Posts Tagged with: "Globe"

TBR RACE REVIEW: GLOBE RUN FOR HOME 2010

Organizer: Finishline

Rating:

THUMBS UP:

• New assembly area. First time a race started in Ayala Triangle.
• Challenging route.
• Overflowing water and Powerade at stations. Sponges were plentiful!
• Timing chip.
• Great set up for post-race booths and events.

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME:

• Inaccurate kilometer markers
• Distance was too long for 21k
• No medal???

The unique race start and course was the best selling point of the Globe Run for Home 2010. Sure enough, I was sold!

With the assembly area at Tower One along Ayala Ave., the race felt like a world-class urban run, much like Singapore’s Standard Chartered Marathon at Esplanade. The run through the city’s narrow roads and Greenbelt’s tunnel was a new experience for runners. Although the course was similar to the usual course for past races, the route took runners from Ayala towards Bonifacio Global City, instead of the other way around. Who knew that running the route from the other end could be so different?!

Congratulations to Globe and Finishline for a good race!

————————————–

LOST IN LIMBO LAND

I was goal-less for this race and it was awful. As I stood in the 21k race start with the hubby, I thought about my target pace and time. It was absolutely frightening that my mind was completely blank.  I didn’t know if I was going to run easy or hard, with hubby and Lit or solo, with music or not.  All I knew was that I looked forward to running long again after so much time off.

GOODBYE PR, HELLO FUN

After the first few kilometers, I pretty much knew this was not gonna be a PR run.  I just didn’t have it in me nor did my legs. Still, I didn’t run too easy either.  I had yet to burn the extra pounds from HK, remember?

I had a lot of fun running through this course. Highlights for me were the Greenbelt portion and the longer-than-usual route inside Heritage Park. It was nice bumping into friends throughout the race, especially Bataan Death March finishers, Charlie and Alvin.  While I suffered from legs that hadn’t fully recovered from HK Marathon, these two looked so strong, you wouldn’t think they had just survived a 102km ultramarathon a couple of weeks before.

HAPPY FINISH

I finished with an unofficial time of 2:11 (excluding my bathroom break at Jollibee). My Garmin recorded a distance of 22.3km, which I can’t rely on as I lost GPS signal at the race start and in the Greenbelt area.  It wasn’t the best time, but I thoroughly enjoyed the long run.

– Near the finish. (Thanks to Vima, Kulit Runner for the photo!) –

LIKE A KID AGAIN

As I waited for hubby, I bumped into highschool classmates Jennie of Bautech and Tintin. As all highschool friends are, we talked about the past.  But, we also touched a bit on the future, specifically our next goal races.  Turns out the two of them are joining SuBIT (Subic Triathlon) on May 1.  Ooooh boy, just the thought gave me goosebumps, but it got me excited about a new goal!  Should I?  Can I?  Hmmm, will I?  I’ll decide by the end of this week!  (Anyone got a bike to loan me?)


For those who were not able to claim their race kits or change for the online payment for Run for Home, organizers will be having a two day redemption booth at RUNNR starting tomorrow July 25 until Sunday July 26, 2009 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM.



All runners who availed the Globe promo but forgot to claim it during the redemption day may proceed to Globe Business Center (Market Market branch ONLY) to claim their SIM pack or call card. Present your ID or claim stubs. If in case someone will get it in your behalf, Globe will require an authorization letter from the participant and a photocopy of their IDs before they release the item.

TRB Review: Run For Home Globe Ayala Land City Run

Overall Rating (10 highest): 8

Organizer: Finish Line

THUMBS UP:

– New 21k course. One of the rare times Ayala Ave. was closed for runners.
– First time the disposable timing chip was used (and hopefully not the last.)
– Very organized and ontime race start.
– Adequate drinking stations with ample supply of 100 Plus and bottled mineral water (this was my experience. I heard of other runners who fell in line just to get a sip.)
– Portalets along the half marathon route.
– Presence of marshals all throughout the route.
– Complete race packet.
– Comprehensive race website, which included a forum, running blog links, pixlink (race day photos), and more.
– Free Photovendo photos (coming within the next few days).
– Race result analysis (coming soon too)

BETTER JOB NEXT TIME

– Limited kilometer markers for 21k.
– Crowded race packet redemption (first day).
– Sloppy online registration system.
– Lack of explanation on use of timing chip for beginners. Confusing directions on attaching the chip to the shoe.
– Slightly delayed race results considering a timing chip was used.

Awesome race. I had serious concerns about the ability of Globe and Finish Line to fulfill their lofty promises for this event, but truth be told, this race surpassed my expectations. With 6,400 registered runners for this race, a great number of problems could have arisen due to the sheer number of participants. However, the race went smoothly with minor flaws, mostly in pre-race preparations, at that.  Congratulations to Globe and Finish Line for pulling off a race that raised the bar for local races.

————————————

OFF TO A BAD START

– Assembly area post-race –

The Run for Home race started ominously for me. Less than a few hundred meters into the 21km run, my Garmin Forerunner 305 decided to die on me. (It’s been very naughty ever since I toyed with the idea of getting a Polar RS800CX or Garmin 310XT) Good thing I had backup: Nike+ Sportsband on the other wrist and JunC, my run buddy, with his Garmin as substitute pace setter!

Shortly after my Garmin’s demise, right before the Buendia flyover ascent, I felt the need to run to the little girls’ room. How embarrassing that I had to go this early in the game, but when I spotted a handful of male runners running towards the bushes, I threw caution to the wind and rushed towards the Chowking restroom. In a snap, I was out the door and ready to rejoin JunC and the rest of the half marathoners.

