adidas continues the BOOST™ revolution

*** Press Release ***

adidas continues the BOOST™ revolution

Revolutionary cushioning material is now available in additional adidas products 

Philippines, July 1, 2013 – Since its introduction to the world at a global launch event in New York City early in 2013, the Energy Boost running shoe has revolutionized the running world. Featuring the ground-breaking cushioning technology BOOST™, which provides the highest energy return in the running industry, it has set a new benchmark for adidas running footwear, was honored with the Runner’s World 2013 Best Debut award and, in its first appearance at a global marathon, BOOST™ took home the crown in Tokyo. And this was just the beginning.

Now, BOOST™ is being rolled out to more adidas running products and colors. In addition to the Energy Boost franchise, which will come in four colorways for both men and women, BOOST™ cushioning is now also available in adistar and adizero running footwear. In fact, BOOST™ foam will replace the common EVA material in all adidas running performance shoes by 2015.

The key to the BOOST™ innovation lies in thousands of small energy capsules which make up the footwear’s distinctive midsole. With their unique cell structure, these capsules store and unleash energy more efficiently in every stride. As a result, BOOST™ at last combines the previously contradicting performance benefits of soft cushioning and responsiveness to give runners a running experience unlike any other. The revolutionary cushioning material also maintains its performance in almost any conditions, at unparalleled levels and over hundreds of kilometers.

The shoe’s upper features adidas Techfit technology with highly durable and elastic polyurethane, providing optimal comfort and support to the entire foot while in motion. A stretch, breathable mesh material offers the fit of a sock, while engineered powerbands across the upper provide targeted support and stabilize the foot where needed when moving.

The new colorful Energy Boost collection will be available worldwide at adidas Sport Performance stores and selected retailers as of July 7, 2013 at PHP 7995. Visit www.facebook.com/adidas for more information.

BGC Cycle Philippines: A New Addition to Cycle Asia

*** NEWS RELEASE ***

BGC CYCLE PHILIPPINES OFFERS EXCITING ADDITION TO CYCLE ASIA CALENDAR

SINGAPORE, 1 July 2013 – Cycle Asia is excited to announce that in partnership with Sunrise Events and Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Cycle Philippines has been added to its 2013 event calendar and will offer a range of thrilling ride categories from 15-17 November.

Located within Taguig City, Manila, Bonifacio Global City is set to host BGC Cycle Philippines and will take cyclists past a number of Manila’s most iconic landmarks throughout a truly unique route on closed public roads.

The event will also cater to cyclists of all ages and abilities with The Tricycle Ride, The Kids’ Ride, The Community Ride (20km), The Challenge (40km) and various Criterium categories included in the schedule. The entire family will also be kept entertained over the three days with a range of fun activities within the Cycling & Lifestyle Expo.

“Cycling continues to enjoy strong growth in the Philippines and we are naturally thrilled to introduce the event at Bonifacio Global City. While the unique venue will certainly offer local cyclists a fantastic riding experience, we also look forward to hosting visitors from around the region as they enjoy the unique thrill of participating in the very first BGC Cycle Philippines,” said Manny Blas II, Head of Commercial Operations, Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation.

Cycle Asia, owned and organised by Spectrum Worldwide, has already played host to two hugely successful events in 2013 with OCBC Cycle Malaysia and OCBC Cycle Singapore attracting over 5,000 and 11,500 participants respectively. The Gold Coast Festival of Cycling also features on the 2013 Cycle Asia calendar and will be staged from 27-29 September.

“We are delighted to be expanding Cycle Asia to the Philippines and we look forward to working alongside Sunrise Events who have built an outstanding reputation for delivering first-class sporting events,” said Chris Robb, Managing Director, Spectrum Worldwide.

Aside from the cycling action during BGC Cycle Philippines, Bonifacio Global City also offers a huge range of activities for tourists to take advantage of during their stay. The district is well known for its open-air lifestyle retail and dining concept and public art program, as well as a world-class science museum and parks.

The full details of BGC Cycle Philippines 2013 will be announced at the official launch in late July while online registration will open on 1 August. For all other information regarding the event, please visit www.cyclephilippines.com.ph.

About Cycle Asia
Owned and organised by Spectrum Worldwide, Cycle Asia is a network of premier cycling events hosted across the region.

Each event offers cyclists the rare opportunity to ride on closed public roads in major Asian cities, while catering to participants of all ages and abilities. Whether it’s young cyclists on three wheels or the more serious cyclists looking to test themselves on a longer distance, there’s a ride for everyone across the Cycle Asia network.

