Archive for December, 2012

Nike We Run MNL was held last December 2, 2012 at SM Mall of Asia.  While I flew off to run Angkor Wat Half Marathon, BERNARD MASA, the winner of my Nike We Run MNL contest, ran in my shoes and promised to report (or, in this case, Run-port) about the race.  What follows is Bernard’s account of his fantastic experience at Nike We Run MNL (it was his first 10k!)  including his special VIP Treatment and double post-race meal.  Lucky, lucky guy!  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.  In fact, I was hitting myself on the head half the time for missing such an awesome race.  (Thank you to Nike for treating Bernard like royalty!)

RACE REPORT: NIKE WE RUN MNL 10K
Words and Photos by Bernard Masa

After the cities of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, it was time for our very own capital to play host to the 2012 Nike We Run race series. And as they promised, Nike was able to draw some 13,000 runners for the Manila edition of its event. The achievement is all the more impressive when you consider that there were at least two other big races held in the Metro that same day. And this one was by far the most expensive, too. Except for the lucky ones who got in for free, of course. Cough, cough.

– Bernard at the Nike We Run MNL 10k race –

The 2012 Nike We Run Manila was perfect for anyone looking to set a new PR for their 10k. The race took place in the straight, wide and flat roads of the Seaside and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevards surrounding the SM Mall of Asia, with only a few turns to slow you down. There were also plenty of water and Powerade at the four hydrations stations along the route to help replenish and power you up for a faster run.

The race started at the Seaside Boulevard around 5:30 am, with the sky still dark. Because I was about 100 meters from the starting line when the race began, I had to spend the next several minutes alternating between running and hopping as I tried hard to overtake dozens of other participants. Fortunately by the first corner turn towards Coral Way road, there was no need for that as the road simply widened up for everyone. After about another kilometer, the runners then made a right turn to that long straight road that was the Macapagal Boulevard.

A few hundred meters after I crossed the 5.8 K U-turn, daylight had already brightened up the route. I noticed this because it was then that I was able to witness this sea of black and green in its full glory. One shirt, one race, one finish line. And all of them barreling towards me from the opposite lane. Even though I don’t usually like being in crowds, it was still a sight to behold. But as I noticed myself slowing down in awe, I gathered my thoughts and reminded myself that I have a goal to accomplish. Just like that, I was off to my race pace again.

I finished in 54:33, much faster than my target time of 60 minutes. For my first-ever 10k road race, it was good enough for me.

– Bernard after his first 10k run –

– Finishers of Nike We Run MNL 10k –

All in all, Nike We Run Manila was one of the most organized races that I’ve ever took part in. No hassles and long lines during depositing and claiming at the numerous baggage counters. On the route itself, marshalls were at just the right places to guide the runners. Vehicular traffic was well-managed, too. And bless the organizers for placing those portable toilets at the side of the road.

And at the end of the run, there was none of that typical mess and mad scramble after the finish line. The marshalls were proactive and all over the place (in a good way) as they guided the exhausted runners to the proper tents and stations. I was able to get the banana and finisher’s tee nice and easy. They were able to accomplish this despite the huge number of participants. Speaking of the finisher’s shirt, the bright green top looked as great as the race tee. But this was a Nike event, so we should expect nothing less, right?

But my great experience here was just starting. After gathering my stuff from the baggage counter, I headed straight to the spacious race village. I saw a few booths here as I surveyed the area, but I was surprised at the one booth where nearly everyone else was lining up: the photo booth! It looks just like another race starting line when you see how long it is. Just shows you how valuable this part of a race event is for the participants.

– Everyone’s willing to wait for a good photo! –

As for me, I thought that I better get good photos elsewhere in the area before the rest of the runners filled up the entire village. That led me to the Nike+ (NikePlus) Lounge, which as I understand was exclusive for Nike+ members only. The people there, however, were nice enough to let me in. So in yet another record time, I quickly filled up my plate at their eat all you can buffet. It was just the perfect post-race meal for me: sausage, scrambled eggs, yogurt, pineapple juice and tons of rice. All of it for free! I could not believe my luck at this event. The people who followed were not as fortunate though, as the security got tighter with more people coming in. Before this freeloader got caught by the officials in-charge, I went into race mode again as I left the area.

