Last Saturday, November 16, 2013, almost 1,000 runners came together for ONE RUN: A Run for the Victims of Typhoon Yolanda. This coincided with Bull Session 3 for TBR ULAH Dream Marathoners.

– Hundreds of runners showed up to run and donate to victims of Typhoon Yolanda –

– That’s me asking everyone to pause for a moment of silence for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda before we start the run –

– Kuya Kim counted down to run start for us –

– Triathletes Kuya Kim Atienza, Raffy Zamora, and Erwan Heussaff joined by friends at One Run –

– Sen. Pia Cayetano ran with us too and invited all runners to dine at Slice with proceeds going to Yolanda victims –

– TBR ULAH Dreamers gather around Coach Lit Onrubia –

– good friend and teammates Drew Arellano and Jake de Guzman volunteered to man the donation booths –

We’re happy to report that we collected a whopping P615,000 in cash donations from the runners that morning. 100% of proceeds will go to our beneficiaries: Javier, Leyte via The Master’s Light Foundation of Anthony & Maricel Pangilinan and the 6 Islands of Agutaya, Palawan via triathlete/missionary Philip Leroux. (Update: P515,000 was donated to Javier, Leyte November 20 and P100,000 will be donated to Philip Leroux on November 22.  I’ll be posting photos of the check turnovers within the week for transparency.)

– Thank you to Unilab Active Health who managed all the in kind donation for us and delivered them directly to Red Cross –

In kind donations (listed below) were plentiful as well and these will be donated to Red Cross with the help of Unilab External Affairs Team.

– Clothes – 67 boxes and bags
– Footwear – 6 boxes
– Instant noodles – 6 boxes
– Canned Goods – 8 boxes
– Biscuits – 3 boxes
– Coffee with assorted breakfast goodies – 1 box
– Water – 19 boxes and bags with (1) Nature Spring Big Gallon
– Tetra Pack Juices – 5 boxes
– Medicines – 1 paper bag
– Toys – 1 plastic bag
– Rice – 1 plastic bag, 1 sack

Thank you so much for all runners who came by that morning to donate and run with us! Your help will go a long way for our beneficiaries!

More pictures of such a heartwarming and meaningful event for everyone…You may also visit the Facebook page of Photo Ops for more photos of the One Run event.

– Runners donated minimum of P100 before running or made in kind donations –

– TBR ULAH Dream Marathoners Batch 2014 –


– The Starting Line Triathlon Team –

– Runners/Triathletes from Alabang made their way to BGC for One Run –

– Phil. Drug Enforcement Agency was at One Run! –

– Ayala Triad Runners –

– Team Titan –

– with Rye and friend. They both initially volunteered to carry in kind donations on their backs and walk to the nearest to deliver them. They said they were willing to do anything to help! –

– with Bobby Cruz, Jun Cruz, and friends –

– with TBR DM alumni! –

NEXT: One Run thanks our sponsors and friends.

One Run was organized by The Bull Runner in cooperation with Unilab Active Health with the support of Gatorade. Thank you also to Bonifacio Global City, Run.ph, Simple Hydration, Proactive, Photo-Ops (our official photographer), HDSI Medic Team, Jun Cruz and Mike & Macel Janeo.

Everyone is welcome to join ONE RUN: Walk/Run for Yolanda Victims.  Click HERE for more details.

DATE: November 16, 2013, Saturday
TIME:

• 4:30 AM – Donations will be accepted
• 5:30 AM – Run starts
• 7:30 AM – Run closes

VENUE: Track 30th, Bonifacio Global City

WHO CAN JOIN:  Anyone who wants to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. You may run or walk anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours.

WHAT YOU CAN GIVE: We will accept cash donations of P100 or more per runner.  In kind donations will be accepted as well. Unilab Active Health will collect and deliver directly to Red Cross.

WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES:

TBR focused on trusted and credible groups where we could be assured the funds would be used properly and go directly to those in need. Cash donations will be given to the following:

(1) Javier, Leyte – A portion of the funds raised will be handed over to The Master’s Light Foundation of runner/triathlete Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan. TBR and Maricel will decide on items to purchase which are immediately needed by the people of Javier in coordination with Mayor Sandy Javier. While many of the people here have survived, the entire town is devastated and they need immediate funds to begin anew.

