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PRESS RELEASE:

The first state-of-the-art concept store for running opens its doors on June 12 on Bonifacio High Street.  RUNNR is the first and only specialty store of its kind with all manner of runners in mind.

It will have the best running gear from all the top brands such as Adidas, Asics, Fuelbelt, Hammer, Mizuno, Nathan, New Balance, Nike, Polar and many more.  It will also be the first to launch the revolutionary line of Newton Running Shoes and CW-X compression apparel in the country.

RUNNR will feature an exclusive Footworx Fitting process that leads customers thru a comprehensive series of tests such as our Footprint Scan and High-Speed Video Gait Analysis. Plus we will be the first to offer Custom Insole Moulding in the store, while-you-wait.

RUNNR, thru the vision of its founder and avid runner Toby Claudio, has enlisted the services of the best in the fields of retail and running. Andy Niven, an elite runner who is an Ironman triathlon finisher is the man leading the team from RedGoods, a Hong Kong based retail entertainment design firm who did the design for the store. Niven has had more than 20 years’ experience managing broad-based retail and commercial design throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for such clients as Disney and New Balance.

A team of highly trained and passionate staff will be equipped to analyze foot morphology using the Runnr Podoscope, which uses two combined features: a themodynamic scanning system for viewing the foot print and direct measurement of foot and arch dimensions  which determine foot type. The store is also equipped with the Professional High-Speed Video Gait analysis system to determine a person’s precise gait characteristics as he/she runs on a treadmill.

The RUNNR staff is also capable of recommending the proper footwear to suit the individual’s foot type, leg axis, and gait pattern based on the results of the video analysis. These customized services ensure that whatever one’s requirements as a runner, the shoes minimize foot instability for better absorption of shock, and minimize fatigue while maximizing energy transfer. There’s also the option to create a custom insole using the exclusive RUNNR “FlashFit” process that uses heat to create special insoles molded to the exact shape of any foot in just 10 seconds.  This machine won an innovation award for being the most creative invention for the running market in 2008.

Other running gear available at RUNNR include Fuelbelt and Nathan hydration packs, Polar heart-rate monitors, and will be the first to market the revolutionary line of Newton running shoes in the Philippines.

RUNNR specialty store is the only one in the country and in the world to incorporate all these products and services under one roof.

For more information, you may visit the RUNNR at building B3 of Bonifacio High Street or log onto www.runnr.com.ph.

What: Animo Mini Sprint Simulation, 350m swim-11k bike-3.4k run
Where: Alabang Country Club and Ayala Alabang Village
When: June 7, 2009, 6:30 am
Who: Jamike (Try-Athlete), Jun (Solemates), hubby and myself

 
– Hubby, Jamike, and Jun –

– with Jun and Jamike –

I woke up at 5 a.m. to do pre-simulation data gathering: took note of my time at last year’s mini sprint and the time of the 3rd placer who was closer to my age than the 1st and 2nd placers who were in their teens and printed out four copies of the race map, one for each of us.

We arrived at the Club to find Jun waiting for us at the parking lot and Jamike already doing laps at the pool.  After a few minutes of chit chat, we jumped in and officially started the our simulation.

SWIM: 350m

We swam 14 laps in a 25m pool.  I swam in almost 11 mins. which was a big improvement from the slow 18 mins I did last year.  But, I seriously think the push offs at the end of each 25m made a big difference.  I don’t know how I’ll perform in a 50m pool.  Hopefully, a bit faster than 18 mins.  Gulp.

BIKE: 11k

When I had Annie’s bike tuned up for Animo last week, Hans, the owner of GranTrail bike shop at West Gate Center in Alabang who is an old acquaintance of mine from a million years ago, offered to lend me his own bike for the upcoming triathlon.  (How lucky am I?!  Uhm, if you see how handsome the bike is, you’ll reply “VERY LUCKY!”)  For this training day, Hans even lent the bike for practice.  

I hopped onto the bike and felt comfortable instantly.  We biked out of Alabang Country Club (not the actual route) and headed towards Narra where the bike portion really starts.  We thought we followed the ocho loop but learned only after that we still got it wrong despite my printouts.  (We’ll probably bike this again before race day.)

I forgot to turn on my Garmin for this one so I have no clue how I did.  Even when I remembered to switch on my Garmin in the middle of the bike trip, I couldn’t.  Admittedly, I still can’t let go of the handlebars until now.  So, for the entire 11k, I could not take a sip of water, scratch my forehead when it got itchy, or worse, wipe off a bug that landed in between my eyes!