I also got a nice finisher’s medal near that booth, which are given out to the top 100 finishers of the race. It was quite heavy, too. But the thing is, I was 7 minutes off the time of the 100th finisher (good for 388th place as per Nike’s official results). I was more like one of the first 10 people who gorged through that Nike+ Lounge buffet. I just requested it from the guy who was handing out the medals, and he gave me one. No questions asked. Yes Google, I’m Feeling Lucky.

– Nike We Run MNL 10k medal –

Then the post-race entertainment started. I heard the host Drew Arellano saying something about how good the food was at the VIP lounge. And it was only at this point that I recalled: didn’t the registration website indicate that my reg code was a VIP pass? So I went to the VIP lounge, this time at an easy pace because I was still full from that sumptuous breakfast earlier. And what do you know–my name was on the VIP list! And yet another eat-all-you-can buffet! There was Angus Beef Tapa, wild spinach and feta fritatta, banana pancakes, steamed Jasmine rice and homemade granola and yogurt served in a glass. It wasn’t the same power breakfast as the Nike+ Lounge’s. But no complaints here. For my already satiated stomach, the meals were just the perfect top-off to my feasting experience.

– VIP Treatment, baby! –

– Bernard’s sumptuous breakfast courtesy of Nike –


– Apl.de.Ap of Black Eyed Peas graces the event –

– Runners cheer during the show –
And there at one of the VIP dining tables was Apl.de.Ap of the band Black Eyed Peas, enjoying the same post-race meal. My photo-op with him could wait, I thought. Or rather, his bodyguard thought and said it to me.

As promised, the bands Never The Strangers, Sponge Cola and Chicosci filled the venue with some great live music. Apl.de.Ap himself put on quite a show as he performed onstage, belting out his band’s most popular hits. He was later joined by Slapshock vocalist Jamir Garcia. And because of my VIP access, I got to enjoy the performance up close as Apl performed one hit after another. Thanks again, TBR!

After a great run, great meals and some great entertainment, there was just one thing left to for me to accomplish in this great event. One last thing to make the most out of my free Nike We Run Manila experience. So just before he was ushered out of the VIP lounge, I went ahead and had my picture taken with Mr. Apl.de.Ap.

– Bernard with Apl.de.Ap of Black Eyed Peas and cover of TBR Magazine – May/Jun 2011. Click HERE to download the issue –

– Apl.de.Ap with representatives from Nike and iamNinoy-iamCory Runners. Nice to see my good friends, brothers, Rapa and Jamike Lopa on the right –

Just in case you’re reading this, Nike people, I would just like to ask: How do I get another VIP pass next year?

As runners and triathletes, we are constantly testing our limits and training hard to improve our performance.  There are times, however, when we overtrain and push so hard that we experience exhaustion and fail to train or race the way we planned.  This is called sports fatigue.

Boo to sports fatigue!  I’ve experienced this quite a number of times already in races that I’ve trained so hard for.  You wake up excited for a race that you hope to PR in, but, during the race, something goes wrong: your legs feel like lead, you tire out too early in the game, and nothing—not gels, music, or a push from a pacer—can make you move as fast as you hoped for.  Perhaps you trained too hard the past week, you lacked sleep because of a looming work deadline, or the kids kept you up.  Whatever the reason, you’re bummed out and you can’t figure out how to avoid this again in the next race.

What to do?  Well, first, you probably have to follow a good program.  Get advice from a coach who can help you peak in time for the race, not before or after.  It’s not always about pushing yourself hard during every workout.  Second, eat and sleep properly at least a week before race day.  Lastly, try taking supplements that can provide you with energy.

