Press Release: #NatGeoRun2014

*** Press Release ***

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL RUNS STRONG WITH EARTH DAY RUN YEAR 5!

On April 27, 2014, National Geographic Channel (NGC) renews its commitment to the environment by celebrating this year’s Earth Day (which falls on April 22 globally) with another round of its wildly successful Earth Day Run. Now on its fifth year, Earth Day Run is expected to attract 12,000 running enthusiasts of all ages and fitness levels to participate for the good of the environment.

Earth Day Run has consistently been besting its record for number of participants, with last year’s expected number of 10,000 runners demolished by an actual registered 12,000 participants. NGC hopes to replicate that success for Earth Day Run 2014 by registering 12,000 runners in the 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K categories, including a new fifth category of 42K designed to draw the most physically fit and expert runners in the country. The event itself is considered one of the biggest runs in the Philippines.

This year, NGC is working once again with its environmental partner, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to make a solid difference in the Philippines’ environmental footprint and give sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. Last year, the two organizations used proceeds of the Earth Day Run to plant P1 million worth of fruit-bearing trees in the Abuan watershed in Isabela, in the Sierra Madre region. Besides partial reforestation of this important resource, local farmers were given the privilege to own and care for the trees as well as harvest their fruits for their income. In 2014, NGC promises to raise money  for WWF’s Bancas For The Philippines project, which aims to train fishermen affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) last November 2013 in the making and use of fiberglass boats for artisanal fishing. These boats are designed to withstand the onslaught of typhoons to ensure that the fishermen can continue with their livelihood in any event.

March 17, 2014 - Bloggers at the #NatGeoRun2014 Media Launch held at Vyne, BGC

WWF’s experts will train fishermen on site and help them build the fiberglass boats while reducing the use of sawn timber and plywood, in the hopes that the communities can produce one boat per day. Many fishermen were left with no sources of income when their boats were destroyed by Haiyan, and so this project is a significant step toward the rehabilitation of communities in Palawan, which was ravaged by the typhoon last November but slow to receive relief due to the sheer number of islands in central Philippines that needed to recover from the devastation. Earth Day Run 2014 aims to help these fishermen directly with the sharing of climate-smart technology that will help them recover their livelihood, as well as decrease the fishing pressure on our seas that have been heavily exploited by commercial fishing by promoting artisanal fishing for small-scale fishermen.

Earth Day Run uses recyclable materials for its race bibs and a “Zero Paper” registration process in the form of a Centralized Registration System, which National Geographic pioneered in the country. Participants can support the Haiyan rehabilitation efforts of NGC and WWF by signing up on www.natgeorun.com or visiting the sign-up booth at the Lower Ground floor of SM Aura from March 1 to April 20. Finishers of the longer races of 21K and 42K can not only take pride in their physical victory and willingness to help Haiyan survivors and the environment, but they will also each be getting a medal and finisher’s shirt to commemorate their triumph.

Nearly four months after Typhoon Haiyan, those affected by it still need so much help, and it has become important to sustain the public’s interest in their rehabilitation. Earth Day Run 2014 invites all runners to register and do their part while enjoying the health benefits of good exercise and unity in supporting the survivors of one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country’s history.

See you there! I'm running 42k!

Pro-Earth Run on April 12, 2014

This 12 April 2014, 4:30AM, at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Earth Day Network Philippines stages its first-ever fun run, PRO-EARTH RUN 2014. An advocacy run to encourage people to Protect, Respect, and Oversee the sensible and sustainable care for Mother Earth, it is presented by Malungai Life Oil – an organic and all-natural highly concentrated extract obtained from Malunggay leaves and seeds (www.malungailifeoil.com) and UPS – United Parcel Service (www.ups.com).

WHAT: Pro-Earth Run
WHEN: April 12, 2014 (Saturday)
WHERE: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
RACE CATEGORIES: 3km, 5km, 10km

Registration Details:

Pro-Earth Run 2014 Registration Fee, Kit Inclusions and Gun Start Times

Pro-Earth Run 2014 Registration Process

Pro-Earth Run Sample SM Ticket Registration Stub

Pro-Earth Run 2014 Singlet Design and Size Chart

*** Press Release ***

EARTH DAY NETWORK PHILIPPINES' PRO EARTH RUN | 12 APRIL 2014 | BGC

In the year 2013, the Philippines has seen and experienced the worst of natural disasters. The country bore the brunt of a monster typhoon and a deadly earthquake that killed thousands and left billions of pesos in damage to infrastructure and properties.

