With off-road events experiencing a sudden resurgence, enthusiasts both new and old alike may want to check out this upcoming series of events from Finishline, to be held against the scenic backdrop of Nuvali. With running, cycling and Now if only a house in the area weren't so expensive.

Here are the details, pretty much everything is there already.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. What is In-Motion Series? In-Motion is the 3 part leg series of races per year hosted by Finishline. Each leg consists of a variety of single-sports discipline and multi-sports discipline. Each leg will begin with a running event as a jump-off point and culminate with a sprint triathlon. Refer to 2011 calendar of events for dates. 2. What is Road X Trail? Road X Trail is the launch of the In-Motion Series, that consists of 3 sports events: cycling (Dec 11), running (Dec 18), and duathlon (Dec 19). For each discipline, there are 2 types: road and trail. 3. What is Activate? Activate is a weekly training program to complement the In-Motion race series that aims to provide assistance in 2 ways: > Timed Training on your own time: Finishline to provide timing at running, cycling, and swimming spots. Weekday and weekend schedule shall be posted at www.finishline.ph > Train With a Personal Coach: Finishline coaches will develop a customized program, depending on the objective 4. What is MYCHIP?

MYCHIP is the first personal*, multi-sport** timing chip in the Philippines. *It is non-disposable, and can be used for a lifetime. **It can be used for running, cycling, swimming, duathlon, aquathlon, triathlon races hosted or timed by Finishline. MYCHIP price is Php 2,500 which includes, MYLAPS-ChampionChip Timing Chip, Neoprene Strap (for running and duathlon), and a bike clip (for road and trail biking). For more information on MYCHIP, refer to the leaflet or log on to www.finishline.ph MYCHIP owners avail of a Php 150 discount on registration fee for running and cycling fun ride, and Php 350 discount for other events. 5. Aside from using MYCHIP, how else can we avail of discounts? No discount on bulk registration. No discount for joining the whole leg. 6. Where can i purchase MYCHIP? For those who will register and will purchase MYCHIP, payment will be done at the registration sites, but race kit and MYCHIP will be delivered to the participant. Registration staff to write the complete delivery address beside the race number yellow box. 7. Do we have to activate our MYCHIP every time we join? No. MYCHIP owners are assigned a permanent unique chip code, which automatically registers as they cross the finish line. 8. Can we claim race kits on race day? No. For Running: Running kits will be available at registration sites on November 23 (Tuesday). For those who registered from Nov 15 - November 22, race kits will be delivered to them. Registration Staff to write complete delivery address beside the race number yellow box. For Cycling: Participants should claim their race kits at their designated registration site from December 6 - 10, using their race kit tickets to be given by the registration staff upon payment of participant. For Duathlon: Participants should claim their race kits at their designated registration site from December 6 - 10, using their race kit tickets to be given by the registration staff upon payment of participant. 9. What are the rules and regulation for winning? There are 2 ways to win: 1. Winners for each race category: Top 3 winners, Male and Female. 2. Winners for each age category per race category: 1 winner per age category, Make and Female. There is a total of 12 age categories: kids 8-11 yrs. old youth 12-15 yrs. old 16-17 yrs. old 18-24 yrs. old 25-29 yrs. old 30-34 yrs. old 25-39 yrs. old 40-44 yrs. old 45-49 yrs. old 50-54 yrs. old 55-59 yrs. old 60 and above Participant to cross the finish line must be a registered participant to qualify. Timers to confirm split and chip times before awarding winners. Each winner to receive special winners medals. 10. What are the prizes? No cash prizes to be given. GCs and Products will be given to the top winners. 11. What will non-winners receive on race day? Each participant will receive a finisher’s medal, MYRACE analysis, and drinks from the beverage sponsor. 12. Can we ride with our kids without joining the race? No. Only registered participants can ride/run. In case of minors, a signed waiver by the guardian/parent should be turned over to the registration staff. 13. If we join the race, do we get discounts at the nearby hotels within the area? Where? Yes. For inquiries, call Paseo Premiere at 049 5413089 to 94 . 14. Can we join 2 or more criterium race categories? Ex. Cycling Active Dirt Criterium at 6:30am and Fit Road Criterium at 9am? Yes. 15. What kind of bike can i use for each race? Only road bikes will be allowed on road criterium categories. Only mountain bikes will be allowed on trail criterium categories. Both bike types will be allowed to join the fun ride category. 16. When do we get the results of MYRACE Analysis? MYRACE results will be posted within 24 hours. Finishline In-Motion Series Launch Brief

DESCRIPTION

TARGET MARKET

• Primary : for the longer distance race categories, we are targeting regular participants (elites and intermediates) of duathlon, cycling (mountain bikers and road bikers), running (trail and road runners)
• Secondary: We will also target beginners and anyone interested in trying out new sports / muli-sports by offering shorter distance categories. Majority of them are either doing only running or cycling.

