I’ll definitely be running this one. I do hope to see you there! 100% goes to Sendong victims and baby Rafael.

TODO RESPONDE Run 2012
January 14, 2012 @ 5AM
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
3K/5K/10K

Registration Fees:
3K – P300
5K – P300
10K – P350
Bib numbers will be issued to participants

Gun Start:
3K – 6:00am
5K – 6:15am
10K – 6:25am

Registration Venues:
- ROX at Bonifacio Highstreet, BGC
- ARC (A Running Circle) Unit H, Aloha Hotel, 2150 Roxas Boulevard, Cor. Quirino Ave. Malate, Manila. Contact Numberphone: 567.iRun
- RUNNR – ATC, Alabang

This year, the Pasig River Run was held yesterday, November 20, 2011 at SM Mall of Asia with thousands of runners taking part in a 3k, 5k, or 10k fun run to save our historic river.

At the same time, a select group of runners were invited to join a 21k Charity Run for the Pasig River. This was not a race but an easy run meant to take the runners from the roads of Bonifacio High Street, along the Pasig River by Guadalupe, Paco estero, and ending at SM Mall of Asia for a special breakfast where the main event was held.

- 21k Charity Run for Pasig route -

Along with a group of friends, Jun, Lit, and Miriam, I decided to join the charity run which started in front of Coach Rio dela Cruz’s new store, Riovana, in Bonifacio High Street at 4:30 am.

- Have you dropped by Riovana, Coach Rio’s brand spankin’ new store at BHS? -

- with Lit, Jun, Trixie and Miriam -

Spotted in the assembly were Polo Tri team member Fernando Zobel, Joey Torres, Cliff Eala and Levy Ang, Mitch Felipe-Mendoza, Malou Fores of Mamou, Michelline Suarez, Edwin Soriano of Runner’s Runner, Gem Padilla and more. It was nice to say hi to a friend and host for the race, Mia Bayuga of Magic 89.9. Too bad I didn’t even catch a glimpse of Piolo who I heard was in the crowd. Ernie Lopez gave a brief welcome speech then our little fun run began.

- Ernie Lopez addresses the charity runners -

The run started like any other 21k race I’ve run before. We ran towards British School, circled the area, and climbed up University Ave. The pace was light and easy with a lot of time for chit chat, even with Ernie for a few minutes.

Then it got exciting. We exited Bonifacio Global City and headed for Guadalupe! Two things I loved: 1) It was the first time I ran in that area, and 2) there was a gentle downhill where we could run fast with ease, then the road flattened out as we ran by the Pasig River on our right.

- Running by the Pasig River -

- Jun, Lit, and Levy running in the dark by the river -

- Shiny and sweaty with Edwin and his friend -

We ran straight through the back of Rockwell and through the little barangays of Makati. At first, the roads were familiar for me having lived in Bel Air half my life, but after a while, I had no clue where we were or where we were headed.  We just went straight ahead enjoying every minute of this new route we were taking.  This was definitely a welcome change from our usual weekend long runs.  This run felt like a thrilling yet safe adventure replete with support from organizers just like a real race: marshals, hydration stations, and bananas.

- Fun run with Jun and Levy -

- Levy, Jun, and Lit -

Since none of us had left our vehicles at the finish area, SM MOA, for a trip home (We actually planned on leaving one vehicle there for all of us to ride in, but ran into problems involving a minor car bump and 3 tipsy women before the race which is too long a story to tell here), we deviated from the route and decided to run our way back to Bonifacio High Street. The four of us waved goodbye to the marshals and made a right towards South Super Highway. Running on South Super was surreal. I couldn’t believe we were actually doing this.

- End of South Super near Osmena Highway. Bumper to bumper traffic in the wee hours of the morning. Just the four of us by this time -

After a few hundred meters, we spotted a some runners and discovered that we had cut 3k through the route and were back on course! Good thing this wasn’t a race!

The runners below us passed a portion of the river that was polluted by foam and dirt. This was truly a disturbing sight, but it was also an eye-opener and it made this run even more meaningful.

- This is what the Run for Pasig River hopes to change -

- Angelo, GM of RunRio, greeted us from the middle of South Super Highway -

- Hydration stations, sponges, and bananas along SSH -

- Runner along SSH -

- Photo op with Makati Police. (Gasp I need to lose 5 more lbs or learn how to angle myself haha) -

When we hit the intersection of Buendia, we left the group and made our way back to Bonifacio High Street. It was then that it was just the four of us on the road and I felt like we were on a great urban run adventure.  (Ooh, don’t we need these things every now and then?!) We purchased water and Gatorade at 7-11, then ran along Ayala Avenue going up and down the underpass, and climbing the overpass along EDSA until we reached McKinley Road.

