Archive for February, 2012

One of the biggest gifts of TBR Dream Marathon to me is the opportunity to meet runners of all shapes and sizes. Boy was I surprised to discover that one of our TBR Dream Alumni and 2012 participant is a 2011 Palance First Prize Winner. She is Remi Velasco, author/playwright of “Ondoy: Ang Buhay Sa Bubong,” the 2011 Palanca First Prize Winner for Dulang May Isang Yugto.

– Remi Velasco finisher of TBR Dream Marathon 2010 –

– Remi receiving her Palanca Award in 2011 –

Remi sent me an email a few days ago about her current project to help Ondoy victims and I’m sharing it with you in an attempt to help a fellow runner help others:

Title: Ondoy: Ang Buhay Sa Bubong A Charity Event
Where: Tanghalang Huseng Batute, CCP
When: March 17-18, 2012 3pm and 8pm
Tickets available at CCP or ticketworld
CCP BOX OFFICE AT TEL. NO. 832-3704, 9AM-6PM TUESDAYS TO SATURDAYS
Ticket Price: 350 or more for cash donations

“Ondoy” was staged at Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 2010 and 2011 and at the 2011 Palanca Awards Night.

– “Ondoy: Ang Buhay Sa Bubong” Poster at the Virgin LabFest 6 2010 –

This March 10-11, 2012, the play will once again be shown at CCP. This time around, it will be a staging for a cause. All proceeds will go to the victims of Typhoon Sendong (we are also trying to include the recent earthquake victims.)

The cast of the play Ms Cai Cortez (Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank), Mr. Jelson Bay (Tanghalang Pilipino), Direk Uro de la Cruz (Bubble Gang Director) and Remi, the author, have agreed to waive their talent/professional fee for the said project. CCP also allowed them to stage the play for free.

However, THEY NEED HELP TO HELP. The manpower cost of CCP is not for free. They need sponsors for the manpower, logistics, marketing and advertising. Please click HERE to download Remi’s formal letter of request for sponsorship if you wish to help.

I was quite curious how a playwright / runner lives her life and so I thought I’d feature Remi on this blog too. Here’s a short interview.

1) How did you become a playwright?

I never dreamed of becoming a playwright, really not a second. When I was a kid I would rather sing, dance or honestly run than write.

Ondoy: Ang Buhay Sa Bubong is the first play that I wrote. If I may say, it was also the first entry I had for Palanca and my first Palanca Award. Pretty special for me. I am a Copy Writer and News Writer prior to writing this play.

I drew my inspiration in writing the play from the victims of Ondoy. I (and my younger brother) donated some relief goods and spent time packing and helping out in distributing them. But when I saw people who were helpless, starving with nothing to eat and seeking for their missing loved ones, I felt all the more depressed. I couldn’t sleep. I promised to myself, I wouldn’t stop on merely giving goods. I would like to share something that will leave impact to people. I thought of writing a film first, but I was pressed for time. So, there goes the birth of “Ondoy: Ang Buhay Sa Bubong.”

2) How long have you been running?

I wrote a whole article about this actually, but I’ll give the gist…

Long before I found my passion in writing, running has been in my blood. I started running since elementary days or since I can recall. I remember I was very little, I would wake up at 5am to jog or run.

I didn’t care if there were days that I would sleep scarcely. I got to wake up earlier than usual and run with my sister, a friend and her dad’s group. We would run 3k. In our province, we were part of the group who welcomed the sunrise, listened to the “tilaok ng manok” and smelled brewed coffee of the neighbourhood. We bonded as kids and had great time! At school, I would run with or without shoes. My mom would complain. In a year, she couldn’t count how many pairs of shoes that I would get damaged. She once quipped, “I’d ask for a metal pair of shoes just for you!”

It was an impossibility that I wouldn’t run. RUNNING makes me happy and free.

3) Why did you decide to join TBR Dream Marathon 2010?

42K is a challenge. Running in itself is a challenge. It has taught me a lot. I have learned and appreciated the art of winning and not quitting. I learned that the more that I felt exhausted, the more that I pushed myself forward. The more that the number of my opponents increased, the more that I jolted my energy.

TBR 2010 is one of the moments that I love to look back to. It is self-fulfilling and rewarding. When I encounter some pressure, I would recall my last 15K which were the hardest to finish. If I had conquered this challenge why not on other aspects of life.

People are always amazed when they learn that I am a 42K finisher. Some of my acquaintances were inspired and started running as well.

4) Does running and particularly training for a marathon help you become better at your craft? How?