Enervon Activ is a new product from Unilab Active Health which helps athletes beat sports fatigue.  Together with popular race organizer and runner Coach Rio de la Cruz and triathlon couple and coaches Dan and Ani Brown,  I’m happy to spread the word about Enervon Active to runners and athletes.  See our video below.

Website: http://www.enervonactiv.ph/

As the New Year draws near, it may be time to think about the good—and not-so-good—choices you’ve made in the past year. What did you do to become the runner that you are now? Are there improvements you can make to become a stronger one?

While I’m still a work in process, I do think I’ve corrected some mistakes this past year and made some good choices that have allowed me to enjoy running more this 2012. Here they go:

I CHOSE TO ROTATE SHOES FOR EVERY WORKOUT. When I found The Shoe for me (KSwiss Kwicky Blade Light), I favored it for every run, from a 5k to a marathon. My good friend Hector Yuzon from Secondwind Running Store advised me to rotate shoes for specific workouts to allow your foot to experience different shoes and stave off injury. I may have taken Hec’s advice a bit too far because, now, I use the Kwicky Blades for long runs and marathons, Nike Free Run 3 (I have pink and purple! Both of which I adore!) for speedwork on the treadmill, and New Balance 1090, Asics Gel Kayano 17, and Nike Pegasus 28 for runs below 15k.

I CHOSE MY RACES. Way back in 2007 to 2009, I would not allow myself to miss a single race. If I did, all hell would break loose at home! This year, I became more discerning when it comes to my racing. I chose events that were by reputable organizers and one’s that I felt were “must-runs” in my book.

I CHOSE TO GET INTO TRIATHLON. I needed a new challenge this year and it came in the form of Ironman Cebu 70.3. I learned how to swim and bike more efficiently, built mileage in both sports, and eventually found myself training and racing like a real triathlete! It’s a demanding life I tell you! But, it did give me a greater sense of achievement and, even better, it made me a stronger runner.  (I signed up for 2013 again!  Woohoo!)

– Run portion of Ironman 70.3 Cebu 2012 –

I CHOSE TO TAKE A BREATHER FROM SPEED WORK.  Aah, I love running fast.  But, the past couple of years, after just a month or two of intense speed work, I would get injured. It was frustrating and maddening.  So, I realized it was a choice between getting fast and injured or continuing to run a steady pace and enjoying it. At least for this year, I chose the latter. It allowed my feet to regain its strength and recover. It also gave me a breather from the stress of always chasing a PR. My goal is to run for the rest of my life so, I figured, taking a year off from chasing my time wouldn’t do me any harm. I was right. I learned to enjoy running in all its purity and simplicity in the company of friends, chitchat, and lots of laughter. Of course, now that 2012 is coming to an end, I’ve chosen to hike up my speed again hah!

– Ran and finished Berlin Marathon 2012 at “happy pace” –

I CHOSE TO RUN MY OWN RACE. At the ripe old age of 36, I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t really care much about what people think of me because I’m pretty confident about myself and my abilities. Conversely, I am also aware of my own limitations since, really, I’m not a professional athlete and I’ve got a family to prioritize. So, I defined what running means to me (It’s my happy place!) and its role in my life (It enhances my life, but it’s not everything!) With that, I was happy knowing full well what I could give to running and what it could give back to me.  I chose to run my own race regardless of who is faster, stronger, or better than me as long as I know I gave it 110% effort.  Now, if I manage to come in first because of that good effort, then I wouldn’t mind at all!

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If you ask competitive triathletes what their goals are in biking, they would probably answer: Win first place at a local road race or ride the Tour de France course.

Me? My ultimate goal in biking—and I truly believe this ability separates newbies from pros—would be to do this: to pull out a banana from my back pocket, peel it with ease, gobble it down, and toss the peel right into a moving garbage truck while riding a bike. Once I achieve this without crashing, wobbling, or peeing in my pants due to nervousness, I can then finally have the guts to call myself a serious cyclist.

