– I said this on twitter and I’ll say it again: Best race poster for 2013! –

Mark your calendars for New Balance Power Run 2013!  For TBR-ULAH Dream Marathon 2014 participants, we have a 10% discount on race kits thanks to New Balance and RunRio!  Please see details below:

Date: November 10, 2013

Venue: Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Categories/ Price: 10Km (Php750), 16Km (Php 850) and New Balance’s unique 25Km (Php 950)

Registration: All interested participants may register via www.runrio.com or in stores at New Balance ATC, New Balance Glorietta, New Balance Shangri-la, New Balance Trinoma, New Balance Ermita, New Balance Marquee, New Balance Imus, Planet Sports Bonifacio High Street, Planet Sports Greenhills, The Athlete’s Foot Galleria and Riovana Katipunan.

What you get: Registered runners will receive New Balance cash vouchers amounting to Php 1,250 good for New Balance Footwear, Apparel and Accessories and a prepaid card that they will use to register online. In the race kit, participants will receive the exclusive New Balance event shirt along with their race bib with timing chip and other goodies from sponsors. Medals will be given to 25km finishers.

Claiming of race kits: November 8 – 9 at the event area in the parking lot on 30th street in front of Planet Sports Bonifacio High Street. Activities including a running clinic, Zumba classes, footprint analysis, and a whole lot more will be held during the race kit claiming event to make the atmosphere festive.

For more details: visit New Balance’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newbalancephilippines

10% OFF FOR TBR-ULAH DREAM MARATHON 2014 PARTICIPANTS

All registered participants of TBR-ULAH Dream Marathon 2014 are entitled to 10% off the race kit for any category.  Thank you to New Balance and RunRio for this benefit!  Rules and regulations below:

1. 10% discount is available only at PLANET SPORTS BONIFACIO HIGH STREET (revised) starting September 20, 2013.
2. Runner must present DREAM CARD to claim discount.  No Dream Card, No Discount. This will be strictly implemented.
3. Runner’s name will be verified under the Masterlist of TBR-ULAH Dream Marathon 2014.
4. Only participants of Dream Marathon Batch 2014 will be entitled to discount.  Race kit must be under the name of the participant.  Discount is non-transferable.
5. Discount is not convertible to cash.
6. TBR, NB, and Runrio will not be responsible for any failure of communication of discount to the runner.
7. For any inquiries, email Macel at tbrdream@gmail.com or 0942-6099.

I know, I know. This has nothing to do with running, but it does have everything to do with Hero Foundation, the foundation which I and my race, TBR-ULAH Dream Marathon has supported for the past couple of years.  So, if you have time to spare, do watch The Bluebird of Happiness presented by Trumpets.  Ticket proceeds of the first show/Gala night on Sept. 27 is dedicated to the children of our fallen military soldiers through HERO Foundation.

Trumpets

Presents

The Bluebird of Happiness

A brand new musical from Trumpets written and directed by Jaime del Mundo with original music by Rony Fortich based on the play “The Blue Bird” by Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck.

“The Bluebird of Happiness” is Trumpets’ big musical comeback – a high-flying musical adventure filled with spectacle, song, dance, colorful sets, costumes and a solid moral message. Join Mytyl and Tyltyl as they go through magical worlds and meet enchanted characters in their search for true happiness.

Orchestra Ctr: Php 1,700
Loge Ctr: Php 1, 500
Orchestra Ctr AB: Php 1,300
Orchestra Side Ctr Aisle: Php 1,300
Orchestra Side: Php 1,000
Loge Side Ctr Aisle: Php 1,300
Loge Side: Php 1,000
Balcony Ctr: Php 800
Balcony Side Ctr Aisle: Php 800
Balcony Side: Php 550

I was recently introduced to Klink, a cloud storing service where you can store, share and access photos, videos and files across different devices so you can view and organize them and keep files safe.

For a graphic designer, blogger, and athlete like me who works practically out of a virtual/mobile office with my Mac and iphone, Klink is a godsend. I can share photos, videos, and files publicly and privately anytime, anywhere, from any device. Imagine, you can share photos of you crossing the finish line to family, a new route you discovered to your run buddies, or your entire training program to your Coach for assessment. By having all your files on Klink, you can also rest assured that they’re safe even if any of your devices crashes.

Now, when it comes to races like my Dream Marathon, I can save and share photos or files with runners who have Klink. Runners can then access your own race photos on your phone even before you get home from the race. How cool is that?!

Watch this video about Klink:

I downloaded Klink yesterday and found that it is easier to use than other cloud storing services I’ve tried in the past. I highly recommend you download it now. You receive 2GB free storage. You can get an additional 1GB free if you refer friends who download Klink.

Click on this link to download Klink: DOWNLOAD KLINK

By now you’ve heard of the disturbing and saddening murder of Kae Davantes, an account manager at McCann World Philippines who was allegedly kidnapped at Bonifacio Global City and whose body was later discovered in Cavite.  My heart goes out to her family and friends.

