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A whopping 12,000 runners participated in the 2013 Run United Philippine Marathon yesterday at SM Mall of Asia.  Organized by Unilab Active Health and Runrio, it was the 3rd and last event of the Runrio Trilogy which featured the marathon distance. Approximately 3,000 runners joined the 42k event.

– Fun 21km at RUPM! (Photo: Adriann Vazquez | Photo-Ops) –

I joined the 21k event which was perfectly executed from start to finish.  As always, for Run United events organized by Runrio, hydration, marshals, the course, directional and kilometer signs, lootbags, medals, and the post race area was well done.  It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the event will be a success. In fact, the race is just so expertly organized that, if you noticed, I don’t even bother to write a race review anymore!  Perhaps, the only thing I would change about this event would be to move race start to 4:30 AM or even 5:00 AM during the ber months. Waking up at 2:00 AM for a half marathon is just a challenge.  Is it the same for you?  If not, then I must be getting old. Waaah!

As for the 42k event, I must say that Unilab Active Health took their own motto, Exceed Yourself, and applied it in their race.  Full marathoners were offered gels, hydration, and grooming during the race and they ended the 42km running from the back of a stage and in front of a huge crowd.  They also received ULAH slippers as part of their lootbag.  ULAH definitely aims to improve their events with each passing year.  Congrats again to Unilab Active Health and Runrio for such another successful race!

Now for my half marathon.  I arrived at the venue at around 3:50 AM for a 4:00 AM gunstart with good friend Ton.  I had only slept 2 hours the night before, but, fortunately, I felt I had enough energy to last me through 21 kilometers of easy running.

Yep, plan was to run easy.  Correction: Ton and I didn’t have much of a plan!  All we knew was that we would run this event to rid ourselves of the aliens that started residing in our bellies as soon as triathlon off season started LOL.

With little time to visit the potty, we went straight towards the assembly area where our other 5,000 half marathoners awaited.  We chatted with friends Dra. Lora Tansengco and Eric Carpio while waiting. We failed to see Joey and Elaine who we intended to run with.  Before we knew it, the race had begun.

Ton, Eric, and I ran together.  There was a slight crowd due to the sheer number of participants. (Note to self: Never start at the end of a huge race!) So, even if we wanted to, there was not much of a choice but to run slow.  This was completely fine.

By 5k, on Roxas Boulevard, Ton and I stopped at a quaint hotel for a toilet break. Eric decided to go ahead.  That stop at the hotel was so refreshing that we hoped we could drop by again on our way back.  I know, I know. It sounds like we took this race too easy. Hah!

By 10km, we both felt great but we decided to incorporate run-walks with a 4min-1min interval.  Surprisingly, our 2nd half went faster than the 1st.  We were running at 5:30 to 6:00 min/pace and alternating this with relaxing walks.  The race even felt easier at the time.

It was great to see a lot of TBR Dream Marathoners doing the run walks during the race.  As I saw them, I thought it would be great to just run an entire race with them next time.

At the last 3k of the race, we bumped into friends Vic and Cyn Icasas.  Cyn is training for TBR-ULAH Dream Marathon while Vic is an alumni.  Vic said that Cyn was on her way to a new PR.  Without wanting to stress her out about this, he yelled: “No pressure, but what are the first two letters of “pressure” again?!”  That made us all laugh, including Cyn who did break her half marathon PR that morning.

– Cyn, Ton, and I (Photo: Vic Icasas) –

During the last few meters towards the finish, Ton and I ran strong.  At the last 30 meters, I bumped into Dexter, a TBR-ULAH Dreamer who I had run with the day before.  We joked that we would race against each other that morning.  Well, we didn’t race; we did the opposite.  Ton, Dexter, and I crossed the finish line together with a time of 2:24.

It was a fun, easy, and enjoyable run.  The kind of run that left me feeling more energized than when I started.  As I was about to leave the event, I was introduced Nary Ly, a runner from Cambodia who placed 2nd in the 42km that morning.  Her time: 3:29.  I gasped and congratulated her for an awesome time.  She replied: “Oh, that was an easy run.  I took the time to drink water and waved to spectators. My marathon PR is 3:02.”  Gasp.  I guess the words “easy run” are relative.

– Winners from Team Unilab Active Health: August Benedicto, Bic Ferreria, and Benny Rana –

Congratulations to all finishers of Run United Philippine Marathon!  Until the next one!

I’ve heard about Rip:60 before and I’ve always wanted to try it.  Here are 3 good reasons for me to do so now:

1) Master Coach Tim Church is coming to Manila,
2) He’s holding classes at Gold’s Gym where I work out, and, last but not the least,
3) There’s actually a Rip:60 Workshop especially for Triathletes!

Gold’s Gym Philippines is bringing to the country RIP: 60 along with world-renowned FreeMotion Fitness Master Coach Tim Church. On October 14-16, fitness practitioners, triathletes, sports enthusiasts, and even non-gym-goers will unite as Tim Church conducts certification and sampler classes for RIP:60, the newest trend in body weight and suspension training.

What is Rip:60?

