For the Guam KoKo Road Race, I simply pinned the Philippine flag on the back of my shirt…

Good thing adidas recently launched the fourth installment of its Philippine Range collection. It features jackets and t-shirts that play on the Philippine flag’s trademark colors—blue, red, white, with a few touches of yellow—in a simple, minimalist design.

Cool eh? I wish they’d make running singlets and shirts with Pinoy colors too!

The adidas Philippine Range is available at adidas stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/adidasPhilippines.

All systems go for Adidas KOTR on October 25, 2009. Here’s more info in case you haven’t signed up yet…

Registration is on-going
Registration for the 2009 adidas King of the Road (KOTR) on October 25 is ongoing in 14 venues in Metro Manila. The event covers three running distances, 5k, 10k and 21k and the fee is P500. It will be held at the Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
 
Free Running Clinics with Coach Ani De Leon
every Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. from October 6 – 22 at the ULTRA Running Oval.  

To register, send an e-mail to adidas_kingoftheroad_2k9@yahoo.com expressing your interest to avail of the free running clinics.  Include your contact details to receive regular updates.
 
Mi adidas discounts
For those who’ve registered for Adidas KOTR, present your registration receipt at the counter to avail 50% off mi adidas. You can now customize your shoes according to your style using the high-tech software available at the adidas flagship store in Greenbelt 3.  Limited coupons available.
 
Running Expo on October 17-18, 2009
When: October 17 to 18, 2009
Where: SM Megamall Megatrade Hall
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Carbo-loading, exhibits, seminars, distribution of singlets, race bibs, presentations and a lot more surprises await all KOTR runners.
 
Join Adidas KOTR Facebook and egroup
Get the latest from adidas about the King of the Road.

Facebook: search for adidas Running Philippines
Yahoo e-group: add http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/adidas_kingoftheroad_2k9/

People say that running is the metaphor for life.  Who would’ve thought it could’ve been the metaphor for corporate rivalry as well? When a runner stands atop the flight of stairs that overlook the entire track oval, he/ she can choose between two major sports brands just with one simple question: LEFT or RIGHT?  To the left is Adidas Run Clinic led by Coach Ani de Leon, right is Nike Training Clinic headed by Coach Rio de la Cruz.

Let’s not forget Team Bald Runner’s Clinic further down left led by Coach Saturnino Salazar.  Team BR has no support from the corporate running bigwigs, but the training is just as effective.

Having three training clinics all at more or less the same time (on Tuesdays) in one teeny-weeny track oval is insane, but it’s great for us runners, too.  A little healthy competition among the various run clinics should spur all of them to provide great programs and offer top-notch training for their runners. 

When I got home, I told the hubby about the three run clinics at Ultra and went on to talk about the incident as another proof of the non-stop growth of running in the country.  He agrees, and then adds “Or maybe we just need more track ovals in Manila, too.”

NEW LIST OF RUNNING CLINICS!  For a list of RUN CLINICS around Metro Manila, click on this new page.  You’ll find it on the sidebar on the upper right too.

For the month of August, Adidas invites everyone to join the AdiZero Gram Challenge.  Runners may bring in their current running shoes for a weigh in and if it is lighter than 265g for men or 245g for women, then the runner gets 20% off on adiZero Aegis, adiZero Boston, or adiZero Tempo.  

Details:

• Promo is valid from August 1-31, 2009.
• Baseline weight is 265g based on adiZero Aegis Men’s UK size 8.5. For women’s running shoes, the weight to beat is 245g based on adiZero Women’s UK size 5.5.
• If shoes are lighter than 265g for mens and 245g for womens you automatically get 20% discount on your adiZero purchases.
• If shoes are heavier than the baseline weight given, please see grid below:
  • 1g to 20g heavier = 5% off
  • 21g to 40g heavier = 10% off
  • 41g to 60g heavier = 15% off
  • 61g to 80g heavier = 20% off

TECHNICAL INFO:

ADIZERO AEGIS: Php 5495
A faster, sleeker lightweight trainer. Designed with ForMotion upper and ground-adapting 3D ForMotion unit for smoother, more natural touchdowns at high speeds Airmesh upper for maximum ventilation. Asymmetric upper construction to avoid forefoot pressure. Moulded respoEVA sockliner for anatomical fit and great step-in comfort. Non-slip lining for comfort and performance. Extended TORSION SYSTEM bar for heel and midfoot stability. Full forefoot adiPRENE+ for foot propulsion & efficiency adiWEAR outsole for best durability in high wear areas. Forefoot lugs for traction on road surfaces.

