A couple of days ago, I dropped by ROX to register for Unicef 10k only to learn that slots were all filled. Race bibs were only available for 2k. Argh.
Today, however, it was announced that there are slots open for all distances. For those of you who still wish to join the Unicef run this coming Sunday, register at ROX now.
Just as most of us are almost drowning in our own sorrow over the postponement of QC Marathon, Atty. Jon from Clark comes in and brings us a shimmer of hope. Read his comment as written in my QC Marathon post…
Hi fellow runners. I am the Team Captain of Team Clark based here in Clark.
We are coordinating with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) (where we work at) and other groups/sponsors to continue the 2nd Clark International Marathon with or without the Kenyans (no pun intended). Some sponsors have expressed willingness and support for this race. I hope things will pan out and the clamor for 42k, 21k & 10k races in February will prevail over annoying hindrances.
We will do our best to hold this race most likely by February since January is too soon (it will be January again in 2010 due to cold weather) and even if we (the Team Clark members) don’t run ourselves just so our fellow runners like you would run and enjoy their first 42k or half marathon for that matter.
We will depart from the usual flat route for the 42K and will venture out the Clark Freeport Zone into an area which we call the “Sacobia”, the Next Frontier as aptly called by the new P/CEO Ricafort of CDC (he was there during the NB Power Race 2008). Hilly but manageable terrains and good scenic views in smog-free environment. Believe me we have so many good plans. One of which is finisher’s medal you can proudly hang in your car, office or room.
Like most of you, we are really hoping for a full marathon in February 2009 after the Singapore Marathon in December 7, 2008 (I hope all of us Pinoys will get to see each other in Singapore after the run, say congregate in one area. Maybe TBR can announce a place for this 
as a good long run for the Bataan Death March Ultra-marathon courtesy of Bald Runner or rumor has it, the 2nd North Face Ultra-marathon.
Please pray for and wish us all the luck.
Folks, it is about time we “institutionalize” an annual prestigous marathon here in the Philippines in the likes of Boston, New York, Singapore or HK marathons. Long shot but definitely possible.
The first step is we form and incorporate an organization of runners and other athletes that will concentrate on this endeavor and carry on the legacy from this year henceforth.
Kaya natin yan!
Atty. Jon, thank you for the info. We do hope Clark Marathon pushes through in February 2009 and more sponsors (ehem ehem) come in to support your endeavor. I’m sure a lot of us “displaced” runners will consider joining this, myself included. More power!
New Balance Power Race results can now be downloaded at eXtribe’s website. Click here. Get your race bib number ready because results are arranged in that order, not by time.
According to the site, results are “unofficial.” Hmm, with the RFID timing chip and three full days after the race, I would’ve thought our time for at least 25k would be official already. Oh well, no biggie. I’m a happy camper.
My official time for 25k was 2:34:35, a little over my Garmin’s 2:33:10.
* Thanks DATC for the heads up.
Talk about bad news. When I heard about the postponement of QC Marathon from Feb 2009 to Oct. I8, 2009, it was like a rug was pulled out from under me.
Yesterday morning, I was still reeling from the high of finishing New Balance’s 25k unscathed and feeling more confident over the upcoming Singapore half marathon. If everything went well after Singapore (read: no injuries) then the next obvious goal was to run QC Marathon in February, which fell into my schedule perfectly. After experiencing the sense of community and kinship with other Pinoy runners at New Balance, I was even more convinced that QC Marathon was the way to go as I wanted to run my first marathon surrounded and supported by family, friends, and other runners vs. running abroad among a sea of strangers. At that point, I felt like all my running plans were going along quite smoothly, thank you.
Then, I received the awful news about the QC Marathon and, in a blink of an eye, I was goal-less (if such a word exists, but I know you get what I mean.) Suddenly, I had nothing to look forward to nor train for after Singapore. What do I do now? What’s my next goal? Aaaack!
I know many of you are in the same boat. What are your plans? Are you running HK?
My bags are packed, well, they’re overpacked with double of everything for running, more than enough Sports Beans and Power Gels to carry me through an ultramarathon, and our New Balance Power Race bibs with extra sets of safety pins. Talk about being sigurista.
Despite this, I’m seriously anxious about running 25km even if it’ll just be a training run for me. I don’t feel prepared since the farthest I’ve ever run is 20km just a few weeks ago. It helps to know that I’ll be running with my usual training group—lead pacer JunC, Clark expert Dindo and ever the entertainer Jay—at our agreed upon pace of 6 min/km. Even more comforting to learn a few nights ago that Coach Rio will be running at the same controlled pace too. So, I figured we just have to focus on his crazy hair, which can be considered a celebrity on its own, and that should lead us straight to the finish line. Sounds like a good plan, right? Wish us luck.
See you at Clark!