I’ve been riding seriously (by that, I mean minimum of twice a week) for almost a year now and finished Ironman 70.3 Cebu last August, yet I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to biking.  (Wait, is it biking or cycling?   And, what’s the diff anyway?!)  Unlike my first love, running, biking requires a lot more technical skills that you can gain from a coach or experienced cyclist and, as other cyclists will tell you, can also be acquired from saddle time, or in layman’s terms, just riding as much as you can.

During the past few months on the bike, I’ve come to note the technical skills required to succeed at biking and eventually achieve top-tier (read: banana-peeling and eating) status in biking. Based on my research and observation, below are the various levels each biker must undergo before progressing to the next level:

TBR’S BIKE SKILLS 101…OR HOW TO REACH BANANA-EATING BIKING GOD STATUS

Level 1: Riding a bike. Bike with confidence and ease.  No more training wheels please. No daddy to hold your seat surreptitiously as you bike along…especially if you are male and above 30 years old.

Level 2: Wearing tight bike shorts.  This is especially challenging for men since, er, there’s quite a lot of exposure up front.  This skill becomes even more daunting when the top is short or tight as well.  Usually, this skill can be accomplished quickly by the following strategy: 1) Inhale. 2) Don’t exhale. 3) Say to yourself 10x: Bahala na. Gwapo naman bike ko.

Level 3: Riding a bike with cleats. Clip your shoe into the pedals and pray to the high heavens that you remember to unclip before you slow to a stop. Make sure to have your essentials for protection: helmet, super padded bike shorts, jeans or jogging pants, arm sleeves, gloves, and bandaid.  You may also opt to videotape this so that in case of a crash you may immediately upload to Facebook to show friends how tough you are. Rawr.

– Bike skill training at MOA with Coach Norman Pascual –

Level 4: Signaling for a turn and/or scratching your head while riding. Both skills are in Level 4 since they are quite similar in that they require one hand off the handle bar. Achieving this skill without swerving or shaking takes quite a lot of practice, but once accomplished it makes for a safer and, might I say, less itchy ride.

Level 5: Drinking while riding. Once you’ve got the one-hand riding down, you may attempt to reach lower for that water bottle to prevent dehydration. Many a biker (especially women) have been fooled into thinking this is an easy skill, but realize later on that the challenge lies in returning said bottle into its cage. Perfecting this skill is essential for proper hydration and will also lead to a reduced mortality rate for water bottles that have succumbed to road accidents.

Level 6: Riding in aero position. If you have a TT bike or, put simply, those bikes with two bars jutting out from the center to put the rider in aerodynamic (or, ironically, “breaking wind”) position thereby speeding him up (or scaring him to death), then you must take on the additional skill of riding in aero. Initial attempts will be awkward, uncomfortable, and downright frightening, but, oh baby, once you’ve mastered this skill, you will look like a pro…even if you don’t actually ride like one!

– Aero position is so much easier on the trainer dontcha think? Here I am with my tri coach, Andy Leuterio, during one his grueling Power Meter tests. The smile is fake –

Level 7: Riding while chatting…while looking at your chat mate! It’s one thing to share an anecdote while riding, but to share a funny story while occasionally gazing at your friend and expertly maneuvering your bike through roads takes skill. You’ve reached Level 7++ when you can actually make sense or give some useful advice while doing this.

Level 8: Riding with obstacles. The obstacles may be any of the following: a possessed chihuahua chasing you, a lose wire entering your front wheel, a guard blocking your path (even if he sees you coming at full speed!), or worst of them all, a higad falling on your arm sleeve with green blob spilling out of its guts. (Yes, all of these have happened to me during the past months. The higad incident being the most recent since it was just last week. Waaah!) Successfully surviving such obstacles without crashing makes one an accomplished rider. Much better if you can do it with poise without a curse word from your mouth.  (I believe I failed miserably at that.)

– After my first century ride with Jun in Nuvali last July. Incidentally, Jun was the one who bravely flicked off the higad from my arm last week while I yelped in fear –

Level 9: Riding while peeling a banana and eating it. This is the highest level of bike skills right along with other complex tasks such as 1) texting your cook to prepare tapsilog, 2) wearing a jacket, or 3) stretching both arms to yawn mainly because it requires the use of two hands. Once you can do this, you can tap yourself on the back and say you’re an accomplished biker.