ADIZERO BOSTON: Php 4995
A serious lightweight distance trainer that is built for speed. Made to stay responsive and fast through the hardest training. Your feet will be flying. Airmesh upper for maximum ventilation. Moulded respoEVA sockliner for anatomical fit and great step-in comfort. Non-slip lining for comfort and performance adiPRENE-maintains forefoot propulsion & efficiency. adiPRENE provides protection from harmful impact forces. TORSION SYSTEM for midfoot integrity. Forefoot blown rubber combines lightweight with grip. Ventilation zone in the shank area. adiWEAR outsole for best durability in high wear areas.

ADIZERO TEMPO – MEN: Php 5095
The lightest shoe in its class, adiZero Tempo gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. Pure and simple in appearance and function, this is the ultimate running shoe. Airmesh upper for maximum ventilation. Perforated EVA tongue for light weight comfort and breathability, dual layer adiLite/respoEVA sockilner for great step-in & motion comfort (antimicrobial). Non-slip lining for comfort and performance. adiPRENE+ maintains forefoot propulsion & efficiency. Dual density midsole for pronation control. ForMotion for motion control & ground adaptability. adiWEAR outsole for best durability in high wear areas. Blown rubber outsole for lightweight grip and cushion.

ADIZERO TEMPO – WOMEN
The lightest shoe in its class, adiZero Tempo gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t. Pure and simple in appearance and function, this is the ultimate running shoe. Airmesh upper for maximum ventilation. Perforated EVA tongue for light weight comfort and breathability, dual layer adiLite/respoEVA sockilner for great step-in & motion comfort (antimicrobial). Non-slip lining for comfort and performance. adiPRENE+ maintains forefoot propulsion & efficiency. Dual density midsole for pronation control. ForMotion for motion control & ground adaptability. adiWEAR outsole for best durability in high wear areas. Blown rubber outsole for lightweight grip and cushion.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the opening of Adidas’ newest and biggest flagship store at Level 1, Greenbelt 3 yesterday afternoon.  The event was graced by celebrities, athletes, and press people but, I tell you, the stuff in that store was more than enough to get me excited.

Models and celebrities walked down the aisle to show off new apparel and shoes that just made me drool: all the black and yellow running items from apparel to shoes (I’m so into this color combination now.  Don’t ask me why.  Fine. It has a lot to do with a guy named Lance), the new tops in that nice, cool shade of blue, the Supernova in white/blue and the white/yellow running shoes that need no lacing, and of course, my new favorite, anything Stella McCartney.  Aaaah, I could go on and on…

Walking around this sprawling store, I particularly liked the fact that they had displayed running items everywhere, such as a list of races on one wall, a standee quizzing you on what type of runner you are, and gargantuan stickers of Haile posted on the pillars.  These little things made me feel that these people certainly know a lot about running.

Of course, despite the excitement over the goods, I still got starstruck with all the celebs: Chris Tiu, Doug Kramer, Angel Aquino, Karylle and many more.  I got to chat once again with actress and runner Iza Calzado (we first met in the restroom after Happy Run when I mistakenly said “Hi” to her thinking she was a friend due to her familiar face…oops!); I honestly think she’s one of the nicest celebrities I’ve ever met. 

– Oh Chris, why couldn’t you have been born 10 years earlier?  Or should it be 20? -

– Coach Ani de Leon and Coach Jomac can make everything look easy…even modelling! -

– Iza Calzado in Stella McCartney -

I also spotted Mojo Jojo of Good Times with Mo and I just had to go up to him and personally thank him for mentioning TBR Magazine on Magic 89.9 a couple of weeks ago. He said that he and Grace Lee are trying to lose weight this summer so, hopefully, they give running a try.  It was also great to chat with ironwoman Ani de Leon and Coach Jomac about, what else, running!

- I love mojo! -

- with Iza -

Before the event ended, there was a raffle held and it was my good friend JunC’s lucky day as his name was called.  He won a diary…for women!  Er, so I guess it was his wife’s, not his, lucky day.  Still, congrats to Jun!  And, of course, congrats to Adidas!

After my warm up and stretching, I waited just a few minutes—with winning triathletes and showbiz celebrities Drew Arellano and Paolo Abrera right behind me and my favorite reader Cougcat right outside the barrier—before the 10k gun went off at exactly 5:55 a.m. My secret goal (sorry, I couldn’t share with you) was simply to run a sub-55 hour 10k, a very conservative goal, which I knew I could achieve in this fast course after two consecutive weekend races at hilly Ayala Alabang.

