RUNNR is going to break the tape with its 2nd store in Cebu this November! Target opening date is Nov. 13, 2009
Good news to Cebuano runners out there: Runnr is looking for people to join their team. The number one criteria: You have to be a passionate runner. If you are interested, you can email hrd@runnr.com.ph. By the way, running and trying out the gear is definitely part of the job!
UPDATE: RUNNR will be located in 2/F Ayala Center, Cebu.
Mari Javier is a relatively new runner having picked up the sport just a year ago, but he’s already got a 3:34 marathon and an ultramarathon under his belt. In the October issue of TBR Magazine, I featured him on “Personal Record” which showcases a real runner and his/her race times. Below is the interview I had with him where I tried to fish out answers from this busy corporate executive (like many of you out there) who can work hard and train even harder.
Name: Mari Javier
Job: PLDT, Relationship Management (Corporate Business)
Years running: 11 months
Age: 37
Team: Team Baldrunner, Hardcore runners
PERSONAL RECORD:
5k 18 mins
10k 38 mins
15k 57 mins
21k 1 hr 29 mins
42k 3 hrs 34 mins
102k 12 hrs 30 mins
How and when did you start running?
I officially got hooked on running when a friend invited me to join the Adidas KOTR 2008 last October where I finished the 21K in 2hrs 15mins, the Adidas KOTR 2009 will be my anniversary run which will be quite tricky considering I will be driving home after the Smart-SIM 42K to be held the day before the Adidas race.
You have a 9-to-5 job, but you can train as fast and hard as other serious athletes. How do you strike a balance between your career and training?
It’s no secret that this involves a lot of time-management between my profession and passion, it’s not easy to begin with to tell you the truth, however once I started serious running I discovered a lot about my self-belief that I can consistently improve on all levels whether it be in time, distance or terrain variety, I am quite convinced that this also holds true in life which is what makes it all the more worthwhile.
You run long (ultramarathon) and yet you are also fast (3:34 Marathon). How do you manage to train for speed and distance simultaneously without getting injured?
I really listen to my body and don’t push it when I don’t feel in running form although there I really try to discipline myself never to miss a scheduled workout day I just adjust the type of workout depending on how I feel, I really try to take recovery fluids after training/races, massages every 1-2 weeks, rest whenever possible.
You have to be smart in running ultras as this is all about energy and hydration management, there are just so many intangibles involved which makes it exciting. I have learned what I did right, wrong and what I need to definitely improve my 9th place finish for the 2nd BDM ultramarathon this coming March, running marathons will be my distance training and some while working the track on intervals will be for speed.
– Kenny’s Urbanite 2009 –
Can you give us a peek into your weekly training program?
I train with the Team Baldrunner elites and this is normally my weekly running program:
Monday (Rest) … exception is a holiday then I do a long run
Tuesday (AM: 30min. 6K warmup) / (PM: interval training, either 400m at lactate threshold ave. 70 to 75 secs., 800m, or 1000m ave. 3:30/km) or a 5K session (60m fast, 40m jog for 5K)
Wednesday (PM: tempo run, 30 to 45 mins)
Thursday (AM: long run, normally around 2hrs either in Antipolo hills or Camp Aguinaldo)
Friday (AM: 30min. 6K warmup) / (PM: tempo run, 45mins to 1hr)
Saturday (AM: 30min. 6K warmup)
Sunday (AM: Long Run or Race Day)
What do you love about running?
I love continuously pushing myself past the boundaries of my physical capabilities, if I were a car, I would have probably been an automobile convertible – now I feel like i’m the sportscar version, just like life, running is extremely challenging and ultimately mentally rewarding once you hit the finish.
– Milo Baguio 2009 –
What is your next goal?
For October, it would be the Milo National Finals (42K), QCIM (42K recovering as a pacer for the 4:15 group), Subic (42K), Pasig International Marathon in November and then Singapore this December, I am crossing my fingers and hope to do the Cebu Marathon and Condura this January and February 2010 respectively.
What is your dream race?
I would love to qualify for Boston and also run one of the Ultramarathon 100milers like the Western States 100.
QUICK QUESTIONS:
To read more Runners’ Interviews, click here.
* Photos courtesy of Ben Chan, Blacksheep Photography.
The Bull Runner Magazine – Oct-Dec issue is out NOW! Grab your FREE copies at your favorite races and places! Click here for a complete list.
You can also pick up copies on October 16, Friday from 9pm to 10pm while Run Radio is on air. Drop by NU 107 station at G/F AIC Gold Tower, Emerald Ave. cor Garnet St., Pasig City.
Our 3rd issue is packed with even more information:
– COVER STORY: The Sea Princess and New York City Marathon Finisher and recent finisher of Ironman 70.3 in Camsur, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, shows us how she celebrates life through running
– The Ultimate Runners’ Gift Guide
– Run Safe and Smart by Coach Patrick Joson
– C.A.R.B.S. for Weight Loss by Mitch Felipe
– 5 Healthy Holiday Treats by Mitch Felipe
– Running in Banaue and Sagada featuring Simon Sandoval, Pinoy Ultra Marathoner and recent finisher of TNF Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc in France
– Q+A: Do I really need insoles? by Dr. George Canlas and What’s the best sunblock for running? by Marie Calica
– Personal Record: featuring Mari Javier
– Running Calendar (races and clinics)
– Running Directory
Want to hear some good news? Within the week, you can download the PDF version of TBR Magazine on this blog! That will include our past issues, too.
I do hope you enjoy our Holiday issue!
Thank you to my team and the advertisers who made the 3rd issue possible!
