Marathon #8: RUPM 2013

Surreal that I just finished my 8th marathon at the Run United Philippine Marathon last October 6. Eight 42k runs in a span of three years is quite a feat!

Just a bit of humor - I found this funny (yet very true) video on the web - The 8 Stages of Marathon Running - to celebrate the 8 crazy marathons I finished:

The 3am gun start of the race only means one thing: adjusting my body clock to sleep very early both Friday and Saturday. I need to be up 11pm Saturday to have my "breakfast" (ooh boy what a weird time to have breakfast) and start my preparations. I need to leave the house 1am, which would mean me arriving at the Mall of Asia about 1:30am, park my car there, then ride the shuttle bus to the starting line at BGC.

I arrived as planned but what I didn't anticipate is the number of runners on queue at the shuttle boarding area and guess what? No shuttle buses! The queue kept getting longer and longer. I was hearing one of the marshals saying there was a shortage of buses and we were just waiting for the initial set of buses that left to go back and pick-up the runners on queue. I think it was about 2:15am when the buses arrived. Whew, what a buzzer beater. 

Long queue at the shuttle bus boarding area

Arrived at BGC around 2:35am, I had a few minutes to do my pre-race rituals - take my Roctane, do a few warm-up exercises and take a pee break. Met with the usual suspects - Ryan, Rom, Marte and Joshua. I turned on my Soleus GPS watch and got nervous as it took a long time before getting any signal.

Warm-up area at the BGC parking lot with Ryan, Rom and Marte

We were located far back at the 42k assembly area. I'm on pacer mode again with three of my companions being first-time marathon participants - Rom, Marte and Joshua. Strategy was to take it slow, probably a 7 to 8 minute per kilometer pace only.

Group selfie just before the race started. Haha!

And then we were off! I pressed the start button of my GPS watch and it went on INDOOR mode! That sucks! My watch failed me. But I could no longer do anything at that point so I just shrugged it off. I'm not on race mode anyway.

The initial part of the race was quite crowded, as we went around the streets of BGC. The runners began spreading out when we reached the Kalayaan flyover all the way to Roxas Boulevard.

RUPM 2013 42k race route

I don't remember the point when we lost Joshua but it was somewhere along Roxas Boulevard already. As for Marte, he had to go to a urinal break so only two were left with me - Ryan and Rom. We did ok until KM25. After this we were already having frequent walk breaks and we took our time on hydration stations as the sun was up early and the heat was becoming brutal.

Still running strong

I assume this was between KM28 and KM29

At KM29, we had our traditional "taho" break. Haha! We were probably getting a lot of glances from fellow 42k runners who were overtaking us as we were devouring our taho. Just the right kick from sugar needed at that time.

Passing by Mall of Asia and seeing the finish line but still doing the final 10 kilometers was really a killer. We already saw the fast marathoners approaching the finish line (4-hour finish time), but we still have a long way to go.

Walk, walk, walk - the story of the last 10 kilometers of this race. Haha! The sweltering heat was not helping at all. The Macapagal Avenue road, dilapidated and runner-unfriendly, was torture.

The good thing is this is a Runrio race - hydration's always a savior. Ice-cold water was abundant in all hydration stations amidst the heat. One can literally take an ice-cold bath.

As we approached the final U-turn at Sentosia and headed back to Mall of Asia, it was a bit of a relief that we are now on the final stretch. The intervals between the kilometer markers seemed to go longer and longer on the final 5 kilometers.

When tired, take a photo. Haha!

Arriving at Seaside Boulevard, we were still walking, reserving energy for the last hundred meters.

Walkers caught on cam!

Ruuuuuunnnnnnnnnn! Last few hundred meters!

As usual, all the pain went away temporarily as we crossed the finish line. 5 hours and 41 minutes, one of my slowest marathons, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.

Happy finishers!

One of the innovations Unilab Active Health thought of, which made the finish of marathoners sweeter, is passing under the elevated race village stage and being greeted by spectators and band performers on stage. But due to the grueling heat, we had to pass by the area quickly, claim our loot, and go directly to the post-run recovery area.

Finish Line moment captured by Photo-Ops!

The trilogy is now complete. Thank you Unilab, Unilab Active Health and Runrio for staging another year of great races.

At the 42k Photo Wall

Congratulations to my running buddies Ryan, Rom, Marte and Joshua! Let's do this again next year!

*** Photos courtesy of Ryan Santos, Running Photographers, We Run for Good Health, Tsinelas Runner and Photo-Ops. Official race photos can be downloaded at http://photo-ops.ph/

RUPM 2013: A Red Carpet Finish

*** Press Release ***

Run United Philippine Marathon Seals 2013 Running Streak of ULAH, RunRio

Red Carpet Finish for All Marathon Participants

Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM), the third and last leg of the RunRio Trilogy, is even more in demand than its inaugural run last year. Only slots for Ceelin 500m dash are available, the rest are full.

