Posts Tagged with: "2013"

With hubby and kids in tow, I arrived in London last April 17, Wednesday, just a few days before the London Marathon on April 21.  We stayed at The Regency in South Kensington.  The kids immediately loved everything about London—the weather, the food, the Underground tube, and especially our hotel room.

– The hubby and the kids with our hotel right behind them –

– Missing in the photo: Hugh Grant –

– If they could, they would’ve stayed in the room the entire trip! –

Since we were to leave for the countryside the following day for my cousin’s wedding, we headed straight for the Race Expo soon after we checked in.  Jetlag? Nah. Exhaustion? Nada. The expo of marathon majors is something I always look forward to.

RACE EXPO

The race expo was held at ExCel International Exhibition at Royal Victoria Dock. It was about 30 to 45 minutes away from South Kensington.

First things first, I claimed my race bib, then had my Ipico timing tag checked. Included in the kit was a black ribbon which we were encouraged to pin on our shirts to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing just a week before our marathon.

– BTW, check out the Skora shoes I’m wearing. They sent me this for the trip. They’re minimalist running shoes but, I must say, they were the best walking shoes for pre and post race. I wore it practically everyday –

– Contents of the kit. The red bag is the same bag we check in on race day –

I’ve said it many times before. My ultimate dream is to finish the Marathon Majors: Berlin (check), New York (check 2x), London, Tokyo, Chicago, and Boston. (Okay, we can skip Boston for now LOL.) So, when I saw this Marathon Majors exhibit, I just had to stop and pose. Too bad the photo is blurry! Boo!

Then came the most important part: SHOPPING!  Not just any kind of shopping, but shopping for official marathon merchandise! That’s what I live for!  (Yes, I’m super easy to please!)  The official apparel sponsor was adidas and they presented an impressive range of marathon merchandise. My head was in a whirl while the hubby and kids waited, and waited, and waited.

– Those are all official merchandise. Drool drool –

Happily, I took these two home with me. Aaah! Love. The. Jacket.

– There were various shirt designs, colors, and sizes. This was one of my favorites –


– Just one of the official London Marathon 2013 jackets –

Then, it was time for more shopping. I liked the fact that, since we were in Europe, there were quite a number of running products that were new to me since most products we see in Manila are the more popular brands in the US.

Test your strength during the expo? No thank you. I chose to reserve my strength and endurance for race day…

Cute course map by Nestle Pure Life, the official water sponsor for the race…

Of course, I dropped by the impressive booth of Timex. These guys were responsible for getting me a slot in one of the most difficult marathons to get into for us Pinoys! (Sigh. Don’t ask me why it’s so hard for us to get in via lottery system. I don’t know either.)  They had the Timex Run Trainer on display.  The same watch I was going to use for race day.

I dropped by Gatorade’s booth and bought my pre-race fuel, race drink, and post-race fuel conveniently labelled with 01, 02, and 03 respectively. I heard Gatorade is working on bringing these products to Manila. Crossing my fingers!

I chanced upon the Knotty Tiger (hilarious name!) from the same makers of Tiger Tail (which I personally use and we offer at TBR Dream Marathon during race day) and immediately bought one for myself.  I think it’s the perfect travel companion for destination marathons (because, yes, I wouldn’t want to lug my giant foam roller around which is probably bigger than my luggage.)

I passed by other booths of other races too…

– Left: Uso din pala Zombie races sa kanila? Right: Comrades Ultramarathon, one of the toughest ultra marathons in the world –

There was free massage for the runners. How cool is that?!…

Free photo that you could pin up on the board alongside other participants. Even cooler…

I left the expo that evening happy about my purchases and excited about the race.

The following day, we hopped on a train heading towards my cousin’s wedding in Warwickshire, just near Stratford-Upon-Avon where Shakespeare was born.

I saw this at the train station…Waaah, excited!

– Ssshhh. I wore the adidas jacket na di pa nalabhan. No one knows except for you guys! –

NEXT: PART 2: LONDON MARATHON – A WEDDING, SHAKESPEARE, AND A RUN

Thank you so much to all the people who got me to London! Unilab Active Health for sponsoring the trip. Special thanks to my favorites Enervon Activ for keeping me energized during training and race day and Enervon HP for aiding in recovery. Thank you to Timex Philippines and Timex UK who snagged me a race slot.