Ultra track oval will be closed until further notice as it is being used as an evacuation center for Typhoon Ondoy victims. Here are updates regarding run clinics which are usually held there:
Nike Training Clinic – TUES, 7PM, moved to Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street
Adidas Running Clinic – TUES, 6PM, meet in front of Fitness First in Fort Bonifacio
Team Bald Runner – no speedwork training at Ultra this week
TBR RACE REVIEW: MILO MARATHON
Overall rating (10 highest): 8
Race organizer: Mr. Rudy Biscocho
THUMBS UP:
• Fairly simple route covering spacious roads (except for road repair along Buendia)
• Very affordable registration fee
• Marshals along the route
• Accurate kilometer markers
• Abundance of water and Gatorade stations
• Free visors distributed before the race
• Entertainment such as cheerleaders and Milo theme song playing along the route
• Announcement of race number and name upon nearing the finish
• Runpix race analysis
• Photovendo photos
• Booths after the race
• Goodie bag for runners
BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:
• Limited portalets
The Milo Marathon is one of the more popular marathons in the country. Its organizer, Mr. Rudy Biscocho of RACE, can probably manage the event with his eyes closed considering all the years he’s done this. For this particular race, as expected, almost everything worked like clockwork. The race was well-organized from race start to finish. That’s no mean feat considering the quantity of runners who sign up for this race, counting the school children, of course.
It was nice to know that even old dogs can learn new tricks. This was the first time Milo introduced the following innovations: timing chip, runpix analysis, and photovendo photos, which gave runners an even better race experience. The announcement of a runner’s name as he neared the finish line was a pleasant surprise.
Overall, this was a fantastic race. All serious runners should run the Milo Marathon at least once in their lifetime.
———————————————–
FINALLY MILO!
My Milo races have always been jinxed. Eve of Milo Eliminations 2007: I collapsed in Alabang Town Center. A couple of days before Milo Finals 2007: I got Runner’s Knee. For all of 2008, I didn’t even bother registering anymore. For this race, I failed to make it to registration. What’s new, I thought, resigned to the fact that I was going to miss yet another Milo race. But, by some stroke of luck (or perhaps the running gods finally took pity on me), a friend was able to register me at the very last minute.
EXHAUSTED BEFORE THE RACE
At 4 a.m., my alarm rang and all I wanted to do was get more rest. Boy was I pooped. I had barely enough sleep coming from the early morning call time for The Rescue Run the day before. It didn’t help that I spotted the new black/yellow Nike Lunar Glides (reminds me of Lance!) the night before and decided instantly that I had to make them mine. We got home that night at around 10 p.m., packed for the race, attached the timing chip to “Lance” my new favorite running shoes (forget about breaking them in!), and hit the sack close to 12 midnight.
Half asleep I drank Hammer anti-fatigue tablets and a cup of coffee on race day morning. I shook off my weariness by reminding myself that I could go easy that day. Target was a relaxed 21km at 6:15 min/km. I could handle that.
RUNNING WITH DINDO
All this time, I had envisioned Milo races to have runners squeezed together like canned sardines in the assembly area. But, when I arrived, I found that the half marathoners were a small contingent. There, I spotted Dindo and Vener and chatted with them for a few minutes before the gun fired.
In the blink of an eye, Vener was gone. Dindo and I ran easy all the way. There was a lot of time for chit chat, viewing the Manila Bay on our right, and even a quick stop for the rest room along Roxas Boulevard.
– That’s half of Dindo on the right –
I enjoyed the wide paved roads with occasional entertainment from children cheering in their green uniforms or loud Milo music roaring in the background. Fine, I felt like Milo 3-in-1 was being drilled into my subconscious, but any kind of entertainment during the run was well appreciated.
The road repair along Buendia narrowed the course for a few meters, but this didn’t pose much of a problem. In fact, it got us close to the runners who were on their way back. They were a mix of fast half marathoners and even faster full marathoners, the leaders of the pack. One didn’t have to glance at their race bib to know what distance they were running; just by the look on their faces you knew if they were running the full 42.195.
Kilometer 1 to 16 for me was completely stress- and incident- free. No niggling pains nor problems. No worries. Not even weariness. It was all fun!
– No pain + new shoes + great race = Happy TBR –
When we hit 16km, Dindo, a recent Milo Marathon finisher, advised me “You have to finish the last 5km strong. So go ahead and run at least at tempo pace.” I don’t recall what I replied. I may have an answered with a snort, but I do know that I took a deep breath and pushed forward.
– Serious face on. Tempo pace begins –
I ran at around 5:45 pace moving up to perhaps 5:30 nearing the finish. I am guessing my pace because my silly ol’ buddy, my Polar RS800CX PTE, decided to go crazy on me. It may be due to the fact that I used new shoes and didn’t calibrate it yet. Oh well, anything for “Lance,” right?
KAYA MO YAN!
In the last 1km, I felt strong enough to increase my pace even more. I was quite happy with how I felt at that point, like I still had enough fuel in the tank to run faster, it only proved that the lung-busting tempo runs the past weeks were working for me. I was going at about 5:00 min/km pace along with a younger runner who was likewise giving his all. I told him “Ang tagal naman ng finish line!” He agreed and said “Nabigay ko na lahat. Wala na akong maibibigay!” Who would’ve thought that lines straight out of a telenovela could be used on race day!
We passed the host of the event who yelled out my bib number and said “Jaymie Pizarro, Kaya mo yan!” Woooah, he called out my name and the names of all the runners passing by! Talk about moral support!
– Out of breath near the finish –
In less than a few minutes, the race was over. I crossed the finish at 2:14 official time. My watch said 2:12 with an average pace of 6:17. Good pace for a training run. Not bad for my first Milo experience.
– I overtook 70 runners but one runner passed me. I wonder who that is. Growl! –
Click here for official Milo results and free Photovendo photos.
* Big thank you to Photovendo for the great photos!