What can I say? The course was awesome! I enjoyed running so much (or was it because I saw super funny and witty Rovilson Fernandez pass by me?) that I snobbed my Garmin throughout the race. I disregarded time and pace and focused on simply giving my best. I didn’t even feel the need to compete against other runners. I just ran, and ran, and ran.

As we climbed the Buendia flyover, I was still in high spirits and it was a delight to see friends who joined the 21k making their way back towards Bonifacio Global City. When the first few running friends passed, I would yell “Go, Glenn” then “Go Joms” then “Go Ben” then “Go Annnnniiiiie” but then, after a while, I thought I would lose my mind (and breath) just cheering for them. To conserve energy, I waved at others to show my support.

Once we hit the flat roads of Buendia, I stopped watching the 21k runners on the other side of the street and looked straight ahead. It was time to get going. After all, flat means fast (hey, I’m talking about the roads, not chests). So, I ran to my heart’s delight.  I only stopped to glance at my watch during the 5k turnaround at Reposo then I went on again.

Before I knew it, it was time to climb back up the steep Buendia flyover, which was a lot tougher than the 1st half. With the intense heat, most of the runners before me had began to walk while I slowed down to a 5:50 pace. Wow, it felt like forever trekking up that road but, with a little patience and perseverance, we survived. As I made my way back to Bonifacio Global City, I wanted to yell “Freedom! Woohooo!” as I rolled down the flyover towards flat roads but decided otherwise as the troop of PNP’s I was running with would have to cuff me and send me to Crame.

I ran towards the finish at a comfortably hard pace, again, enjoying every minute. I found my rhythm somewhere in between passing the Pinoy Ultra Runners who ran 21k and the finish line.  It was pure fun!

According to my Garmin, I finished 10.02 km (hey perfect race distance!) at 52:44 minutes with an average pace of 5:16 min/km. 

- Did you get to sign here? I didn’t. Maybe next year. Thanks to future elite runner Naombi for pointing it out to us -

- BWK united! -

I reached my sub-55 hour goal. CHECK (with minutes to spare)

Ended the race injury-free. CHECK (Actually, I did have an injury after the race. Silly me. I bumped my head against the bathroom door hanger as I was changing. Forehead was bleeding and now it’s black & blue)

I felt I could’ve pushed harder, gone faster, and broken my PR, but hey I’m happy. It was a great race. Adidas KOTR currently tops my list of favorite races this year.

- Aaaw, highschool classmates Tin U. and Jennie Bau! -

- with running bloggers, The Changeling Child, RunningDATcom, & Loonyrunner -

 - Pinoy Ultra Runners Hector, Neville and Jeremy -

– BAGAY…ang shades ni Marga sa kanya. Diba Neville? -

- Congrats to Annie for placing 9th, even after coming in late, for 21k -

- Congrats to Queen of the Road Jo-Ann Banayag -

- Men’s Singlet on top. Women’s in the bottom. -

Registration details are as follows: (UPDATED)

WHAT: ADIDAS “King of the Road 2008” 5K, 10K , 21K
WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2008, Race Start: 5:30am, Event Ends: 9:00am
WHERE: Fort Bonifacio, Start and Finish Line: 28th Street, in front of Honda, Fort
REG FEE: P300.00 (inclusive of race singlet, race number, certificate)
REG VENUES:

- Adidas Shops in Podium, Trinoma, Megamall, Rockwell

- Ground floor of Vazquez-Madrigal Bldg., Annapolis St. Greenhills, San Juan (recommended for bulk registrations of corporations, schools and organizations). Phone: Mr. Biscocho (727.9987).

REG DATES: September 22- October 9

I lined up at the starting line chatting with other Happy Feet members—Chai, Roselle, and Renz—and other new runner friends, Lala and Ina. Before we knew it, the run had started in an almost calm, happy send off. No firing of the gun to jolt our bodies and awaken the competitive spirit within us. Is that a good thing? I don’t know.

This was a run I strategized over the day before. My goal was 47 mins. (I wanted to break my 46:57 PR at Run To Bring Hope, which technically should be around 48-49 mins since distance was below 10k.) So, to achieve this, I needed to reach an average pace of 4:42. Of course, I planned on negative splits so I was aiming for a pace between 5 to 5:30 in the first 2km, then up it to 4:50 km (a pace I knew I would be comfortable in) and speed up to 4:40 near the end. Being a newbie with competitive racing, I wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do or if this would really allow me to break my PR, but it sounded like a good plan (hah!) so that’s what I kept in mind as I ran through the course.