- Jun and Levy. Felt like we owned the roads of Makati! -

We hit the parking lot where our cars were parked at the exact distance of…guess what…21km. A perfect end to a perfectly wonderful and meaningful run.

Thank you to ABS-CBN Foundation and Ernie Lopez for inviting us to participate in this run. It was a pleasure to run with you and to contribute to saving our Pasig River.

Rexona Run, the 4th Leg of the RunRio series, on July 24, 2011 at the SM Mall of Asia will be raffling off three all expense paid adventures to the Great Wall of China.  Of course, it will also have the usual cash prizes, medals and bragging rights for the winners in the 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K.  12,000 runners are expected to join the race.

REGISTRATION is ongoing until July 3, 2011 at RUNNR and R.O.X. stores in Bonifacio High Street, Toby’s SM Mall of Asia, Planet Sports Glorietta and Trinoma, The Athlete’s Foot Alabang Town Center and Robinsons Galleria and Stoked in Greenhills, Rockwell and Gateway.  You may also register at www.runrio.com or at the Rexona Philippines Facebook page from now until 12 midnight of July 3, 2011.  Late registrants may proceed to R.O.X. in Bonifacio High Street, Toby’s SM Mall of Asia and The Athlete’s Foot Robinson’s Galleria from July 4 – 10, 2011.

RACE FEE is P750 for the 21K leg, P600 for the 10K and 5K leg and P500 for the 3K division.

– Rexona Run 2011 Singlet -

Non-runners can also join the fun at the Rexona Run in the Rexona Adventure Hub happening on July 23-24.  Just buy or bring any proof of purchase of a Rexona Men Adventure stick, spray or roll on and get free access to a wide variety of activities and challenges that’s guaranteed to give the thrill of adventure. What’s more, a raffle will give participants a chance to go an amazing all-expense-paid adventure package with their barkada to awesome local destinations like Banaue, Bohol or Cagayan de Oro.

For more details, call the race hotline at 703-1736 or visit www.runrio.com or visit the Rexona Philippines Facebook page.

See you in China, er, I mean at the Rexona Run on July 24!

During our teenage years, I used to talk to him almost every night. We would talk about everything that mattered: crushes (more of his!), homework, friends, songs, and, of course, Euphoria and Faces. Yes, that was what highschool life was all about, after all.

– Rico’s highschool graduation. I was in 3rd year highschool. L to R: Joanne, me, Pwe, Nich, Vicky, Rics -

– Fun summer weekends at the beach: Miggy, Nich, Mariano, Krie, Veejay, Fat, me, Rics, Cel, Kat, PWe -

Rico was the goalie of the La Salle football team. Something to be proud of for any athlete, but even more for him. You see, he only had one working eye. In his infancy, he lost his right eye to Congenital Glaucoma.

Others would’ve tagged themselves as handicapped, but not him. He had a positive outlook and a sense of humor that wouldn’t allow for this. His favorite trick was to ask us girls for our hands and—if you were the unfortunate victim that day—he would drop his porcelain eyeball onto your palm.  (Gross!) A traumatizing sight indeed, but a scene that would have all of us bursting out in laughter.

He always made us laugh. But he was also one of the most sentimental and demonstrative ones in the group. Perhaps because of his experiences growing up, he was more sensitive to those around him. He was the one you could count on to drive you home, keep the girls company through hours of shopping without a single complaint, or give you comfort when you were down.

Rico and I kept in touch through the years. Even as he migrated to the U.S., and we both married and raised our own children, and now that he’s a single dad to his 2 girls, we still chat about our lives through the internet. We talk about everything that matters most now: family, career, schools, and, only recently, running. (Yup, no more Faces!)

– Nov 2010: All grown up! Visited Rico in LA before NYC Marathon. L to R: Jay, Nich (who ran NYCM too), Rics, and myself -

– Rico’s girls and my kids hanging out in Chuck E Cheese -

Rico got into running just when he was going through a difficult divorce.  He ran his first half marathon several weeks ago finishing at 2:01.  He is currently training for his first marathon: LA Marathon on March 20, 2011—coincidentally on the same day as TBR Dream Marathon—and he’s been working at it seriously and consistently while raising the girls on his own. He didn’t verbalize this to me directly but I know that training for the marathon has helped him have a sense of purpose and given him direction through the tough times.

