEGORIES: 3k, 5k, 10k, 16k and 21k

REGISTRATION PERIOD: July 6 to September 28
REGISTRATION METHOD: ONLINE at http://www.run711.com/registration/start/

Three Steps:
1. Register online.
2. Pay at your chosen 711 store within 24 hours of registration.
3. Claim race kit at the date indicated on your registration receipt.

Registration fees

With a targeted 50,000 runners, gun start will be organized in waves, with assembly time and gun start times indicated on the table below. (WAVE DEFINITIONS: COMPETITIVE – you are going for speed, ADVANCED – you've done races before, BEGINNER/CASUAL – its your first or second time to race)

Assembly and Gun Start Times

Each race category has an assigned color. It would be fun to see runners donning different colored singlets on race day.

Singlet design and color assignments (subject to singlet size and availability)

All race finishers get a free shirt and drinks.

Finisher shirt design

RACE MAP

A new and exciting race route for all runners!

With high prizes at stake, I'm sure a lot of elite runners and Kenyans will be running this event. And with the mostly flat course, I smell new PRs brewing! The winners of the 21k category get to run in Macau International Marathon on December 2012 for free!

Cash prizes for top 3 winners of each race category

ADVOCACY:

"Takbo para sa Kalusugan", wherein cities within Luzon (where 7-Eleven stores are located) have a chance of receiving support for its feeding programs and medical missions. During race registration, registrants are required to input the location they would want to help. The top three cities will receive support - P400,000, P300,000 and P100,000, respectively. 

RACE TRIVIA:

This will be the first time different hydration partners have sponsored one running event. Pocari Sweat, Powerade and Gatorade sports drinks will be on various parts of the race route. Good luck to our tummies! Haha!

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UPDATE (August 9, 2012)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF EVENT POSTPONEMENT

********************************

7-Eleven Run 800 has been postponed to October 14, 2012. Heavy rains brought about by the recent typhoon have delayed ongoing maintenance works on the CAVITEX. 

We ask for your understanding as the safety of our participants is our foremost priority. In addition, it we intend to stay true to our promise to give our runners the best possible race experience  they deserve. 

Rest assured that those who cannot join the race on the new date will be refunded their Registration Fee. To apply for a refund, please visit www.run711.com/refund

Participants who have already paid for registration will remain registered unless a refund is requested. However, if you can no longer join the race because of the new schedule, you may opt to get a refund on your Registration Fee. 

Please note that Race Kits will be distributed as planned. The schedule for claiming is as follows: 

RACE KIT CLAIMING SCHEDULE:

PAID BY START OF CLAIMING             

July 31 August 13

August 1 to 10 August 20

August 11 to 31 September 10

September 1 to 28 October 8 

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UPDATE (September 23, 2012)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF EVENT POSTPONEMENT

********************************

Run 800 Postponed to January 20, 2013

With the recent rains that brought about floods and road damages in many parts of Manila, 7-Eleven Run 800, set on the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), is postponed to Sunday, January 20, 2013. This is to ensure that all roads to be used are safe for all participants.

Registered runners (paid) are Invited to join the run on this new date. If the new date is not favorable, please see Refunds page for procedures.

Thank you for your understanding.