Archive for June, 2010

So much for downtime. Or rest. Or slowing down. Those days are over for this bull. (I believe it lasted for all of 2 days!)

You see, last week, in the middle of packing for the beach (I told you I was on vaca mode, didn’t I?), I got an invitation from Renze, brand manager of Newton and CW-X, to join the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon this June 27, 2010.

Uhm, that’s next week! But, who the hell cares, of course I said “Yes!”

I registered for the half marathon, browsed through the race website, checked my running journal (just to see how much panic training I have to do), and almost instantaneously I felt the fire to run fast again. KL was more than enough to yank me out of my rest mode and get me back into serious training ASAP.

And serious training I’ve been doing. Last week, I got back into regular programming: I returned to the gym for twice a week core and strength training, ran tempos and hills again, and I joined spinning classes or swam on days I didn’t run. Just two weeks of that and I’ve dropped a couple of those nasty, stubborn pounds that have clung on to my thighs and belly for God knows how long. (Wait till next week when my good friend Harvie fixes my diet. Right Harvs?) Hopefully, I’ll be a lot lighter come race day so my knees won’t have to complain.

Along with Renze and myself, Mary Grace, an elite runner from Cebu, will be sponsored by Newton and CW-X as well. I haven’t met her, but I was told that her winning time at Cebu Marathon was faster than last year’s first placer at KL Marathon.  Cool. We’re crossing our fingers for a podium finish for her.

KL Marathon, here we come!

Yey! You can now download the May issue of The Bull Runner Magazine. Of course, it’s free!

Click HERE to download any (or all) TBR Magazine issues.

By the way, if you still want to get your hands on a hard copy, we’re giving out TBR Magazines to a thousand lucky runners this Saturday at Rock and Run.  See you there.

I was invited to the Run Rhymes with Fun party last night at Taverna Verde on the other end of my world.  But, the trip was well worth it as I finally got to meet Alf Pena-Reyes, one of the masterminds behind Run Rhymes, along with his partner and a friend, Jody Jacinto.

– with Jake, Jody, Drew, Coach Rio, Alf, and Bic –

Alf and Jody through Run Rhymes offer free plyo-run workout sessions in Philsports Complex (Ultra), Pasig every Tuesday.  Alf said that they started with only four friends and now the group has ballooned to over 40 members.  I was a witness to such a big (and fun) running group last night.

Aside from the food, drinks, more drinks, and a raffle prizes (grand prize included round trip tickets c/o PAL to Naga-Camsur, Bora, Cebu or Bohol…wild!), Run Rhymes had an informal forum on all things running.  I, along with other guest panelists: Coach Rio dela Cruz, Drew Arellano, Jake de Guzman, Javy Olives, Hector Yuzon, and Coach Jody Jacinto, answered questions from the curious audience. Well, most technical questions were handled by Coach Rio, Jody and Hec, while the rest of us were there for entertainment and inspiration. Right Drew, Javy, and Jake? hah!

It was great to meet old friends again and to see new faces in this ever growing world of running.  May more running groups like Run Rhymes continue to inspire and motivate more people into our beloved sport!

For more info on Run Rhymes with Fun Sessions, contact Alf (0918-3026302) or Jody (0917-5288767).

Running is a solo sport.  That’s why I love it.  But, every now and then, you get the chance to be a part of a team to experience road racing in an entirely new way.

Relays are a great way to enjoy a race with friends.  Depending on your goals as a team (make sure you agree on this early on!), it can be an easy and enjoyable run or it can be a competitive race with a podium finish at the end.  Either way, it’s great fun, especially if you have wonderful rapport with your teammates.

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience 2 relays in the past, both times with great teammates.  The first relay I joined was the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Relay way back in December 2007.  My teammates were good friends Ben Chan of Photovendo (together with his long hair) and Joms of Happy Feet and we called ourselves Team Injured Fast Runners.  Sure we were injured, but we bagged 3rd place!

My second relay was the Nike Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon last year, which I can go on and on about being one of the most memorable race experiences I had ever since I started running.

Last weekend, Chris Sports staged Epic Relay 250, which everyone on facebook is still raving about.

On June 27, there’s going to be another relay from Lactacyd called Team Woman.  I was looking forward to joining this.  In fact, I started texting friends last week in search of a fast and strong all women’s team. Aside from the unbelievable cash prize and freebies (from David’s Salon, Beauty Bar, and even post-race massage for lucky runners), I thought an all women’s run—without the sweaty guys around (sorry boys!)—was going to feel more like a girl’s day out among runners, almost like Sex and the City Part 3 (without the heels, of course.)

Too bad I might not be able to make it.  I might (crossing my fingers) push through with a race abroad if all things go smoothly.  If not, then I’d be happy to run for Team Woman.  I hope you girls can make it!

What: Team Woman by Lactacyd
When: 27 June 2010
Distance: Relay 10k, 5k, 3k, 3k OR 5k solo
Where: McKinley Hill
Email: secretariat@teamwomanrun.com
Website: http://www.teamwomanrun.com/

News update: Relay is now open to ALL age groups even below 18 and above 45 years old.

Woah, Milo is pulling out all the stops to hype up the upcoming marathon on July 4, 2010. To be honest with you, it’s working for me!

As a graphic designer, I’m a sucker for well thought out and creative concepts, even more for incredible and eye-catching designs. If you’ve got both, plus the budget to have the world see it, then that’s wonderful.

I posted the Milo Marathon poster last week.  Click HERE to view.  Notice how the two posters are related?!  Awesome.

Only yesterday, their website was launched as well…

– Click HERE to visit Milo Marathon website –

– What a pleasant surprise. They asked me to write a short note and I found it posted on the website –

I vote for Milo Marathon website as the best race website so far.  Followed closely by Condura Run 2010.  Any other good ones you liked?

GREAT TV AD…AND ADVOCACY

And, they have a TV ad, too!  Love how the TV ad tugs at your heart strings.  One can actually feel good just registering for the race knowing that you’re giving shoes to school children by running.

I registered last week for Milo half marathon and training has officially begun! (If you read my post last week about slowing down, whoops, disregard it.  I knew I couldn’t stop running for too long.  Perhaps many of you knew that, too!)  Milo, here I come!

OLD DOGS

I think it’s great that Milo Marathon is showing an attempt to innovate not just with the promotion of the race, but with the race itself.  Last year, they implemented timing chips.  This year, they have qualifying times per age category.  And, F-I-N-A-L-L-Y we all don’t have to travel all the way to Greenhills to register!

Last year, pleased with the Milo Marathon Finals, I had this to say about Milo “You can teach an old dog new tricks.”  I believe I was right.  Perhaps by July 2010, I may just call them “The new old kid on the block.”

Read my archived posts about Milo Marathon:

Milo Marathon Finals – November 11, 2009
Milo Manila Marathon – July 22, 2007 (This is when I fainted on the eve of the marathon! Memories!)