BLESSING IN DISGUISE

After the Buendia flyover, it was smooth-sailing for me. Running “blindly” without my Garmin and “deaf” without my ipod allowed me to enjoy every single minute of the race. JunC would periodically announce our pace—that we were going much faster than our planned easy, training pace of 6:30 min/km—but I would always reply with a reassuring nod, or a short rationalization, such as “It’s okay. We need buffer for the Buendia ascent.” I cannot count how many times Jun answered back “Remember, we still have Bayani Road after.”

Almost all 21km went by in a blur, like a dream, really. Surprisingly, I felt strong all throughout the entire run. There was no instance when I felt exhausted or parched nor did I feel any hint of pain in my legs. Even the climb back up Buendia towards Bonifacio—where I always find myself rolling down the flyover wishing the race would soon end—didn’t cause any major difficulty. I didn’t know what I did differently for this race: Was it a good night’s rest? Hammer espresso? Or, pure adrenaline that kept me feeling so great the entire time? All I know is that it was the way I would’ve wanted any of my long runs to play out: no injuries, no weariness, no boredom. Sure, no PR either, but that really wasn’t my goal for this particular race.

PR IF I DIDN’T P(EE)

We ended the entire 20.92km (according to JunC’s garmin) with an unofficial time of 2:09, average pace 6:13. My uncalibrated Nike+ Sportsband registered 22.46km at 5:50 pace.

It occurred to me shortly after the run that at 2:09, I would’ve broken my Singapore Half Marathon time of 2:08 had I not stopped for a pee break. Annoying thought, isn’t it? So, I spent the past couple of days reminding myself over and over and over again: It was a training run. You didn’t plan on breaking your PR. Training run. Forget PR. Training run. Forget PR…

One minute. Sheesh. Next time, can someone just remind me to run to the bathroom thrice before the race starts?

– with Armand and TBR Magazine. TBR Magazine (July-Sep 09) was distributed on race packet redemption day and race day. Hope you got a copy! –

– with Hector of Second Wind, Armand, Jun, Coach Rio, Mikey, Neville of Pinoy Ultra Runners, and hubby –

– with Cristy, Nora, Johnny, Mariel, Annie, hubby, Jay, and Vener –

– with Toby of Runnr, Jun, Annie, Mari (who broke his 21k PR at 1:29!), Lester, Kim, Jonel and Mariel –

– with Mark, Annie, Jun, Tiffin, Nicole of Runnr, Mariel and hubby –

– Met Karen Davila and gave her copies of TBR Mag, of course! –

– Head-to-toe unplanned matching outfit with Mariel. Maybe we’re the Solemates?! –

– with the hubby who ran 10k –

– with Jun & Mariel (Solemates), sorely missed Annie girl fresh from Singapore, and the hubby –

For those who sent in questions regarding online registration for Run for Home, here’s a note from Vince Mendoza of Finish Line, the organizer of Run for Home:

Hi Everyone,

Good new, we’ve already sent out all online registration confirmation email. For those will do the online registration (which was fixed already a couple of days ago), please expect the confirmation email within 24 hours. We need to wait for the bank to confirm the payment first before we send out your confirmation. This means that transaction made on weekend will have to wait till Monday to get their confirmation emails. Thanks

I was invited to the press conference for Run For Home, Globe-Ayala City Run For Habitat for Humanity slated for July 19, 2009 last night.  Speakers included Angelo from Globe and Vince Mendoza and Coach Rio de la Cruz from Finish Line.  

– Globe Team –

I took down notes and came up with the following reasons why you should NOT join this race:

1. Disposable champion chips will be used for all race distances.  No need to squeeze into crowded assembly areas and crawl your way to the front line.  Your time starts when you cross the starting line, not when the gun fires, so it doesn’t matter if you start a few seconds or minutes late.  See, there’s no reward for being an early bird at this race.
2. You can’t use thirst or dehydration as an excuse for your slow time at this race.  For the 21km, Coach Rio said that he plans to have water stations at every kilometer.  Sponges will be available too.
3. The race course includes Ayala Avenue, an area that is rarely used in races, and will turn around Ayala Triangle.  If you’re a regular racer, you’ve memorized all the bumps, humps, and cracks on the usual race roads of Bonifacio Global City, so running in this new uncharted territory may be quite a challenge for you.
4. There will be live microblogging (Twitter and Plurk) during the race.  Everyone—even non-running friends and relatives—will get live updates on your run.  Pressure!
5. Results will be provided with RunPix, the exact program used at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon last year.  (Click here to get a visual)  So, you’ll know how many runners outpaced you, exactly where you were when the first runner crossed the finish line, your place among all the other finishers, or—if you’re male—your worst nightmare yet: how many women finished ahead of you.  Are you ready to face the truth?
6. PixLink and Tattoo blogging at the race area may be too entertaining and you forget to run.
7. You’ll have a memorabilia of the race depicting a drenched and exhausted version of you when you claim your FREE race photo available for download at PhotoVendo.  
8. The scrumptious food at the bazaar ala Salcedo Market after the race will make you gain back all the calories you lost during the run.
9. 6,500 runners are expected to show up.  More people to chase after.
10. This race promises to be one of the best races ever held in Manila.  If the organizers are successful at pulling this off, then all other races you’ll join in the future will pale in comparison.

I’ve registered for the 21km already.  I’m ready to take all the risks I’ve mentioned above if only to experience this one-of-a-kind, well-planned event.

REGISTRATION AREAS (only until JULY 3, 2009):
– all Globe business centers
– all Fitness First branches (Metro Manila)
– Runnr, Bonifacio High Street
– online at www.globe.com.ph/runforhome

– Vince of Finish Line –

– Vince, Jay, Vimz, Coach Rio, myself, Raymund, Taki, Marga, Dingdong, and Jun –