“Demand for this race is really high. The half and full marathon slots (21km and 42km) got full five and three weeks, respectively, before race date (Oct. 6). Most of our participants belong to the "progressive set" - runners who have been continuously challenging themselves with longer distances or better PR,” said Alex Panlilio, Head of Unilab Active Health (ULAH).

RUPM, which is on its second year, will feature four race categories namely: Ceelin 500m, Hydrite 10km, Alaxan FR 21km and Enervon Activ 42km.

“RUPM is also much-awaited as it wraps up our run races for the year. The runners are also excited to finally complete their United medal for Run United 1, 2 and RUPM,” added Panlilio.

42-year-old Ly Nary of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is among those who is hoping to finish strong at RUPM. “I hope to finish among the top three females in the 42km foreign category with a target of 3hours and 30 minutes.”

Nary was a finisher of Paris Marathon. Her participation at RUPM is supported by the United Pharma company in Phnom Penh. “I am excited to see the Filipino running community and to explore the Philippines after the race. I really look forward to this great experience with the United Filipinos!”

20th time Ironman finisher Dan Brown has also followed a regimen in preparation for RUPM. Brown, who is also one of the Unilab Active Health ambassadors, considers physical and mental preparation as key to achieving an excellent race.

“I am preparing by doing a short period of specific run overload. I have been increasing my weekly run distance by around 30% over the past month or so. I have been adding in some longer intervals at or just below goal race pace to simulate what my body will need to do at 3AM on October 6,” says Brown.

“I also start to prepare my mind to suffer a little towards the end. I know things will get tough as the body breaks down so I have to be aware and ready mentally for that,” he adds.

The completed UNITED medal from the 2013 Run United Trilogy series (21-21-21, 21-32-21, 21-32-42) fits together with the RUPM finisher’s medal. According to Unilab Active Health, securing all these medals is a testament of the runners’ commitment to continuously exceed themselves in the field of running.

The 3,000 Enervon Activ 42km runners and finishers will get a VIP treatment—before, during and after the race. First off, they will be among the first to try and taste Active Health's latest offering in its Sports Nutrition Line - the Active Health Sports Gel, which will be launched at Run United Philippine Marathon. On top of Gatorade, ION Energy Drink, water, sponges and bananas will be given out at certain points of the routes.

This year, the red-carpet finish for the 42km finishers will be right inside the Active Health Village, through a short tunnel carved underneath the main stage. The runners’ companions can cheer at the cordoned-off spectators’ waiting area, and at the main stage audience area. All 42km finishers will be given an ice cold glass of Enervon HP Recovery Drink, a grooming station complete with staff will be on standby to make sure that they will look their best in the photo-ops at the finish line.

After all the picture-taking and finish-line moments, runners can start their rest and recovery routines by attending a post-race talk and stretching at the Enervon Activ Marathoners’ Lounge where they will get limited edition RUPM commemorative slippers. The University of Santo Tomas College of Rehabilitation Sciences will provide physical therapy and stretching services inside the Active Health Village.

All categories except for 42km will have start and finish line at the SM Mall of Asia; the 42km category will start at Bonifacio Global City and finish at SM Mall of Asia. Gun starts are as follows: 500m dash at 7:00AM; 10K at 5:30AM; 21K at 4:00AM; and 42K at 3:00AM

According to RunRio’s Rio Dela Cruz, “We have been offering the 42K category for only two years and we are happy that we have established a good reputation. RUPM has its own following now. It has become the last big run race for most runners for the year. We are looking forward to celebrating yet another successful running year with our loyal participants.”

RunRio will hold a special awards’ night for participants who registered and finished the 21km category in Run United 1, 32km category in Run United 2 as well as the 42km category in RUPM. Awards will be given to the top three overall winners (women and men) in all distance categories.

Besides gifts and certificates from Unilab and other sponsors, the top three male and female RUPM winners will also receive cash prizes: for 10km winners, (P4,000/P5,000/P6,000) and for 21km winners (P6,500/P7,500/8,500). There will be two categories for the 42km categories, Filipinos and Non-Filipinos. The top three winners in each category will get P25,000/P18,000/P12,000 respectively.

RUPM participants and their companions can avail of activities, games, free product samples in various sponsors’ booths at the Unilab Active Health Village. Alaxan FR PBA Legends will also be around for photo-ops. Entertainment will be provided by True Faith and Evedancel of Sugarfree.

Two more events are up ahead in ULAH’s active calendar—Tri United 3 and the Enervon Activ 226 Bohol Triathlon. Registration for both is still ongoing.

