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Care to win one of the newest and coolest running shoes in town? It’s called On Running Shoes brought to us by Chris Sports…

WHAT IS ON RUNNING SHOES?

On Running Shoes builds on the idea that our regular running shoes doesn’t really protect us from injury. They claim that horizontal impact causes injuries and running shoes in the market today only absorbs vertical impact.

Enter On Running shoes. Designed by a Swiss engineer, On has CloudTec, 13 circular rubber elements on the sole of the shoe which absorbs both vertical and horizontal shock which they say allows you to run as if you were on clouds and lets you push off as if you were on concrete. This technology, they say, benefits all runners: top athletes can train longer and more often, because the muscles are less strained, and beginner or recreational runners can run injury- and pain-free. To add, since there’s less fatigue, they even run faster and longer.

– On Running Shoes: Cloud Surfer –

GETTING ON

Last month, Chris Sports gave me a pair of On Cloudsurfer to road test. From its website, here’s how they describe the On Cloudsurfer:

Fast feels good. The Cloudsurfer fires your run. Equipped with On’s patented CloudTec™ 3D cushioning system, the Cloudsurfer remains light, agile and transfers energy into forward momentum. Run light and fast.

The Cloudsurfer is made to perform in training runs as well as in competitions. The CloudTec™ system is engineered to provide the best of both worlds: cushioning on impact and speed on push-off.

I’ve used it for three 10k runs and will post a detailed review when I test it beyond 15km.

OLIVIER BERNHARD: COACH AND TRIATHLETE

One of the most credible endorsers of On is Olivier Bernhard, a professional triathlete from Switzerland, three-time World Champion and six time Ironman winner, who swears by the shoe. Chris Sports will be flying in Olivier early next year for a series of tri camps and running talks and clinics. Visit this blog for exact schedule to be released soon.

View this video to learn more about him. I love how often he tells us how much he loves running.

FOR MORE INFO

Facebook: Chris Sports

Website: On Running Shoes

There was a time when there were only a handful of well-organized races to look forward to in our running calendar for the year.  One of the top races on that list was the adidas King of the Road.

I joined in 2007, 2008, and 2009.  Here’s a photo of me way back in 2007.  Rebel me, I refused to wear the singlet only to blend in with the sea of red runners so I intentionally wore all blue…and the competing brand at that! Hah!  I blushed—or more like hid under the table in complete shame—when the people from Adidas (specifically Ms. Odette Velarde) emailed me this photo happily saying they spotted me in the crowd of thousands:

– adidas King of the Road 2007: I’m in blue with best running buddy Annie to my right. (Miss you Annie!) –

adidas King of the Road will be held in Manila this coming October 23, 2011 at the Bonifacio Global City.  adidas expects 4,000 runners for this event.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT?

What makes this adidas King of the Road different is that it will be held in five countries across the region – Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. Each country is a qualifying leg towards the finals with the winner and runner-up of each country’s 16.8km category winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Philippines (do our Pinoy winners get a trip to all 4 other countries? hmmm) to compete with the best of the best in Southeast Asia.

WHY 16.8KM?

What makes the 16.8km distance special and why this distance?  adidas says: “You’ll be able to complete 2 marathons (84km) over five (5) countries with adidas KOTR 2011.”  Meaning, 16.8 km x 5 countries = 84 km which is equivalent to 2 marathons.

Hmm…With all due respect to adidas folks, but I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around this whole concept since the adidas KOTR press conference a few months back and I still don’t get it!  After all, we runners don’t add up all our races in one year and say: “I’ve run 20 half marathons this year so I’ve technically ran 10 marathons.”  I got so confused about this that I just registered for my tried, tested, and highly favored 21km.  (If any of you can clearly explain the 16.8 distance to me I’ll treat you to a frap after the race!)

“COLOURED” THEME

KOTR features a different theme each year, and this year’s theme is entitled ‘Colours’. This is represented through the variety of different coloured adidas singlets participants will don. The multi-colour showcase is meant to demonstrate the vibrancy of the sports scene across Southeast Asia.

– adidas KOTR 2011 race bibs –

– adidas KOTR 2011 medals –

Registration is still open!  To register, visit the adidas King of the Road website for online credit card payment or drop by adidas stores for cash payments.

Event categories and race fees: P1,050 – 5km, P1,300 – 16.8km, P1,050 – 21k

Click HERE to download race FAQs.

Website: www.adidaskingoftheroad.com

Goodbye Garmin Forerunner 310XT. You’ve served your purpose well from November 2009 until my run last Tuesday.  You were by my side—or more on my wrist—through my 2nd marathon in Singapore, 3rd in Condura, 4th in Hong Kong, 5th in New York and many more half marathons and happy training runs.

When I look at you, I know you’ve grown old. We’ve had to be resourceful by tying a pathetic rubber band around your straps just so you don’t annoy me during long runs.

Last Tuesday, I felt like I was running at 5:45 min/km, but you said my pace was 8. You probably didn’t lie to me intentionally. You’ve just lost your sharp wit and accuracy.

I didn’t know how to tell you, but it’s better you hear it from me rather than others. I’ve met someone else: the Garmin Forerunner 610.  We ran together for the first time this morning and we hit it off.  For now, rest well in my ol’ treasure chest of running memorabilia along with other running gear.  Be happy for me knowing I’ll be completely fine with this newer, sleeker, and lighter Garmin.  Oh did I tell you he’s touchscreen?!

Woah. I cannot wait to watch this movie. I’m tempted to drag all my running buddies to a long run, binge on a heavy breakfast with great coffee, then catch the earliest showing time for Thelma without taking a shower. Wouldn’t that be the perfect way to spend the weekend?

Have you seen it? How is it?

Last week, I attended the presscon for Nike’s We Run Manila 10k. We Run Manila 10k is part of the Nike We Run City 10k races.

– with Coach Rio –

– with Tricia Chiongbian (will you be my Nike Run Buddy?!), Gary Mercado, and Marco –

– Peejo Pilar of Mens Health flirting with the mannequin.  Kidding. He was actually shopping for shorts for his wife! –

To be honest with you, I thought that Nike Human Race in the past was a brilliant idea and that Nike should’ve continued it.  (How can you forget those awesome red Nike Human Race shirts? Drool drool)  But, I heard that organizing the Nike Human Race simultaneously in various key cities around the world was simply a logistical nightmare.  I guess We Run Manila is the simpler solution and hopefully an event that’s just as successful. (Read about 2008 Nike Human Race HERE)

For We Run Manila, Nike expects 8,000 local runners to be part of the 150,000 runners from 15 cities all across the globe such as Seoul (South Korea), Monterrey (Mexico) and Santiago (Chile) participating in the Nike City 10k races from now until the end of the year.

We Run Manila 10k will be a night run on October 15, 2011 at Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. At the end of the race the runners will be treated with performances by Chicosci, Parokya ni Edgar.

Registration is ongoing at Nike Park Fort, RunnR Bonifacio High Street and Shangri-la Plaza, online through www.facebook.com/NikeRunningPH and in select universities. Registration fees and categories are:

• Under 25 yrs old – PhP 750.00 (solo), PhP 1,300.00 (for 2)
• 25 yrs old & above – PhP 1,000.00 (solo), PhP 1,300.00 (for 2)

A special discount for registered runners will also be available at select Nike stores.

I would’ve wanted to participate, but I’ll most likely be abroad running the Guam Half Marathon.  Hope you guys can all join We Run Manila!