• To introduce other sports to those who are limited to joining either running or cycling events only but would like to try other sports or combination of both.
• To offer a multi-discipline event designed to appeal not only to experienced competitors but to newbies as well.
• To showcase different sports disciplines in an accessible and spectator-friendly format.

Check out the videos for a better idea of what the events are all about. Cool, nicely done.

I attended the presscon for this event last night along with Abby at Passion Restaurant at Maxims- touted as the country's only 6-star hotel at Resorts World Manila. Familiar faces abound, with both old and new bloggers in the mix. Vicky of 2009 PBA finalist Succulence Unleashed rode with us, and aside from the minor hiccup of being lost (we went straight to SLEX Bicutan from C5. Smart guy) ,we didn't encounter too much trouble aside from the fact that all three of us were veritable starvin' marvins.

This wasn't our first visit to Resorts World so I was pretty familiar with the place. Newport City, as the Marketing AVP put it, "is the best kept secret in Manila". It's hard to disagree, and I won't be surprised if the place would be teeming with people in a few months. Walking around, it has this international feel to it. Close your eyes, look around and you might forget you're actually in Manila. The fancy casinos are a given, but the sprawling complex boasts of an extremely fancy cinema ( with an on-call butler, rumor has it) and numerous shows for everyone's entertainment.I'm in no way a food blogger (although sometimes I wish I were), but may I say that the food at Passion was superb. The pansit was perhaps the best I had tasted all year, and the siomai, dumplings and prawn cakes all hit the spot.

It's a must try.While we were eating, some gals were passing around forms. Turns out we were to be given free membership cards with P100 worth of credits you could use at the slots. I won a miserly P50, which I then proceeded to lose in a span of 2 minutes. Stupid one -armed bandit.Anyway, back to business. The run coincides with Resorts World's Grand Fiesta Manila 2010 event, which celebrates the many facets of Filipino heritage in different forms. The run will be the first in the area, and boasts of 3k, 5k and 10k distances as well as a 1k fun run where you run like a madman in your best office attire. Nice.

Nice guy in a suit explaining stuff.

AVP man explaining all things Resorts World.

Our agency friend on the salient points of the race

Happy, casino-invading, blogging-type people I guess the cool part of the run would be the raffle (speaking of raffles, I won a P500 gift certificant for future use. My run of terrible luck with these things has officially ended) All runners are qualified to actually win an all expenses paid trip to Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore , where you'll be flown in by a private jet. Ooh living the high life.

Abby hoping she'll win the trip. I hope she brings me along with her.Race management is under the Leadpack brand, with Ian Alacar serving as the race director. So for those of you sick and tired of the usual race venues, you may want to check this out. It's P650 for all distances and you get a chance to be treated like a rockstar in Singapore. No worries about the accuracy of your times (and the incessant debates/extrapolation that happens after) as the race is RFID timed, with the results texted right after to the number you put in your registration.See you November 28! Race first before you hit the slots!Oh, and here are some FAQ's, just in case.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What is the run?

The run is the Grand Fiesta Run 2010 which is part of the Grand Fiesta Manila Celebration

Where is the run?

The run will be held at Newport City, Pasay City (Across NAIA 3)

When is the run?

The run will be held on November 28, 2010

Who is the title sponsor?

Resorts World Manila

What is Resorts World Manila?

Resorts World Manila is the Philippines’ latest only integrated tourist hub where you can relax, shop, dine, and play. Resorts World Manila has a mall complete with the best shops and restaurants, movie theaters, a performing arts theater, hotels (Maxim Tower and Marriott Hotel), and a gaming area.

Are children prohibited from entering Resorts World?

No. Only the Casino and Republiq is restricted to ages 21 and above. The shops, restaurants, movie and performing arts theaters, hotels are all open to people of all ages.

REGISTRATION RELATED

How can I register?

You can register in the following:

Resorts World Manila Tourist Counter.