YES, definitely! As a writer, I need to clear my thoughts and make myself free. Running is one of my happiness. As I said, it makes me happy and free. It is my connection to nature and a form of communication to myself and to the heavens. I greet sunrise and sunset when I run. I love feeling the rain drops. I appreciate seeing everything green around me. I love when the wind blows and touches my face. That is why I love running outdoor.

Many times, I have come up with ideas while running.

When I run, I can test my physical strength. My mind just wouldn’t give up even if I am already exhausted. Sometimes, I think my feet have their own minds.

I pray while I run, too. I become more grateful in everything I have. The feeling of freedom makes me feel part of nature which is pretty special.

In short Ms. Jaymie, running plays an extraordinary part in my life.

– Remi at a training run –

If there’s one race we ought to train for it’s this. If you’re slow, you die! (Insert evil laughter here!)

EVENT NAME: The Running Dead – A Race to Stay Alive
DATE & TIME: April 21, 2012, Saturday 5pm gun-start
TARGET PARTICIPANTS: 1,000 ; 1,100 max
VENUE: Filinvest Alabang, Muntinlupa on and off-road course

For inquiries, visit their Facebook page: runningdead2012

The race is organized by SouthTri, a triathlon team whose members I see often: on the road, at the gym, during spinning class…they’re everywhere!  With this new knowledge that they’re probably Zombies disguised as triathletes methinks I shouldn’t be too friendly.  (Kidding!) In their words, here’s why they thought of this race and why you should support it:

– South Tri.  The friendliest soon-to-be zombies in town with Eric Puno, owner of Army Navy –

The background story for this race is that as a team, we all agreed that on our third year of operations we would start looking outwards and consider outreach or give back to the sport that we love. Initially we thought of donating a fixed amount each, but the effort is painless and the memories are short-lived.

This race, ALL OF THE PROCEEDS after race costs are going to four (4) deserving graduates of the Super Tri Kids program run by Ani de Leon. The kids are from provinces like Binan and as it is with so many athlete hopefuls in any sport who fall through the cracks after their junior training status, they discover that sustaining a training program through to young adulthood is expensive and deprives their families of one able body to help with the family finances.

Our team wants these high-potential kids to keep training and progressing in the sport.

We considered doing a normal fun-run but we wanted to do something that would attract people outside of our usual circles. We came across a race concept “Run for your Lives” in the U.S. and modeled our race after that. We have no illusions of turning into race organizers because we love to train and this takes up too much of our time! That was the point really, to put our time into it vs. the quick and easy option of donating money. We do not have any plans to do a sequel or sequels of this race .. unless people ask us to.

The main goal, our focus, is to raise funds this April and help grow a new batch of elite triathletes. We were shocked to say the least when we found out about another race with the same concept, we’ve been talking to Dan and Ani about the kids since October last year and put the race details together in November. Feels a little like a David v. Goliath seeing that the organizer of the other race has some big media guns behind it but it’s all good – Filinvest Alabang is our home turf and we have fast triathlete friends who’ve got our back so to speak as our chasers. After all, what good is a chase race if you think you stand a chance? : )

Below is the list of TBR DM runners who snagged slots for the free shuttle service to and from NUVALI on our last Bull Session on Feb. 25, 2012:

Shuttle to leave ROX for NUVALI: 330 am
Shuttle to leave NUVALI for ROX: 830 am
Please be on time. Shuttle will wait for no one.

UPDATED AND REVISED LIST.  We also added 3 more slots.  To those who had double entries, please note that the slots are passed on to the next one on the list.

It’s our last Bull Session and our longest run before the big day!  Let’s go guys!

Date: Feb. 25, 2012, Saturday
Distance and time: Long run, 3 hours 30 minutes (following TBR Dream Marathon training program)
Register: 4:00 AM. Start: 4:30 AM
Venue: Solenad Activity Area, NUVALI, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Click HERE for a map to NUVALI)

1) Gatorade will be provided at only 2 or 3 stations. Please bring your own hydration.

2) You may bring headlamps or flashlights for dark areas in the course.  We requested for NUVALI to turn on their lights as well.  (Don’t worry, everything will be lit up on race day!)

3) You may leave your bags with our staff at Solenad area, but we will not be responsible for lost items.  Please leave valuables at home or in your own cars.

4) Restrooms at Solenad and Evoliving will be open.  Each guardhouse has a restroom in their should you have an “emergency”.

5) Non-TBR Dream Marathoners are most welcome to join us.

5) Thanks to NUVALI’s support, they’ll be providing a FREE shuttle service taking runners to NUVALI from ROX, Bonifacio High Street and back.

