Of Cats and Dogs and an Afroman Distance

Not even the heavy outpour could stop the Run United 3 participants from running in the third leg of the Runrio trilogy. Amid the crazy weather, the event was still a big success, and I could now say I'm a convert of running in the rain.

Gun start of 32k runners was early at 3am. Unlike what I did last RU2 wherein I parked my car at Mall of Asia then took the shuttle to the BGC starting line, this time I did the opposite - I parked at BGC and made use of the baggage bus to bring my stuff to Mall of Asia. There were about 2800 registered runners in the Afroman distance, and everyone's excitement to complete the medal pie is just contagious.

I will be pacing my friend Ryan again, with a steady pace target of 6 mins per kilometer, or about 3 hours and 12 minutes of continuous running (my PR is 3:06 for 32k by the way). The race will maximize the roads of BGC before finally crossing Buendia flyover and head to Roxas Boulevard.

It was the wettest of all races I've ever participated in, and there were even times the strong winds were pushing us and slowing us down. We were basically on target until KM24, but the dreaded wall hit us KM25, and so we dropped to an average 7-pace on succeeding kilometers.

The Afroman Map

We clocked in at 3 hours and 25 minutes, shaving off around 40 minutes from Ryan's previous 32k PR. We were far from our original target, but that's still quite a feat!

Different categories merging at the final stretch

Almost at the finish!

Some race observations:

+ The addition of large labelled trash bins was a very welcome change to the race. It was now easier for runners to dispose of their cups after passing through hydration stations

+ Of course, hydration is overflowing (and with the help of the rain, some cups are being filled to the brim, hehe!) 

+ Claiming of finisher kits was organized (however, there were some runners who weren't able to get the finisher shirts of their choice, but will be provided to them at a later date)

+ Baggage counters were organized as well. I got my bag without the hassle of a long queue.

- One area of improvement is the placement of timing mats along the race route - it seems that there are a lot of areas where runners could cheat and do a shortcut. This could have been planned better.

After changing to dry clothes, I stayed for a while to hang out with some Team Titan friends, and of course some photo ops.

With Seph, Rolly and Ryan

With Seph and Arvin

And no race review will be complete without me plotting my race performance. Well, the red region says it all. LOL!

RU3 Performance Graph

To my friends' surprise, after the 32k race, I headed back to Manila Peninsula for the wedding preparations of my sister. Haha! Here's a happy family picture:

Congratulations, ate! You are now Mrs. Eileen Camarillo-Go!

Ready for RU3!

6 days to go before the third leg of Run United 2012! I'll be running the Afroman distance (32k).

Last September 9 (Sunday), I did my longest run on a treadmill this year - I covered 25 kilometers in 2 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds! With this, runner with bib# 890 is ready!

Crazy treadmill training - burned 1844 calories in the process

To the 2800 32k registered runners, good luck to us all! Hope this Sunday brings good weather and an injury-free run to everyone.

Oh and by the way, after the race, I'll be heading to my sister's wedding. I just couldn't miss running in RU3 that I had to get this in on my hectic weekend schedule.

Unilab Run United 3 Featuring the Afroman Distance on September 16, 2012

The most anticipated leg to the Run United Runrio Trilogy - Run United 3 featuring the Afroman 32k race distance category, is coming our way on September 16! Mark your calendars, everyone! This is gonna be big!

WHAT: Unilab Run United 3 2012
WHEN: September 16, 2012 (Sunday)
WHERE: Bonifacio Global City to Mall of Asia (21k and 32k), Mall of Asia (other distances)
RACE CATEGORIES: 500m dash for kids, 3k, 5k, 10k, 21k, 32k (Afroman distance)

REGISTRATION PERIOD: August 6 to September 2 (Online) / August 13 to September 8 (In-store)

ONLINE REGISTRATION LINK: https://register.bazumedia.com/reg/form?eventID=852

IN-STORE REGISTRATION CENTERS:
- Riovana BGC Branch
- Riovana Katipunan Branch
- Toby's SM Mall of Asia Branch
- Toby's Trinoma Branch

