Archive for April, 2010

Registration for Epic Relay 250 is now open. Click HERE to download registration forms and their oh-so comprehensive race bible at their site.  Oh, before that, make sure you have a team already!

It’s the longest run for TBR DREAM MARATHONERS (and friends) this coming Sunday, May 2, 2010, at our race route, NUVALI, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Again, this is open to the public. Free of charge. Just show up and join us for the run if you are interested.

Here are final reminders:

• ASSEMBLY:
  • May 2, Sunday, 4:30 a.m.
  • Activity Area at Solenad (in front of Yellow Cab)
  • Tented area with floodlights
• Short briefing before we proceed to run.
• Restrooms at Solenad will be open
• Portalets and mobile shower available
• Water will be provided at Solenad and stationed along the route. (Thank you to Jun Bisnar and entire NUVALI team!) But, we advise you carry a hydration belt
• Gatorade will be provided at Solenad and through a mobile station (roving vehicle will carry Gatorade and distribute to those in need)
• Baggage check in with security available at Solenad
• Lighting along the route will be installed by NUVALI, but we recommend you bring headlamps, torches, reflectorized vests if you have any
• 10 motorcycle escorts and 5 support vehicles provided by NUVALI
• Ambulance on standby

For those who registered for the bus ride:

• 3:45 a.m. Bus departs R.O.X. (2 buses)
• 10:00 a.m. Bus departs NUVALI for R.O.X.

Solenad merchants agreed to open their stores early to accommodate BULL SESSION runners. Pls see store openings at Solenad:

• Starbucks – 7 am
• Yellow Cab – 8 am
• Brother’s Burger – 7 am
• Conti’s – 7 am
• David’s Tea House – 7 am
• Italianni’s – 8 am

The rest rooms will be open by 4 am

– Map of amenities at NUVALI –

See you then!

Remember we mentioned that The Bull Runner Dream Marathon is not just about letting first-time or second-time marathoners reach their marathon dream?  That it’s also about experienced marathoners being given the opportunity to give back to the running community, to give new runners the same support and motivation they received from others.  To basically pay it forward.

If you are NOT a participant of TBR Dream Marathon, but you want to be a part of it.  This is the way.

If you are NOT interested in running your own race on May 22, 2010, and you are willing to set aside the time and effort to help others run 42km by providing them support, without receiving anything in return but a smile and a huge Thank You, then this is your chance.

We are now opening slots for TBR Dream Marathon volunteers.  Three ways in which you can volunteer:

1. DREAM CHASER – 30 only
2. PERSONAL PACER – 30 only
3. WATER OR GATORADE MARSHAL VOLUNTEER – 30 only

Dream Chasers (30 only) and Personal Pacers (30 only) will be issued PINK race bibs like this…(Participants will be in BLUE)

Details:

ROLE OF DREAM CHASER:

• Wait in the Dream Chaser station along with other Dream Chasers
  • Each Dream Chaser station will have 7 to 8 Dream Chasers
  • Dream Chaser stations will be placed every 5km of the route much like water stations
• Provide the following support to the TBR Dream Marathoners who request for help:
  • Run with the runner a few kilometers (never exceeding more than 5km)
  • Motivate
  • Chat
  • Provide food or hydration
  • Cheer! Cheer! Cheer!

ROLE OF WATER OR GATORADE MARSHAL:

• Man the water or Gatorade station
• Provide hydration to runners with a smile

QUALITIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN VOLUNTEERS:

• For Dream Chasers: experienced runner, but not necessarily a marathoner
• Serious passion for running
• Positive, pleasant, cheerful attitude
• Willing to provide exceptional moral support throughout the entire race
• Believes in “paying it forward” to first time marathoners who need the same support as he/she received in the past
• NOTE: For water/ Gatorade marshals, being a runner is preferred but not required

For any clarifications or inquiries, please email Edward at edwardpkho(at)yahoo.com

UPDATE: REGISTRATION FOR TBR DREAM MARATHON DREAM CHASERS AND PERSONAL PACERS IS CLOSED. If you wish to volunteer as hydration marshal, you may email Edward at edwardpkho(at)yahoo.com

I’ve fallen in love with running again. Not that I ever fell out of it. But, for a while there, I lost the oomph that I always felt in the past.

Truth be told, the past months, running felt more like a force of habit, or worse like work.  It was something I had to do to maintain my fitness, keep the weight down, or reach a particular running goal.  I missed the days when I felt so passionate about running that it came out in the way I wrote about it too, like THIS or THIS or THIS.

From February (after Hong Kong Marathon) to a couple of weeks ago, each of my runs were enjoyable, but they weren’t thrilling. I would run at Bonifacio High Street with the hubby or friends on weekday evenings. I also ran most of the major races.  But, no matter who I ran with, how grandiose the event was, or how many thousands of runners joined a race, I felt ho-hum about each and every run I had.

Until the past couple of runs…

I’ve been waking up each morning excited to lace up.  My mind is racing even before I hit the road.  I am excited over running again.  It has a lot to do with getting into the NYC Marathon lottery since I have a new goal.  But, it has more to do with going back to the place and time when I first fell in love with running: early morning runs on my favorite roads.

I’ve gone back to the same morning runs on my own.  Just me and the road.  No chatter, no crowds, no brain clutter, no mental noise. I don’t expect to see anyone and I don’t want to be seen either.  It’s going back to how I started running in 2007 when running was new to me.  And there was much to discover.

Nowadays, I cover the same route.  Same time as before.  But, I go at a pace that is much faster than I’ve gone the past several months of marathon training; it is invigorating.  In the silence and the vastness of the road, my mind is free to roam, imagine, brainstorm, dream, problem-solve, and relax, something I cannot seem to do during evening runs, when the day has left me with more thoughts than I can handle.  The speed makes me feel like I’m leaving behind a huge chunk of weight, work, and worries. After one hour of running, I feel lighter, happier, and I feel I have more in me to fight the battles of the day.  After my morning run, I feel I can take on the 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 –