A couple of days ago, I dropped by ROX to register for Unicef 10k only to learn that slots were all filled. Race bibs were only available for 2k. Argh.
Today, however, it was announced that there are slots open for all distances. For those of you who still wish to join the Unicef run this coming Sunday, register at ROX now.
Just as most of us are almost drowning in our own sorrow over the postponement of QC Marathon, Atty. Jon from Clark comes in and brings us a shimmer of hope. Read his comment as written in my QC Marathon post…
Hi fellow runners. I am the Team Captain of Team Clark based here in Clark.
We are coordinating with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) (where we work at) and other groups/sponsors to continue the 2nd Clark International Marathon with or without the Kenyans (no pun intended). Some sponsors have expressed willingness and support for this race. I hope things will pan out and the clamor for 42k, 21k & 10k races in February will prevail over annoying hindrances.
We will do our best to hold this race most likely by February since January is too soon (it will be January again in 2010 due to cold weather) and even if we (the Team Clark members) don’t run ourselves just so our fellow runners like you would run and enjoy their first 42k or half marathon for that matter.
We will depart from the usual flat route for the 42K and will venture out the Clark Freeport Zone into an area which we call the “Sacobia”, the Next Frontier as aptly called by the new P/CEO Ricafort of CDC (he was there during the NB Power Race 2008). Hilly but manageable terrains and good scenic views in smog-free environment. Believe me we have so many good plans. One of which is finisher’s medal you can proudly hang in your car, office or room.
Like most of you, we are really hoping for a full marathon in February 2009 after the Singapore Marathon in December 7, 2008 (I hope all of us Pinoys will get to see each other in Singapore after the run, say congregate in one area. Maybe TBR can announce a place for this 
as a good long run for the Bataan Death March Ultra-marathon courtesy of Bald Runner or rumor has it, the 2nd North Face Ultra-marathon.
Please pray for and wish us all the luck.
Folks, it is about time we “institutionalize” an annual prestigous marathon here in the Philippines in the likes of Boston, New York, Singapore or HK marathons. Long shot but definitely possible.
The first step is we form and incorporate an organization of runners and other athletes that will concentrate on this endeavor and carry on the legacy from this year henceforth.
Kaya natin yan!
Atty. Jon, thank you for the info. We do hope Clark Marathon pushes through in February 2009 and more sponsors (ehem ehem) come in to support your endeavor. I’m sure a lot of us “displaced” runners will consider joining this, myself included. More power!
Talk about bad news. When I heard about the postponement of QC Marathon from Feb 2009 to Oct. I8, 2009, it was like a rug was pulled out from under me.
Yesterday morning, I was still reeling from the high of finishing New Balance’s 25k unscathed and feeling more confident over the upcoming Singapore half marathon. If everything went well after Singapore (read: no injuries) then the next obvious goal was to run QC Marathon in February, which fell into my schedule perfectly. After experiencing the sense of community and kinship with other Pinoy runners at New Balance, I was even more convinced that QC Marathon was the way to go as I wanted to run my first marathon surrounded and supported by family, friends, and other runners vs. running abroad among a sea of strangers. At that point, I felt like all my running plans were going along quite smoothly, thank you.
Then, I received the awful news about the QC Marathon and, in a blink of an eye, I was goal-less (if such a word exists, but I know you get what I mean.) Suddenly, I had nothing to look forward to nor train for after Singapore. What do I do now? What’s my next goal? Aaaack!
I know many of you are in the same boat. What are your plans? Are you running HK?
My bags are packed, well, they’re overpacked with double of everything for running, more than enough Sports Beans and Power Gels to carry me through an ultramarathon, and our New Balance Power Race bibs with extra sets of safety pins. Talk about being sigurista.
Despite this, I’m seriously anxious about running 25km even if it’ll just be a training run for me. I don’t feel prepared since the farthest I’ve ever run is 20km just a few weeks ago. It helps to know that I’ll be running with my usual training group—lead pacer JunC, Clark expert Dindo and ever the entertainer Jay—at our agreed upon pace of 6 min/km. Even more comforting to learn a few nights ago that Coach Rio will be running at the same controlled pace too. So, I figured we just have to focus on his crazy hair, which can be considered a celebrity on its own, and that should lead us straight to the finish line. Sounds like a good plan, right? Wish us luck.
