Author Archives:

TBR RACE REPORT: Cebu Marathon
DETAILS: January 10, 2010, Cebu City
ORGANIZERS: John Pages and Meyrick Jacalan

RATING: Excellent!

LEGEND: (Introducing my new TBR race review rating system for 2010)
5 TBR medals – Excellent
4 TBR Medals – Very Good
3 TBR Medals – Average
2 TBR Medals – Poor
1 TBR Medal – Terrible

THUMBS UP:

• well-attended and well-organized carbo loading party on a Friday (better than the eve of the race)
• convenient and easy registration and race packet redemption
• Timing chip for 21k and 42k
• Fire works at the start of the race
• Challenging and scenic route for 21k
• Abundant water and 100Plus in long tables
• Marshals along the route
• Cebu-themed entertainment along the route
• Cheerers with inspirational signs along the route
• Bananas, sponges, and muscle rub provided at some stations
• Announcement of name upon nearing the finish
• Booths after the race
• Free Leona’s pastries, 100Plus, and mineral water
• Awarding began shortly after the race and was situated near the finish so it was very well-attended
• Immediate release of results
• Unique mango finishers’ medal for full marathoners

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:

• Kilometer markers were accurate, but there could’ve been more

Cebu City Marathon: the best local race I have ever joined. The organizers of Cebu Marathon got everything right from the carbo loading party to the awarding program. I was told that they ran Singapore, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam Marathons and attempted to replicate the best from these marathons in Cebu. Looks like they were very successful.

The one thing that stood out in this race, which contributed most to its success but didn’t cost a cent, were the people. The warmth and hospitality of the organizers and Cebuano runners were felt all throughout. Spectators lined the roads and cheered enthusiastically. It didn’t feel like another big corporate-sponsored racing event, but a run to celebrate Cebu, its people, and its culture.

———————————————-

A LETTER FROM A FATHER

I received an email from Maxi about his daughter Bea a couple of days before Cebu Marathon. He wrote:

“Bea is actually a soccer varsity player at UST.  I have encouraged her to run regularly because I see the potential in her to become a good long-distance runner someday.

Problem is, she has to have a person she can look up to as a model-runner.  She needs a guide, a mentor, a running partner.  She needs an inspiration so that she can take running with passion and dedication.

I think that fits you.”

Woah. I was flabbergasted. For a father to entrust his most prized possession to me, his daughter, even for just a 2-hour race, was an honor. We made plans to meet at the starting line. (more…)

Our Cebu adventure started Jan. 8, Friday until Cebu Marathon day on Jan 10., Sunday. Hubby, the kids, and I together with good friend and TBR Magazine photographer, Ben Chan of Photovendo and his assistant, Kevin, flew out of Manila first thing Friday morning.

MARRIOTT CEBU CITY

We parked our bags at Marriott Cebu City Hotel, our home for the next three days. The kids gave their immediate approval of the hotel upon seeing that the room was clean, cold, and, last but not the least, it had a tub in the bathroom!

Of course, later on, they took a dip in the pool, too.

RACE KIT REDEMPTION

After lunch in Ayala Center and a bit of shopping (really just a mad hunt for bubble bath soap), we headed to Ayala Center’s Active Zone to claim our race kits for Cebu Marathon.

We claimed our race kit in as little as 1 minute, perhaps even less. But, we stayed for over 30 minutes chatting with Cebuano runners, mostly the warm and welcoming Cebu Executive Runners club. It was nice to meet John Pages again, who I first met at QCIM, and Meyrick J., the race organizers of the marathon. I also met other runners like Kenneth and Annie, and chatted with Hearty, the coach of Dr. Yong and Donna Cruz, and Pam of Timex. Soon after, we were invited by no less than Ironman Camsur 70.3 Filipino elite champion and my Ateneo batchmate, Noy Jopson, for the best ice cream ever: Gelatissimo ice cream. Aaah, to die for! (Good thing they have a new branch at GB 5 already!)

– with John Pages, hubby, Meyrick J., Noy Jopson, Kenneth, Annie and the kids –

– non-stop chatting with Pam of Timex, Noy Jopson, hubby, myself, Ben Chan with our new best friend, Gelatissimo ice cream –

R.O.X. CEBU, AYALA CENTER

We also dropped by the brand spankin’ new branch of R.O.X. also in the Active Zone of Ayala Center. It was a little bit smaller than the humongous branch in Bonifacio High Street, but it had the same outdoorsy, laid-back feel. Its second floor was still being constructed.

The noticeable difference with this store was the various sections for each sport. So, it now had a RUN section. How cool is that? I saw someone there who looked very familiar…

– See ME above ME? How cool is that? –

– TBR photos climbing up the stairs. RUN RUN RUN indeed! –

– Didn’t know it felt so good to be a mural –

CARBO LOADING PARTY AT AYALA CENTER

All Cebu Marathon runners were invited to the carbo loading party on Friday, 6pm in Ayala Center. It was obviously a well-planned event with runners given tickets to claim their carbo meals from various restaurants, such as Friday’s or The Gustavian, and dining under the night sky with entertainment from a band, race briefing from the organizers, inspiring talks and tips from speakers like Coach Rio and Dr. Yong Larrazabal, plus viewing of the inspiring Spirit of the Marathon video. Cebuano runners really know how to party!