I am a London Marathon 2013 Finisher!

My official finish time: 4:24:41.

It’s been two days since the race and I’m still on cloud nine!  As my family and I tour the rest of this beautiful city, please give me several days to write up my race report.  For now, allow me to share with you some photos from before and after one of the best races I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in.  This one was right up there with New York City Marathon!  Simply amazing!

PRE-RACE: 36,000 runners gather together at Greenwich Park to find their own race starts: Red, Blue, or Green. I was Green. Race start time was 10AM. The weather was absolutely perfect at around 9 degrees in the start.

Highlight of the start was when we were all asked to pause to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon. There was complete silence from thousands of runners for a minute or two.

THE RACE: The race took runners through some of the city’s major landmarks. We passed Cutty Sark, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye and Big Ben!  Roads were lined with spectators from start to end!

POST-RACE: The race ended at The Mall. Thousands of loved ones waited for their runners at the Meet & Greet area.  I had my Enervon HP and an apple as I waited for family to arrive.

Happy to see the hubby and my kiddos after the race!

Thank you so much to all the people who got me here! Unilab Active Health for sponsoring the trip. Special thanks to my favorites Enervon Activ for keeping me energized during training and race day and Enervon HP for aiding in recovery. Thank you to Timex Philippines and Timex UK who snagged me a race slot. Thank you to my Coach, Andy Leuterio, for killing me during training so that I could perform during the race. Thanks to the following for sponsoring my gear and nutrition: Gatorade (sports drink), Oakley (Radar path shades), CWX (compression tights and recovery socks), Timex (Timex Run Trainer watch), and Kswiss (Kwicky Blade Light shoes).

Check back after a few days for my full race report!

After years of running, I started biking seriously last 2012.  While running will always be my first love, I must admit that biking comes a close second. I ride two to three times a week now and I look forward to my long rides every Saturday morning just as much as I get excited over my Sunday long runs.

Most of the time, I ride with the boys because there just aren’t too many women on the bike. Occasionally, I ride with good friend Tessa Prieto-Valdes in Nuvali. My Coach created a “team” for us called: The Sisterhood of the (Suffering) Shivs.  Suffering was included there because, well, my Coach loves to make us work hard on the bike!

– Tessa and I and our gwapo bikes –

In time, I hope to be riding like these girls…

If you’re a woman and you’re interested in biking, there’s good news for you. Dan’s, the official Philippine distributor of Specialized, just launched the 2013 line of women’s specific road models! Take your pick:

DOLCE
If you’re just getting started but want a bike with a top-dollar ride, then the Specialized Dolce fits the bill. The DOLCE is a bike that will help you achieve your fitness and distance goals, all while respecting your budget and needs. With its comfortable and fatigue-busting ride quality, courtesy of the FACT carbon fork with Zertz and endurance geometry, the Dolce is the perfect bike is a great addition to your fitness arsenal. Dolce highlights include an oversized downtube for enhanced stiffness, and Zertz dampers on “S”-shaped seatstays on Comp and Elite models for added compliance. It’s fitted with a Women’s Body Geometry Riva saddle designed to relieve soft tissue pressure. The cockpit features a Comp handlebar with 75mm reach and 123mm drop for a comfortable, confidence-building riding posture.

– Dolce Compact –

RUBY
With its FACT carbon fiber frame, the Ruby is light, fast, and all-day comfortable. It’s the perfect tool for Gran Fondos, long training rides, or weekend adventures going out of town and into the hills. Climbing, going fast, or going long, the Ruby responds in a way that inspires confidence while looking good. Zertz viscoelastic dampers in the seatstays and fork absorb road vibration for added comfort, while the FACT triple monocoque construction is lightweight and strong. Women’s Body Geometry contact points feature ergonomic and size-specific components including the cranks, handlebars, and saddle for the most comfortable and efficient fit.