Headlined by the hugely successful OCBC Cycle Singapore which launched in 2009, Cycle Asia also includes OCBC Cycle Malaysia and the upcoming Cycle Philippines.

The Gold Coast Festival of Cycling stretches the network across to Australia, while plans are currently in place to introduce Cycle Asia events to other locations such as Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam in future years.

For more information, go to: www.cycleasia.com

About Spectrum Worldwide
Spectrum Worldwide is a leading event management and experiential marketing company operating throughout the Asia Pacific region.  For more than 20 years, Spectrum Worldwide has created and managed tailored experiences that not only bring to life our clients’ brands, but also provide opportunities for companies to showcase their core values in a memorable and compelling way.

Through long-standing partnerships with multi-national companies throughout the region, Spectrum Worldwide has consistently delivered groundbreaking, iconic events including OCBC Cycle Singapore and OCBC Cycle Malaysia, the Standard Chartered Marathon, Red Bull Flugtag Singapore, and the Singapore Red Bull Speed Street Singapore and KL. Spectrum is also expanding its footprint across the region and cementing its foothold in the cycling market following the launch of Cycle Asia, a network of premier cycling events across Asia.

Spectrum’s approach centres on understanding clients’ needs, and designing and delivering the best event solutions based on our years of experience.

For more information, go to: www.sww.com.sg

About Sunrise Events, Inc
Sunrise Events Inc was established in 2008 after it has been granted the Ironman 70.3 license by the World Triathlon Corporation.  The vision of the company is to stage world class events to put the Philippines in the sports tourism map of the world.  SEI currently stages at least 12 events per year and has the exclusive rights to the Ironman 70.3, 5150, XTERRA and Ironkids events.

About Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City is the proud venture of Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), managed by the powerhouse partnership of Ayala Land, Inc., Evergreen Holdings, Inc. (Campos Group) and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). The combined formidable wealth of real estate development, expertise, and investment from each group has established Bonifacio Global City as one of the world’s finest and fastest-growing premier cities.

For more info, visit http://bgc.com.ph

For media queries, please contact:
Spectrum Worldwide
Ben Burrowes
Telephone: +65 8111 9311
E-mail: bburrowes@sww.com.sg

Adidas King of the Road 2013: Step Up Your Game and Pick Up the Pace!

*** Official Press Release ***
Step up your game and pick up the pace
Run 10k and 16.8k distances with adidas King of the Road 2013

Running is one of the oldest forms of exercise. You don’t need any fancy equipment or to apply for membership. You can take any comfortable pair of running shoes and just hit the road. Still, some preparations must be made if you’re joining a race with distances of 10K and 16.8K, which are featured in this year’s adidas King of the Road 2013.

“To provide a more complete race experience, adidas will be focusing on the 10K and 16.8K distances. This change is a response to the running community in the Philippines, which has grown in both number and performance through the years,” states Jason Gervasio, Brand Communications and Sports Marketing Manager of adidas Philippines.

The decision to run a longer distance than what you’re normally used to could be something that happens over night, but the drive and the passion to succeed is one that happens over a long period of attempts and possibly even failures. It’s true, one of the biggest challenges some runners face is increasing their distance. So how does one step up their game from running 5K to 10K or even 10K to 16.8K? Here are some simple ways to ease into running longer distances:

Pre-Run Regimen
Conditioning your body is vital when preparing for a race. A good warm up can be what separates you from having a good run or a great run. Stretching before and after running helps loosen up muscles to prevent strain and injury.

Train your mind
Running may be mostly physical, but it is also somewhat a mental challenge. Half the battle is understanding your obstacles, not just to help you cross the finish line, but to complete the race with a smile on your face. Discipline your mind, and your body is sure to follow.

Take a break
When you’re training, whether it’s for a marathon, 10K, 5K, or even your first 3K, taking breaks is crucial. Your muscles need time to build and repair themselves. Rest is critical for your body to recover to its full potential.

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
It’s no secret that you’ll be sweating all throughout your run. Although some runners opt for sports drinks and gels, water is enough to keep you from dehydrating for shorter distances.

Strong and Steady
It’s not enough to be consistent. You have to be efficient as well. Start running at a comfortable pace, or as some like to call it, a conversational pace. Run constant short distances 3 or 4 times a week, and the actual distance you’re preparing for at least once. Don’t push yourself too hard, but instead slowly increase your speed or distance.

“There is not one exact surefire way to train for a race, whether it’s your first, your fifth or even your hundredth. It’s a different experience for every person, and we at adidas, just try to provide opportunities for people to come together and run”, says Adrien Semblat, Brand Activation Manager of adidas Philippines.