Super Typhoon Yolanda alone, the strongest and most destructive cyclone to hit the Philippines in more than four decades, is now considered one of the four most powerful typhoons ever recorded in the world and the most intense to have made landfall.

Meanwhile, the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the provinces of Bohol and Cebu on Oct. 15, moved part of Bohol closer to Cebu by 55 centimeters; the tremor has generated more than 4,000 aftershocks too.

Challenging Realities
No stranger to catastrophic natural disasters, the Philippines was ranked as the third most disaster-prone country in the world because of its high exposure to natural calamities based on the World Disaster Report 2012 released in Brussels, Belgium. Another study also reported how the Philippines rocketed up the list of countries that are most vulnerable to disaster.

Given the Philippines’ intensifying vulnerability to natural disasters, now more than ever, Filipinos from all walks of life must make a conscious and concerted effort to become active environmental advocates.

Crusaders of Mother Earth
This 12 April 2014, 4:30AM, at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Earth Day Network Philippines stages its first-ever fun run, PRO-EARTH RUN 2014. An advocacy run to encourage people to Protect, Respect, and Oversee the sensible and sustainable care for Mother Earth, it is presented by Malungai Life Oil – an organic and all-natural highly concentrated extract obtained from Malunggay leaves and seeds (www.malungailifeoil.com).

A 3K, 5K, 10K race category event, PRO EARTH RUN is also supported by UPS, PCSO, First Gen, Merrell, Globe, The Body Shop, Holcim, The Free Food Co. Coco Dolce, Business Mirror, Malaya Business Insight, Business World, Manila Times, Circuit Magazine, 106.7 Energy FM, 107.5 Win Radio, SM Tickets, SM Cinema, Digi Post, and Mother Earth advocates and runners.

Earth Day Network Philippines is the local counterpart of the global Earth Day Network International. It is a network organization that campaigns for environmental citizenship, spearheading the annual April 22nd Earth Day Celebration by partnering with government agencies, non-government organizations, private corporations, academic institutions, religious groups, and environmental advocates (www.earthdayphilippines.org).

Go PRO-Earth. Now.
Typhoon Yolanda has taught us that we don’t stand a chance against nature’s sheer force.  And if we have learned our lesson well, we know by now that our only option against nature’s wrath is to go PRO-Earth, never against it.

Do join us in this endeavor. After all, "we make the world we live in and shape our own environment" (Orison Swett Marden).

Earth Day, Big Race

12,000 runners. 36,000 trees. This year's edition of the NatGeo Earth Day Run is its biggest yet. I was amazed at runners' clamor to participate on the race, with kits selling out even before the registration deadline. The promise of planting three trees for every registered runner was probably the event's biggest selling point. And how cool are the singlets with the yellow portrait frame?

Fresh from last week's Sole Racing, with my body feeling great after doing that sub-2 half mary, I felt confident that I can attempt a sub-2 again. The last time I did a back-to-back sub-2 was way back December 2011, and it would sure give me a boost if I could do a repeat.

I'll also try something new on this race - I won't take GU Roctane and I won't apply Bodivance - two of the things I always do on a 21k, and see how it affects my performance.

Early again at the assembly area, I met runner friends (my running buddy Ryan, who'll take it easy and just do an LSD, Rom and Joshua, who were about to pace with me, and officemates PB and Fez who are doing their first 21k, to be paced by Marte). In just a matter of minutes, the area was filled with 21k runners.

Strategy is to do what worked in Sole Racing - start slow, build up speed and run fast midway, and do a slower but steady pace at the end. It paid off, and I finished in 1:57:48, a minute faster than last week's! Woot, woot! Lesson learned: I don't need Roctane nor Bodivance. Just kidding!