3 select Chris Sports outlets: SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta, SM Mega Mall

R.O.X. in the Fort

You can also call WWWExpress at 793-1777 (press 2 for marketing) or 852-7210 to register via phone and arrange for delivery. A delivery fee of P70 will be charged for Metro Manila deliveries and P100 for deliveries outside of Metro Manila.

1K Fiesta Rat Race category registration is at RWM, ROX and thru WWWExpress only.

Registration is from October 27 to November 22

Better to register early though as there are limited singlet sizes and slots per distance

Until when is registration?

Registration runs until November 22, 2010

Is there an age requirement or age limit?

Anyone can run as long as they deem themselves fit enough to participate. A liability waiver needs to be signed by every participant. Parents or guardians need to sign for entrants under 18 years of age.

How much is the registration fee?

P650 for all race categories

What is included with the registration fee?

Registration fee includes the race kit and a singlet

Do I have to be a member of Resorts World Manila to join the run?

No. Special privileges though will be given to Resorts World Manila members during the run. To win in the grand raffle, you also need to be a member. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE

Is there an age requirement for Resorts World Manila membership?

No. Although you need to be 21 and above to play in the Casino, Resorts World Manila members below 21 can still avail of special discounts and earn rewards points when they shop and dine in Resorts World Manila. AGAIN, MEMBERSHIP IS FREE

How do I become a member of Resorts World Manila?

To become a member, you must be 21 years old and above. Present a valid ID together with your Membership application form at Resorts World Manila Membership Counters. You may get an application form in any of the registration sites.

Do I get any special treats if I’m already a member of Resorts World Manila?

Existing Resorts World Manila Member may still present the RWM Gift Stub found at at the race bib to receive a Match and Play Voucher

What is a Match and Play Voucher?

Match and Play voucher is valued at P100. Present the voucher to the Casino Cage to get a certificate, the certificate together with a live bet of P100 can be used to play at specific gaming tables. Limited to the gaming tables that uses even bets.

Where do I claim the Match and Play Voucher?

Present the free gift stub along with your Resorts World Membership card at the Membership Counter to claim your Match and Play Voucher

What is the validity period of the Match and Play Voucher?

Match and Play voucher is valid until December 05, 2010.

RACE KIT

What does the race kit include?

The race kit comes with a singlet, timing chip, and race bib with loot bag stub, raffle stub, and an RWM gift stub

Can I transfer my race kit to another person?

No. The moment you register, your information is assigned to the race kit and is encoded into the system.

What do I get for the Resorts World Manila gift stub?

Become a member of RWM and present the stub to claim a Match and Play Voucher

What is in the loot bag?

The loot bag will contain items from Resorts World Manila and our sponsors

SINGLET

What are the singlet sizes?

The sizes are XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.

Can I change size if it doesn’t fit?

No

Where can I get a size reference for the singlet?

The sizes are by Unibersidad and you can use their past singlets as reference.

Do I need to wear the Grand Fiesta Run singlet during the run?

Although it’s preferred, you don’t need to wear the singlet

DISTANCE

What are the race distances?

3k, 5k, 10k, and a 1k special Fiesta Rat Race

What is the 1k Fiesta Rat Race?

The Fiesta Rat Race is a special 1k category where registrants are encouraged to come in office attire (example: suits and rubbershoes) or fiesta-inspired costumes.

What do I get if I join the Fiesta Rat Race?

Aside from the all the fun and great photos of participating in a themed costume run, prizes will be given away to the best dressed, the most unique, and the wildest outfits.

Can I change distance after registration?

No

Can I register for more than 1 distance?

Yes, but you will need to register twice (and pay the registration fee twice)

RUN RELATED

How will the race track my time?

The race will be using an RFID timing system that will track your time. Timing chip must be attached to your bib at all times. Also, make sure to indicate the correct mobile phone number and email address in your registration form as your finish time will automatically be texted and emailed to you as you cross the finishline

When will I know the Race Results?

Your time will be SMS’d and emailed to you the moment you cross the finishline. There will also be a time-check station at the activity center.

Your place in the run in relation to everyone else will be posted at the Resorts World Manila website within 3 days of the race

What are the rules and regulations?

Participants below 18yrs old must have their entry form signed by a parent/guardian

Race Bib must be worn at all times during the race. It should be pinned in front of your running shirt to be placed on or a little above the waistline

Registration will be limited to the slots per category

Finisher’s time, including winners, will be based on RFID tag time results. No RFID tag, no race results.

All protest related to the results must be made in writing and submitted to the Race Director within 30 minutes after the official announcement of winners.

