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2009 Timex Run

Race Organizer: Finish Line
Overall rating (10 highest): 10

THUMBS UP:

• Very well organized from beginning to end
• Use of timing chip
• Race packets were organized: bib and chips sealed in plastic
• Nice singlet
• Accurate and sufficient number of kilometer markers and directional signs
• Marshals in uniform at every corner
• Hydration stations had long tables containing cups readily filled with very cold water or 100Plus
• Bananas provided for half marathoners
• More than enough portalets at the race start
• Excellent pre- and post- hosting of the show
• Loot bags, shirts, and towels distributed for free after the race
• No lines at the assembly, finish, or picking up of loot bags
• Entertainment such as cheerleaders and music
• Announcement of race number and name upon nearing the finish
• Awesome race medals
• Runpix race analysis
• Photovendo photos
• Booths and shopping after the race
• Option to watch Pacquiao match at a nearby tent
• Immediate release of results (Click here for official race results)

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:

• None

The Timex race was the best organized local race by far. There was nothing to rant about and more than enough to rave about. Truth to tell, Timex and Finish Line didn’t just fulfill runners’ expectations for a well-organized race but exceeded it. Every single detail was covered in this race down to the cold water at the many water stations to the uniformed marshals every 10 meters of Lawton Avenue. As I said to Timex manager Gemma Pagsibigan and race organizers Coach Rio de la Cruz and Vince Mendoza just hours after the event, the race was perfect! Hats off to Timex and Finish Line and may you continue to spoil us runners with such a remarkable race in the years to come.

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My 2nd and Last 20 Miler before Singapore

Timex was going to be my last 20 mile run before Singapore Marathon on Dec. 6. Along with my coach-friend Alvin, we planned on running 21k at an easy 6:30 min/km and the balance 11k at 6 min/km. Sounded good to me!

Right on Track…for Km 1!

For the first kilometer, we were right on track at 6:30 pace. Alvin, the hubby—who was going for his first ever 21k (woohooo!)—and I ran alongside each other. By kilometer 2, we were still fine going at 6:25. When we reached Buendia flyover, we slowly started picking up the pace. Hubby took it easy and ran with a cousin, while Alvin and I went ahead.

Speeding Up

So much for plans! For the rest of the half marathon, our pace was sub 6 all the way, except for Km 15 & 16 which went up to 6:05. I felt strong and I was having fun (which is always the priority at every run, is it not?) so we just went on and on and on.

Every now and then, Alvin would gingerly tell me to slow down, and I would retort the same way he would during our lung-busting tempo runs: “This is downhill so we can go a bit faster here.” or “It’s fine. This will average out at the end.”

I don’t even recall any major incident during this joyous run, except for the motorist caught in Pasong Tamo traffic who stuck out his middle finger at all of us runners (I wanted to yell to him: Hey Buddy, you ought to run to relieve all the pent up anger!)

The Last Kilometer

I do remember the 21st kilometer and how, after taking a quick peek at my watch, I realized that while a sub-2 was impossible, a sub-2:05 was well within my reach. So, I sped up, and with Alvin’s friendly coaching: “lean forward”, “breathe!” and “c’mon, you can do it!” I managed to grab a new PR for my half marathon.

I finished at 2:04:27 (official time) with an average pace of 5:54 min/km. And what a pleasant surprise: I ranked 4th place in my age category and top 15 for females in the 21k category! Not bad at all! 

– New PR! Thanks to Alvin (to my left) for the support! Photo courtesy of Emil Ancheta –

The Next 11km

As much as I wanted to pop a wine bottle and celebrate, there was still work to be done. So, I popped open a Gatorade bottle in the car instead, refilled my amphipod with more fluids, and set out to run the next 11km around Bonifacio High Street with Alvin.

If I felt strong and invincible during the Timex Run, I was completely exhausted in the long run. During the short break after the race, I felt like my legs had turned to lead and my tummy was bloated with fluids. The heat was also getting to me. And, as much as I’d hate to admit it, going at a sub-6 pace during the 21k had burnt me out.

Alvin and I ran very slow and easy just to get the mileage in. By this time, the assembly area was nearly empty and there were only a couple of other crazy runners like us who were running under the sweltering sun. We were exhausted and we were counting down to every meter left to run. In all honesty, it felt much tougher than my first accidental QCIM Marathon!

– At Km 31, with Rhei… –

– with Joey… –

– with JJ and Leslie. I was shuffling here as I couldn’t stop for too long lest my legs turn to lead.  Photos courtesy of Rhei –

Thankfully, as we neared Nike Park, Alvin and I heard that little beep from the Garmin marking the end of our 32km run. And what a wonderful sound it was!  32km = DONE! It’s all downhill from now until Singapore!  Woohooo!

Are you joining Timex this Sunday? I registered for 21k (plus I have to run 11k more to complete my longest run before Singapore) and hubby signed up for his first 21k race, too. Piolo was supposed to join us, but he refused to play the third wheel, so I asked the hubby if he could just stay home instead. Kidding!

