Unilab Run United 1 2012

Another year. Another trilogy. This 2012, RUNRIO is again partnering up with Unilab, kicking-off the trilogy with RUN UNITED 1 2012 this coming March 4.

What: Unilab Run United 1 2012
When: March 4, 2012 (Sunday)
Where: BGC (for 21k) and Mall of Asia (for all other categories)

Registration Period:
Online (click this link) registration from January 30 to February 19
In-Store registration from January 30 to February 26

Registration centers:
Riovana Store BGC
28th St. cor. 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Riovana Store Katipunan
3rd floor Regis Bldg. Katipunan, Quezon City. Across Ateneo and Beside KFC
Tobys
SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
The Athlete’s Foot
Robinsons Galleria

Race Categories, registration fees and race kit inclusions

Singlet for adults

NEW! Kids get singlets too!

Race belts for all registrants

The cool puzzle medal - You have to complete all three legs to form the bigger round medal

The Race Maps:

500 meter dash for kids

3k Map

5k map

10k map

21k Map: Starting line: BGC, Finish line: Mall of Asia

Shuttle Service:

• RunRio/Unilab Active Health will be providing a SHUTTLE SERVICE for 21km participants. The service will have the SM Mall of Asia as its pick-up point and will bring the 21km runners to the 21km starting line at the BGC.
• Why SM Mall of Asia as pick-up point? The race owners and organizers considers those 21km runners who may have other members of the family who will be running a shorter distance so SM Mall of Asia is a more feasible originating point. Besides, there are more available parking areas there than in BGC.
• More details and mechanics for the Shuttle Service will be posted once available.

Baggage Area/Service:

• Baggage Services will be available at the BGC race area in the form of ROVING BAGGAGE SERVICE VANS which will be on standby prior to race start and will move to the SM Mall of Asia to bring these checked-in baggage to the designated Baggage Claim Areas.

Run to your nearest registration center now!

Powerade Ion4 Product Launch

I've been fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of Coca-cola's latest product geared towards fitness enthusiasts: The Powerade Ion4, the complete sports drink. What makes this hydration drink complete is that it has the four key electrolytes typically lost during sweat:
Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium. That's Na, K, Ca and Mg for the chemistry geeks (like me!).

Coincidentally, there are also four big names endorsing this new product: fitness expert Chinggay Andrada, basketball player David Semerad, football player Neil Etheridge, and of course my running idol Coach Rio dela Cruz. Chinggay, David and Coach Rio graced the occasion with their presence. Neil was out of the country but still left a video message for everyone.

Mountain Blast, Orange Burst, Silver Charge

Powerade Ion4 comes in three variants: Orange Burst, Mountain Blast and Silver Charge and they come in easy-grip 500mL bottles. The latter two flavors are available in bottles with sports caps, for easier re-hydration during exercise.

We received an invite requesting us to come in our favorite sports attire, so we expected some sort of activities wherein we could participate (and perspire). The venue had four major sections: an area for running, a section for cycling, a half-court for basketball, and a zone for football. Guests can join any of the four and receive some cool freebies from Powerade. Of course, I joined the treadmill challenge (but unfortunately wasn't fast enough to grab the big prize).

The runner's challenge: the most hi-tech NordicTrack treadmills I've seen!

Fellow bloggers Ma'am Vimz, Eman and Let battling it out at the cycling area

The three-point challenge dominated by the basketball players in attendance

Kick and shoot! A lot of guests tried their luck at the football zone.

Happy bloggers!

Thanks Powerade!

Globe Run For Home 2012 Goes to the Queen City of the South!

Yes, you read it right. This 2012, Globe Run For Home (R4H) will be held at Cebu City!

What: Globe Run For Home 2012
When: March 25, 2012 (Sunday)
Where: Cebu International Convention Center
Categories: 3k, 5k, 10k, 15k and 21k

Registration Period: February 1 to March 16, 2012
Online Registration can be done via this link. Kits will be delivered to your doorsteps on or before March 23, 2012.
Race Kit Inclusions: Singlet (size subject to availability), timing chip, race bib, finisher's medal for 21k participants ONLY

Registration Fees, Assembly and Gun Start Times

Cebu Registration Center: 1st level, Paseo Ciudad, Ayala Center, Cebu (from 10am to 8pm)

Registration Center at Ayala Center Cebu

Race Map for all categories

RACE FEATURE: THE FACEBOOK TRACKER

With the Run for Home Facebook Tracker, you can keep everyone on your Facebook posted with everything that’s happening at the Cebu International Convention Center on March 25. Newsfeed updates and race results will be sent to your profile through the Timing Chip as you run past race route milestones.