A protest fee of Php 1,500 may be collected for every written protest made.

What is the route?

TBD: The starting point is at the Newport Plaza. The 1k, 3k, and 5k route will take you around Newport City and along Andrews Ave (across NAIA) . The 10k route will take you inside Villamor Airbase.

What are the prizes?

Resorts World Rewards Points will be given away:

Men

Women

1st

2nd

3rd

1st

2nd

3rd

10k

20,000

10,000

5,000

20,000

10,000

5,000

5k

10,000

5,000

2,500

10,000

5,000

2,500

3k

6,000

3,000

1,500

6,000

3,000

1,500

1k

10,000

5,000

2,500

10,000

5,000

2,500

What can I use Resorts World Manila Rewards Points for?

You may use your points to pay for food bills, show tickets, claim parking tickets, food voucher and gifts up for redemption.

Can Resorts World Manila Rewards Points be used to play at the Casino?

Yes, this is a current promo of Resorts World Manila. For detailed promo mechanics, please call 836-6318

Will the run push through if it rains?

The run will take place rain or shine

Will water be provided?

Drinking water will be provided at selected points along the route

Will there be first aid stations?

Medical aid will be available at certain points via roving representative

Are pets allowed?

No. Not everyone is comfortable with animals and we need to be considerate to them. There are also some added hazards of pets being in the race as they might disturb or bite another runner, leaving their special “gifts” along the route, and runners tripping over the leash.

POST RUN ACTIVITIES/ ACTIVITY AREA

What is there to do after the run?

There will be an activity area where sponsors and will be providing activities for everyone

Where do I park?

All participants and other spectators are required to park their vehicles at the designatedparking areas of Resorts World Manila

Is parking free for runners?

No. Standard Parking fees apply

Will there be toilets?

Toilet cubicles will be available at the site during the race

Is there a place to leave my bags?

There will be a baggage deposit area from 5am to 10am

Will there be celebrities?

Although some have been invited, we cannot commit on whether they will join the race

Raffle Draw

What are the prizes to be given away in the Raffle?

3 Days, 2 Nights trip for 4 to Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore with free tickets to Universal Studios and a ride on the Resorts World Manila Private Jet. Note, the ride on the Resorts World Manila Private Jet is from Manila to Singapore only. Going back, winners will be given a one-way PAL ticket to Manila

Cruise for 2 from Singapore to Malaysia and back to Singapore in 3 days and 2 nights. Free entrance to onboard shows and entertainment and use of Gym and recreational facilities. Full board and meals (up to 6 per day). Note, the ride on the Resorts World Manila Private Jet is from Manila to Singapore only. Going back, winners will be given a one-way PAL ticket to Manila

When is the Raffle Draw?

The Grand Raffle Draw will take place after the Grand Fiesta Run during the awarding ceremonies (around 8am)

Can anyone win in the Raffle Draw?

To be eligible to win in the raffle you need to have finished the race, be a member of Resorts World Manila, and be present during the drawing

If I register more than once (and pay each of the registration fees), will that give me more chances of winning in the Raffle Draw?

Yes. But you will have to finish each race you register in and drop the raffle stub at the finishline. You can only win one major prize though and should you win twice, the prize of higher value will be given to you.

How can we be sure that the Grand Raffle Draw will be fair?

A DTI representative will be present during the drawing to ensure that the draw is fair

Just came in the mail, unique and definitely lung busting race. The last time something similar was organized, if I remember correctly runners were running up and down the Enterprise Tower in Ayala. This time, Discovery Channel and Bonifacio Global City are putting up a 5o and 100 floor races at the E-Services Tower this Saturday at the Fort.

In order to ensure that no one drops dead from exhaustion, they even put in quirky rules like those joining the 100 floor race must have sub-40 times for the guys and sub 50 for the girls. Good luck in finding sub-elite runners willing to blow their quads over 100 floors for P25,000.
and a chance to win a car :P

Anyway, if this race strikes your fancy I have two free race kits for you guys. This is a "contest", although I'm usually terrible with these things. So if you have nothing better to do on Saturday and would like a freebie race, here are the mechanics :

1. Follow me on Twitter.
2. Add me on Facebook ( if you haven't already) :3. Leave a comment on this post telling me you've done the above, and tell us what you think is the most challenging aspect of racing up a building.

4. In the event that this contest sucks out and no one joins, first two people who post win. Or I can sell these kits on the street takatak boys style.

