10 Reasons Why Every Student Should Run

Friday, 21 June 2013  |  Race Announcements

Are you a student in your teens or older? If you’re nodding your head right now, then this article is for YOU. If you are only wishing you were in your teens and you currently have a relative—your child, nephew/niece, godchild, or, heck, grandchild—then do them a favor and forward this article to them.

Most students nowadays are neck deep in studies, social life, and even social media. That’s completely understandable because you only live once (YOLO!) and college (and even high school) are the best years of your life. But, take it from me–your fairly young godmother who only started running at the ripe old age of 30 (yikes!)–it’s best that you start getting fit and healthy as early as possible. In fact, experts say that students like you should have a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every single day. What’s the best way for you to get fit without taking too much time away from student life? For me, it’s gotta be running! (By the way, I’m biased. So, if you find passion in other sports or activities, then by all means, go ahead too. Anything as long as you get moving!)

So, just for you, I’ve prepared the Top 10 reasons why every student should run:

1) You’ll be happier
There was a study conducted by researchers at Tufts University and they discovered that students who exercised at least 3 days a week were more likely to report better health and more happiness than those who didn’t exercise.

2) You’ll boost your brain power
A study in Japan showed that students scored better in mental tests after running. Another study in the University of Illinois showed that 18-24 year olds were better at decision making after they ran.

3)You’ll take care of your heart.
Running reduces your chances of getting heart disease later in life. I know, it’s too early for you to think of that, but still!

4) It makes you fitter…and sexier…and increases your chances of getting a good date.
Running burns more calories than any other activity there is.

5) For girls, it gets rid of PMS and menstrual pain.
Need I say more?!

6) You’ll make new friends.
Running is a great social activity. You can chat while getting fit. You’ll also meet more like-minded people who would enjoy fun and healthy activities.

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– with friend and adidas ambassador, Ani de Leon, at adidas KOTR 2009 –

7) You’ll become more confident.
Running can boost your self-esteem especially when you accomplish a goal you were aiming for.

8) You’ll beat stress.
Are you stressed over exams and homework? A short run can leave you feeling energized and ready to study better.

9) You’ll feel better about your body.
You’ll feel stronger and fitter. Even better, you’ll be more conscious about taking care of your body.

10) It’s fun!

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– adidas KOTR 2008 with blogger friends Marga, Dindo, and Doc Joe –

A great way to motivate yourself to run is by setting a goal for yourself like joining a 10k run. One of the races that runners are looking forward to is the adidas King of the Road on July 7, 2013 at Bonifacio Global City.

This year, adidas King of the Road is opening a new category exclusively for students 25 years old and under.
The 10K Relay for Students is set specifically to encourage you guys to get into a healthy, active lifestyle and to give you a chance to represent your alma mater. How cool is that?!

Students need to team up in pairs – one male and one female – with each running 5K to complete the total 10K distance. Winners don’t just get individual cash prizes; you will also win prizes for your school! Join now!

To register visit: http://adidaskingoftheroad.com/ph/index.php

For more news, updates, and promos on adidas KOTR 2013, visit www.facebook.com/adidas or follow the conversation with #kotrph2013.

10 Do’s & Don’ts for Preparing for adidas King of the Road 10k

Monday, 10 June 2013  |  Running + Triathlon

One of the most anticipated races of the country, the adidas King of the Road, is exactly one month away. If you’re one of the thousands who’s signed up and all set to run, here are my top ten do’s and don’ts for newbie runners preparing for the 10k distance:

WHILE TRAINING

1 > DO train for the race. The 10k distance is an event that you must seriously prepare for by gradually building up your mileage weeks before the race. Never ever say you’ll just wing the race and pray you survive. That is no way to participate in a race. Once registered, commit to training seriously for the event and enjoy the training experience.

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2 > DO follow a training program. If you’re serious about running and race, it’s best to follow a training program from a coach or a reputable running website. It gives you a weekly schedule and allows you to monitor your distance and pace ensuring you don’t over or under train. It also keeps you safe from injury. Best of all, it teaches you discipline and how to train properly for an event.

3 > DON’T eat all you want. Some newbie runners, especially those who are trying to lose weight, think that they can indulge with their diet since they’re working out more. While it’s true that you’re burning more calories, you still have to watch what you eat. If anything, adopting a healthy lifestyle through running, will help you to be more conscious not just about weight management, but eating to care for your body and use it as fuel for optimal performance.