The news has shaken most of us who didn’t even know her personally because it hits close to home.  I heard that she studied in my alma mater for Highschool.  She works at an ad agency that many of us are familiar with.  And, scariest of all, she was abducted in an area that many of us frequently visit and run in.

This alerts us all, especially women, to be observant and cautious at all times.

Below are 10 tips on running safe around the metro:

1 – Choose a safe route.  This is common sense.  Choose a course that is secure and safe from bad elements.  You don’t want to be running in an area that is known to have pickpockets or even construction workers making catcalls at you.  You also don’t want to spend the entire time evading cars or buses that may sideswipe you.  I know you want to be adventurous, but there’s a fine line between adventure and suicide.

2 – Run against traffic.  Run on the side of the road against the traffic to ensure drivers see you coming.  This is a basic but I still see runners who run the wrong way.

3 – Be visible.  It’s always safer to run during broad daylight, but some of you have no choice but to run after work.  Make sure to wear bright colored tops.  Even better if you can wear tops with reflective portions to ensure you are visible to oncoming cars. I know New Balance and Nike have these.  You can also purchase reflective vests for even greater visibility.  Mine is from Nike.

– New Balance top. Bright color and has a reflective band on the shoulder –


– Nike reflective vest for night running –

4 – Bring an ID.  Always carry identification with you.  You can carry your ID with you or wear a road ID bracelet on your wrist or on your shoes.  I have two MJ46 iD bands. One conveniently sits on the laces of my shoe and another is a wrist band. These contain my name and husband’s cellphone should there be any emergency.

– MJ46 iD Band –

5 – Leave valuables at home.  Again, common sense.  You don’t need your diamond earrings and gold bracelets during a run unless you’re Lady Gaga.  But then again, if you do wear all your jewelry while running, we might as well call you “gaga.” Heehee.

6 – Run with friends.  It’s best to run with a buddy or a group.  This reduces your chances of being a target for any criminal.  Should you encounter any medical emergency from lightheadedness to  pain in the chest, you also have friends to help.  If this isn’t possible, then at least take your mobile phone with you.

7 – Use your MP3 wisely.  Many of us love our music during our run, but use your ipod and MP3 wisely.  Make sure you hear cars, cyclists, or even “askals” chasing after you.

8 – Carry emergency money with you.  You’ll never know when you may need cash during a run or a race.  I tuck P100 to P200 in a small plastic pouch under my insoles in my shoes whenever I run.  I’ve used this to purchase an emergency bottle of Gatorade when I was dying of thirst at BGC during a training run and also to pay for a taxi when I DNF’d at Rexona Run due to awful blisters.  Hey, don’t laugh, they were painful!  Point is, you’ll never know when you need the money so always bring!

9 – Bring pepper spray.  If you must run alone at night, consider carrying pepper spray in your pocket.  I got mine at R.O.X.

10 – Be smart.  Most of us runners think that we are invincible from injury or harm.  Guess what, we’re not.  Trust your instincts and know when you should quit a run or run in the opposite direction.  Be smart about your running and always take the safer, more conservative route when it comes to your safety.

Run safe, people!

Shopping for running and sports gear has just gotten easier with Zeus.ph.  Zeus.ph is an online sports store offering running gear primarily from brands such as Nike and Asics.  They also offer products from Riovana such as Zensah and Unilab Active Health for its merchandise.  For non-runners, they also offer other sportswear and gear such as Molten, Nike Golf, Pacsports (Golf) and Aloha Boardsports (Action Sports).

MY ONLINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

I shopped for my new running gear right in the comfort of my own bed last Thursday evening.  I enjoyed the user-friendly and easy to navigate site of Zeus.ph.

Products are first categorized by gender/age (Men, Women, Kids) then by sports (Basketball, Running, Sportswear, Golf, Training, Football and Active Health merchandise).  Each product has an image and product details.  To purchase, you simply click on the specifics such as quantity and size and Add to Cart.  When done with shopping, you simply view your cart and fill in details of payment and it’s done.

The following day, I received a call from Zeus.ph confirming the sizing of a Nike toddler’s shoe I ordered for my godson.  I confirmed the size and they reassured me the delivery would be on time.  By that afternoon, I  received all the products exactly as I had ordered them. The entire experience was convenient, quick, and easy!  Not very different from shopping online in Amazon.

– Got shoes for my son and godson, bags for me, and a golf umbrella –

MY REVIEW

PROS:

• User friendly, easy to navigate website
• Clear images of products at various positions
• Great customer service
• Secure site
• Quick and on time delivery

CONS

• Lack of products online – It’s such a great website. I hope they offer a wider variety of running and sports products such as more running shoes and run attire.  They should cover more brands as well.  They can even sell Energy Gels like GU or Hammer in bulk since most runners purchase these regularly in stores.

SHOP NOW

Website: www.zeus.ph
Instagram: zeusph