Action shot courtesy of Manghusi

Some race notes:
+/- I love the race route - it was the classic 21k route utilizing Bayani Road and its killer rolling terrain. However, the 21k distance seemed lacking by 200-300 meters. I got the same feedback from fellow 21k runners who had GPS watches.
+ It was announced earlier that the race would not use plastic cups due to its Go Green advocacy. However during race day, there were plastic cups on hydration stations. Had they not changed their hydration strategy, it would have been a disaster especially with the volume of runners and the heat that day. So good thinking on the organizer's part! It was nice to see a number of runners who brought their own hydration bottles (I did too!) so it sort of minimized waste on the road.
+/- The organizer tried their best to keep the race village in organized sections as possible - separate section for claiming of sports drink, another section for finisher shirt, a separate one for the loot bags and one for the race certificate claiming. I'm lucky enough to finish the race early and claim everything without queuing, but the situation changed with the influx of runners. Long lines for everything. And with the sweltering heat, runners became agitated. Most disastrous place is the baggage area, wherein runners were already allowed to enter the restricted area and get their bags themselves, which was already prone to theft.
+ I love the Illest finisher shirt, just the design I wanted.

Overall, organizer Event King did the best that they could given the expanded scale of this year's Earth Day Run. Yes, there are quite a few improvement areas here and there, but the race advocacy outweighs them all, in my opinion. I was glad I participated and able to help in my own little way. Bring on EDR 2014!

With Fritz and Rolly

With Alpha1 teammates Barefootdaves and Coyote Marts

With Rom, Ryan and Coach Mherlz

119 out of 2540 21k runners - Top 4.7%

Official results are posted at http://www.strider.ph/races/56

NatGeo Earth Day Run on April 28, 2013

WHAT: National Geographic Channel Earth Day Run 2013

WHEN: April 28, 2013 (Sunday)

WHERE: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

RACE CATEGORIES: 3KM | 5KM | 10KM | 21KM

RACE ORGANIZER: Event King

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://natgeorun.com 

NatGeo Earth Day Run 2013 Assembly and Gun Times

REGISTRATION DETAILS:
ONLINE: March 15 - April 20, 2013 at http://natgeorun.com
ON-GROUND: March 18 - April 20, 2013 at the NatGeo Earth DayRun 2013 Registration Kiosk Ground Floor - Greenbelt 3 Mall, in front of the Asics store

Registration Fees and Race Inclusions

Singlet Design

EARTH-FRIENDLY RACE FEATURES:

- Race kits to be used will be made out of recycled materials
- Registration will be paper-less and will utilize the biometrics system of registration
- Marshals on event day will not be using motorbikes but bikes
- Water bottles will be given as part of the NatGeo race kit to encourage runners to use it in lieu of paper/plastic cups. Hydration stations will be available in the entire route to refill each participant’s water bottle.
- For each runner who registers for this event, 3 trees will be planted in his/her name

PRIZES:
Top finishers of the following categories will be awarded prizes:
- 3km Cherifer Premium
- 5km Open
- 10km Open
- 10km Elite
- 21km Open
- 21km Elite

RACE MAPS:

 

 

See you there! I'll be running 21k.

Nat Geo Earth Day Run Promo: And the Winners Are...

Thanks to everyone who joined my free race kit promo for the Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2012. Winners were selected via randomizer.org.

And the winners are:
3k - Rosemarie Beltran
5k - Cherry Rose Bonapus
10k - Angelo Custodio
21k - Mark Labit

Congratulations! You'll receive a separate email on how to claim your race kits courtesy of Nat Geo and Event King.

Winner Selection Screenshots

National Geographic Earth Day Run 2012

National Geographic Channel invites everyone to join Earth Day Run 2012, now on its 3rd year.

WHAT: Earth Day Run 2012
WHEN: April 22, 2012 (Sunday)
WHERE: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

REGISTRATION PERIOD: March 12, 2012 to April 15, 2012
ONLINE REGISTRATION: http://www.natgeorun.com/2012/
ONSITE REGISTRATION: Greenbelt 3, Ground Floor, Left Wing

Onsite registration booth at Greenbelt 3

Race Categories, Registration Fees, Shirt Colors, Assembly and Gun Times

Race Shirt
All participants will receive a limited edition NatGeo EDR Technical Shirt (color depending on race category).