4 > DO run with a buddy or a group. For most runners, it’s easier to lace up and train when they’ve got other people to be accountable to. It also makes the training experience more fun when you share conversations and experiences with like-minded people who are eager to get on the road to fitness through running.

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5 > DON’T train for speed all the time. Most newbie runners immediately want to run fast in their first race. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you do wish to train for speed, then make sure you train the right way. Include speed work in your training program only once or twice a week. Do not run fast during each workout. Better yet, consult a coach to ensure you get proper training.

ON RACE DAY

6 > DO think positive. Most new runners are petrified by the thought of racing. Negative thoughts arise such as “What if I finish last?” or “What if I don’t finish at all?” It’s normal to feel anxious because you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. But, overcome all your worries by inviting positive and powerful thoughts and have confidence in your own capabilities.

7 > DON’T wear brand new shoes on race day. It’s always great to get yourself a brand new pair of shoes for race day. But, make sure you break this in properly. Give yourself at least a month to use the shoe during training so you’re certain about the fit and comfort come race day. That means, get yourself those shoes NOW.

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8 > DO hydrate properly. Some runners fail to give importance to proper hydration. It’s important to drink water if you’re running less than an hour and take a sports drink if you run over an hour to replenish your electrolytes. Heat stroke is a serious threat especially with the sun beating down on us.

9 > DON’T give up. There will be times when, during the race, you may think “Why am I doing this?” or “I’m in pain. I wish I could stop.” Always remember that the pain and discomfort is temporary and you must rise above it. Focus on your goal: to finish strong and happy and to achieve something that you never thought you could.

10 > DO run your own race. When the race starts, you may get overwhelmed with the crowd of runners going at their own pace. Resist the urge to go as fast as they are. Run at your own pace as you trained and planned. Always remember that you are your own King or Queen of the Road and no one can tell you otherwise.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR ADIDAS KING OF THE ROAD 2013

adidas King of the Road will be on July 7, 2013 at Bonifacio Global City.  If you have signed up yet, there are two ways to register for this year’s adidas King of the Road Philippines:

  1. Visit http://adidaskingoftheroad.com/ph and register online by filling up all the required fields (not available for 10KM Relay for Students). Online registration is open from May 2 to June 23, 2013.
  2. Visit any of the seven (7) adidas KOTR 2013 registration sites in the following stores —adidas Greenbelt 3, adidas SM Mall of Asia, adidas SM Megamall, adidas Powerplant, adidas Trinoma, adidas Two Parkade (Bonifacio Global City), or Runnr at Bonifacio High Street. Onsite registration is open from May 2 to June 30, 2013.

Race fees are as follows: P1,300 for the 16.8K race; P1,100 for for the 10K regular race; and P800 for for the 10K students’ race. Runners signing up for the 10K students’ race will have to present vaild student IDs (must be valid until July 7, 2013) at the registration sites.

There is also a discount for runners that sign up in large groups. Participants who register with their friends and family at the same time at the registration site get the following discounts:

  • Group of 10 runners = Php100 off each
  • Group of 15 runners = Php150 off each
  • Group of 20 runners = Php200 off each

For more news, updates, and promos on adidas KOTR 2013, visit www.facebook.com/adidas or follow the conversation with #kotrph2013.

Part 1: London Marathon 2013 – Race Expo

Thursday, 2 May 2013  |  Race Reports

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.

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

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– Missing in the photo: Hugh Grant –

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– 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.

Entrance

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.

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– 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 –

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– 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!

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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.

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– Those are all official merchandise. Drool drool –

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

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

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– 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.

Expo

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

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

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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.

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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!

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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.)

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I passed by other booths of other races too…

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– 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?!…

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

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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!

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– 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.

adidas Energy Boost

Friday, 22 March 2013  |  Gear + Gadgets

A few weeks back, adidas launched the adidas Energy Boost in an intimate press gathering. Adrien Semblat, head of Marketing for adidas Philippines, introduced us to their newest shoe.

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– adidas Energy Boost –

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– Adrien Semblat, head of Marketing for adidas Philippines, talks about adidas shoes –

ABOUT THE SHOE: ADIDAS ENERGY BOOST

adidas Energy Boost is the new running shoe with revolutionary cushioning technology that provides the highest energy return in the industry.