See you at Clark!
Before the roosters crowed, at around 5 a.m. yesterday, a large number of giddy runners, including myself, had gathered at NBC Tent for the VSO Bahaginan Run. After two short trips to the rest room, I made my way to the assembly area in search of my training group for our 15km run. JunC, Jay, Dindo, Dra. Doray, Levy and I had agreed to run together at a relaxed 6 min/km pace for this run. At such an early time, I wondered if I’d ever find them in the dark. Good thing Levy is a runner/triathlete stuck in a basketball player’s body so I caught sight of him first. Pretty soon, the others appeared; we were complete.
I almost regretted waking up early for this race, as it started 20 mins. late at 5:50 a.m. instead of the 5:30 call time. However, the long wait gave me the opportunity to finally meet Wayne (who just flew in from SF), Nora (truly the golden girl because her mere presence lights up the room, or in this case, the road) and other runner friends that were just everywhere!
The course was similar to Mizuno and Nike Human Race’s course; in a word, it was challenging. By now, most of us know that when McKinley Hill is included in the map, one should take extra steps to train well for the race, plus make the Sign of the Cross soon after the gun is fired.
When the race started, our group stuck like glue running out of Bonifacio Global City. As soon as we made our way to Lawton, however, we had split into two. For the most part though, we managed to stay within our goal pace running at around 6 to 6:20 all throughout the run. Running with a group made the entire 15km more enjoyable and a lot less gruesome. Chatting was light and free-flowing with exceptions in the uphill portions and last few kilometers of the race where all talk had stopped (either we ran out of stories or energy—you decide.)
The organizers did a good job as well to make the race as pleasant as possible. Water was overflowing as is always the case when it’s organized by Coach Rio. Half of the road was closed so there was less traffic than usual to contend with. Large and accurate mile markers were also placed along the road to remind us 15km runners that we still had a long, long way to go before we reached the finish…hah!
As for me, everything went smoothly. The only nightmarish incident I (and other squeamish runners) faced was the last kilometer’s veritable obstacle course where hundreds of higads hung from trees waiting to pounce on our sweaty faces. Aaaack! Thanks to good samaritan Mark Parco who warned us all about our entrance into higad territory. I was ready to get run over by a car rather than have a higad land on my face!
According to my Garmin, I ended my 15 km run (exact measurement from organizers…great job) at 1:33:14 with a pace of 6:11 min/km. After crossing the finish, I took a few gulps of water, had a few photos taken with Nora and Bald Runner, and run off to the comfort room for a quick change before our 2nd portion of the run.
– With superfast women, Annie (3rd place 15k) and Lala –
– With my favorite coach, Coach JoAr. You have to check out Photographer Ben’s cool photos of him here –
Within 5 to 10 mins, JunC, Jay, Dindo and I began our next run at a slower 7 to 7:30 min/km pace. My goal was to run a total of 22 km and initially I thought I could do it. However, after one loop around Market! Market!, with the sun beating down on us at 7:40 a.m., I decided to call it a day a little before 2km. My total for the day was 17km.
When I got home, I wanted to slap myself in the face for making the impulsive and foolish decision to quit with only 5km to go before I reached my goal. Argggh. Sayang! Oh well, I stopped beating myself up for it this morning when I woke up with a sore left thigh; I guess it’s good I got some rest in preparation for NB 25 next week. As for how I’m going to finish 25km with only 20km as my highest mileage ever is a question that I have yet to answer…gulp.
– Nowadays, once you take out a cam, everyone just comes running! In this photo: (FRONT ROW L to R) Coach JoAr, Vince, Coach Rio, Mark P., Master John Ting. (BACK L to R) Taki, TBR, Jaimie, Zinnia, Philip, Glenn, Tiffin, Mon, Ipe, and two other running friends. –