Now, if you can tap yourself on the back WHILE effectively spreading Nutella on the banana WHILE riding your bike, then I may just elevate you to Level 10 status, a level no one in history has ever reached. Oh, you’d also have to hand over the bottle of Nutella first.

Event: Angkor Wat International Half Marathon
Date: 2 December 2012
Venue: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Distances: 3k, 10k, 21k

“The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind’s most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements.” (www.sacredsites.com)

– View of Angkor Wat, our starting line. This photo doesn’t give justice to its beauty –

The Angkor Wat International Half Marathon is a gem of a race. Held in the province of Siem Reap in Cambodia, the kingdom of wonder, the course takes runners through a tour of the majestic temples of Angkor, the biggest temple complex in the world. The sights are spectacular and breath-taking. This alone makes the race—and the entire trip—worth every single cent and raises it a level comparable to the bigger races in the world.

The 17th Angkor Wat International Marathon attracted 6,241 runners this year, 70% of which were foreign runners. The 21k started at 6:30am (quite late for Manila’s standards), but the weather was cool all throughout the run. The fast, mostly flat or gently sloping downhill course was lined with trees which meant runners enjoyed the shade most of the time. Local spectators, mostly adorable smiling children who lined up eager to high-five the runners, came out of their homes on race day.

– Spectacular temples to see beginning Km 11 until the end of the half marathon –

– Runners pass through Victory Gate at Km 15 –

– Tree-lined roads made for a near perfect course –

– Amazing Bayon Temples behind me a little past Km 17 –

– Cambodian kids cheered for the runners –

Despite the huge international interest in the event (its first race in 1996 only had 654 runners), race organization remains simple, almost like a small community event. Water was served every 2.5k in bottles and handed out mostly by local children. No sports drinks nor food were given out. Kilometer signs were folded cardboards and spray paint on the road. Marshals, in the face of Cambodian guards, were few and far between. But, it’s this kind of simplicity that keeps the local culture alive in the race and adds to its uniqueness and beauty.

– Water stations –

– Kilometer markers –

I highly recommend this race. If you love history, culture, and running, this is definitely a must run.

—————————–

FAST 10K

The race started at Angkor Wat, considered to be the biggest pyramid in Asia. Unilab Active Health teammate and good friend Bic and I lined up along with the mass of international runners eager to run. We had agreed early on that we would run at “tourist pace” this meant two things: 1) We would run at easy pace and 2) with our cameras in our belts or hands.

– Hanging out with my buddies before the race. I blend just right in, don’t I? –

– Starting line for Angkor Wat International Half Marathon –

The first 10kms of the race took us through the rural roads of Siem Reap. The roads were wide, clean, and, best of all, flat or slightly downhill. The air was fresh and cool. With no temples in sight, we ran at a steady pace of around 5:55 hitting our 10k split at 59 minutes. I felt great at this point.

– Wide, mostly shaded, clean and mostly flat roads –

– Bic and I are obviously having a blast during the first few kilometers of the race. Photo: Lester Castillo –

The only “highlight” of this first half of my race was when I, the Bull Runner, got bullied by a big, bald, foreign runner. As I slowed to a walk (on the side of the road) to take my gel at a water station, Bully Runner who, for some reason, didn’t see me even if he was running from behind, yelled at me: “If you’re going to walk, get off the road!” If I had more time, I would’ve yanked him off the road, sat him in a corner, and pulled out an invisible race bible that states: 1) Runners can walk in any race, especially if they are eating or drinking by a station, and 2) Male runners, or non-runners for that matter, should always treat a woman with respect (Where is your mother?!) Since there was no time for this, I yelled one word back that summarized everything I wanted to say at that point: “As$H@L3!”