Activate the Facebook Tracker in two steps:

1. When you sign up online, indicate your Facebook ID and email address in your registration form.
2. Install the Facebook Run for Home Live Update application by clicking the Install App button.
   

Race beneficiaries:

• Gawad Kalinga
• Habitat for Humanity Philippines
• Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation
• Philippine Tarsier Foundation

Skechers GO RUN: Go Midfoot, Go Minimal, Go Lightweight

I've been lucky enough to be invited on the launch of a new line of running shoes by one of the leading footwear brands - Skechers. I owned a few pairs of Skechers before and they were all for "porma" purposes. Good thing the brand is now expanding into the running market.

There are five things worth mentioning that define the Skechers GO Run model:

1. Mid-foot Strike. It's a good transition shoe from heel-strikers to mid-foot strikers. When you put the shoe on an even surface, you'll notice that the middle of the shoe base is arched at the center. This way, you'll be sort of forced to land mid-foot while running.
   
2. Minimalist. If you want the sensation of barefoot running, donning a pair of GO run might just give you the feeling of natural running.
3. Lightweight. 4.9 oz for women's size 6 and 6.9 oz for men's size 9.
4. Good value for money. SRP is 3995php for women's and 4095php for men's.
5. Color varieties. There are a lot of colors to choose from! Even if you're not running, it's great to wear as your everyday casual shoes.
   

Some of the colors available (men's on top, women's on bottom part of the pic)

Here's a short clip showing how cool you'll look running in a pair of Skechers GO Run:

For more information on Skechers GO Run, visit their official website at this link. You may also like Skechers on Facebook via this link.

Thanks to Ma'am Vimz Mendoza and Michelle Obligacion for the invite!

Runrio's RUNew Updates: Finisher's Freebies and Free Shuttle Service

Here are some additional information for the RUNew event.

• 21k finishers will receive a medal and a shirt.
• 10k finishers will receive a shirt.
  

Finisher's shirt

FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

Registered runners can avail of a free bus ride (Limited slots only).

Runners can register at Riovana BHS or by sending PM at Runrio Facebook account starting Thursday, February 2. Runners need to present complete name and bib/bib number to qualify.

Pick up point on race day will be at Riovana BHS.

• Assembly time is 3:00.
• The bus will leave at exactly 3:30am.
• Bus leaves Alabang 8:30 am.
  

Race for the Orphans on February 12, 2012

WHAT: Race for the Orphans
WHEN: February 12, 2012 (Sunday)
WHERE: Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

REGISTRATION PERIOD: January 7, 2012 to February 11, 2012 (12nn to 8pm)
RACE CATEGORIES AND REGISTRATION FEES:
- P600 for 10k
- P400 for 5k
RACE KIT INCLUDES: Race bib with timing tag and singlet
REGISTRATION VENUES:
- Secondwind Running Store: Quezon City and Ortigas Branches
- A Runners Circle (ARC): Roxas Blvd. corner Quirino Avenue
- ROX: Bonifacio High Street, BGC, Taguig
RACE BONUS: All registered runners have a chance to win a free trip for 2 to Boracay!

Singlet Design

RACE WRITE-UP:

A race for the orphans, a race for your hearts! A very special race for the month of the heart—The Race For The Orphans will stir the Camp Aguinaldo Grounds in the still misty morning of February 12, 2011 each not only to experience running the peaceful grounds of the military camp but to take part in answering the orphans cry for love and compassion.

It is with this aim that Rundezvous Events Inc., will stage this event that will provide scholarship grants through “I-Hope”, a trust fund that will support the educational needs of these orphans of soldiers killed in action in Mindanao and for future grantees of the AFP Educational Benefit System (AFPEBS).

Each runner pays a modest registration fee of P600.00 for the 10k run and P400.00 for the 5k run. Inclusive with this fee is a nice running singlet available in various sizes, a Timing tag, race bib number and a goodie bag from our sponsors.

Our registration Centers will be at the Secondwind Running Stores in Ortigas and Quezon City; ROX at Bonifacio High Street and at A Running Circle (ARC) along Quirino Avenue corner Roxas Blvd., Manila.

