WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

1 Nike Running Shoe (actual model may vary from the photo below) and 1 box of Enervon HP 700g

HOW MANY WINNERS? One (1) winner

HOW TO JOIN?

1) Follow The Bull Runner on Twitter
2) Like The Bull Runner Page on Facebook
3) Subscribe to TBR Mailing List (upper right of this blog)
4) Post a comment on this blogpost with the following:

- IN ONE (1) WORD DESCRIBE WHAT RUNNING MEANS TO YOU (using more than one word leads to disqualification)

Also include:

- your Name
- Name used in Twitter and FB
- Shoe size
- Gender

HOW CAN I WIN?

• Deadline for submission of entries: Friday, May 4, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
• All entries submitted within this period complying with directions above will be eligible for a raffle to be conducted by TBR via random.org.
• All entries will be moderated and will be approved upon closing of the contest.
• Only one entry per runner. Submission of more than one entry leads to disqualification.
• Winner will be announced on TBR Pages on Facebook and Twitter ONLY and will be advised via email on how to claim the prize.

May the best runner win!

UPDATE: Congratulations to MELVIN MANZANO ROBEL for winning this contest!

adidas WE ALL RUN with David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Derrick Rose and Katy Perry

Nike Free – I Would Run to You

Check out my new Nike Footies that Nike sent over: (thanks guys!)

This clever idea just had the kids and I laughing when I put them on. Nope, I wouldn’t recommend them for running because they’ve got non-slip soles. Use them instead for other activities such as barre3, redcord, pilates, TRX, and more. I’d love to return to my redcord class just to show these off proudly! Hah!

Care to win a FREE race kit to Nike We Run Manila 10k – Individual Category? I’m giving away 19—yes, 19 FREE race kits!

HOW TO JOIN:

1. Submit your answers to the multiple choice questions below by commenting on this post. Example: Q-V-L

2. The first 19 runners who submit the correct answers will win one (1) race kit each to Nike We Run Manila 10k – Individual Category.

3. Winners will  be announced on this blog.  Winners will also receive an email with a code to register online early next week.

4. Upon completing registration, winners may claim race kits on Race Pack Collection Day on October 11 to 13, 2011 from 10am to 10pm at Bonifacio High Street (in front of Runnr).

RULES:

• Runner can submit an entry only once. Submission of more than one entry leads to disqualification.
• Prizes are transferable. Runner provides his/her name or the name of the person he/she would like to give the race kit to.
• Prizes are not convertible to cash.
• Answers will NOT be published until winners are identified.

MULTIPLE CHOICE:

Submit the 3 LETTERS to the multiple choice questions by commenting on this post. Example: Q-V-L

(1) How should one have trained for the Nike We Run Manila 10k race?

Q. Eat 3 cups of rice per meal
R. Gradually and safely increase running distance over a number of weeks until you reach 10k
S. Run hills daily

(2) What should you wear on your feet to the Nike We Run Manila 10k race?

U. Nike running shoes that’s appropriate for your foot type
V. Same shoes as what Pacquiao wore in his last fight
W. Same shoes as what Kobe Bryant wore when he visited Manila

(3) Will I have fun at the Nike We Run Manila 10k race?

L. Maybe. Depends on the post-race meal.
M. Definitely not. Running sucks.
N. For sure. That’s why We Run, Manila!

Good luck!  May the best runners win!

- with Coach Rio -

- with Tricia Chiongbian (will you be my Nike Run Buddy?!), Gary Mercado, and Marco -

- Peejo Pilar of Mens Health flirting with the mannequin.  Kidding. He was actually shopping for shorts for his wife! -

To be honest with you, I thought that Nike Human Race in the past was a brilliant idea and that Nike should’ve continued it.  (How can you forget those awesome red Nike Human Race shirts? Drool drool)  But, I heard that organizing the Nike Human Race simultaneously in various key cities around the world was simply a logistical nightmare.  I guess We Run Manila is the simpler solution and hopefully an event that’s just as successful. (Read about 2008 Nike Human Race HERE)

For We Run Manila, Nike expects 8,000 local runners to be part of the 150,000 runners from 15 cities all across the globe such as Seoul (South Korea), Monterrey (Mexico) and Santiago (Chile) participating in the Nike City 10k races from now until the end of the year.