Population: 24,000
Families: 4,000 to 7,000
Damages: 100%
Homeless: 90%
Casualties: 3

Photos of Javier below after Typhoon Yolanda struck.

(2) 6 Island of Agutaya, Palawan – A portion of the funds raised will be handed over to runner/triathlete and Palawan-based missionary Philip Leroux of Team Secondwind-Sun Broadband who is personally helping with relief efforts in the 6 islands around him.

Updates will be provided on this blog on how funds will be used.

COURSE MAP:

From Track 30th on 31st Street, RIGHT to 7th Ave., STRAIGHT to Justicia Drive all they way to 8th Ave. Before reaching Kalayaan road, RIGHT at 40th Street, RIGHT to 9th Ave. Then LEFT to 38th street passing University Parkway. RIGHT to Meritt Road until you reach 34th street for the first loop.

You may run one, two, or three loops.  Note that all runners must be back at the finish line by 7:30AM.

To finish, before reaching 34th Street, turn left to 11th Ave, cross 32nd Street. Right to 30th street until you reach Track 30th.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR EVENT DAY:

Please take note of these reminders to keep the event safe and trouble-free.

• Bring your own hydration. Gatorade will be available but limited.
• No bibs. No singlets. No medals or lootbags will be given.
• Run anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours. Run or walk 1, 2, or 3 loops. (See course map.) Run will close at 7:30AM.
• Cash donations of P100 or more is preferred. Please bring exact amount.  No change will be given. In kind donations (bottled water, easy to open canned goods, old singlets/clothes, old shoes/slippers) will be accepted. Only usable items please.
• To expedite collection and avoid long lines, groups or teams are encouraged to combine funds and donate as one.
• For transparency, donations will be documented. Updates will be given on delivery of donations to beneficiaries via thebullrunner.com.

FOR TBR-ULAH DREAMERS:

• Bull Circle 3 proceeds as is. Run 1hr 45 mins led by Coach Lit Onrubia.
• Meet INSIDE Track 30th. Assembly 5:00AM. Briefing and Grouping at 5:30AM. Run starts 5:40AM.

Thank you to Unilab Active Health and Gatorade for the support.  Thank you to ProActive and Team Unilab Active Health for volunteers.  Let’s all work together to do what we can to help Yolanda victims.

We’ve all seen the devastation brought about by Typhoon Yolanda. It is horrifying, saddening, and painful to watch. So, instead of just watching, let’s use running to help out. One run can help thousands of lives.

Please join us as we to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. We ask you to donate P100 (or more) or bring bottled water, canned goods (those that can be opened without a can opener), usable singlets and shirts, and slippers or shoes, then join us for a run around Bonifacio Global City. You can run as short as 30 minutes or as long as 2 hours. Run it with running buddies, friends, family, even non-runners. Everyone is welcome to join.

No bibs, medals, lootbags, or hydration will be handed out. Please bring your own hydration. Gatorade will be there to provide a limited amount of drinks. Everything will be carried out simply so as to save what we can for those who really need it.

All donations will be tracked. Please come before the run start of 5:30 AM to make your donations.

To TBR ULAH Dream Marathoners: Your BULL SESSION 3 will proceed as planned. Assembly is at 5:00AM. Briefing by Coach Lit Onrubia is at 5:30AM inside Track 30th. There will be over 6 run-walk interval groups with Pacers. Run is 1 hour 45 mins.

Thank you to Unilab Active Health for supporting us by providing tents, chairs, and tables. ULAH will also be responsible for shipping the in kind donations to the victims.

We look forward to seeing you there.

There are just no words to explain the devastation brought about by Yolanda to our country. At this point, each one of us should really do our part to help out.

Some of you may know Philip Leroux, a runner, triathlete with the Secondwind Triathlon Team, and running blogger (The Foreign Runner). Philip is a missionary based in Cuyo, Palawan. He’s a good friend of mine.