5. I'll notify you by Facebook or Twitter if you won, and we can discuss how you can pry them away from me. (that's why you need to add or follow me.)

Deadline is Thursday 9 pm. That's all! Good luck!

Juicy freebie kits.
Here are some more details on the race, if you don't know it already.

Run Details:
1. After the horn is blown, runners starting at Rizal Drive (the street fronting the Bonifacio e-Services Building) turn right to 3rd Street and then turn left to enter the building from the parking entrance up to the 1st floor ramp. (distance: 160 meters)
2. Runners will run up to the 9th floor using the ramp throughout. (distance: 1,090 meters) At the 9th floor they proceed to the stairwell and negotiate the stairs up to 25th floor where their split times are taken before they go in the opposite stairwell. (distance: 300 steps + 37 meters)
3. Overtaking shall be on the right side when going up the stairs.
4. Runners will run down 25 floors (distance: 407 steps) and go out to the lobby, then get out of the building (distance:15 meters)
5. At the street fronting the building (Rizal Drive), runners turn right to 30th Street and upon reaching the first corner, turn left to Third Street and run a stretch of the Third Avenue and turn left for the finish.(distance: 300 meters)
6. Overtaking shall be on the left side when going down the stairs.
7. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES: NO LIQUID SHALL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE STAIRWELL. THE WATER STATIONS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE START AND FINISH AREAS ONLY. However, the Century runners may take water at the corner of the Rizal Drive and 3rd Street going into their second half of the run.
8. There will be three medical stations: at 1) 9th floor, 2) 25th floor and 3) finish area. There will be two ambulances: at 1) 9th floor and 2) opposite side of the entrance to the parking area of the Bonifacio e-Services Building.
9. Runners’ times will be flashed at the finish. But the top 3 winners in both men’s and women’s divisions of the half-century and century run will be officially declared only after the last runner has crossed the finish line.
10. From time to time, the progressive ranking of the runners (the top three runners after the first heat and the subsequent heat) shall be announced.
11. Finisher’s medal and other giveaways can be picked up near the stage at the parking lot in front of the building.

Came into the mail again, tried snagging a compli kit to give away to you guys but the agency gal flat out ignored it when I brought it up lol.Like, GBM : Sure sure I'll post it. Also, if you have a compli kit to give away to our readers we could make a promo out of itPR Agency Gal : Thanks for the response. Please see the attached details of the Mchappy day Fun Run for your reference. Thank you!Lol, was I corresponding with an automated robot? I find that really cute.

Anyway, cheap thrills race here, and the chance to ham it up with Ronald Mcdonald and Grimace (I wonder what the drag on that guy is. Wait, is he even a guy??)

Last year's edition said that a ton of freebies were given away. Here are the details :

This November, McDonald’s is celebrating McHappy Day. McHappy Day, formerly known as World Children’s Day, is a global fundraising effort in support of various children’s causes. In the Philippines, McDonald’s celebrates McHappy Day with its 2^nd McHappy Day Fun Run this coming November 28 at the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

The McHappy Day Fun Run is a special run to raise P1million for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the charity of choice of McDonald’s and its banner program, Bright Minds Read (BMR). Bright Minds Read is a program in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) that provides reading toolkits to different public schools all over the country to help students learn beginning reading. To date, over 2,200 public schools nationwide are under the BMR program.

Fun Run Details:

Distances: 500m for kids 7 years old and below, 3K, 5K and 10K. There will be a Family Category in the 3K distance - to qualify, the group or family should be composed of 2 Adults (regardless of gender) and 2 Kids (12 years and younger).

Registration Period: October 15 to November 21, 2010 at McDonald’s stores listed below:

Makati: Bankmer, Buendia, Greenbelt, JAKA, Makati Ave. People Support, PRC, Quad, Rockwell, SM Cyber, SM Makati, Valero. Mandaluyong: Barangka, Edsa Boni, SM Megamall. Manila: Gov Forbes, P Campa, UST. Muntinlupa: Alabang, Las Pinas. Parañaque: Sucat Palanyag. Pasay: ECOM. Pasig: Annex Shaw (WWC), El Pueblo, Frontera Verde, Shangri-la, Shell Emerald, Strata. QC: Banaue, C5 Metropoli, Eastwood Mall, Edsa Panay, Katipunan, Matalino, North Ave., Proj 8, Quezon Ave., SM North Edsa, Timog Tobias, Tomas Morato, Trinoma 1, Trinoma 2, Visayas Ave. San Juan: Greenhills. Taguig: 32^nd Street, Forbes Town, Market! Market!, McKinley, Piazza Mall.

