Posts Tagged with: "Marathons"

Boys and girls, online registration for Subic Marathon 2008 is now open!

According to its website, the Subic Marathon “raises the bar in terms of organizing marathon events in the country and in the ASEAN region.” Aside from plans of obtaining accreditation from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), it is also associated with The Runners Confederation of the Philippines, Inc. (Run-CPI) and Outbound Asia, Inc. (OAI). The Subic Marathon will hand out the biggest top prize of US$ 5000 in any marathon in the region and will offer up to P 1 million in total prizes. Whoaaa, honestly, I’d just be happy running in scenic Subic wearing a scintillating new singlet!

Phew, just visiting their site is getting me all excited. I feel like a 2-year-old who ate too many marshmallows before bedtime. Yeah, it’s time to hit the sack right now but I cannot for the life of me get my mind to stop thinking about kilometers. How long shall I run in Subic? Perhaps I’ll count kilometers—instead of sheep—tonight. 5k…10k…21k…42k. Hmmm…what shall I sign up for?

Click here to visit the official website.

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Month, Barbizon together with Mommy Matters, Best Friends in Breastfeeding, and Phil. Association of Childbirth Educators, held its first ever Barbizon Mommy Milkshake Marathon today at Fort Bonifacio. More than a hundred participants—nursing mothers and their families, breastfeeding advocates, and runners—showed up to give their full support for the advocacy of breastfeeding by walking/running 2km around Bonifacio Global City.

Now, this was not a race for The Bull Runner. It was a race for the mother in me. (Aaaw, sniff sniff. Pass the tissue, please.) As a mother who breastfed my two kids, breastfeeding is a cause that I support because of the gift of good health it has given to my children. It was also, without a doubt, one of the best bonding experiences I had with both kids.

– My two kiddors (breastfed my little girl for 15 mos. and my boy for 6 mos.) –

This 2k run was also more like my son’s run. He was looking forward to this for the past two weeks and, as he woke up this morning with a bad cough, I promised him I would just run by his side and forget about racing today. (Forced tapering for tomorrow’s race, huh?)

So, with two children plus a yaya in tow, we headed for the Fort at 7:30 am despite the heavy rains. Upon registration, I was delighted to receive a pink shirt which all runners were asked to wear for the run. With a quick wardrobe change, I became one among the many pink runners lined up behind the starting line. Thankfully, by then, the rain had gone and the weather was cloudy and cool.

The course began from Gourdo’s restaurant and headed out towards the main streets of Bonifacio Global City. It was a delight for me to run with my son and his cousin. At first I thought I would just brisk walk while they would run by my side, but much to my surprise I found myself running (close to race pace at times!) just to keep up with them.

– Cousins on the run –

I was enjoying the run when I saw Tessa Prieto-Valdes wearing what Ben said was my dream Nathan water carrier. MY Nathan?! How could that be? Someone else got to him before I did?! I took a shot and heaved a sigh of relief as I saw that hers was pink when My Nathan is yellow. Still, I was envious. Patience, I say to myself, patience. One day, my Nathan shall arrive.

– Tessa Valdes wearing My Nathan –

We passed Senendra and Bonifacio High Street and, before we knew it, we were nearing the finish line. The organizers pulled out their pink ribbon for us to run through but I learned a little bit too late (like when I was an inch away from the ribbon) that they did this for the kids—not me! Oops, I guess Mommy got too excited about feeling like a first placer!

– I know, I know, I look preggy here. –

Before we left, we were given bags and bags of freebies from the sponsors. My oh my, Barbizon sure knows how to give us runners the spoiling that we so rightfully deserve! I took home a sandwich and water, Avent items, Prolacta samples, and—now this is my favorite—a free set of underwear which fits me perfectly! Woohoo, this sure beats hard boiled eggs!

They said this was going to be a “fun run” and that is certainly what we got—a grand time running with friends and family! Barbizon, how about a “fun” 10k next year?

– We got H@ppy Feet! –

To H@ppy Feet: Mon, Ben (and Missy), Joms, Smith, and Tisha, it was nice to see you again. Ang saya!

To Banggi, (you’re much taller than I thought), Roselle (nice to hear your soul voice live) and Anton (you are such a pleasant guy!), I was so glad to finally meet you outside of cyberspace.

To Anna Price: It was quite difficult to chat while running haha. Wish we had more time to talk and get Colin and Nia to play together!

To Tricia, congratulations for winning first place! Are you sure that wasn’t just your first race?

To  Janice, my sister who organized the race, congratulations!  When are you joining?