TEMPLE RUN

At 11k, the road narrowed and we entered the temple area. As soon as we spotted the first temple, Bic and I slowed and pulled out our cameras shooting and smiling like tourists. We would run together, spot another temple, shoot photos together, then proceed to run once again. It went on like this for the next 7k.

– Bic with the Banteay Kdei behind her –

It was at this time that I almost had to pinch myself to remind myself I wasn’t dreaming. There was something about being surrounded by these spectacular temples, by so much history and culture, by nature, that I suddenly felt immense gratitude for being given the opportunity to participate in this fantastic race, and, even beyond that, for being alive. Sometimes you need a kick in the butt, or, in my case, an awesome race to remind you about the beauty and blessings that exist in your life.

– Runners running past the Ta Keo Temple at around Km 14 –

– Warm and cheerful people of Cambodia –

My favorite portion was the Victory Gate at Km 15. The gate wasn’t a temple but an entry point into Angkor Thom. The path towards the gate, lined with statues of gods and demons that supposedly watch your every move, is called the Victory Way. For me, it was almost like a rite of passage, a journey from the past to a better future.

– Before passing through Victory Gate –

As I took photos, a runner stopped beside me with his camera and proceeded to pull out a sheet of paper from his pocket. As he struggled to gingerly peel off the sheets soaked in sweat, I offered to help by taking his photo. He thanked me and showed me the paper. It said: “Happy Birthday, Mom!” Aaw, how sweet is that? Thank God it wasn’t a proposal for marriage because I may have hugged him and answered “Yes!”

– “Happy Birthday, Mom!” –

Around 17 to 18k, I lost Bic. I waited for her at a temple and, after a few minutes, I wasn’t sure if she had passed me or she was still on her way. So, I decided to move and run the last few kilometers on my own.

– This was probably the only non-shaded area in the course. It looks hot, but it wasn’t –


– Elephant Terrace at Km 17 –

– Aaah, fantastic course. Need I say it again? –

I stopped by temples and exchanged cameras with other runners who couldn’t help but marvel at the sights like me. I ran at a relaxed pace and allowed myself to see and hear everything around me. I allowed myself to enjoy the entire experience without focus on time.

– Bayon Temples behind me –

– Enjoyed running through this portion around Km 19 –

– I don’t think they joined the half marathon –

– South Gate at around Km 19 to 20 –

– Check out that view –

Sadly, the last kilometer of the race was my least favorite portion of the event. As we made our way towards the finish line at Angkor Wat, tourists started trickling in along with vehicles and motorcycles on the race course. Runners were forced to run in a line and weave through cars and try their best to avoid getting dust from the vehicles in their eyes.

– Things got a bit messy here with tourist, vehicles, and lots of dust –

Thankfully, in the last few meters, the road freed up once again and the roads were lined with spectators cheering runners on towards the finish.

I finished at 2:28. I ran the first 10k at almost an hour and the next 11k almost 30 minutes more! No regrets! I’ve got tons of pictures and a fantastic experience that’s worth more than a personal record!

– I’m an Angkor Wat International Half Marathon Finisher! –

Check out who I bumped into at the finish line!

– The Lafferties! –

– Coach Jomac! Monica was at QCIM –

– Joseph, TBR Dream Marathon alum – Batch 3 –

– with Nestor Apuhin, Country Manager of Unilab in Cambodia, Lester of Unilab, Ruben and Sorya from the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia –

FLIGHTS TO CAMBODIA:
Cebu Pacific has direct flights to Siem Reap three times a week

ACCOMMODATIONS:
– Try Le Meridien Angkor or Hotel Sofitel Angkor. We didn’t stay here but we did see them and they looked quite impressive. They’re near the temples and the race course.
– If you’re on a budget, you can stay at Angkor Riviera Hotel where we stayed. It’s not very impressive (reminded me of the hotels in Subic), but it’s a clean room to sleep in and its location is near the Old French Quarters (row of restaurants and pubs) and the Old Market

ANGKOR WAT INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON WEBSITE:
http://www.angkormarathon.org/

Thank you to Unilab Active Health for sending me on this great adventure!