Registration Fee (non-refundable): Individual – P350; Group of 4 – P1,250. Any individual excess of 4 will pay P350 each. Proceeds of the Run will go to RMHC.

Registration Fee Includes:

- McHappy Day Fun Run Race Kit: 1 Race Bib (4 Bibs per race Kit for Family Category), McHappy Day Reminders with Route Map

- Meal Stub

Race Schedule:

- Assembly Time: 5:00 AM

- Gun Start: 10K – 5:30 AM; 5K – 5:50 AM; 3K – 6:00 AM (Individual and Family); 500m 6:30 AM.

- Prizes and medals will be given to the winners during the Awarding Ceremony.

Visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph for more details and updates.

A few weekends ago my neighbor and I went to Dart’s Hill Gardens in Surrey. They were having a rare open house, and a photography contest. Any photo submitted had to be taken during the open house, on the grounds of the garden. We had a lovely time, there were lots of other photographers, ranging from tiny point and shoots, to honking big telephotos, and tripods. Darting through the foliage, wowing at the amazing collection of plants, we took hundreds of shots. My big finale was a huge spill right in front of the entrance tent as we were leaving. It seemed to take forever in slow motion, falling, tipping, sliding down on the sloping gravel path, landing all 6 feet plus of me completely spread out on the ground.

The only good part of it, was my camera was completely safe the entire time. Go figure, and I still have gravel shards in my palm, but I was fine, this happens occasionally, us tall people have a different centre of balance. Especially when we are not paying attention to where we are walking. Well, it seems it was a wonderful day all around, except for the spill of course. I got a email the other night saying that two of my photos had received a honorable mention, and will be on the web site. Congrats to the other three winners, I am looking forward to seeing their shots. It was such a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the foliage was stunning, I think that I might do this again.

We were allowed to submit up to 3 photos, the second and the third photo received the honorable mention.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the presser of this upcoming event held at ROX, a humdinger brought to us by the St. Jude Catholic School Alumni Association.

As always, we strode in late as the presser was already underway. The big boss of the event (who was very kind to me) was already deep into the thick of things. Greedily grabbing the snacks that were put forth, I just discovered that I eat chips quite loudly, the ruckus loud enough to distract the speaker. The cover of the sandwich pulled a Mr. Bean on me, making for some comic relief. I just had to be that guy right?
Essential things you need to know for this run - it's organized by my buddy Ian Alacar and Paul Calvin's Deli head honcho Jay Em, it's going to be held at MOA on Jan 30th, and it's a run that's designed to encourage kids and teens to run. Distances are at 3. 5, and 10k.

The Three Amigos behind the event. The slant is, their research shows that a typical runner demo is skewed towards the yuppie (is that term still even in use? lol my age is showing) and working professional market. The race aims to encourage the younger set to run in the hopes of perpetuating a healthy, sustainable lifestyle for all. In related news, even if the presser was attended by a select group of bloggers and press only, the guys behind the race really prepared for it, even having what seemed to be a Party Pilipinas spiel for the host. Which seemed pretty fun because it was in front of 20 people, not 20,000. Sorry OT. Anyway, it's really the only straight up road race before Condura, so if you want to bring family and friends along for what promises to be a fun, cozy event by all means do so. Here's a clip of Mr. Head Honcho Man (I'm horrible at names) giving some pointers during the whole thing. P.S. Is it just me or does he look like a classier, well more Chinese version of Jojo A All The Way?

Going back, as the article's header implies, we have a little contest thing going on. No race on January 30?Have no fear, just join this simple contest I have for you and you could be one of the winners for these two kits I'm giving away. One 5k and one 10k. Yum.

Yum.
Contest mechanics are simple. But you have to work for it. No such thing as a free lunch in this world , and I'll make you work. What do you need to do?

1. Like the Endure Multisport fan page on Facebook.
2. Ditto the Team Powerpuff Boys page.
3. Follow me on Twitter.
4. Leave a comment on this entry explaining why teenagers should run.

Finally, here are some pointers about the race I shamelessly copy-pasted from their press kit. I didn't even bother to change the font. Guilty as charged. See you on the road!

