A group of runners have taken on a seemingly insurmountable mission: to run 100km within the city of Metro Manila. Call them crazy if you wish, but nothing will stop them from accomplishing this challenge as its cause is something they are willing to sweat, pant, cry, and struggle for. They are running to raise funds for cancer patients.
If you wish to help (without breaking a sweat), you can pledge a certain amount for every kilometer that these honorable ultra-marathoners will run.
For those curious about the run, it will be held on July 21 to 22, 2007. Other details will be released within this week. For more info, you may email Neville Manaois at fundrun@gmail.com.
Anton wrote about the new 7 Wonders of The World on his blog and, not surprisingly, the Great Wall of China is still on that list. I haven’t been there myself, but if and when I do it will be sometime in May. Nope, not because it’s my birthday month nor is there any other special occassion to celebrate. It’s for a much more sublime and meaningful reason: The Great Wall Marathon! (What else did you think? This is a running blog remember?!)
The Great Wall Marathon is held every year on the 3rd Saturday of May. Runners can choose from a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon. Whatever one selects, this is by no means an easy course. The first half (9k) of the course takes runners through a portion of the wall’s 3,700 stone steps with frequent steep (uhm…very steep) ascents. (Ooh, I can almost feel the stinging pain in my legs!) After this, the course takes runners through the scenic local villages and rice fields of Tianjin province.
For the average human being, the Great Wall is a must see before they die. For runners, it is said that this is a MUST run. Runner’s World (Jan 2007 issue) included it in their top 10 list of marathons you should run in your lifetime. Lucky for us Filipinos, China is a hop, skip, and a run away. See you there one of these years! hah!
The next Great Wall Marathon is on May 17, 2008. Click here for more information.
Wake up guys! Today is the first day of registration for the Milo Manila Marathon on July 22 with the starting point at the Quirino Grandstand.
Choose from a 3k (and run with the kids), 5k, 10k or—as my Coach has selected—the 42k!
Bring a 300g wrapper of Milo to register. If let’s say it’s a 1kg wrapper than that would entitle three registrants to sign in. Registration is at Vasquez Madrigal Bldg. 51 Annapolis St. Greenhills (same as Adidas’ registration). It’s pretty convenient because they have a booth right outside the building. Registration ends on July 20. For more information, call Mr. Biscocho at 727.9987.
“God gave me a gift. I got the chance to use it.… I didn’t think I deserved what people were saying. My talent is just more visible than theirs.”
– Grete Waitz
– Grete Andersen (before she married and changed her name to Waitz) at Bislette 1976 after she set a new world record in the 3000 meter event – (Photo: ScanPix)
I found this inspiring article (yes, you men will enjoy it too) about Waitz’s first marathon on marathonguide.com.
Who is Grete Waitz? She is one of the most acclaimed long-distance female runners of the century. She set world records in the 3,000 meter event (1975, 1976) and became the world women’s marathon champion in 1983. Waitz won the women’s silver medal in the marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games. In 1978-1988, she won the New York marathon nine times (I repeat, NINE!) and was the first woman to finish that race in under 2.5 hours. Beat that.
– Grete Waitz gives Lance Armstrong some last minute tips before the ING New York City Marathon 2006. Waitz, who is battling cancer, thanked Armstrong for his support since her diagnosis in 2005. – (Photo: ING New York City Marathon)