Tri United 3 Elite and Age Group Championship in Subic will feature standard distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) for elite and age-groupers triathletes. It will also accommodate teen triathletes with age categories 15-16 and 17-19 years old.

Enervon Activ 226 Bohol Triathlon, sponsored by Enervon Activ, organized by Bikeking, is slated for December 7, 2013. The 3.8km Swim - 180km Bike - 42km Run triathlon will be held in Anda, Bohol.

For more race information and results, interested parties may visit ULAH’s official website at unilabactivehealth.com as well as it Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Run United Philippine Marathon 2013 on October 6

It's the most awaited final leg of the trilogy - the Run United Philippine Marathon - brought to us by Runrio and Unilab Active Health.

WHAT: Run United Philippine Marathon 2013
WHEN: October 6, 2013 (Sunday)
WHERE: SM Mall of Asia / Bonifacio Global City (starting line for 42k)
RACE CATEGORIES: 500m dash for kids, 10km, 21km, 42km
RACE ORGANIZER: Runrio

RUPM 2013 Assembly Time and Gun Time

REGISTRATION DETAILS:
Online (July 15 to September 15, 2013):
- http://regonline.activeglobal.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1259906

Priority In-Store (2013 RU2 21k and 32k participants - August 3 to 9, 2013)
Regular In-Store (August 10 to September 22, 2013):
- Riovana BGC
- Riovana Katipunan
- Toby's SM Mall of Asia
- Toby's SM North The Block

RUPM 2013 Registration Fees and Race Inclusions

REMINDERS:
- Registration is on a first come, first serve basis, and may end earlier than the announced deadline. Race kits may run out before September 22, 2013.
- A Valid ID must be presented upon registration. For group registration, a photocopy of any valid ID & picture must be presented by the representative.
- Singlet and Finisher shirt size availability will be on a first come first serve basis. Reference sizes of the singlet and finisher’s shirt is available for fitting at the registration centers.
- A timing device will be used by all participants during the race.

RUPM 2013 Singlet Design

RUPM 2013 Finisher Medal for 21k and 42k

RUPM 2013 Finisher Shirt for 21k and 42k

RUPM 2013 Ventilation Bag for all finishers

RACE MAPS: 

 

 

 

RACE EVENT FAQs:
Download at this link: http://runrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/2013-RUPM-FAQs-as-of-Jul-16.pdf

See you on October 6! I will be running 42k!

RUPM: Marathon #5

As I write this blog post (which is almost two weeks after RUPM), I'm still recovering from a race injury. A nightmare which materialized two years ago during the NatGeo Run - a bad case of ankle sprain (left ankle) and has now recurred. This time, it's my other ankle. I was limping for a good number of days, with occasional swelling. The big difference today though is that I already know what to do (a good mefanamic dose, ice, hot compress, elevation). However, I don't have the liberty to rest a lot since there's still work, so times when I have to go to the office and drive, that's when my right ankle gets stressed and swells again.

I'm also undergoing PT sessions at Philippine Orthopedic Institute, which is now speeding up my recovery. However, it's another hiatus for me as far as running is concerned; I'll probably be back training on December, provided my ankle cooperates and recuperates quickly.

After a very busy race schedule for the past months, October 28 came just like that. It was marathon #5 for me (my 2nd full marathon in the Philippines). I just could not afford to miss this pilot full marathon event of Unilab, which I knew would be something big. Announcements were made on how 42k runners will be pampered, with surprises on the finish line.

RUPM 42k Race Route - running in C5 was the best part for me!

I was to pace with my friend and fellow blogger Rolly (Speedy Titan). I told him we will attempt to do a constant 6 min per kilometer pace, which translates to about 4:15 target finish. His only aim is for him to get a new PR, beating his Condura record of 5:14.

Starting the race was rough, as Rolly was not following the agreed pace; he was doing a 5:30 and I am forced to follow his lead, which I knew would affect my performance at the latter part of the race. He had his earphones on and I was shouting whenever he's speeding up too much. I was already anticipating a disastrous result, at least for me. My mindset is that I would be the pacer, not the one to be paced.

The race progressed, and I particularly enjoyed the new part of the race route at C5 (2 lanes allocated for runners and 1 lane for vehicles at the southbound part of C5). And then it was time for the dreaded uphill from Heritage all the way back to BGC via Lawton Avenue.

At KM21, halfway point, I was feeling something wrong with my right ankle. I was shrugging it off though, and I thought I just had to make some adjustments on my foot strikes. I was now consciously trying to do mid-foot strikes, as heel strike would worsen my ankle's condition. At KM25, I even registered a PR for that distance (2:34 versus my 2:36 PR).