We Run Manila 10k will be a night run on October 15, 2011 at Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. At the end of the race the runners will be treated with performances by Chicosci, Parokya ni Edgar.

Registration is ongoing at Nike Park Fort, RunnR Bonifacio High Street and Shangri-la Plaza, online through www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH and in select universities. Registration fees and categories are:

• Under 25 yrs old – PhP 750.00 (solo), PhP 1,300.00 (for 2)
• 25 yrs old & above – PhP 1,000.00 (solo), PhP 1,300.00 (for 2)

A special discount for registered runners will also be available at select Nike stores.

I would’ve wanted to participate, but I’ll most likely be abroad running the Guam Half Marathon.  Hope you guys can all join We Run Manila!

Wow. I was over the moon about hitting the road once again in such pristine weather conditions and among a fantastic group of running friends. Friends would often ask throughout the run: How’s the foot doing? And, I would reply with a smile: Good. Doing fine.

To be honest though, I carried a bit of weight while we were running. Uhm, yes, I still haven’t lost the extra weight I’m lugging around (grrr). But, there was a heavy burden upon my shoulders that my friends weren’t privy to (until now.)

I was a bit worried. Okay, that’s not being honest. I was awfully pissed.

While I could run easy, I was still frustrated that I could’t run exactly the way I wanted to, the way I used to in the past. There was still slight discomfort and my legs didn’t feel like they were back in full fighting form. I know, I know. I should be patient. Things won’t change overnight. But, still, frustration did set in. In my head, I thought: Why can’t I run the pace I want to yet? When will I be able to do so? How much longer must I wait? Aack, the bull in me was raging.

Good thing I stumbled upon this video of Hope Solo, the goalie of the US Women’s Soccer team (who lost to Japan a few hours ago. Sob sob!). In the video, she talks about her shoulder injury: I was nowhere close to where I needed to be…Could I handle the pain? Could I forget about the pain and get through training? Wow, I could completely relate. And, watching her nurse herself back from injury and get back into the game again just gave me…hope! (Pun intended)

Nike Frees are meant for running, really.  But, I’ll tell you a little secret.  I’ve only used mine less than a handful of times for training. While I would love to practice minimalist running more often, I prefer to use my tried-and-tested training shoes and I have little time for any experimentation with my feet.  My training sched is pretty much consistent: mile repeats on Tuesday, hills or tempo on Thursday, 10k run on Saturday, long slow run on Sundays.  I can’t figure out how to squeeze a 3 to 5k barefoot/minimalist run in the mix.

I use my Nike Frees regularly though.  These are my walking/ shopping/ travel/ chase-after-the-kids shoe of choice.  If there was a Favorite Running Shoe Even When You’re Not Running Award, the Nike Free would win it for me hands down. They’re light, comfortable, soft, and super easy to wear. I wear barely seen socks (although good friend Drew Arellano said I shouldn’t ever wear any!), slip into them quickly, and leave the house in no time.

I found this little piece in my Inbox today.  New models of Nike Free Run+2 are out this summer!  Turning cartwheels already.

– Nike Free Run+ 2 for Men -

– Nike Free Run+ 2 for Women. Love! -

Nike Free Run+ 2 is available in Nike stores now.

Weight:
8.9 ounces in a men’s size 10
7.2 ounces in a women’s size 8

SRP: P4,795

PRESS RELEASE

Nike Free Run+ 2
Nike Free+ 2 creates an innovative new approach to upper construction that mimics the underlying architecture of the foot to deliver a unique blend of barefoot-like freedom and shoe-like running. The midsole features high-resolution siping based on Nike’s latest Nike Free learnings and promotes an incredibly smooth, naturally neutral ride. Nike Free+ 2 is the perfect entry point for runners who are looking for a more minimal, barefoot-like experience without sacrificing the cushioning, protection, and traction benefits of a running shoe.

RUNNER PROFILE
Ideal if you’re a runner who wants the strengthening and natural gait management benefits associated with barefoot training, but also need the cushioning, traction and underfoot protection of a shoe.