I started out slow trying my best not to compete with the faster paced runners around. My legs were a little bit stiff so I didn’t have much choice anyway. By around 2km, as I found my rhythm, I increased the pace and started enjoying the run. I focused on my form applying lessons from my recent training with Ige Lopez and even a few tips from Jujet de Asis during last Thursday’s Mizuno Run Club. Boy, did their tips make a significant difference! I felt stronger and more confident. I was pretty sure I could follow through with my strategy for this race.

As I passed the 5km mark, I checked my watch to find my time at 25 mins. so I knew I had to go a little bit faster to reach my goal. Then, a race personnel shouted out at me “Pangatlo ka!” (You’re third!) which hit me like a much-needed shot of adrenaline. Inspired, I pushed harder with a smile since this was the first time I had ever gone this close to the front.

Okay, inspiration could only get me so far. By 7-8km, I was feeling exhausted. I was definitely running at a 5:00 pace below my 4:45 goal. So much for negative splits! All I could think of by this time was the end. I would be happy to just maintain this pace. Hang on, I thought. Just a little bit more now.

Boy, was I wrong. At 10km, I was surprised to find myself still running. As I ran closer to what I thought was the finish line, I was shocked to discover that we had to run past it and make a u-turn to reach it. Nooooooo! I didn’t know how much more energy I had left in me to maintain my pace.

I glanced at the man beside me and was surprised to see a familiar face; it was the same guy at Adidas KOTR who, at the finish line, shook my hand and said he was chasing me down because he would not let a woman ran past him. I then replied in spite (but with a charming smile) “Well, I would not let a man ran past me either.” Hah!

In between breaths, I told him in tagalog “Hey, it’s you again. This is such a long race.” He replied, without giving in to my negativity, “Tapusin mo! Tapusin mo!” with as much gusto as Freddy Roach coaching Manny Pacquiao. I gathered the little energy I had left to put more power into my legs and pick up the pace. I crossed the finish line at exactly 55 minutes. The distance was 11.2 km.

- Runners line up at the finish –

I asked the race person what place I came in at and he said he didn’t know. Duh. I didn’t recall any female passing me after the 5km mark, so I could only surmise I kept my place at 3rd. Of course, it’s nothing official until the results are released. This was a fun run, so there were no awards at the end. We all just parted ways in peace after a gruelling (but absolutely fun) run.

At exactly 10km, my time would have been around 49 mins. Placing in a suspected 3rd was just a bonus. I didn’t break my PR, but I’m still happy with my time. I gave it a good fight and that is something to smile about.

– with Happy Feet -

Registration through Ms. Thelma Biscocho, G/F Vasquez Madrigal Building, Greenhills, San Juan will be open until October 26, Friday, in the afternoon.

On site registration will close by 5:30am (October 27, Saturday).

See you there!

————————————————

Early this year, leading sports brand Adidas called on all running enthusiasts to gear up for their run and to go the distance— to experience the sheer pleasure of challenging themselves. Apart from the Test Run 28 promo, where individuals were matched with the right Adidas running shoe, Adidas has also launched the King of The Road (KOTR) marathon series to encourage people to keep running.

Now with the first ever Adidas Run for Love GK Bayani Marathon, Adidas once again invites all runners to hit the pavement but this time to exercise advocacy as well.

Commencing on October 27 at the SM Mall of Asia, the Adidas Run for Love marathon will surely be another huge success as participants will not only race to stay fit and healthy but are running to benefit those in need. Made for both 5 and 10k runners, all proceeds from the Adidas Run for Love – GK Bayani Marathon will go to Gawad Kalinga foundation.

The Adidas Run for Love marathon is also a great way for companies and organizations to promote team building. Companies are encouraged to join the marathon to be part of an activity that will foster camaraderie and will benefit a good cause at the same time. Interested parties may contact Thelma Biscocho at 727.99.87 or visit G/F Madrigal Bldg. Annapolis St. Greenhills San Juan.

Those who’ve picked up the running pace with Adidas confess that with all these fit fests and more, running has never been more accessible or exciting. The adidas Run for Love GK Bayani Marathon, adidas is perfect for all health buffs that believe in a good cause. So be sure to mark your calendars for the adidas Run for Love GK Bayani Marathon on October 27 and be a part of the momentous event!

* As posted by Michelle Maskarino.