Flyover along Roxas boulevard - heading to Luneta

We definitely slowed down our pace on the 2nd half; Rolly was complaining about side stitches and I was already complaining about the pain on my right ankle. There are already times Rolly would go ahead and I'll just catch up with him on the next hydration station.

At KM35, Rolly left me and went on his own. Probably the biggest disappointment for me is that he didn't even inform me - he just went ahead without even looking back. The pain on my ankle was now becoming unbearable, and at the time I most needed company to push me to move on is the time I was left alone.

Runners are now beginning to feel the heat. Since I'm just on my own now, I took a break and bought 'taho' at the Luneta area (saw some runners giving me the look while I'm taking a break at the sidewalk). I walked until KM39, at a slow 11 minute per kilometer pace. I was giving up but I knew there's no way I'll DNF by getting this far on the race.

At KM40, I picked it up a bit. I could still do a sub-5 based on my calculations. The thought of finishing and getting that humongous medal made me forget the pain on my right ankle. I was back on 7 min/km pace.

Almost at the finish line!

I finished the race at the official chip time of 4:55:36.  My PR last Hongkong Marathon is 4:55:22. I missed beating my PR by a few seconds. But I'll take it, and just remember the things I have learned from this race.

That medal!

Horrendous positive split performance!

Runpix Analysis - I don't want to go to the details of this anymore. Bottomline, it sucks! LOL!

Next time I ask someone to pace with me on a full marathon, I'll make sure that runner has a heart to run with me until the finish line. 

Congratulations to Runrio and Unilab Active Health for another great race! Thank you for spreading health awareness through running. 2013 will only bring better race events.

Now back to recovering... 

RUPM: A Red Carpet Finish

Registration to the Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM) is now officially closed! I wasn't able to attend the media and bloggers' briefing event last October 23, but while the event was ongoing, I was reading tweets and posts from my blogger friends - they were all excited on what's in store especially for the full marathon finishers. Since I'm running 42k, I can't help but feel the same. Below images are previews of Unilab and Runrio's grand plan for RUPM:

 

 

 

 

See you on October 28! Can't wait to cross that finish line and be given that royal treatment full marathon runners have been dreaming of.

Run United Philippine Marathon on October 28, 2012

Go the distance. Be part of history! Join the 1st ever Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM), brought to us by Unilab, Unilab Active Health (ULAH) and Runrio.

WHAT: Run United Philippine Marathon
WHEN: October 28, 2012 (Sunday)
WHERE: BGC to Mall of Asia (42k and 21k) / Mall of Asia (10k, 5k, 3k and 500m dash for kids)
RACE ORGANIZER: Runrio
RACE CATEGORIES: 42k, 21k, 10k, 5k, 3k and 500m dash for kids

REGISTRATION PERIOD: September 24 - October 14 (Online) / October 8 - 26 (In-store)

ONLINE REGISTRATION LINK: http://runrio.com/2012/04/run-united-philippine-marathon-2/

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

REMINDERS:
- Registration is on a first come, first serve basis, and may end earlier than the announced deadline. Race kits may run out before October 26, 2012.
- A Valid ID must be presented upon registration. For group registration, a photocopy of any valid ID & picture must be presented by the representative.
- Singlet size availability will be on a first come first serve basis.

Registration Fees and Race Inclusions

PRE-RACE INCLUSIONS

RUPM Singlet Design

Race Bib Colors for the different categories

Wrist tags for the 500m dash for kids

 Take note of these important times:

Assembly and Gun Start

 POST-RACE

21k Finisher Shirt

42k Finisher Shirt

RUPM Commemorative Bag

21k and 42k Finisher Medals

And if you're wondering how your completed medal would look like once you assemble your Runrio trilogy finisher medals, here's a preview:

RU1 + RU2 + RU3 + RUPM = Medal Frenzy!

WINNER PRIZES

Woah! Cash prizes galore!

What are the rules on NATIONALITY?
You are a Filipino if:
- You are born in the Philippines (with valid birth certificate from NSO)
- Both parents are Filipino
- You are a foreigner who has adopted Filipino citizenship via naturalization

- Any participant/ winner who does not qualify under any of the above-mentioned qualification are considered a NON-FILIPINO RUNNER.
- A NON-FILIPINO RUNNER who is competing for the top 3 spot for any of the race categories is required to present their passport upon registration for verification otherwise his/ her winnings will be forfeited and the next in line runner will be considered as the winner. For FILIPINO RUNNER, a valid ID (SSS, Driver’s License, or NSO Birth Certificate) must be presented upon registration.

RACE MAPS

 

 

 

See you October 28th!  I'll be running my 5th full marathon here. Good luck on your respective trainings!