Race Maps

My Worst Nightmare: Injury during the NatGeo Earth Day Run

It's every runner's nightmare to get injured during a race. I never imagined it happening to me, having been doing a lot of practice runs and gym workouts. But it did. And it hit me bigtime.

There are a number of factors that I consider before joining a particular race event. There's no doubt Runrio-organized ones are the best, so I usually join those. The advocacy behind the event would be another point I'd look at (a good sample of this is running to save the dolphins last Condura Run). And of course, the price of the registration fee. This is probably a wrong conclusion, but I usually equate high fees with high quality races - caused a lot of debate among runners (if you read various blog sites and forums), but it's something I believe in. That's the reason why I joined the National Geographic Earth Day Run, held at the Mall of Asia, over another Earth Day Run which was held at the Fort. Without timing chips or any race freebies, the reg fee was at P700 for the 10k category. This is the most expensive 10k race I've joined in to date. Well, it's National Geographic anyway, and they're giving away "technical shirts", for whatever reason they're called that way I don't want to know.

April 18, 2010 - Race Day. I headed to MoA, sporting my new, green Nike singlet and Mizuno running cap. I didn't wear the race shirt since I'm not comfortable running on sleeved tops. As you can see on the picture below, we have two additions on our running group - Chaniel (leftmost) and Rappiboy (rightmost).

Now familiar with the MoA route, having just joined The Green Miles Run, I upped my race pace. By the 5k halfway-point, I was elated to beat my 5k personal record - 24 minutes, translating to a pace of 4 minutes and 48 seconds per kilometer! I was on my way to a new 10k PR (hint: Sub-Piolo). The photo below was taken by Tey, just before I hit the 5k mark.

The excitement didn't last long though. During the 7k mark, I felt there was something wrong with my left ankle. "This could not be happening to me", I keep telling myself. I slowed down, hoping the pain would subside. I then tried to increase my pace again, but I was not just imagining things. I had no choice but to say goodbye to my new PR dream. I did a 7 minute per kilometer pace on the final few kilometers, with runners overtaking me left and right.

After crossing the finish line, I continued to walk, assessing the feeling on my left ankle. It was still painful and I was already complaining about it to my running companions. But the drama needs to be forgotten for a while, photo opportunities await!

Rap and I saw Gladys while walking around the finish line area. Notice how Gladys covered her race bib on this photo. She didn't want anyone to know she only ran 3k. Oops!

I also met my elementary and high school classmate as well as college roommate Winsley (that's him on the right) and his friend Noel (yes, another Noel). These two are very strong runners.

Finally, we wouldn't miss doing the "superposition". I just couldn't help but laugh whenever I see Chaniel's chicken dance and Rap's armpit scratching. Maybe the superposition takes a lot of practice to perfect.

Mils, Rap, Chrissie, Paolo and I then had a yummy breakfast at Cafe Breton. During that time, I had to do some first-aid, so I was putting on ice to my injured ankle. By 9am, Mils, Rap and I attended Sunday mass at the nearby church. I was just leaning on the church wall throughout the mass, and by communion time, when I attempted to move from my position, I knew I can no longer walk on my own. The pain was already excruciating. I decided it was now time to go to the hospital. Rap had to go home already so only Mils was left to accompany me to Makati Med (Thank you Budeh!).

It was my first wheelchair experience. The nurse asked me my pain level on a scale of 1 to 10; I answered a definite 8! I was given a quick acting pain reliever, my ankle was bandage-wrapped and applied an ice pack. The hospital attendants also did an x-ray on the affected area to make sure I had no bone fractures. Thank God it was only a muscle sprain. I was advised to continue applying ice to my ankle, keep it wrapped in bandage, elevate it during rest, and take the prescribed pain reliever.

With this injury, I was devastated since I had a number of future race events I've already registered in. You'll definitely read more on the developments of this injury on my succeeding blogs.

Oh and by the way, I finished the race in 55 minutes and 49 seconds, still a sub-1, but a shattered new PR goal attempt.