– with Jane-Jane of Leona’s, Annie (fitness program director of Holiday Gym & Spa), Amale (super athlete mommy and Noy’s better half), Bro. Carlos, and Noy Jopson –

– with lawyer, broadcaster, runner and blogger Haide Acuna. Check out her blog: marathonfoodie.blogspot.com –

– with Joe and his friends. I’m seated beside Monsignor Joseph Tan. Yes, he’s a runner, too! –

– with Annie and the Ong family of the popular Cebuano bakery, Leonas. Yum yum! –

– with another running mommy, Jing and her daughter. Not in pic is her sub-4 marathoner husband, Mark from Cebu Striders –

– with one of the people responsible for the growth of running in Cebu and better half of Donna Cruz, Dr. Yong Larrazabal, TBR family, and Bro. Carlos –

TNF is always a race anticipated by runners seeking new adventures in the world of running. It offers a unique experience from the typical road race and away from the concrete jungle of Manila.  Past races were at Clark, Legaspi, Cagayan de Oro, and now it’ll be at  Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. (Click HERE to read my TNF 100 Race Report last May 2009, Clark)

TNF RACE DETAILS

• Date: February 14, 2010, Sunday
• Start: Nuvali, Laguna, 5:00 a.m.
• Distance: 11k | 22k | 11k couples trail run. Partners should arrive at the finish line at the same time.
• Fee: P450 per person
• Register at R.O.X., Second Wind, Res Toe Run, The North Face – Shangrila, Glorietta, SM MOA, SM Cebu, SM Davao
• Contact: 0917.5.ASK.NUV (275.688)
• Website: www.nuvalievoliving.com

NUVALI

TNF at Nuvali makes the race doubly exciting for me.  I was just at Nuvali last month for our TBR Magazine shoot with Ani de Leon. I was delighted to discover this shangrila in the south developed by Ayala Land, which will be home to many families and offices in the future. It was beautiful there; the atmosphere was calm and serene, the air fresh, and the roads beckoned for us to run on them.  They say the grand plan is to provide many outdoor activities in this area, such as trail running, mountain biking, ziplining, and in the future, an area for triathlons to be staged.

– Love this area by the lake –

NUVALI TRAIL RUN COURSE – There’s a flexible trail run course from 11k, 22k, up to 50k. There are natural river trails on 2 areas with 1km section each: one even has a waterfall.

NUVALI MOUNTAIN BIKE COURSE – in case you’re an MTB enthusiast, too

Then, one can take the entire family along since, aside from eating at the many restaurants, the kids can enjoy these at Nuvali:

KOI FISH AT THE LAKE – I highly recommend you let the kids experience koi fish feeding at the 4-ha lake area. They have 8,000 koi fish in there. My friend Marga and I were amazed at all the koi going wild and crazy when we started feeding them (feed available for purchase)

BIRD SANCTUARY – 78 bird species identified in Nuvali

Hope to see you at the race!

No typo here. Yes, there are TWO winners of Nike LunarElite 5, and not one as initially announced HERE.

I posted the contest question: WHO IS ON THE COVER OF TBR MAG JAN-FEB2010 ISSUE? (yes, what a giveaway!) on Facebook and failed to remember it automatically goes to Twitter as well.  Oops, two contest questions were inadvertently sent out.  Hence, there was one first placer for TBR’s Facebook fan page and another first placer for Twitter.  The solution? Two pairs of Nike LunarElites!

And the winners are:

MICO SANCHEZ (Facebook)
YOPIPS (Twitter)

Congratulations to Mico and Yopips who were quick enough to type their answers in before 6 a.m.!  I’ll get in touch with you directly on claiming of prizes!

Signing off from Cebu!

The last time I was in Cebu was over a decade ago. I was still a single, aggressive corporate slave working in a multinational company and we had a sales conference in Shangri-la Hotel Cebu. It was all about work, work, and more work.

As I return to Cebu (we leave tomorrow morning and head back Sunday), it’s going to be all fun; the trip will revolve around two things I love: family and running. The hubby and I will run 21k at the Cebu Marathon on Sunday, while we take the kids on a tour of the province before race day.

I’m not quite sure if I’m prepared for this half marathon for the following reasons:

1. My mind is still partially on Holiday vacation mode
2. I feel heavy (2 lbs heavier in fact)
3. I’m not familiar with the weather and course

But, I also expect to enjoy my run and have a whole lot of fun regardless of my finish time due to the following reasons:

1. My mind is still partially on Holiday vacation mode
2. I feel heavy (2 lbs heavier in fact)
3. I’m not familiar with the weather and course

Needless to say, it is for the same reasons that I expect to have a fantastic experience at Cebu. I’m letting go of the reins and listening to my body.  If it tells me to take it easy on my sluggish body, slow down, and enjoy the new sights, sounds, and people of Cebu on foot, then I will do so.  If it commands me to speed up because I’m strong enough to achieve my (ehem) secret goal, then so be it.  Either way, I’m going to allow myself to enjoy every moment of my first race for the year!

Looking forward to meeting you all, Cebuano runners!