The foundation of the ENERGY BOOST™ innovation is centred on proprietary cushioning material, BOOST™, that allows the runner to feel a continuous energy return. The revolutionary technology allows small energy capsules in the soles to store and unleash energy more efficiently with every stride.

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Holding its performance in almost any condition the exclusive BOOST™ material has been proven to be three times more temperature-resistant than standard EVA material, thus providing a more consistent and comfortable run.

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The adidas ENERGY BOOST™ innovation goes beyond the revolutionary midsole technology. The upper on the ENERGY BOOST™ features adidas Techfit technology, which provides optimal comfort and support to the entire foot while in motion.

Additional features include a special mid-foot support frame, an extended TORSION® system to minimise roll for more stability, adiwear outsole to reduce wear in key soles areas and an external heel counter to maximise the heel fit and comfort. The adidas ENERGY BOOST™ is miCoach compatible.

OUR TEST RUN

adidas provided each of us with our own pair of adidas Energy Boost with our names, literally, written on it (well, on the box at least!) along with adidas apparel for a quick test run around Track 30th, just across the newly opened adidas store in Two Parkade, Bonifacio High Street.

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– The new adidas Energy Boost –

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– Right before our test run –

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– Runners testing the shoe –

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– with Vima Mendoza of Kulit Runner, Isabelle Daza, Tessa Prieto-Valdez and Lara Parpan of Women’s Health –

MY FIRST IMPRESSION

For transparency, I’ve only used the shoe during the test run and I have yet to take it for a longer run. I usually give shoe reviews for shoes I’ve run over 15k in. Having said that, here’s my initial impression of the shoe:

– Bouncy and responsive. The selling point of this shoe is its responsiveness because of its new Boost technology (the bubble look in the sole that looks like styrofoam) and I must say that I agree.  With every step, the shoe does feel bouncy but still close to the ground.  Now, I can’t tell if the whole concept about energy is for real, but it sure does feel like it!

– Comfort.  The shoe feels snug because of the Techfit material of the upper; it fits like a glove.  I love shoes like this so this was a plus for me.  Mental note to wear this only on sunny days since rain will get your socks and shoes soaked.

– Light.  This shoe is very light.  In my vocabulary that also means fast.

– Iffy about stability.  adidas says the Torsion system will help for stability, but I do need to test this first.  Upon seeing the shoe, I would say it looks like it’s more for the efficient neutral runner.

– Pricey. P7,995 is on the higher end of the price range for run shoes.

I hope to give a more thorough review of this shoe when I’ve used it for longer runs after my marathon.

WHERE TO BUY

adidas ENERGY BOOST™ retails at PHP7995 and is currently available only at adidas, Two Parkade, Bonifacio High Street. Only 200 pairs available in the Philippines.

Now Open: adidas at BGC

Thursday, 24 January 2013  |  News + Promos

adidas recently opened its newest store at the heart of Bonifacio Global City. The retail outlet carries various lines of adidas shoes and apparel including: basketball, training, football, Originals and, of course, running.

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“It’s not just about being an athlete or being into sports. The new adidas outlet will further promote the importance of having an active, healthy lifestyle, which Bonifacio Global City has successfully fostered,“ said adidas Philippines’ Brand Activation Manager, Adrien Semblat.

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– George Youssef, Country Manager, and Jason Gervasio, Brand Communications & Sports Marketing Manager of adidas Philippines –

A fashion show presenting the different collections adidas has to offer featured models like Rocky Salumbides and Luke Jickaine, and former Binibining Pilipinas Marie Ann Umali. The catwalk, painted in adidas’ trademark 3 stripes, allowed models to traverse from the store’s interiors to the program area along the Two Parkade walkways in BGC.

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– A female model fully clad in adidas women’s apparel –

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– A model waiting his turn to walk the ramp –

I dropped by to check out the loot! And I bumped into some friends!

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– with bloggers Jun, Vima (Kulit Runner), and Bards (Banana Running) –

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– Nice bumping into Tessa Prieto-Valdes –

The new adidas store is located at Two Parkade, 30th St. corner 7th Ave., Bonifacio Global City.

For more updates, follow adidas Philippines at facebook.com/adidasPhilippines.