– Ruby Comp Compact –

AMIRA
It. Just. Rocks. The AMIRA is a no-nonsense thoroughbred—born to race and always quick to react. Its stiff, lightweight frame cranks up the speed dial for fast accelerations, while the tapered headtube delivers precise steering and handling for carving corners or dominating tricky descents. The Amira SL4 is the race bike of choice for Team Specialized-lululemon and has taken impressive victories at the Tour of Qatar and La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. Whether you’re bridging a gap or creating one, the Amira will fly. You don’t have to be a pro cyclist to reap the benefits of Amira, however. Whether you need a hard core training bike to complement your TT bike, or just want the lightest, fastest bike you can rock at the weekend group ride, there’s an Amira for you.

– Amira Comp Compact –


– Amira Elite Compact –

Specialized Women’s Road Bikes are exclusively available at Dan’s. For inquiries call 894-5110.

Newton unveils its running shoes for 2013! Newton Running shoes feature proprietary forefoot lugs, lightweight materials, and glove-like fit to promote a natural running gait.

I dropped by the Newton event yesterday to check out the bright and bright new colors of these fast shoes.

– Perfect colors for summer –

WHAT’S THE NEWTON FOR YOU? HERE’S A GUIDE:

Motion (SRP P8,495.00)
Looking for stability? Then the Newton Motion is for you. This Stability Performance Trainer is for runners who need a training shoe that can also work for faster sessions and even for racing. Medial posting offsets pronation to complement the Action/ReactionTM technology in the forefoot. It utilizes highly breathable, fast drying open air mesh, minimal overlays, and metatarsal stretch panels for a light and comfortable fit. The carbon rubber heel and high density rubber outersole will last the distance runner many quality miles, yet a pair only weighs a scant 9.3 ounces. The heel-to-toe drop is 3mm.

– Men’s Newton Motion –

– Women’s Newton Motion –

Gravity (SRP P8,495.00)
Designed for neutral runners, the Newton Gravity can be used as a daily training shoe for faster-paced tempo runs, interval sessions, and as race shoe. The Gravity features Action/ReactionTM technology in the midfoot and heel, a biomechanical metatarsal sensor plate, and enhanced midfoot flexibility. The open air mesh upper is extremely breathable and quick drying. A high density outersole and carbon heel promote excellent durability for even the highest mileage runners. The Newton Gravity weighs 9.1 ounces and has a heel-to-toe drop of 3mm.

– Men’s Newton Gravity –

– Women’s Newton Gravity –

Distance S (SRP P7,995.00)
Need the lightest running shoe you can get without resorting to a racing flat? Check out the Newton Distance S. Designed for fast-paced running, this lightweight performance stability trainer is a great choice for runners who need a shoe for short- or mid-distance racing and weekly speed sessions. It features Action/ReactionTM technology, dual-density medial posting, a lightweight, quick drying mesh upper, biomechanical metatarsal sensor plate, high-rebound EVA in the midsole, and a lightweight EVA heel. The Newton Distance S weighs 7.8 ounces and has a heel-to-toe drop of 2mm.

– Men’s Newton Distance S –

– Women’s Newton Distance S –

Distance (SRP P7,995.00)
Designed for more efficient runners, the Newton Distance is a lightweight neutral performance trainer ideal for interval sessions, tempo sessions, and even for racing. Featuring a highly breathable, quick drying open air mesh, minimal anatomical support strapping, Action/ReactionTM technology in the midfoot, biomechanical metatarsal sensor plate, and Met-flex enhanced midfoot flexibility. The Newton Distance weighs 7.8 ounces and has a heel-to-toe drop of 2mm.

– Men’s Newton Distance –

– Women’s Newton Distance –

During the event, we were introduced to current and new Newton ambassadors, too. I’m sure we’ll see these fast, competitive runners and triathletes in their Newtons on the roads or in races soon!

– Newton ambassadors: Don Velasco, Mark and Doray Ellis, Toby Claudio, Keshia Fule, Andy Leuterio, and Jay Valencia flanked by Runnr Executives and Newton’s exclusive distributors  –

Newton Running shoes are exclusively available at all RUNNR outlets: RUNNR Bonifacio High Street, RUNNR Alabang Town Center, RUNNR Trinoma, RUNNR Cebu, Toby’s Shangri-La Mall, Toby’s Mall of Asia, Toby’s Glorietta, and Toby’s CDO Limketkai Mall. For details, visit www.newtonrunning.com, www.runnr.com.ph , or http://twitter.com/RUNNRstore and http://www.facebook.com/Runnrstore.