Step up your game and pick up the pace with adidas King of the Road 2013 happening on July 7, 2013. For more news and updates on adidas King of the Road 2013, visit adidaskingoftheroad.com/ph and www.facebook.com/adidas, or follow the conversation with #KOTRPH2013

Supporting this year’s race are sponsors Summit Water, 100 Plus, Sennheiser, EO Optical, adidas Bodycare, L Timestudio, and Century Tuna.

RACE MAPS:

 

 

World Vision Run 2013: Another Great Runrio Race

Summer season is officially over! The rainy season is here, and with it, the dreaded bed weather. I became a victim of this bed weather on yesterday's race. My sleep was so deep I did not even hear my mobile phone alarm (or I might have turned it off while sleeping). Good thing my running buddy Ryan gave me a call at 2:30am (and I was supposed to wake up 1am due to my pre-race rituals).

I had a very light breakfast, a quick shower and then prepared my running gear (and after race clothes). I left the house at around 3:30am and arrived 30 minutes later at BGC. Surprisingly, no long queue yet on the parking lot and I secured a nice spot which was very near the starting line. Fortunate as well that the race gun start is 4:30am and not the usual 4:00am so I still had time to apply Bodivance on my legs, take my Roctane, and do a quick pee break.

21k runners were greeted with a rather weird pre-race warm-up (it was more of a dance than the normal stretching). And then we were sent off. Usual running buddies Rom and Ryan were with me for another sub-2 attempt. Mindset today is I'll continue running if they can't follow my pace anymore.

The weather was cool - perfect for an early Sunday morning long run. I knew I was in condition to perform a sub-2, and I promised not to look at my GPS watch until the race is over (just to surprise myself).

Ryan told us to go on at KM2, when he experienced a bad case of side stitch. I left Rom at around KM8; he was out of breath and was not able to keep up with the pace. And so I was left alone.

Don't you just love Buendia flyover?

I then spotted Ceej of Team Titans while running in Buendia flyover. Instead of being a pacer, I now told myself Ceej is now my "unofficial" pacer. I kept a distance from him but followed his lead. This strategy worked well for me, as Ceej pushed me without him knowing it. When Ceej increased his pace at the final 3 kilometers of the race and I couldn't catch up with him already, I turned to JP (again of Team Titans) and assigned him the task of my new, unofficial pacer.

Almost at the finish!

I finished with a time of 1 hour, 57 minutes and 48 seconds. My Soleus GPS watch registered 21.8km. I read from other 21k runners that they registered longer distances as well, even stretching to 22.5km! Well, I don't mind the longer distance anyway.

I could not find any fault again on this race (even the weather cooperated). It was what every runner usually expects from a Runrio-organized event:
- Cold and overflowing hydration
- Secured race village and well-manned race route
- Organized baggage counters
- A nice 21k finisher medal

If there's one thing I would just like to suggest though, is getting rid of separate race kit claiming. I'd prefer receiving my race kit as soon as I register. Last June 21 (Friday), I left Paranaque just to go to BGC and claim my race kit and then back to work from home. I had to fight through Friday heavy traffic and the hassles of a rainy day. But since this race was opened for registration rather late, I understand some resulting logistics issues.

Enough of the chit-chat! On to my fave part - the event photos!

with idol ultramarathoner JP

with fellow bloggers CJ (Run Adobo King), Thirdy (Thirdy Lopez) and Dennis (Running Fatboy)

with fellow HP runners Rom and Jhino

with my running buddy Ryan

Plotted my pace - I'm very happy with my performance! Fastest kilometer at KM2 (4:56) and slowest at KM4 (6:00). My pace was almost steady throughout the race!

Mandatory performance graph. Haha!

Runner 0164 conquered another 21k at the World Vision Run! Congratulations to Runrio, World Vision and Tupperware Philippines for staging another successful race event!

*** Photos courtesy of JP Navarrete, Thirdy Lopez and Manghusi Photoshop ***

Alaska Celebrates First Ever World Milk Day in the Philippines

(From Official Press Release) June 1 is World Milk Day!  As the leading milk company in the Philippines that provides Filipino families superior and affordable nutrition, Alaska Milk Corporation spearheads the first ever celebration of World Milk Day in the country.

The Alaska World Milk Day provides a great opportunity to reinforce importance of drinking milk and healthy lifestyle and bring it at the forefront of consumer awareness. And with the series of exciting activities lined up for the World Milk Day, Alaska Milk encourages children and adults alike to get into the habit of drinking milk and engage into sports activities to achieve optimum health.

