Part 2: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Expo

Thursday, 14 June 2012  |  Race Reports

The day before the race, I attended the press conference held during the Laguna Phuket International Marathon race expo at the Event Marquee.

Here I am smiling, but deep inside I was torn between the half marathon and 10.5k. I ended up signing up for the 10.5k rather than risking a toilet emergency or worse dehydration or heatstroke during the run.  (I sound so mature, I love it! Wahaha)

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During the race expo, runners were still allowed to register.  Sponsors booths sold running/triathlon products and race merchandise.

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Bumped into Pinoy runners at the expo. Ultra runner Bro. Carlo, formerly from Cebu but now based in Bangkok, registered for the full while Pure flew in from Manila to run the half marathon.

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– Bro. Carlo, me, Lit, and Pure. Yes, we had to climb up on stage just for this photo. Hey, we’re Pinoys, remember?! We do everything for a great shot –

Met Mia, a Pinoy runner based in Bangkok, on the way to the press con. Let me know if you want to join TBR Dream, Ria!

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Met Wu, a TBR reader from Malaysia, who’s looking at running a marathon in the Philippines.  Come over anytime, Wu!

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Marathon Man Trent Morrow from Australia started running in 2008 and has since run 50 marathons (including the Laguna Phuket Int’l Marathon). Here he is with one of his new friends and fans from the Philippines. Such a friendly, amiable, and passionate runner!

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We claimed our loot bags BEFORE we even finished the race.  Perhaps we should do the same in Manila?  Nah!

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Registration fee for Laguna Phuket International Marathon

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Finishers’ Medals – I like!

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Race organizers and personalities during the press con: Ms. Thailand who led the walk to raised funds for “Fully Booked” schools project, Mr. Roman Floesser, race director and triathlete who’s done Ironman 70.3 Camsur a couple of time, Ms. Debbie Dionysius, AVP – Destination Marketing of Laguna Phuket, and Trent Morrow aka Marathon Man.

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Our very own Chi Running instructor and TBR Dream Marathon head coach Lit Onrubia gave a talk on Chi Running.

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Hey, hey, hey, what is this?  A reason to return to paradise?!

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Click to read Part 1: Laguna Phuket International Marathon – Race Report

Laguna Phuket Marathon, Here I Come!

Wednesday, 4 May 2011  |  Bullish Insights

Talk about getting a surprise birthday present. Last week, I received an invitation to join the Laguna Phuket International Marathon (LPIM) slated for June 12, 2011.  Without batting an eyelash, I said YES!

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– Laguna Phuket, Here I Come! –

Then, I realized that it conflicted with another race I had registered for…

Then, I realized it was just a day before the kids start school…

And, last but not the least, I realized I only had six weeks of training left.  Now, it’s down to five!

MAYBE NEXT YEAR, ANIMO TRI!

On a high from The Next Step Tri Camp I joined last April, I promptly registered for Animo Triathlon set for June 12, 2011.  While I’ve been suki to this race having participated in the mini sprint twice in the past, I almost keeled over when I submitted and paid for my registration a couple of weeks ago.  I signed up for the Sprint and the thought of a 900 meter swim (without my usual talk breaks) frightened me to death.  Good thing, I had swim squad!

For the past two weeks, I’ve been swimming thrice a week with good friends: Adel, Bic, and Jake together with Coach Martin Carandang. I’ve gotten so dark that I’m contemplating changing TBR to The Black Runner, but the sessions have certainly improved my swims significantly.  And, not just that, it’s helped my runs too!  I couldn’t keep up with my own legs during a 10k solo run last weekend.  Fantastic.

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– My recent tri purchases: The Triathlon Training Bible by Joe Friel from Runnr, kickboard, pullbuoy (not in pic) and swim cap from Finis, and the receipt for Animo Tri –

Now, with Phuket falling on exactly the same day (darn it!), I’ll have to kiss Animo—and the P1200 reg fee…sob sob—goodbye for now.  Triathlon can wait.  Running is still my love, after all.

ALONE TIME

Good thing hubby is willing to watch over the kids while I’m away.  And, I can just get the kids school-ready a full week in advance.  We women need alone time—whether its a day at the spa or a weekend getaway—to pause, breathe, and reenergize.  For me, a 42km in scenic Phuket couldn’t have been more ideal!

FIVE WEEKS TO GO

Good thing I was racking up the mileage the past few months even with no serious race in mind.  This means that I don’t have to panic over the limited number of weeks I’ve got to train for what should be my 6th marathon.  Last week, we covered 25k and the next few weeks should be a build up for marathon day while I continue all this crazy triathlon training.  It’s a wild summer…and I’m absolutely loving it.

Laguna Phuket International Marathon, here I come!