I dusted off my crystal ball and felt it was time to make my predictions for 2013.  Last time I did this was in 2011 and, hey, I must say I got most predictions right…except for Coach Rio starring in a teleserye.

Here goes my predictions for 2013:

1) Runners will be choosy with their races.  Well, it doesn’t take a genius to predict this since we saw it happen in 2012.  Most runners will register for mostly big, high-quality, must-run events that they feel are absolutely worth joining.  They will be discerning with the races they participate in for several reasons:

– Financial – budget will allow for only one or two races per month
– Preference – runners enjoy running with their friends at more convenient venues than wake up for a race
– Need for something new – runners yearn for something new, not the same ol’ typical race

– Runners at one of the bigger races, Run United 2 –

2) More creative races.  Having said that, organizers will be compelled to make their races stand out above the clutter.  Last year, I believe we had almost a handful of zombie runs (my gawd, more than enough I think!)  This year, we saw the Color Manila Run held last weekend. It’s exciting to think what organizers will come up with next!  I vote for Kapre Run!

3) Runners will run faster.  The community matured and progressed in 2012.  Most runners have built their mileage base and are making great strides (no pun intended) in running.  These runners are ready and eager for fartleks, intervals, and tempo runs.

4) Runners will be smarter.  With more experience, runners will be smarter about running from training (more will hire coaches or join run clinics) to nutrition (they’ll study proper pre- and post-run nutrition and supplements) to gear (they’ll read reviews and books before making a purchase!)

– with one of the smartest runners I know. Kuya Kim aka Matanglawin! –

5) More women in running.  Gone are the days when women were few and far between in a race.  Now, women are running 10ks, marathons, and ultra marathons and are doing it well!  Expect to see also more races, gear, and shoes catering to women’s needs.  Let’s go, girls!

6) Going minimalist.  We saw the rise in interest for minimalist shoes over a couple of years back, but the craze continues.  While less people wear Vibram Five Fingers nowadays, we see the more popular running shoe brands having their own minimalist lines, such as Nike Frees, New Balance Minimus, and Mizuno Be.

7) Growth of triathlon.  More runners are interested in triathlon because it allows for cross-training, it’s less prone to injury, or it’s a new challenge from the usual running event.  The rise may also be due to the Ironman and Xterra brands coming into the country.  Still, this won’t negatively affect the sport of running because, for runners who do get into triathlon, this author included, they will always be runners at heart.  (Aaw shucks, kleenex please!)

8) Shooowbiz!  More showbiz peeps will join races.  Late 2012, we saw Anne Curtis, Bianca King, Solenn Heusaff, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero  in races.  That’s on top of more experienced showbiz runners Piolo and Karylle and triathletes Kuya Kim Atienza, Drew Arellano, and Matteo Guidicelli.  Ack, I’m sure I’ve missed some celeb.  But, who cares, there’ll be more of them this year running with us.  Yet another reason why we should never leave home without our cameras or smartphones.  Eek, I’m such a fan.

– Fan girl pic. I saw Matteo lined up to check in his bike at Ironman 70.3 Cebu and I had to have my pic taken with him –

9) More new junk to buy.  I think we have more than enough running stores in the country so while these may open more branches, there shouldn’t be any new ones setting up anymore. But, I do see more run-specific gear that will tempt us to shell out more money.  Make sure the items you purchase are useful and practical!  After all, runners really only need a good pair of shoes!

10) May mabubuntis na runner.  Unang letra ng pangalan nya ay nagsisimula sa S.  Okay, okay, I’m kidding.  I just had to throw that in there because all fortune tellers predict that at the start of the new year, right?  (I watched a couple of them on The Buzz this Sunday, heehee)  And, yes, of course, I had to say it in tagalog for a more dramatic effect!

Happy New Year, runners!