Philip posted this call for support on Facebook and, as relayed by Hector of Secondwind, I’m sharing the message to anyone who would like to help. More details below on where and when to send your donations:

WHAT YOU CAN SEND:

• Clothes, foot covering, food, and medicine
• Cash – please seal with signature and indicate how much and donor

WHEN TO SEND:

• Now until November 29, 2013
• Philip arrives nov 21, 2013. Secondwind will collect and centralize donations for him until November 30, 2013

WHERE TO SEND:

Secondwind Running Specialty stores:

Secondwind QC (branch 1)
see map and shop details by clicking on  THIS LINK.

Secondwind Ortigas (branch 2)
see map and shop details by clicking on THIS LINK.

Secondwind Greenhills (branch 3)
see map and shop details by clicking on THIS LINK.

For inquiries, call Secondwind directly.

On The Heels of a Dream is a weekly column by guest writer Obbie Suguitan who is currently training for his first marathon, The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, on February 16, 2014.

The highlight of this week is me not being able to stand up from a sitting position. It wasn’t funny then (well. It was a little funny), it’s not funny now.

– Coach Jim Saret talks about strength conditioning, balance, and core for runners at Bull Circle 3 –

– TBR on TBR ULAH Dream Marathon –

At the Bull Circle last Wednesday, one of the things coach Jim Saret had us participants do was to do a move to show just how weak our bodies were – are still.  All I needed to do, with a certain body position, was to stand. My weak, non-marathon-ready knees did not perform. Good! It was a rude awakening to how much muscle balance and strengthening I need, along with dozens of other batchmates.

This on a night that I had a knee taped by a charmingly professional Rock doc named Ms. Carmela. At least I think they’re called Rock Docs because they’re experts at applying Rocktape, the best kenisiology tape around.

– Getting taped with Rocktape at Bull Circle 3 –

This time around, Coach Jim shared a lot of tips and exercises on how to achieve a marathon ready body – precious information on my way to the Dream.

– with TBR and fellow Dreamers –

This talk by Coach Jim, was sandwiched by my two maintenance runs for the week – both 45 minuters – which I did on Tuesday and Thursday. For both, I had relatively little trouble completing them with a few bursts of faster-than-my-usual speed. Due to being obedient to the program, I found that what little progress I’ve made is starting to build up in terms of endurance. Even in tiny, almost imperceptible increments, improvement is still improvement. Just a couple of months ago, 45 minutes running was unthinkable for a morbidly obese Obbie. During this week, a lot of talk went around about who and how the upcoming Sunday marathon was going to go. In my ‘un-readiness’ for that, I had to stay the course of my own training.

My new experience for this week was the 2nd of my maintenance runs because it was the first time I tried running in compression shorts AND a Rocktaped right knee. As much of a newbie as I am, I felt the difference the right equipment makes. As a try-athlete (I know this is not my original coined term but I’ll use it anyway), any advantage afforded by something as simple as the right shorts is a big thing. I know I’d still hurl chunks at the sight of myself in a compression shirt and pants but, fortunately, I have a few months more to achieve a better shape (‘in better shape’ is different from ‘in a better shape’). Plus, serious runners (of which I think I can count myself as right now) prefer performance over aesthetics.

My weekend LSD was a different story. I had chosen to do it on a Saturday night in the vicinity of my wife and her friends having a night out. This week my marching order was to do 90 minutes and my chosen pace is my uniform slow 2:1. Running around a big circuit around the neighborhood, I went up and down on a relatively hilly course and completed it, surprisingly, fairly fatigue-free. I know it was the case because I didn’t have the sun bearing down on me. What made this run different though, was the aftermath. I cooled down, post-stretched properly, then rested. But, as I got up from my seat barely an hour after finishing my run, I felt pain in both knees which continued well into Sunday. Maybe not pain per se but a peek-a-boo kind of ache. After I had congratulated the participants of the Sunday morning marathon, I received tips, advice, and offers of treatment from doctor batchmates. Yes! The group is coming together in support of one another! So now, after a soothing Sunday night cold compress and hopes of it being nothing serious, the pain has virtually disappeared even as I have two new Doc friends waiting in the wings to help – everyone needs help, yes? Now as I prepare to retire for the night, me and my knees will go to bed safe in the knowledge that I will not go this alone. I’m with friends. I’ll say my prayers, follow my training program, then ask yet again: When’s the next run?