“We shall leave no soldiers’ orphan behind”. This is the AFP Educational Benefit System Office’s (AFPEBSO) tagline, an organization which deeply recognizes the heroism in each Filipino soldier. It is one of the morale and welfare outfits of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that grant educational benefits both to the military personnel and their dependents with the aim of helping them secure a brighter future. As it recognizes our soldiers' heroism, especially of those who lay down their lives in protecting peace, AFPEBSO gives priority to the orphans of Filipino soldiers who were killed in action.

We’ll see you at Camp Aguinaldo on February 12, 2012!

For inquiries, please call or text:
Abet: 09158030224 or Zarina: 09165217400
Or call Phone: 6(32) 3829659 c/o of Salie Guarin.

Subic International Marathon: 21k in 21 Photos

It was another fun-filled out-of-town trip for the Team Alpha1 boys last January 21-22, 2012. I and six of my running teammates went to Subic, Olongapo for lots of eating. And oh yes, I forgot. Running too!

Now here are 21 photos from our Subic adventure:

1
We went in two separate cars - mine and Daves'. We met at a Caltex station near the San Fernando exit at NLEX. We went on a convoy after the meet-up.

2
Upon arriving at Subic, we were famished! We came across Texas Joe's. And oh boy the food was heavenly.

3
I ordered spare ribs. Yuuuummmmm! And I did something I haven't done for a long time - order extra rice! Haha!

4
Texas Joe's is just a few meters away from where we will be staying - Subic Park Hotel. We made it just in time for the 2pm check-in.

5
Our Deluxe rooms were spacious! My roommates were Bryan "FFS" and Martin "Coyote". I was supposed to take a nap, having been tired from the long drive but I opened my laptop instead and checked work emails. Loser!

6
Around 5pm, we went out and searched for a "meryenda" place. A friend of Daves recommended a place called Xtremely Xpresso. The place was just a walking distance from our hotel.

7
Found the place! Xtremely Xpresso Cafe!

8
Pizza and Pasta - perfect carbo-loading! I had a Bailey's-flavored Gelato ice cream for dessert.

9
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped by at the nearby church to have our photo taken. It was also a time for me to say a quick prayer for a safe and injury-free run the next day.

10
After a few hours of sleep, we were up again to do our pre-race rituals. We asked the hotel attendant to take our picture. He wished us good luck and off we went for our warm-up run!

11
I had Eugene's camera with me so I was playing around, trying to imitate Spongebob Runner, who always had his camera with him during runs and taking pictures just like the one you see above. Everyone was game and having fun every time I attempt to take pictures.

12
The gun start for the 21k runners was moved from 5am to 5:15am so we had lots of time to relax and mingle with other runners.

13
This being my first official race for this year (having just recovered from my knee injury), I planned to take it slower than my normal competitive pace. This is also Rocky's first 21k for the year so we decided to just pace each other.

14
The race route was mostly uphill for the first half. But what goes up, must come down. Mostly downhill after the half-way point U-turn. At kilometer 16, Rocky told me to go ahead as his right knee was acting up. Now alone, I did my usual strategy of targeting one runner at a time and overtaking them. I was targeting members of the Army since they have been very fast during the start of the race and were now tired. Hehe!

15
There were a lot of food vendors in the race village. Hungry, I bought an egg sandwich and a bottle of soda. Rocky ate one order of spaghetti and one order of pancit palabok. Haha! We waited for Byron to cross the finish line and then walked back to our hotel.

16
After everyone had a quick shower (including our full marathon finishers), we made it just in time for the 12nn check-out time. Here's us in the hotel lobby while settling our payables.

17
One more shot with the Subic Park Hotel logo at the background before leaving. Plan is to have lunch at Meat Plus Cafe, a must-visit restaurant in Subic!

18
My lunch - baby back ribs and carrot cake for dessert! I'd come back for that melt-in-your-mouth baby back ribs! Perfect 10!

19
Group pic in front of Meat Plus Cafe. We went to the nearby duty-free shop after. I bought lots of junk food - 60 dollars worth!

20
Martin, Bryan and Byron were all asleep in my car during the drive at SCTEX. I was fighting the urge to sleep while driving since I had no one to talk to. Good thing we had a stop-over at an NLEX gasoline station. I had my caffeine fix by ordering the strongest coffee available at Gloria Jean's. That helped me survive the remaining two hours of drive to Paranaque.

21
I love the dog tag given to the 21k finishers! Official time: 2 hours, 4 minutes, 47 seconds. Thank you Subic International Marathon! It was a great event!