Thanks to Erwin Nolido for my finish line and Happy Feet shots.

Can you imagine running 100km from evening till a little after lunch the following day? These photos will give you a glimpse of how the Run For Your Life team accomplished such a feat conquering exhaustion, thirst, cramps, blisters, and more (ouch!) with the power of the heart and spirit (yeah!)

Congratulations to Neville, Kiko, Danny, Chichi, Olive and Beth for running 100km for the benefit of Kythe Foundation!

July 21, 9:33 pm: Hector and Neville with Romi at the Ortigas/E. Rodriguez Interchange

10:08 pm: Beth and Olive at the flyover towards Pasig. (Go girls! I love this pic. I want to be just like Beth and Olive when I grow up!)

11:50 pm: Robert stretching at the People Power Monument

July 22, 4:31 am: Beth and Olive join the Milo Marathoners

6:24 am: Back on the road after a brief rest stop

9:56 am: Danny in front of RCBC Tower, Ayala Avenue

10:19 am: Along Roxas Blvd.

1:37 pm: Neville finishes 100km

For more information and photos, go to Run For Your Life, IsaDalawaTatlo and UP Mountaineers.

Photos courtesy of Nards Coll with permission from Neville Manaois.

On July 22, 2007, the day of the Milo Marathon, I’ve decided to run and help raise funds for Kythe, a non-stock, non-profit organization that helps uplift the spirits of sick children with chronic illnesses such as cancer. I was inspired by other runners who have done the same like Sen. Pia Cayetano in the past, Anton and Ben for this coming Milo race, and Neville with his 100km Ultramarathon.

I am running a 10k for this race and I hope to collect pledges from you—my family and friends—for each kilometer that I run. For instance, you may pledge P50 per kilometer thereby contributing P500 to help a child with cancer.  Any amount—whether it is P5 or P5,000—will go a long way to putting a smile on a child’s face.

If you wish to pledge, you may post a comment here or email me directly.  All the funds I collect will be donated directly to the Kythe Foundation.

Thank you in advance!

I received my Milo 10k race packet today together with my son’s and husband’s 3k packets. Thank you Mayi for signing us all up!

– Singlets of all shapes and sizes for the three of us: my hubby, son, and I –

Phooeey! Staring at the documents enclosed, I start to break a sweat when I read the following:

1. a whopping 10,000 runners are expected. As Mayi mentioned, my knees will tire not from the run, but from pushing and shoving against all the other runners.
2. the 42k race route. I’m just running a 10k for this one, but man oh man, 42k plotted out on the map freaks me out.
3. the traffic re-routing plan. After the Adidas KOTR, I was starving to death while stuck in post-race traffic. I hope traffic won’t be bad here, but I’m not taking any risks—I’m packing breakfast for the entire family!

– Race Route for Milo Marathon 3k/ 5k/ 10k/ 42k –

As with any race, however, my excitement over the following compensates for my worries:

1. It’s my 1st Milo Race. A Milo race is a Milo race. It is one of the biggest and most popular races in the country. I just had to join it.
2. Plain and simple route. To others (such as my good friend Annie), a race without hills is stale and boring. For me, it’s glorious! No surprises nor wrong turns. (I know, I sound like a sissy, but at least I’m honest!) Plus, it gives me a bigger chance of beating my PR hah!
3. My son and hubby are joining again. My 6-year-old who joined me in almost all my races turned his back on the Adidas KOTR after he announced that “Running is not my sport. I’m into baseball and soccer now.” So, with sadness, I simply let him be. When I invited him to join me for the Milo race, it was with great delight that he replied “Okay, i’ll join. Running is not my sport, but I’ll run to build my muscles in my legs.” He then leaves the rooms singing “Milo e-v-e-ry-daaaaay!” Wow, what media can do!
4. The Nestle Food Stub. As I’ve said, I’ve never been to a Milo race, so the tiny blue stub attached to the upper corner of the race materials definitely aroused my curiousity. Food huh?! What kind of food? Nestle Honey Stars with their low-fat milk? Yeah, I love those. Throw in a iced Nescafe after the run and, as frivolous and cheap as I may sound, I will be a happy camper.

So, have you signed up for the Milo Manila Marathon? The 3k/5k/10k/42k starts at Kilometer 0 along Roxas Blvd. Luneta Park in Manila on July 22, 2007.

Registration is ongoing and ends on July 20. Register at Vasquez Madrigal Bldg. 51 Annapolis St. Greenhills. For more information, call Mr. Biscocho at 727.9987. Bring a 300g wrapper of Milo to register.