What’s even better is that he’s using the run to help other children who are blind or partially blind like him. Rico is raising funds for the Blind Children’s Center, a family-centered agency serving children with visual impairments. He is less than $300 shy of his $3,000 goal. If you would like to help one of my dearest friends help others, please click HERE and donate.

All the best in your long run this weekend and on race day, Rics!

• Venue:  People Power Monument (corner EDSA and White Plains)
• Distance: 5k and 10k
• Fees:  P 400 for 5k, P 550 for 10k (inclusive of timing chip, souvenir shirt & donation to DepEd)
• Time: 5:30 am
• No. of runners: 5,000
• Race Organizer: ExTribe
• Proceeds will be used to help build classrooms nationwide

For more info, click HERE to visit the iamninoy website

REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE NOW

You can now register for The EDSA Run on line and pay via your credit card. This is a fast and hassle free way to be part of the much awaited run. Please make sure you follow the directions provided. To register, click HERE

REGISTRATION CENTERS

For those who do not wish to register on-line, registration centers will be opened up soon at various areas. We will announce details here.

View the video below to see so many familiar iamNinoy runners’ faces.  Most of these shots were taken at Condura Run in 2009 when we first launched iamNinoy Runners Group. Aaaw, I’m getting all sentimental already. See you in Edsa!

Okay, I really can’t wait for this rockin’ race. In this race, you’ll hear the country’s top bands performing live along along the race route. … Powering you to the finish. …Now you can Rock and RUN..for a cause. The FIRST of its kind in run and rock concert in one.. it’s happening this June 19th.

Complete race info in the next couple of days…

I’ve heard about rock concerts for a cause. And almost all of us have run for a cause. BUT…what if we have both? As in, ROCK and RUN for a CAUSE? Now that’s the best of both worlds, don’t you think?

Check out this blog this week on a new concept in road racing that’s sure to rock your world.

I love the name of this race: CHASE THE SUN: THE NEUTROGENA RUN. It’s all about summer running and not being afraid to enjoy the great outdoors, which is exactly what I’ll do that weekend: saturday at the beach, sunday at the race. Ooh I can’t wait!

Hope to see you at the race!

NOTE: Race day is SUNDAY, MAY 16, not May 15 as previously announced

- Hmmm…runner here looks familiar. She looks exactly like me, but with 10x more make up on -

The Fat Ass Run is NOT a race; it’s a long run for everyone to burn the extra pounds without having to deal with registration or pre-race jitters.  Here’s more info for those interested:

WHAT: Fat Ass Run

WHEN: Jan. 9-10, 2009

WHERE: Clark Parade Grounds

DISTANCE: More or less 2.2.KM loop around Clark Parade Ground (yes, you read it right!)

TIME: 6, 12, 18 & 24 hour time event

START TIME: For 24 hours, the start is 8AM of Saturday, 18 hours – 2PM and the 12 hour at 8PM. This way everyone will finish about the same time (8AM) of the next day (Sunday) and thus, more festive and everyone can have a BEERday and BBQ!

WHY “FAT ASS”: Click here to read how the idea came about in the U.S.A.

Click here for more race details.

Basically, runners will run 2.2km loops, counting the number of loops they make until they reach their goal time. Runners can take a break, eat, or even sleep.

You know, running loops was never my thing, but with a good crowd, the cool weather, plus a whole lot of food around, this event sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun.  Too bad I’ll be in Cebu Marathon. No worries, I can still be a Fat Ass runner next year, if there’s a repeat.

REGISTRATION: Post your name, chosen event (time category), email address, contact number and blog name on this LINK

CONTACT:  For inquiries, call or email

Jon – +63 916 6404407 - atty.jonnifer@gmail.com
Don - +63 920 9216150 - don.ubaldo@gmail.com

For more info, visit Atty. Jon’s blog: Ultra Running and Beyond

Now, Joy Rojas can proudly say she is the first Southeast Asian woman to run across the USA!  She ran 16 states in 169 days, from Los Angeles to New York, running over a marathon daily, covering 5,000-kilometers for Takbong Pangarap Trans-USA Run 2009.

- Joy running across the USA, accompanied by trainer Mat Macabe -

I was fortunate enough to be one among the many friends, family, and press invited to welcome her back from the USA yesterday.  Truth to tell, I was eager to hear about her experience and share this on the blog, but I really came as one of her biggest fans who just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her how much of an inspiration she is to everyone, myself included.

I’ll be posting an interview with Joy soon about her Takbong Pangarap Trans-USA Run 2009. Check this blog again in a few days.

- with my idol Joy Rojas and Li’l Bull Runner (counting the confetti she collected from the floor) -

- I hope Li’l Bull Runner learned a thing or two about girl power that day! -