Allow us to share with you some alarming health problems.  Nutrition disorders such as malnutrition and obesity are particularly rampant with children. They interfere with the child’s growth and development which could lead to serious health problems. Based on a 2008 survey of the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one in ten adults are obese. Obesity and being overweight are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. And what is alarming is that even children are experiencing overweight issues as nearly 43 million children are overweight based 2010 WHO data.

In another study conducted by the  Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), a survey was initially conducted among Pre-school children, adolescents, adults, pregnant and lactating mothers. The objectives were to assess the nutritional status of 0-10 years old children, 11-19 years olds, pregnant and lactating women, and other adults 20 years and over using anthropometric indicators of growth and to compare results from previous surveys.  Again, results show that there is a problem on malnutrition which is a condition resulting from lack of or excess of one or more essential nutrients.

Common nutritional problems of Filipino children include protein-energy malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin A deficiency disorders and iodine deficiency disorders. Side by side with these forms of undernutrition is overnutrition.

So how can we assure that our children are well-nourished?  One must never skip breakfast and a good breakfast is one that provides about 1/3 of the total energy and nutrient requirements of the child. Children should be encouraged to drink milk with a well-balanced breakfast combined with physical activities like walking, running, dancing, swimming, housework and sports in and out of school.

June 2013 marks the milestone of the first-ever Alaska World Milk Day.  Various exciting activities were lined-up to celebrate and promote good health!  The celebration kicked off last  June 1 with the Alaska IronKids Run Race in SM Mall Of Asia (IMAX Parking Area) and the Alaska World Milk Day Sampling in Glorietta Malls.  June 9 witnessed Alaska World Milk Day Family Run where more than 3,000 participants raced at 3k, 5k, 10k.  As early as 4am, families gathered at the Bonifacio Global City in preparation for the run.  Families ran and crossed the finish line together making the event a great family bonding opportunity! 

Aside from the race, children also had fun in the booths and activity area such as the inflatable, trampoline and joust. The 10k category proved to be more challenging as the race course included the Buendia flyover.More than 3,000 participated in the fun run which translated to a donation of more than 3,000 packs of Alaska Powdered Milk Drink to the Children’s Hour which was represented by Ms. Mikki Montenegro, Marketing and Communications Associate of Children’s Hour.  As in previous events, there was also the Alaska milk moustache photo shoot where everyone eagerly participated in.  

The success of the Alaska World Milk Day celebrations were made possible  with the support of Ayala Malls, Solar Sports, Basketball TV, Solar News, Akari nxled, Glorietta, Gatorade, Downy, BGC, Walter Bread, and Maynilad and Children’s Hour as the beneficiary.

For more information about Alaska World Milk Day, visit www.alaskamilk.com, www.alaskaworldmilkday.com. For live tweets and updates follow us at @ALASKAsportshub

Breakfast with Enervon Activ

You'll often see (blog) contests nowadays with the basic criterion of most number of likes in order to grab the prize. I'm not a fan of such. I feel that the essence of writing is overshadowed by just plain networking. That's why when Unilab Active Health and Enervon Activ held a blog contest, announcing that winners will be determined by a select panel of judges, I gave it a try (with the support of my best blogger buddies Run Adobo King and Thirdy Lopez).

I was fortunate to be awarded 1st place, much to my surprise, as I read fellow bloggers' entries and found their write-ups entertaining and appealing as well. (2nd placer was Bee "Kamote Runner" Soberano and 3rd place went to Bobby "CruiseC0ntr0l" Cruise, by the way).

Last June 8, we were scheduled to receive our prizes from none other than the Enervon Activ Team at Bistro Mateo, Tiendesitas. There we met the very kind Ma'am Bianca. Mommy Vimz (Kulitrunner) also joined us. Unfortunately, other Enervon Activ and Unilab Active Health team members had to attend to personal matters so they were not able to come.

We had a mini-awarding and pictorial, had our sumptuous breakfast, then had some sharing on runner nutrition and supplements.

With Bee, Ma'am Bianca and Mommy Vimz

Receiving my Enervon Activ 1st prize from Ma'am Bianca

Bee and I displaying our ULAH Training Shirt - super nice fabric!

WOW!

Rudy Project Accelerator Watch

Thank you very much, Enervon Activ and Unilab Activ Health! (And sorry for the late blog post.)

Rainy Season Promo: Riovana Umbrella

The rainy days are here! Get your free umbrella with a purchase at Riovana branches.