The newest fitness craze in the US that guarantees you the body you’ve always wanted in less than 60 minutes in 60 days has finally arrived here in the Philippines. RIP:60 is the recent innovation in suspension training that makes use of gravity, your body weight, plus the system’s revolutionary rotating straps to engage the core at all times with every move, in a progressive and varying set of exercises.

This new training system has made it big all over the world with globally-recognized names in the industry attesting to it. Among these are Mixed Martial Arts World Champion Georges St. Pierre and world-famous TV trainer of The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels.

In a series of progressive workouts week by week, RIP:60 can get anyone ripped in 60 days. Some of its key benefits include losing body fat, gaining lean muscle, and improving strength, all in the fastest time.
Another good thing about it is that it’s doable for anyone who wants to improve the way their body looks, feels, and moves, as it is adjustable as to whether you’re a beginner or advanced already. It promises a total-body transformation from where you are today to the best shape of your life.

Just three months ago, FreeMotion Fitness certified and trained 200 of Gold’s Gym’s fitness professionals for RIP:60, along with cable equipment and RAPIDfit.

Who is Tim Church?

Tim Church is an established fitness expert from South Carolina USA with over 13 years of experience. He has appeared in local fitness TV shows and specializes on developing and coaching personal trainers in their training styles, client development, and retention.

“I see the trainers applying the knowledge and ideas he passed on in their workouts with their clients, as well as within their own workouts… The trainers’ time was very well-spent in training with him,” says Karen Mock, a gym owner in the US. Tim Church will be speaking this month in Bangkok for AsiaFit 2013, presenting RIP:60 for MMA and RIP:60 for Triathlon training.

To find out more about RIP:60, you may check out their website here, or this demonstration video by Body Power Sports.

So marathon training started this week for our Dreamers!  We can’t wait to see you all at our 1st Bull Session this coming Saturday!

Just a few reminders:

• Please come in running attire. Preferably our official NB Dri Fit training shirt (TBR University)
• Please come on time. We will not wait for late comers.
• For Bull Sessions, Gatorade will be provided at the assembly area. No water will be provided. Runners are required to bring your own water, bottles, and/or hydration belts. No cups will be provided to minimize waste.
• Runners may leave their bags with our staff during the Bull Session. Please leave valuables at home. Organizers will not be responsible for any loss.
• All Bull Circles and Bull Sessions are free of charge. No pre-registration required. Guests are welcome to attend.

Map to the venue:

If you wish to do some good through running, this may just be the right event for you. It’s Senator Pia Cayetano’s Gabriel Symphony, a 12-hour event in Alabang in memory of her son, Gabriel, who lived only until 9 months old.  Proceeds from the event will go to children with disabilities and less privileged children.

Details of the event are posted below.  To register, you may print the registration form below , fill up, and email to  blessings@gabrielsymphony.com. By tomorrow, October 2, 2013, online registration will be available www.gabrielsymphony.com

I always support this event.  The past few years, I haven’t been able to join due to conflicts in schedule but I do help promote it.  The last time I joined Gabriel Symphony was way back in 2008!  (Click HERE if you want to read about it or just see how skinny I was! Oh, to be young again! LOL) It was a great event with such a positive atmosphere.  Looks like I’ll be joining again this year!  Hope to see you there.

For TBR-ULAH Dreamers, Sen. Pia Cayetano has a special note for you in case you’d like to use the event as a training race:

Dear Dream Marathoners,

Congrats on your decision to sign up for the Dream Marathon! It may seem daunting, but I promise you every step you take will bring closer to your goal.

That said, I would like to invite you to do your long training run at our 12-Hour Multi-Sport Celebration, In Memory of Gabriel on October 12, 2013 at the Alabang Country Club. It officially starts at 6am, but the nice thing about this event is that you can start anytime and run any distance, depending on what your training program dictates for the week. Consider it a “catered” training day with refreshments and goodies at the end of your training plus it’s all for a good cause.

Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation is inspired by my son Gabriel who only lived for nine months. By participating in the event, you make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities and less-privileged children.

For only P1,000, you may also join the other activities of the day, and you will be given access to all-day goodies: mid-morning refreshments, lunch and afternoon merienda.

Hope to see you there!

Sen. Pia Cayetano

See you all there!

The Filinvest City Endurance Weekend, a two day event consisting of a 12 hour trail run and a 12 hour mountain bike race, was held last September 14 & 15, 2013 at Filinvest City.  While I do love trail runs, I did know I wasn’t trained well enough to run even half of this event!  So, after a short ride at Ayala Alabang, I dropped by the trail run on Saturday to join in on the fun.

– with good friend and ultra marathoner Don Ubaldo of Filinvest City –


– Happy to see ultramarathoners Atty. Jon Locanlale, friend from the Front Runner, and Don –

– Awesome trails at Filinvest –


– Thumbs up! –


– Ironwoman Raeanna Cranbourne looking strong –


– Met Powergrid Runner on a quick break before getting back on the trail again –


– Looks like he’s having a blast! –


– Bumped into good friend and fast runner Reylynne dela Paz aka Bubog –

I  heard that friends Maui Lopez won first place while Raeanna (photo above) won 3rd place!  Congratulations to such strong women!

Too bad I wasn’t able to drop by the following day for the bike event, but I heard both days were a success.  Congratulations to Filinvest City for a fantastic event!