Registration Fees and Race Inclusions (Pre and Post-race)

Assembly and Gun Start Times

 PRE-RACE INCLUSIONS:

Run United 3 Singlet

Run United 3 Active Health Sun Visor

Wrist Tags for Parents and Runner Kids (for 500m Dash only)

Flyer for more information on the race

 POST-RACE GIVEAWAYS

32k Finisher Shirt

32k Finisher Medal

21k Finisher Shirt

21k Finisher Medal

Duffel Bag for all race finishers

RACE MAPS 

 

 

 

 

 

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

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

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

Another Running Spree at Run United 3
All set for the third leg of the Runrio Trilogy 2012 on September 16

Run United is back, after a nearly three-month break. And as the cliché goes, ‘the third time is a charm’. Last year, in fact, a record number of runners estimated at over 14,000 participated in Run United 3. 

Run United 3, the third leg of the Run Rio Trilogy, has always been much anticipated because it offers what is dubbed as the ‘Afroman distance’ or 32k category—not usually included in other run races. Of course, on top of the other race categories: the Ceelin 500m dash, 3k, 5k, 10k, and 21k.

“The 32k Afroman Distance in RU3 can be a preparatory race for the full 42.195km category in the upcoming 1st ever Run United Philippine Marathon slated on October 28. RUPM will still have the shorter categories: 500m dash, 3K, 5K, 10K, and 21K.” said Alex Panlilio, Head of Unilab Active Health (ULAH).

Meanwhile, according to premiere race organizer Coach Rio dela Cruz, the runners’ anticipation over Run United 3 will be all worth it as new features and surprises await them on September 16. For one, there will be new routes as well as different starting and finish lines again for Run United 3 in the 21K and 32K categories, like in the previous two races for 21K.

The 32K runners will have a gun start at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) starting at 3am, an hour ahead of the 21k runners. They will be led from BGC to take their first 10k in University Parkway area, then move up to Kalayaan Flyover. Then, they will go all the way down to Buendia, take left at Roxas Boulevard, turnaround taking the roads of Vicente Sotto, Diosdado Macapagal and on to EDSA before finally turning left at Seaside Boulevard for the finish at the Mall of Asia (MOA). 

The 21k will have an earlier gun start at 4am compared to Run United 2’s 430am. They will have the same route as the 32k runners, but instead of going to EDSA they will turn right after Macapagal Avenue, turning right at Seaside Boulevard and then all the way to the finish line in MOA. 

“Run United 3 runners will get to run across three cities— Taguig, Makati and Pasay. Based from the feedback we got from them, they really enjoyed the experience and the new routes. The earlier gun start of both race categories will give runners a safer route as well,” said Dela Cruz of RunRio Inc., the race organizer.

Online registration for Run United 3 started on August 6 and will continue until September 2, 2012. In-store registration will start on August 13 and will be up to September 9, 2012. Registration venues include Riovana in BGC and Katipunan, Quezon City; and Toby’s at SM Mall of Asia and Trinoma.

The runners will receive their complete race kits upon registration (Active Health Sun Visor, Singlet, Bib with B-Tag and wrist tag for 500m dash runners). The wrist tag for 500m dash kid’s runner which is usually given on race day will now be included in their race kits upon registration. 

Run United 3, which is for the benefit of Gawad Kalusugan and Children’s Hour, is part of the ULAH running series. Run United started with only 8,000 runners when it was launched in March 2010 and the numbers have steadily grown in succeeding events. An estimated 14,000 runners participated during its last offering— at 2012 Run United 2. 

Run United 1 on March 4 started off this year’s RunRio Trilogy, followed by Run United 2 last June 17. Runners who completed all the longest distances (21k-21k-32k) in all of the three Run United races will be recognized at the RunRio Trilogy Awards Night.  

Fun and exciting activities await runners and their family at the Active Health Village, new and bigger Active Kids Zone, Runners’ Lounge, I-Connect Zone, The Food Pavilion and Health, Sports, & Leisure Zones.

For further information or inquiries on race details, results, photos and discussions, please visit the following websites:  www.unilabactivehealth.com or www.runrio.com.