— Date: January 30, 2011, 5:30AM — Venue: Mall of Asia grounds (IMAX Parking) — Saint Jude Catholic School Alumni Association — Presentors : ◦ 100 Plus, Summit, Philippine Daily Inquirer, DZIQ 990AM — Co- presentors : ◦ SeaOil , Ford, Mazda, Davies, Ferna , Capasco , NutraSweet, Fujifilm, New World Printing Corp. — Registration Partners/ Sites: ◦ Chris Sports (SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta 3, SM Megamall, SM North Annex), ◦ ROX Bonifacio High Street, ◦ Ford Quezon Avenue, ◦ Suite 803 Tytana Plaza Bldg, Oriente St., Binondo , Manila ◦ 28 Purdue Street, Northeast Greenhills — Registration period: ◦ December 20, 2010 - January 28, 2011— Registration fees: ◦ PhP500.00 for 5K and 10K distances; PhP400 for 3K distance.

Our friends at Sunrise Events, Inc. headed by it’s President and Chairman and also Alaska Milk CEO Fred Uytengsu – the same people who have brought to us the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 race in the Philippines for two years in a row has again brought to Philippine shores another world-renowned sporting brand. Xterra, said to be the “de facto world championship of off-road triathlons”. Cool stuff.

Xterra Philippines has just recently held it's initial offroad race, a biathlon called Putik Pare last month at Nuvali, Sta Rosa, Laguna. This January 30, 2011, Xterra Philippines is set to hold it's trail running race dubbed as Pang Rave Run, with venue at the Tagayay Highlands.

Don't you notice their penchant for fun kalog ( does anyone still bother to use that nowadays?) names for their races? First Putik Pare, now this. Must be a fun place to work at.

Anyway, here's the presser. To trail fans out there, this seems to be a can't miss.

Did you enjoy XTERRA’s Putik Pare biathlon (I didn't know there was such a thing lol )held in Nuvali? Are you in search of a different and thrilling run this time? Do you want to experience an extraordinary physical rush? If your answer is yes, then we bet you’ll enjoy even more XTERRA’s unique and rare Trail Run entitled “Pang Rave Run!” this coming January 30, 2011 at Tagaytay Midlands. Join the most enjoyable, root slipping, mud hopping, tree ducking and hill climbing race in the country today! Take the challenge of running on a mountainous terrain while enjoying the breathtaking view of Taal Volcano and feeling the cool breeze in Tagaytay. Exciting cash prizes awaits the winners for the Male and Female Categories! Register now, book your hotel and slip on those running shoes for the most action-packed trail race adventure! Travelling to Tagaytay Midlands was also made easy for you! Check out the shuttle service schedule below and reserve a seat now! Be raved! Be thrilled! Be fired-up! XTERRA’s “Pang Rave Run!” is definitely the kind of run that you’ve been searching for! RACE DETAILS: 1. REGISTRATION PERIOD: - December 1, 2010 to January 23, 2011 (both online and in-store registration) 2. REGISTRATION VENUES: ONLINE: http://www.xterraphil.com (MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED) IN-STORE: - RUNNR - Bonifacio High Street - SABAK SPORTS Unit 401 Auto Precinct, Westgate Center Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa Cit - SECOND WIND uNIT 03A Ortigas Home Depot Julia Vargas Ave., Pasig City 3. REGISTRATION FEE: 10K - PHP 1,000 Inclusions: - Race Bib - Finisher's Shirt made with Technical Material - Buffet Breakfast - Loot Bag - Xterra Race Belt 21K - PHP 1,500 Inclusions: - Race Bib - Finisher's Shirt made with Technical Material - Buffet Breakfast - Loot Bag - Xterra Race Belt - Xterra Visor

Free stuff

I want one. 4. SHUTTLE SERVICE - A round trip bus service is available to participants for a minimal fee of PHP 250. Details of shuttle schedules: A. Pickup from Bonifacio Global City going to Tagaytay: 1st batch – 3:00 AM 2nd batch – 3:30 AM B. Leave Tagaytay back to Bonifacio Global City: 1st batch – 11:00 AM 2nd batch – 2:00 PM 5. ASSEMBLY and GUN START TIMES ASSEMBLY GUN START 21K - 5:00 AM 5:30 AM 10K - 6:00 AM 6:30 AM 6. OTHER NOTES: *21K Race Participants are advised to bring head lamp *for further inquiries, please contact: secretariat@xterraphil.com

So the rain finally went away. Sigh. Would it be a good day today? Those thoughts crossed my head as I woke up at 3 am, anxiously anticipating the upcoming events of the day. I haven't run a 10k in awhile, and I would be trying to beat my PR for the distance. What was on today's race menu? The highly-anticipated Mizuno Infinity Run, touted by some to be even bigger than the industry benchmark Condura Run. Did it live up to the hype? Let us see for ourselves as the events of the day unfold.

