Archive for January, 2012

Congratulations to the 10 winners of the Condura Skyway Marathon 2012 Race Kits!  Thank you to everyone who joined and I’m so sorry for disqualifying some of you who failed to follow the rules.

Winners of 10k Race Kits
Michelle Nibalvos
Rosemarie C. Beltran (Scout)
Louie Lopez (Louie)
Mark Lactaoen
Kay Parra

Winners of 16k Race Kits
Paul ablaza (CM Pol)
Orland Salomon
Jennybave dela Cruz
Cris dela Cruz
Alfred Roderick A. Estefani (basuraboy)

All winners will be emailed tonight.  Please claim your race kits at RIOVANA, BONIFACIO HIGH STREET.  Print the email I’ll be sending you and bring a valid ID.  See you on the Skyway on Sunday!

With all systems go for the 5th Condura Skyway Marathon this coming Sunday, I thought it would be fun to reminisce about the Condura Marathon as seen through my Bull’s eye going all the way back to 2008 before they had 42k or set foot on the Skyway. (Man, I feel so ancient!)

By the way, if you manage to read until the bottom, you’ll find out how to win one of 10 free Condura Skyway Marathon race kits!  Good luck!

2008: CONDURA RUN FOR TUBATAHA REEF

Race start at BGC was small and intimate. First time we had seen floodlights light up a race start that way and oooh it seemed so high tech!

Click HERE and HERE to read my race report.

Nanette Medved was still preggy. So unlike the fit and slender mommy she is now that makes us all wail in jealousy.

That’s me in my usual just-got-out-of-bed look with Mon of Happy Feet (Happy Feet! The coolest running group back then!) and Pat Concepcion (Yup, he was wearing all black already way back then and until now!)

Coach Rio’s hair was still in its infancy stage. (Mon, Pat, Coach Rio, and Aljo)

2009: Condura Skyway Run for the Whale Shark

Condura was the first race to ever have people running on the Skyway.  It was surreal for most of us runners to finally do this!

Click HERE and HERE for my race report.

Concepcion brothers, Ton and Patrick, up on stage for the awarding.

I launched TBR Magazine at Condura Marathon. (Thanks again Ton and Pat!)

We also launched the iamNinoy Running Group! Shucks, I miss seeing these yellow shirts in races.

After the race with my favorite (and probably one of the smartest) TBR readers, Cougcat. Miss you, Anton!

2010: Condura Run for Dolphins

Condura finally went into the marathon! Plus, it was on the Skyway again! How could I resist Ton Concepcion’s personal invite to run the 42k even if I had run 42k in QCIM in October and Singapore Marathon in December 2011. Three weeks after Condura, I ran Hong Kong 42k too. It was an awesome five months of marathoning, but I wouldn’t recommend it and I don’t think I would do it again!

8,500 runners participated in this event. Click HERE and HERE for my race report.

With Team Secondwind at the race start.

Ran the Skyway with my bestest running buddy Annie who had come home for a brief trip from Singapore where she was based. She had left for Singapore the year before and when she did I was crying buckets worried that running would never be as fun (or fast) without her.

Ran my 3rd marathon here at 4:24 (PR) paced by my good friend Alvin.

Mark Parco and his now famous Dolphin cap. Missing in pic is his wife Tiffin with her cap. (We sorely miss this fun and wacky couple! Come back to Manila soon!)

2011: Condura Skyway Marathon – Run for the Dolphins

Condura had raised the bar for races giving local runners a world-class race that was at par with other international races.

13,000 runners participated in the event. Click HERE to read my race report.

That’s me running 21k without training.  Whoa boy, I think history will repeat itself in this Sunday’s race.  Gulp.

Congratulations for reading through this 4-year historical blogpost. Hey, it was fun, wasn’t it? As thanks, here’s a chance to win one of 10 free race kits to the Condura Skyway Marathon this coming Feb. 5, 2012.

Prizes: 5 race kits to 10k, 5 race kits to 16k
Winners: 10 winners will win 1 race kit each to the distance of his/her choice

How to join:
1) Post a comment below telling me what your favorite Condura race was and why? (1-2 sentences only please.) If this Sunday’s race will be your first (assuming you win the race kit), tell me why you’re looking forward to running it and why (1-2 sentences only)
2) Please indicate your complete name and what distance you prefer

How to win:
– First 5 commenters who indicate 10k race kit as their preferred prize will win one 10k race kit each.
– First 5 commenters who indicate 16k race kit as their preferred prize will win one 16k race kit each.
– Missing info in the entry will lead to automatic disqualification.
– Double submissions will lead to automatic disqualification.

How to claim:
Winners will be announced on this blog by tonight, Jan. 30, 2011, 6 pm. You may go directly to Riovana at Bonifacio High Street to claim your prize. Please present a valid ID.

By the way, if you don’t want to join the contest, and you just want to comment, feel free to do so!

The Ragnar Relay Series is on my list of must-do races in the next five years.  The only Pinoy I’ve met who’s done Ragnar is Gilbert Tang of Chris Sports.  In fact, Ragnar was his inspiration for staging the Chris Sports Epic 250 Relay a couple of years ago.  I’ve done the Nike Hood to Coast Relay in 2009 thanks to Nike and it was one of the most memorable running experiences of my life.  I would love to run Ragnar this time with some of my bestest running buddies.