• The shuttle will accommodate only 22 runners.  Runners must be registered TBR DM runners only.
• Shuttle to leave ROX for NUVALI: 330 am
• Shuttle to leave NUVALI for ROX: 830 am
• Please be on time. Shuttle will wait for no one.
• To sign up for the free shuttle service, click here <<< LINK REMOVED. SLOTS ARE FULL. >>>.  First come, first served basis only.

Event: RUN UNITED 1
Date: March 4, 2012
Venue: SM Mall of Asia

RACE CATEGORIES AND FEES:

• 500M Ceelin Run – P350
• 3K – P600
• 5K Dolfenal Run – P700
• 10K Enervon Run – P800
• 21K Enervon HP Run – P900

REGISTRATION:

• Jan. 30 to Feb 19, 2012 – Start of ONLINE registration – www.runrio.com
• Jan 30 to Feb 26, 2012 – In Store Registration Partners – Riovana Store BGC, Riovana Store Katipunan, Toby’s, The Athletes Foot, Unilab Special Registration until Feb 17, 2012
• Discount Scheme, 10% discount for series registration

PRESS RELEASE

A Running Start for Unilab Active Health
Run United 1 on March 4 offers a number of firsts

The 2012 Unilab ActiveHealth calendar is off to a raring start, as the registration for its first event this year—Run United 1 on March 4—picks up pace. On its sixth offing, Run United 1 continues to reinvent itself. It is set to once again offer runners a number of firsts.

“This is our first hurrah this year and we very pleased with the enthusiastic response so far from the running community. Registration, both online and in selected stores, is rapidly picking up. We are looking forward to another active year,” said Alex Panlilio, Head of Unilab Active Health. Run United 1 will still feature five race categories: Ceelin 500m dash for kids, 3k, 5K, Enervon 10K, and Enervon HP 21K.

Organizers Unilab Active Health and RunRio Inc. are introducing several new features to give participants a better running experience. These include new race routes, better hydration stations, improved security, safety marshals, new freebies, more exciting ActiveHealth village, among others.

– RU United Singlet for adults. The kids have their own singlets too –

– Free race belts for everyone –

Starting this year, the RunRio Trilogy/Run United Series of races will have different registration or pre-race giveaways. For Run United 1, it will be a race belt or bib holder. Even the medals for 21K finishers are made more special. It will be a collectible medal, thus those who will participate all of the three Run United races during the year, can put together all their finisher medals and form a big Run United medal.

– Run United 1 Medal –

– Philippine Marathon Medal. I would hate to have a “donut” medal if I run the Phil. Marathon and fail to complete the other 3 Run United races. Perhaps RunRio and Unilab can figure out a solution for this? –

– Finishers of all RU races and Philippine Marathon complete a puzzle to form this medal –

“The joint Run United medals will serve as a true testament of the runners’ commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle. It is a good souvenir of all their 2012 Run United races combined,” said Lester Castillo, brand manager of Active Health.

Besides the new medals, half marathoners will have their gun start at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig and finish off at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“We are very excited about the Run United races this year because we have so much in store for the runners. We are introducing a number of new features to give them even better quality runs because that is what Run United is all about,” said Rio dela Cruz of RunRio Inc.

Children also get to have their own singlet, too. After all, Run United prides itself for having the first to introduce a 500-meter dash in its races. “We really like to get the children get started in running young. So besides the other unique giveaways for them, the singlet is another come-on for them,” cited Dela Cruz.

Interested runners can register at these stores: Riovana at Bonifacio Global City and Katipunan, Quezon City; Toby’s at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; and The Athlete’s Foot at Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas. For online registration, check details at www.runrio.com. Registration is until February 26, but race kits may run out before then, so the organizers urge everyone to register early to secure slots.

Run United is for the benefit of Gawad Kalusugan (the health program of Gawad Kalinga) and Hero Foundation. “Run United is part of Unilab’s advocacy through Unilab Active Health to promote an active lifestyle among Filipino families. Each event has been carefully designed and scheduled with the help of the race organizers and experts to allow each participant to sustain their active lifestyles throughout the year. We would like to thank all those who continue to support the Active Health programs” said Alex Panlilio, Head of Unilab Active Health.

Run United 1 is only the first of the Run United series. Run United 2 is set for June 17 and Run United 3 on September 16. Run United’s very own full marathon or 42K race, the Run United Philippine Marathon, is also slated for October 28.

The following are the other events of Unilab Active Health lined up for this year: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, March 18; Tri United 1, April 14-15; Tri United 2, June 30-July 1; Tri United 3, November 10-11 as well as running and triathlon clinics all year round.

For more inquiries on Run United and Active Health, check out these websites: www.unilabactivehealth.com andwww.runrio.com as well as their respective fan pages on Facebook and Twitter.