INSIDE SCOOP
The unique upper design of the Nike Free Run+2 shoe was inspired by the anatomy of the foot, in which seemingly delicate bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are interconnected in a remarkable lattice work that enables the foot to support an enormous amount of impact and pressure. Similarly, the multi-layered upper design of Nike Free Run+ 2 features minimal overlays that allow for a much wider range of motion than would be possible in a conventional running shoe, yet those layers are also sufficiently robust to provide the support runners need.

QCIM will always hold a special place in my heart since it was my first unofficial 42km. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to drive all the way to QC that week for a race I wasn’t planning to…uhm…race.

Nike Run was going to be relatively smaller, shorter, and more convenient. Definitely the kind of race I was in the mood for. So, I joined the Nike 5k instead. With post-marathon blues gone, my mindset was fun. Fun. Fun.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

The small, relaxed, happy atmosphere was a breath of fresh air for me. No pressure nor stress whatsoever. Bumping into friends, Vimz (Kulit Runner), Aljo, Jun (The Solemates), and especially Dingdong (RunMD) who I hadn’t seen for months, at the assembly area made it even more delightful.

Before us were the Polo Tri Team equipped with their loaded hydration belts, a sure sign that the race was probably just a portion of their long run for the day. For a moment, I felt envious, wishing I could go back in time to our heavy marathon training days. But, I reminded myself to take it easy for now and revel in my “off-season mode”…at least until I figure out what my next marathon goal will be!

AND THE RACE BEGINS

The race took us through my favorite areas of Bonifacio Global City, the long uphill ascent that Alvin and I climb for our training runs.  There was a bit of a traffic with no other distance but 5k, but it wasn’t a problem at all for me.  Despite the crowd, I thoroughly enjoyed every kilometer of this run. Maybe it was because my ipod was loaded with brand new songs.  Or, there was no pressure at all for me to reach a specific time.  Or, that I could almost taste breakfast at Sentro afterwards. Whatever.  My goal was to have fun and that’s definitely what I got.

Before we knew it, the 5k race was over. I crossed the finish with a smile on my face without even glimpsing at the time on my Garmin.  (I did check it later on and it recorded 27:24 for 5k with an average pace of 5:26 min/km.)

– with friends Aljo, Vimz (Kulit Runner), Leia, Bobby, and Jun (The Solemates) -

POST-RACE FESTIVITIES…AND FREEBIES

Hubby and I dropped by the VIP Tent to congratulate our Nike friends for a wonderful event. The post-race atmosphere was festive with cheerleaders keeping runners entertained plus loads of freebies. I loved the mini Nike figurines they gave away which went directly to our kiddos.

- No, that’s not Coach Rio on the right -

A little birdie told me Nike is eyeing a 10k next year…and that is fantastic news. But, I do wish they consider adding a 21k distance to the mix. C’mon Nike…Just Do It, please?

Speaking of winners, my favorite online reader, Anton aka Cougcat, became my favorite TBR Magazine letter-sender as well when he submitted this winning entry for the magazine:

I see a pile of mags beside the jelly beans I eat.
I grab one copy, walk away and find somewhere discreet,
Then scan the cover, noticing the features are complete

I flip the page and see a list of upcoming road races,
The whole page comes complete, with people, dates, and places.
I flip some more, and see a couple advertisement spaces.
From running watches, to running shoes with fully tied shoelaces.

Also, there’s an article on how the Happy Run
Used running as tool to give a school a ray of sun.
Through the efforts Drew Arellano has begun,
Improvements in the Bagong Silang School can now be done.

I learn some tips from articles on hydration and distance training
Common myths and unknown truths on running – they’re explaining
A write-up on the Condura race was also entertaining,
I browsed through it, before proceeding to the final pages remaining.

An index helpful to a runner spanned across two pages
The info is helpfully grouped into subsections or stages
Arriving at the final sheet, a picture showing how running’s contagious
And a running comic involving beverages.

The TBR magazine is truly great nutrition
For anyone who considers running as their strong ambition.
But after reading through it all you might have a bad disposition
Because you’ll have to wait another three months for the next edition!

For his creative efforts, Anton won a pair of Nike Lunar Glides, which came at the perfect time as Typhoon Ondoy soaked his family’s entire home in Provident Village including his old running shoes.  Congratulations Anton! And, thank you to Tony Atayde of Nike for the shoes.