The start of the bike trip was a bit tough.  My butt and shoulders were aching.  But, after a few kilometers, I learned to relax and enjoy the ride.

RUN: 3.4k

Need I say that this was my favorite part?  The route isn’t the flat course anymore like last year.  This new course starts flat, but once you hit University Ave., there’s a gradual incline, slight downhill, then a climb up again after the turnaround.  It’s a nice, short yet challenging route.

We ran 4.6k—a bit more than the required—at 5:35 average pace.  We were huffing and puffing all the way to the end, but that made the finish even more fulfilling.

Click here for more info on Animo Triathlon.

TBR RACE REVIEW: MIZUNO INFINITY RUN

Organizer: Rudy Biscocho 
Overall rating (10 highest): 7

THUMBS UP:
– Time trials announced at the end of the race scheduled for January 10, 2010.  Everyone loves a surprise—and this one was a great idea from Mizuno organizers.
– Race started on time.
– Tried and tested race route passing Buendia flyover from Bonifacio Global City.  Lacks authenticity but it’s still a great course.
– Ample water and Gatorade supply at stations.  
– Marshalls were everywhere and in distinct blue Mizuno uniforms.
– Kilometer markers lined the roads.  
– Pacers were present from Mizuno team.  (I wish they had announced this earlier though.  It would’ve been better if they had balloons too so runners could spot them.)

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:
– Balde system again at the water stations.  Even if you tell me it’s mineral water in its purest form in there, I will not ingest a drop of that.  
– Singlets were given out only after the race and one had to endure long lines to claim them.
– No race map in the race packet.
 
The Mizuno Infinity Run went by smoothly.  It was a no-frills race—no marching bands, live entertainment, or food and sponges along the route—but runners got top-notch service for all the basic requirements of a race.  It was so well-orchestrated that I think they even got to convince Someone up above to temporarily stop the rains and let the sun out for this event.  The flaws were minor and forgiveable.

The thing that set this race apart from other races was the announcement which came at the end.  This was to be the first race followed by a surprise time trial race set for January 10, 2010.  A great idea on the part of race organizers that would challenge runners to improve their time in a little over 6 months.
 
Congratulations to Mizuno for a great race!

 —————————————————–

PRE-RACE PREP

Training?  Not enough.  
Sleep?  11:30 pm the night before.
Supplements?  Thank God for them!

Days before the race, my friend, Harvie, the local distributor of Hammer  products and member of Polo Tri team, asked if I was willing to give his Hammer products a try.  Without hesitation, I agreed.

Like a nutrition coach, Harvie gave me directions the night before.  (Honestly, I thought they were all about gels but I was so wrong!):

1 HOUR BEFORE THE RACE
– 2 Hammer Anti-Fatigue caps

RACE START
– 1 Hammer Enery Surge
– 1 Hammer Gel 

7.5K TURNAROUND
– 1 Hammer Anti-Fatigue 
– 1 Hammer Energy Surge
– 1 Hammer Gel

And, like a dutiful student, I followed his orders (except for the 2 Anti-Fatigue caps at the turnaround.) 

OFF TO A LATE START

Hubby had the fantastic idea of stopping at Shell gas station before the race to avoid long restroom lines at Bonifacio High Street.  Unfortunately, by the time we arrived at Bonifacio High Street, we both had to go again!  When we reached the assembly area, the gun was fired so we ran towards the starting line.  I spotted Team Super’s Javy and Hannah Olives hurriedly squeezing themselves between the barriers to reach the road; hubby and I briskly followed them.  I learned only after that Javy was following another late runner, Mark Parco.

FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY

We caught up with familiar faces—Jun, Vince, Ben, and other friends—and chatted with them as we made our way towards the Buendia flyover.  The first kilometer was my slowest kilometer split at an average of 6:27, probably because I was scrambling for my supplements while talking and laughing at the same time—talk about multi-tasking!  

After the 1st kilometer, the next few kilometers’ pace hovered around 5:45 to 6, a good, comfortable pace for me; I didn’t want to go all out on this race anyway.  All of us friends had parted ways, including hubby and I, so we were all running on our own.  I was feeling great. And, bumping into other runner friends, even if they were just acquaintances, made the run even more exhilarating.  One runner had viewed a TV interview on my baby sign language classes and started demonstrating signs he learned from my talk to say that he was in “pain” and he wanted to “eat” already—hilarious!