What’s a Ragnar?  On its website, they describe it as an: “overnight running relay race that makes testing your limits a team sport. A team is made up of 6-12 individuals; each individual runs 3 legs. The legs of the race vary in difficulty and distance, from 3-8 miles, allowing elite and novice runners to run together. Over 2 days and 1 night, teams run across 200 miles of the country’s most scenic terrain. Pair that with crazy costumes, inside jokes, a great finish line party and unforgettable stories. Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it Ragnar.”

There’s a series of Ragnar Relay‘s so the team can take their pick in various states.  Wow, I’d love to do Chicago in June, Colorado in July, or Napa in September!  If I win the lotto, then perhaps all of the above every year! How about you and your friends?

Some important but quick reminders for TBR Dream Marathoners 2012:

1) SUBSTITUTION DEADLINE: Deadline February 6, 2012, Monday

We have moved the deadline for substitution (transfer of slot to another runner due to registered runner’s inability to run) earlier from February 28, 2012 to February 6, 2012, Monday.   This is to provide us, the organizers, ample time to prepare for the race kits which, for the first time, includes a personalized race bib.  This also ensures that substitute runners have more than a month before race day.

After February 6, we will strictly implement this rule and accept no special requests for substitution.  Runners who run TBR Dream under another runner’s name will not be officially recognized as a race finisher and will not receive a medal or lootbag.

2) MEDICAL CERTIFICATES – Deadline March 10, 2012, Saturday

As stated in our rules, we will be requiring you to submit a medical certificate from a licensed physician confirming that you are fit and ready to run 42km on March 18, 2012.  This is for your own safety.   The medical certificate must be dated anytime from February 1, 2012 to March 10, 2012.  Deadline for submission is on redemption of race kits on our TBR Dream Send Off Party on March 10, 2012.  No medical certificate, no race kit.

Medical certificates may be submitted during Bull Sessions and Bull Clinics.  We will also inform you of a drop box at a convenient location.

3) www.tbrdream2012.com

Our website is up and running.  This should provide you with info regarding the race as it draws near.  Please do not comment here.  All inquiries should be directed to macel(at)thebullrunner.com or our TBR DM hotline: SUN 0922-771-8014

4) Facebook Group (only for TBR Dream Alumni and TBR Dream 2012)

Make sure you are signed up for our Facebook group.  Now that we’re fully immersed into preparing for the race, we’ll be posting questions or polls to ensure we get your opinion on the race.  Click on this LINK for a request. Our moderator will accept you only upon confirmation that you are a registered runner.

5) Pacers and Dream Chasers

We’ve been getting a LOT of inquiries regarding pacers (one person who will run with a runner throughout the entire 42k) and Dream Chasers (volunteer runners who will be stationed at various points of the course offering support, cheer, help, and anything else the runner will need to get him/her to the finish).  We will be releasing the sign up sheet for this within the next couple of weeks.  As always, first come, first served basis.  Organizers will also screen the applicants and reserve the right to approve or reject applicants.

Thanks and see you tomorrow for our 3-hour Bull Session in NUVALI!  Woohoo!

Thank you to everyone who joined Discovery Channel’s Vertical Marathon contest.  Congratulations to the 10 winners of 1 race kit each to the race. Please expect an email from me regarding claiming of your free race kit.

1) Ton Cabiao
I choose B because it will Be very nice to have B in B on my B (breakfast in Bed on my birthday!.) I’m turning 30 next month so please let me win

2) Sine Mahilig
I choose B. But if there’s a chance of running with both Izza and Derek and then we’d all end up in that swanky hotel’s bed eating breakfast—PWEDE!

3) Ariel Abril
I choose B – so maybe I will be watching the other guys who’ve chosen A with Iza or Derek on Discovery!

4) runwarrior
B, because I love watching Discovery. And because I don’t want to be caught with Derek, by a paparazzi, while exiting from a stairwell of a building in McKinley. Ma-blind item pa kami…

5) Edgar A. De Jesus
I’ll choose A. But I don’t want to run holding hands with someone. LOL. Ang hirap kayang tumakbo sa hagdanan ng paakyat, what more kung may ka holding hands ka pa?! Kung makikipag holding hands na lang ako kay Iza I’d do it while watching Discovery Channel with breakfast in bed in a swanky hotel! LOL =))

6) RG
A – Many moons ago my wife said that she would allow me to go on a date with Iza if I ever get the chance … This might be that once in a lifetime opportunity. It might be hard to hold a decent conversation in the stairwell, but what the heck! P.S. I never get sweaty palms, so hopefully Iza won’t get grossed out. :p

7) Dennis
B. As I might get in trouble with my wife if Iza fell in love with me during the run(and much much worse if it’s Derek)!

8) Joel Pinlac
I choose A, i want to run with my look a like derek ramsay.

9) basuraboy
I would rather run 39 floors up and down a building thrice hand-in-hand with Iza Calzado and Derek Ramsay would be holding her other hand during a vertical marathon. I bet the whole time Iza’d be thinking, “Why am I seeing 2 Dereks? Which one is which?”

10) Roland Pangilinan
A. I want to race with either Derek Ramsay or Iza Calzado during a vertical marathon so I can outshine them.