All Systems Go for SIERRA 51050!

*** Press Release ***

All Systems Go For SIERRA 51050

TEAM GETS THE SPOTLIGHT!

January 9, 2014 MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Rundezvous, Inc. is inviting runners, schools and corporations for Sierra 51050, Team Comes First on February 23, 2014, Sunday in Tanay, Rizal.

Sierra 51050 is a team race that calls for strategy and endurance. Set in the scenic roads and the rolling hills of Tanay, Rizal, Sierra 51050 aims to strengthen team unity and friendly competition among teams.

The teams will assemble at Sierra Madre Hotel & Resort at 3:00am and the race will start at 5:00am.

Regular registration fee is PhP3,500 until February 8, 2014. Late registration (PhP4,000) will be until February 15. The team racekit will include the racebibs (5) and finishers’ kit that includes the Sierra shirts and giveaways. The first three (3) teams to cross the finish line will be the winners of Sierra 51050 and will receive citation, team trophy and cash prize for each team.

The teams are encouraged to don their uniforms that will make them stand out during the race. A team is recommended to bring a support vehicle throughout the race. With the challenging terrain in Tanay, a runner is recommended to be comfortable covering a minimum of 10 kilometers. Teams are not limited to registering just one entry but they can register as many teams as they can form! A set of frequently asked questions is available for download in the Facebook page.

To register:
(1) Go online and register your team:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1m0CEx6xmlzqUPG3Y8LgQNyBoraK1W1KOgr7pvygJvZE/viewform
(2) Deposit thru BPI Savings Account 4949 6250 74 (under Mark Anthony Terrado) and email teamrundezvous@gmail.com. Rundezvous, Inc. will contact the team via email or SMS to acknowledge receipt of payment.
(3) Download the Team Waiver from the Sierra 51050 Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SierraFiveTenFifty

There will be a Team Leads Orientation on February 6, 2014, 7-9pm at Escalades, 20th Avenue Cubao, Quezon City. Racekits will be made available in the orientation after receipt of the signed team waiver.

Interested teams may visit Sierra 51050 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SierraFiveTenFifty or Rundezvous, Inc. Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RundezvousInc

Sierra 51050 is in partnership with Running Atom and Running Free Manila.

Springboard Run: Merely a Pure Concept

Probably the biggest disappointment of 2012 race events, Springboard Run had a promising plan, but never delivered.

A pilot race event by organizer Pure Concept, Springboard Run had the following selling factors:
- A new race location at C5 extension / SM Sucat Paranaque, with a (supposed) route stretching all the way to Shopwise Sucat Road
- A team competition for 16k, which attracted our running team, Team Alpha1, to once again unite and run as a team

A Rare Moment - 10 in Red!

The morning of July 15th, the guys in red assembled. We had a mix of competitive runners and runners who were there just for fun (me included in the latter). Again, I told Daves that I'll just pace with him as he does his heart rate training.

I had some sort of bad premonitions for the race, and I was telling these to Daves as the race progressed - hydration issues and inaccurate race route distance. I was correct, and more...
-  Water was being transferred to cups using a "tabo". Unhygienic as it was, I just shrugged it off. Later during the race, cups ran out, and runners who needed to hydrate due to the heat were forced to drink in these "tabo's". They had no choice! Good thing I brought a water bottle.
- I was excited to run in Sucat road, as this was home turf. To our dismay, the supposed race route never materialized. The route was modified to be just loops in C5 extension.
- There were no marshals in U-turns, no loop cords whatsoever - which meant it was cheaters' territory. :p
- And then the last straw - 16k turned 14.2k! In any race, this is the most unforgivable error for me.

Deemen and Barefootdaves and my savior water bottle

Announcement was made later by the hyper race host that the organizers were having difficulties tallying the time for the team competition. Hence, no winners for the 16k team competition will be announced that day. Surprise, surprise!

Post-race breakfast with the team

July 17: A Change in the Name
From Pure Concept to Running Events, I was annoyed by the organizer name change two days after the race. Official website URL changed from www.pureconcept.ws to www.runningevents.ws. Facebook page changed as well. It was as if they were disowning the name like it was some sort of disease or jinx. Pure Concept or Running Events, or whatever name you decide to change it on in the future, runners are not that stupid! You did not even issue a public apology for your lack of organization. Two weeks have passed and you have not released any official race results. If you think changing your name will give you a clean slate, THINK AGAIN.