Run United Philippine Marathon on October 5, 2014

The third and final leg of the Run United series is fast approaching. Participants, especially from the marathon category, will be treated with surprises as have been from the previous RUPM's. This is also everyone's opportunity to complete the trilogy medals and flaunt their achievement for completing all three legs.

WHAT: Run United Philippine Marathon 2014
WHEN: October 5, 2014 (Sunday)
WHERE: SM Mall of Asia
RACE CATEGORIES: 500m dash for kids, 10km, 21km, 42.195km
RACE ORGANIZER: Runrio
RACE BENEFICIARY: Gawad Kalinga

RUPM 2014 Assembly and Gun Times

REGISTRATION DETAILS:

Online Registration (August 15 to September 14)

- LINK: https://regonline.activeglobal.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1595239

In-store Registration (August 22 to September 21)

- RUNNR Store BGC

- Toby’s Robinson's Galleria

- Toby’s SM North, The Block G/F

- Toby’s SM Mall of Asia

RUPM 2014 Registration Fees and Kit Inclusions

Pre-Race:

RUPM 2014 Singlet Design

RUPM 2014 Ventilation Bag and Visor

Post-Race:

RUPM 2014 21k Finisher Shirt Design

RUPM 2014 42k Finisher Shirt Design

RUPM 2014 Finisher Shirt Size Chart

RUPM 2014 Finisher Medal Design for 21k and 42k

Here's a preview of the trilogy medals stacked together - CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS. If this does not excite you, then what will?

CITIUS. ALTIUS. FORTIUS.

As always, registration may end earlier as race kits run out so register now! See you on October 5th!

2013 Year End Report: My Top 6 Races

First day of the new year deserves a blog post of my 2013 year-end report. It was such a blessed year for running - injury free the whole year and a few new personal bests.

The Numbers:

One of my goals last 2013 is for my practice run mileage to exceed my race event mileage, and so I'm very pleased that I have done so. I want to lessen my mileage dependency on just weekend races so I find time to run regularly - on the gym treadmill, or just anywhere runner-friendly (BGC, UP, even on Manila Memorial Park).

As usual 21km is still my top race category for 2013, with 14 races overall. Quite disappointed I did not meet my goal of running a full marathon once per quarter, as I failed to run a 42.195km event last Q2 2013.

Still, a lot to be thankful for. Which brings me to my year-end race report. 2-0-1-3: 2 plus 0 plus 1 plus 3 equals 6! So I have my top 6 races for the past year! (Seems quite forced reasoning, right? Hahahaha!)

TOP 6

Rexona Run To Your Beat

Race Category: 21k

Race Organizer: Runrio

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/10/rexona-run-2013-race-experience.html

Run To Your Beat pioneered the best race party ever with music from the startling line, extending all along the race route and ending at SM Mall of Asia with a live concert. Best part for me is when we passed through the neon tunnel!

TOP 5

Alaska World Milk Day Run

Race Category: 10k

Race Organizer: Sunrise Events

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/06/alaska-world-milk-day-run-2013.html

I seldom join 10k races but Alaska World Milk Day Run's one well-organized event! I love the World Milk Day advocacy - with race participants even given the chance to have souvenir photos with milk moustache! The 10k route was challenging as well, making use of Buendia flyover which you normally don't see on 10k races. The race loot bag's a great bonus too!

In the photo: Runningshield Patrick Concepcion and Speedy Titan Rolly Pangilinan

TOP 4

Takbo.ph Runfest

Race Category: 21k

Race Organizer: Leadpack

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/07/takboph-runfest-2013-postrace.html

A race event for runners organized (and manned) by runners - takbo.ph started it all! 2013's Runfest introduced its longest distance yet - the 21k category. Leadpack did a great job organizing this event - even utilizing the C5 flyover as part of its 21k route, which is a welcome (and challenging) change to runners.

In the photo: Jump shot with Thirdy Lopez, Run Adobo King CJ Lampad, Ryan Santos, Miriam and Rodel

TOP 3

Run United Philippine Marathon

Race Category: 42.195k

Race Organizer: Runrio

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/10/run-united-philippine-marathon-2013-race-experience.html 

Ending the Run United Trilogy with a bang, full marathon runners were in for a treat as they finished the race in style - passing under the event stage, walking on red carpet and being greeted with photographers for their post-marathon photo! RUPM 2013 is also memorable to me as this as I was able to pace 4 other runners, of which 3 are first time marathoners - Rom, Marte and Joshua. Such a great feeling seeing them succeed on their first marathon!

In the photo: Rom Guevara, Ryan Santos and Marte Millo

TOP 2

Nike We Run Manila

Race Category: 10k

Race Organizer: Runrio

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/12/nike-we-run-manila-2013-race-experience.html 

The biggest surprise was the announcement that the 2013 edition of Nike We Run Manila will be held at Marikina! A lot of skeptics predicted a race disaster but Coach Rio proved them wrong by staging a big, well-organized race at such a small city. Nothing would be cooler than seeing a sea of runners all donning their red Nike We Run shirts. Another finisher (white) shirt greeted finishers at the Marikina Sports Complex. Nike is LOVE!

In the photo: Friends from Team Titans - Rusell, Paul, Rhon, Flip, Jake, Hazielle, Rolly

TOP 1

Tokyo Marathon

Race Category: 42.195k

Race Organizer: Tokyo Marathon Foundation

http://deemenrunner.blogspot.com/2013/04/tokyo-marathon-2013-epic-awesome.html 

Before reaching this point, you've probably guessed this will be my top race for the year, for obvious reasons. My Tokyo Marathon experience still tops every race I've joined in since I started running. I've done a few international races but nothing compares to the magnitude of grandness of racing the streets of Tokyo. This is a race worthy of being put in every runner's bucket list. It's expensive, but definitely worth it.

2014 will just be bigger and better! Thanks for reading and have a blessed new year!

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/

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.