If you have a copy of TBR Magazine, feel free to email comments to tbr(at)thebullrunner.com and get a chance to win a pair of your own Nike Running Shoes if your letter is published.

Overall rating (10 highest): 4
Organizer: Eventologists

THUMBS UP:
• Unique concept: to run with the rest of the world.
• Nice shirts. High-quality material, great fit.
• Race started on time.
• Scenic, out-of-town event.
• Nike bags given out after the race.

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:
• Marshals were mostly on bikes only.
• No kilometer markers.
• Lack of water at the station.

Nike calls the Nike+ Human Race “the world’s biggest run” as runners from all over the globe run 10k on the same day. Sadly, the 2009 Nike+ Human Race at Subic International Marathon failed to live up to the hype of the global race and paled in comparison to the spectacular 2008 Nike+ Human Race at McKinley Hill.

Less than 200 runners showed up for the race, which was unexpected for a Nike event, but not too surprising either for an out-of-town race that only offered a 10km race distance and coincided with two other weekend races in Manila. With the limited number of participants, one would think the race organizer could’ve provided runners with a perfectly organized race. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite.

The course initially took runners through flat roads, but eventually led to a steep and tortuously long uphill climb lasting for about 2.5 kilometers. Disappointingly, after the 5k turnaround, there was no water left at the last station. Marshals were mostly on bikes so they failed to block traffic as runners crossed major intersections heading back to the finish.

The saving grace of this race? Wonderful race shirts provided by Nike, plus a chance to view the Kenyans as they finished their marathon. That’s about it.

—————————————————–

I had fond memories of Nike+ Human Race last year. And, the thought of running with the community of runners spanning the globe was a novel idea. So, I was intent on signing up for the Nike+ Human Race this year despite the 3-hour journey from Manila to Clark, the disruption of my training program (I don’t run on Saturdays), and the exhaustion I expected from running 10k that day followed by a 21k at Adidas KOTR the next.

When we arrived at the assembly area in Remy Field, I was surprised to find such a small gathering of runners.  Clad in the red Nike+ Human Race shirts, the runners were in relaxed mode awaiting race start.  I chatted with Nike+ Human Race ambassador, Bards of Banana Running, spotted another ambassador, Lino Cayetano, but failed to see the other three ambassadors.

The race started at exactly 4:30 p.m.  My run was quite the antithesis of the atmosphere of the event. As we rushed out of the track oval and through the flat but busy road, I found myself running in full race mode, not my planned slow 10k. My friend, Alvin, had sent me a commanding text message earlier (in full caps): “EASY PACE ONLY!”, but since Alvin was in distant Manila, he would never know, right?

I had ran this road twice before so it was nothing knew. At around 3km, a man yelled out to me that I was in 5th place, so it gave me an added boost of energy to go faster.

The next portion of the course was a shocker; it was a never-ending uphill climb that left me wishing I had listened to Alvin instead.  But, there was no turning back. I focused on my breathing, took smaller steps, and paid no attention to runners who started walking instead.  It was a long, dreadful, and exhausting climb to the top. What made it worse was I was chasing after the 4th placer!  Shortly before the 5km turnaround, I ran past her. 4th place, baby!

Soon, I rolled down the steep hill I had just climbed. With my paranoia over my old injury, Runner’s Knee, I slowed down and stepped on my inner breaks. By this time, everyone—yes, even those guys who were walking up the hill—were leaving me behind! Grrrrr!  As for that female runner I had worked so hard to overtake up the hill, she swept past me and was gone from my sight in a matter of seconds. Double grrrr!

By the time we reached the flat roads again, I caught sight of female runner again and tried my best to catch up with her.  For the last 2 km until the end of the race at the track oval, I ran close behind her trying to overtake her. I never did. She finished a few meters ahead of me.

I finished the race at 59 mins. Considering how spent I was, I thought I ran it much faster. No worries. I’m just glad I survived the toughest 10k of my entire life.

– with the little Bull Runners -

– Female Kenyan runners gets a well-deserved massage after her marathon -

– Aileen Tolentino, top female Filipino marathon finisher, 3:29:01. Behind her, Mari Javier is all smiles over his new PR, 3:27.   -

– It was nice bumping into Gilbert of Chris Sports and Coach Jim Saret -