Mechanics:
1. Get a free Riovana limited edition umbrella for every purchase of regular priced item footwear worth Php5,000 single receipt.
2. Umbrella can only be claimed upon date of purchase.
3. Promo period is from June 14, 2013 to July 20, 2013.
4. Promo is not in conjunction with any other promo.

Visit the Riovana Branches:
1. Bonifacio Global City (BGC) - 28th Street corner 9th Avenue, BGC
2. Katipunan - 3rd Floor Regis Center, Katipunan, Quezon City

Alaska World Milk Day Run: Back to 10k

A few days before June 9, I was still seriously contemplating on what race to join. I had two choices: Philippine Air Force Run, which had my favorite 21k distance OR Alaska World Milk Day Run, with 10k as its longest category. I chose the latter. Majority of my blogger friends decided to be in Alaska anyway, so that helped me make my choice. I just finished a 32k run last Sunday at Unilab Run United Leg 2. Choosing to run 10k will help make me prove if my long mileage from last week will give me the strength to propel a fast finish time. Side note: Can you believe my last 10k race was February of 2012? Haha! Yes, that long ago.

I and fellow blogger friends Rolly (Speedy Titan) and CJ (Run Adobo King) met at around 4:30am. I had no particular game plan and race target. I just wanted to run as fast as I can, as long as I can. At the back of my mind though, I'm saying "I must at least do a sub-1!"

Pre-race photo with CJ and Rolly

Being used to running half-marathons, I realized running 10k is just a breeze. And so while running, I was already taking down mental notes on my observations on the race:
- The race village area is well-barricaded. There were only a few entry/exit points and security was tight as usual. There were a lot of marshals and bouncers walking around, ensuring event safety and security.
- I was surprised when the countdown to gun start commenced; the gun start was one minute advanced - runners were sent-off 4:59 instead of 5:00am. I had no problem with this since I and my companions were early at the assembly area.
- Hydration stations were placed at around 2km-intervals. There were no energy drinks along the route, which is just ok as this is just a short-distance event. Water being served is cold and hydration stations were well-manned. Large waste disposal containers were also well-placed after stations.
- Kilometer markers were visible along the race route.
- The best part for me is the 10k route itself - it was challenging as there were a lot of areas with uphills. Usual 10k routes of other race events just go around BGC area. Alaska World Milk Day Run is different as it made use of Buendia flyover. Moreover, it even utilized the road going to McKinley which led to a killer uphill going back to BGC area. I love the tough course!

ACTION SHOT! Donning my Unilab Active Health singlet

As I approached the finish line, I was ecstatic to see my time which clocked in at 52 minutes and 5 seconds. Surprisingly it's as close as I have gotten to my PR of 50:05. When I looked back, I saw Rolly and then Patrick Concepcion (Runningshield) just finishing a few seconds after me. We had quick photo taken at the finish line arc before other race finishers arrived.

Finish line photo with Runningshield and Speedy Titan (photo courtesy of Tong Pascua)

My race performance: Fastest at KM8 (4:38 min/km) and slowest at KM 9 (5:47 min/km)

Arriving at the race village, there was a bit of confusion on the flow of what finishers need to do. I and Rolly went straight to the loot bag claiming booth but we were told by the security guy there that we need to have our photo taken first at the milk moustache booth. At that time it was still ok since the people at the race village were still in manageable volumes. However, I was thinking sooner or later, long queues will be the result of the influx of finishers.

Milk Moustache Booth Photos - Didn't drink the milk as I'm not used to drinking milk post-race. Afraid to upset my tummy.

Eventually bloggers converged at the media tent area. It was fun taking group photos and chatting with fellow bloggers who ran in the event. Bloggers were given another set of loot bag (yay!) and we were treated to a post-race Tapa King breakfast.  

Allan (Running Free Manila), CJ, Rolly, Me, Rikki (Cheapanggang Diva)

Tapa King breakfast with bloggers (Chika-chika din pag may time)

There may have been no finisher medals but the loot bag containing various Alaska products was just the best! Who wouldn't be excited with these Alaska goodies?

Alaska Loot

Great, great race event, which I'd probably rate a 9 out of 10! Kudos to Alaska and Sunrise Events (headed by Ma'am Princess Galura) for staging this fun, family-oriented event.

P.S. Race results were released the same day as race day at http://www.strider.ph/races/67. Unfortunately, my name is not on the list. Disappointed but I've already sent an email to the Strider Team. Hope this gets fixed soon. I'll update this post as soon as I receive feedback from them.

P.P.S. Thanks to the Strider Team, I'm now on the official race results as of June 11! Top 32 yeah!

52 minutes and 5 seconds!