SUB-1:30

When we hit the turnaround, I scrambled to take my Hammer supplements and gel. I still felt okay at this point and I felt that those supplements did their job well.  With my lack of training and energy, I was surprised I was even running at a steady pace at this point.

Shortly after, I saw my friend from Mizuno team, Alvin Adriano, who just finished his Sundown Marathon in Singapore.  We exchanged hellos and only then did I notice the sign attached to his back “1:30 Pace Group”.  I would’ve chatted with him longer, but after learning that he was the pace leader of the 1:30 runners, I decided that my goal for that race, which was initially “to finish without injury” suddenly became “to run a sub-1:30.”  All I had to do from that point forward was to run as far away from Alvin as I could!

BACK-BREAKING BUENDIA FLYOVER

I was fine all throughout the race, even as I climbed up the Buendia flyover.  It was only as we rolled down the Buendia Flyover that I started feeling the brunt of my lack of training.  It was then that I realized how out of shape I was and how I just wanted to reach the finish line ASAP.

As we made a right towards Forbes Town, Alvin creeps up behind me and I exclaim “Oh great, the 1:30 runners have caught up with me!” Shortly after, he runs ahead of me and I fall behind catching my breath.

WHERE IS THE FINISH LINE?!

As I recovered from back-breaking Buendia flyover, I suddenly had the energy to sprint when I neared the finish.  At least, when I thought I saw the finish!  Turned out that 15k runners had another turn before making a left towards the finish.  Arrrrgh!  Fortunately, I had enough energy left to make it to the end.

I saw the clock and it hit 1:30, but since we started late, I knew my Garmin time was below 1:30. I ran towards the finish line as fast I could, stopped my Garmin, and took a quick look: 1:29:48. Average pace was 5:56 min/km for 15.15km. I listened to my body for any niggle of pain…none, nada, zilch. Mission accomplished!

For more info on Hammer products, click here.

– with Bards (Banana Running), Jay Em of Paul Calvin’s Deli, Coach Rio, Harry (Mukhang Guilty), Vimz (Kulit Runner), Art and friend –

– with Essie, Bards, hubby, Harry, Dingdong (RunMD), Tina and Alice –

– with takbo.ph main man, Jinoe Gavan –

– with Hector and Neville of Second Wind Running Store  –

– with Ian Alacar of Botak –

– Tired but happy –

Here are the details from Mizuno regarding the Mizuno Time Trials:

I. SCHEDULE 

 1) REGISTRATION will start on October 2009 

 2) VENUE: 28th street, behind the NBC Tent, bound by the 7th avenue. 

 3) DATE: Assembly time: 5:00 a.m., January 10, 2010 

II. ELIGIBILITY 

 1) Must be an infinity Run 2009 TIME TRIALS Registrant. 

 2) Infinity Run 2009 TIME TRIALS results will determine time category for RACE DAY. 

 3) Distance category should be the same as Infinity Run 2009 TIME TRIALS 

*Open category for new participants. TIME TRIALS FOR INFINITY RUN 2011. 

Present INFINITY RUN 2009 TIME TRIALS race bib to avail discounted registration fee for INFINITY RUN RACE DAY 01.10.10 

RACE DAY – January 10, 2010

Get ready to BEAT YOUR TIME!!! 

Mizuno pulled out all the stops for the Mizuno Infinity Run held at 5:30 a.m. this morning.  If you were among the many runners who participated in the event, you were in for a big surprise, which was revealed soon after you crossed the finish line!  

You did not know that your performance today would be somewhat of a time trial, did you?  Your time today will be compared with the surprise Mizuno race scheduled for 01.10.10.  Mizuno kept it top secret to prevent runners from sandbagging their event.

In the second race, winners will be chosen based on their personal improvement from today’s race.  The great thing about this is that it levels out the playing field for everyone—runners who show significant improvements from their old time in their categories have a chance to win!  With this double racing event, Mizuno aims to send out the message that we must all try to be the best that we can be.

I’m sure you have a lot of questions.  Details will be provided by Mizuno and will be posted here.  

Congratulations to Mizuno for thinking out of the box and giving us runners another great race to look forward to—and train hard for!  I can hardly wait!