Lots of things to look forward to for Timex. It’s pretty obvious that the organizers all pulling out all the stops for this one.  Here are some things to get excited about:

1. 5-time UAAP Cheerdance Competition Champion Salinggawi Dance Troupe perform at 730AM (well, if this is your thing!)
2. Special prizes will be awarded to the following:

• Winner of “Guess Piolo’s Bib Number” Contest.
• Winner of “Guess Piolo’s Finish Time Contest.
• The youngest Timex Run participant.
• The oldest Timex Run participant.
• The club/team/org with the most number of Timex Run participants.

3. Raffle of Timex watches and products from other sponsors.
4. Manny Pacquiao vs Cotto fight airing after the Timex race.
5. Book & buy your P500 meal ticket for Paul Calvin’s Deli’s eat-all-you-can brunch buffet at Nike Park BHS and Paul Calvin’s Deli, Rizal Drive.

6. Loads of shopping

Registration for 5k is still open. See you at Timex!

Secondwind Running Store, the first running specialty store in the Philippines for runners, by runners, is set to open a new store at the Ortigas Home Depot in Pasig City on Saturday, November 14 at 12:00 noon.

The new store is Secondwind’s second branch, and is considered an enhanced version of the first store, which started operating in March 2009. It will be open Monday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., to offer an unprecedented level of service.

The shop carries the best brands in the industry, offering quality FOOTWEAR, EQUIPMENT AND apparel PLUS A whole lot of innovative devices and accessories that can be used for the sport. It provides gait analysis, which measures body movement and mechanics, and boasts a staff of running enthusiasts, who can provide various running tips and advises.

Secondwind built a second branch with its vision of promoting and furthering the growth of running as a sport and as a community in the Philippines in mind. It aims to attract more people to join the running community, as well as cater to a larger crowd by opening a bigger store in the heart of the metro.

The store also features a friendly and cozy atmosphere, which represent Secondwind’s mission of creating a venue where current and would-be runners can be with people who share the same passion for the sport.

Meet the Second Wind Team:

SECOND WIND ORTIGAS BRANCH:

 E-Prime Area, Unit 03A, Ortigas Home Depot, Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, Telephone number 914-02-83.

SECOND WIND QC BRANCH:

88 Maginhawa St.
Teachers Village, QC

WEBSITE: www.secondwindrunningstore.com, thesecondwind.multiply.com

Double Runnr pre-Christmas promo! Here are the details:

1. RUNNR PRE-HOLIDAY TREAT (until Nov 30)

– Free Limited Edition I’m a RUNNR T-Shirt, for a minimum purchase of P5,000 and above.

2. NEWTON 4-DAY TREAT (Nov 13 to 16)

– Buy any Newton racer and get 10% off plus a free limited edition I’m a RUNNR shirt
– For every pair of Newton Guidance Trainers, get a free Newton premium shopping bag and a limited edition I’m a RUNNR shirt

By the way, to Cebuano runners: you’ll have to wait just a wee bit longer for the Runnr Cebu. Store opening has been postponed to 1st week of December.

Experts say that if you want to achieve something, write it down on paper. I live by that—and I swear by it. I even take it one step further by detailing exactly how I’ll go about to achieving that goal.  (I know a lot of you runners do the same.)

When it comes to running, I am just as anal. As soon as I commit to a running goal, I pore over various training programs and choose one that’s best for me at that particular time.

When I started running in 2006, my first goal was to run 5k in Pinay in Action. I downloaded Runner’s World 8-week program and followed it to the letter. (Beginners, click here to download the same program I used, same program I printed out for hubby when he was starting.)

This time, for the Singapore Marathon, I pored over various Marathon Training programs:

Jeff Galloway – run/walk program, best for beginners
Hal Higdon – various marathon programs to choose from novice, intermediate, advanced, best you read his book
Smart Coach – personalized program
F.I.R.S.T. (Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training) – 3x a week running program

And, after all the research, the winner for me was F.I.R.S.T. Why?  The program recommends three high-quality runs each week—intervals, tempo, and long run—leaving me with enough time for strength training, stretching, massage, cross training, and most importantly, it allows me to have a life outside of running (in case you forgot, I’m a wife, mom, and entrepreneur, too!)

– My program on Excel Spreadsheet. Good thing Jun (Solemates) created a template so I just typed my numbers in! hah! – 

I didn’t follow it to the letter.  I made a few adjustments for the program to work with my schedule and a friend had to make major revisions when I did my accidental marathon at QCIM a few weeks ago (whooops!), but I’ve followed the three mandatory runs as much as possible, no matter how I feel that day.  I always cringe when I think of the intervals on Tuesdays, I dread the tempo runs on Thursdays, and I am always giddy like a school girl on Sundays when I get to do my favorite long runs. Crossing my fingers that it’ll help me reach my goal on marathon day!