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Lots of TBR happenings at the Condura Skyway Marathon tomorrow…

HALF MARATHON

First, I’ll be running my first 21k for 2012 tomorrow. It’s not going to be a fast nor an easy one since I’ve been off serious training mode. But it’s going to be fun.

There’s nothing much to see on top of the Skyway especially since it starts before sunrise. But, I’m looking forward to seeing thousands of runners fill the road. If there’s one thing I like about Condura Skyway Marathon, it’s feeling like we runners own that strip of road so close to the sky! Don’t forget to wave to other runners on the other lane tomorrow, especially the marathoners.

TBR MAGAZINES

We’ll be giving out free TBR Magazines at the village after the finish. Hope you can get a copy.

We have Clinton Hess, CEO of Unilab and my teammate, on the cover. Not a lot of people know that Clinton is an avid runner and, may I add, one that knows a lot about running shoes having worked for Reebok USA in his younger days. We’re glad to feature a runner who can easily balance the demands of corporate and family life with his passion for running.

– TBR Magazine – Jan/Feb 2012 –

TBR DREAM MARATHONERS UNITE!

Most TBR Dream Marathoners will be running 21k tomorrow as part of their training for March 18. On our Facebook group, TBR DM runners suggested we meet after the race wearing our blue TBR DM official shirt at the Pinoy Fitness booth at the Condura Village. I can only drop by, but hope to see everyone there for a group shot! TBR DM alumni from Batch 2010 and 2011 are welcome to join us!

See you on the Skyway!

Block your scheds for our last Bull Circle before TBR Dream Marathon…

FEB. 8, 2012, WED: BULL CIRCLE 5
Register: 6:30 PM. Start: 7:00 PM
Venue: Across Secondwind Running Store, Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig. For a map to venue, please visit Secondwind’s Website by clicking HERE.

This is a must attend talk!

Lit Onrubia and I will give a talk on The Art of Tapering before the big day.

This will be followed by a talk and no holds barred Q&A portion with a panel of experts, TBR Dream Team, and TBR DM alumni to discuss marathon preparations and running the race—specifically TBR Dream Marathon in NUVALI.  We’ll give you the technical and practical tips to running the roads of NUVALI.  Got any questions bugging you?  This is the time to ask them!

See you then!

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?