Emeperador - 1, Tito Caloy - 0

The day started with a text message from running buddy/part-time uncle/full-time tomador Tito Caloy. In essence, he had gone drinking and obviously couldn't join the race. Oh great. That's 300 bucks lost off the bat. If he ever pays me, I'll treat you guys for taho. Promise! (don't keep your hopes up). So I ventured off to BHS alone, the silence of the sleepy metropolis an unwilling replacement to Tito Caloy's incessant pre-dawn chatter. I got there relatively early for the 10k check-in, rambling thoughts passing through my head as my anxiety level was rising by the minute.Oh man I'm alone. No one's here yet. Hey is that... . okay maybe not. Hmm they said it would be bigger than Condura? Maybe? Tito Caloy exchanged me for alcohol. I'm sleepy. Why do people wake up this early anyway? He'll never pay me. Wow they moved classes to the 22nd. I don't like this swine flu thing at all. Are people in this world really evil? Can I break my PR? I'm hungry and... The requisite hi/ hello/good luck from Takbo.ph regulars Edu and Rodel jarred me back into consciousness. By this time, the rest of the Takbo.ph gang began to file in. Nearly all of them were running the 15k. Looks like I would be waging another solitary battle here. As the 15k gun went off, the 30 minute countdown towards the 10k start seemed like an eternity. By virtue of me being really early, I was somehow stationed right in the front of the corral, a circumstantial, undeserved spot to say the least. Ansty and nervous at the same time, I attempted to strike some sort of coherent conversation with the runner next to me. Here' s the honest-to-goodness accurate transript of our conversation : Me: "Sir, buti tumigil ung ulan no?"Runner X : "Nga eh." Me: "Um, ano sir ung target ninyo ngayon?" Runner X: " Mga 40, ok na." Me: "Um, aaaah good luck sir! "Running on Empty While that went well, the gun went off. I was in 70's mode for the entire week, so the leadoff song on my iPod was Sumayaw Sumunod. While disco was blaring in my ears, I assessed how I would be approaching this. If the prevailing goal was to break 50 minutes, I would have to work around the 4:30 zone. With a mere 20 km worth of mileage this week, that ain't happening. I started out at 4:29, hitting 5:03 at the 3k mark. I was feeling gassed. Lack of mileage right there. I should buy a treadmill. Or be a member at these fancy gyms so I could use one.Anyway, at the Kalayaan Flyover I ran into Boggs, one of our students from UA&P and a speedy T2 regular. I asked hm what his target was, the response was sub-50. Can I pace with you? The answer was in the affirmative. 2km later he was about 400m from me already. I was zapped. Not happening. Not today. Nice kid though. You'd like him too. The Alchemy of Blood, Guts, and Condura Memories Past the turnaround point and going back up the Kalayaan Flyover, the route quickly evoked memories of the Condura Run. My first major race ever. I remember walking up the steep gradient of the killer flyover. I remembered wanting to quit. I remembered just plain quitting, the heat overpowering my psyche. This is so stupid. Maybe I can just go back to playing poker. At least I'll earn some cash. It's sooooo hot. My feet are killing me. Ayoko na. But if I quit now, I'll never live it down. So I soldiered on. I remembered digging deep within myself just to finish.The pain in my legs was excruciating . I was running on empty. I could hardly breathe. As I was fast fading at that very same flyover last Sunday, those powerful memories were flashing through my head at warp speed. Was I biting off more than I could chew? Am I way over my head in doing this? Does competitiveness have its limits? Is it a sin to strive to be the best at each and every thing you do? Fight or Flight My legs were on fire, the lungs all but out of it. I wanted to give up. But as I descended the Kalayaan Flyover while struggling my way into a 5:50 split, I realized that I only had about 3-4 km to go. Only 3-4 km of pain and sacrifice to go. I thought, just survive a couple more minutes of total exhaustion and you'll feel terrific about exorcising your demons for the rest of the week. I think that right there is the microcosm of "push" - when your body has absolutely nothing more to give and you unabashedly ask it to give more than it ever had.I ran that last 2km stretch, that very same area where I had walked not too long ago, like my life depended on it. I take pride in putting a premium on passion in my everyday travails, in leaving your heart out there on the playing field. It's fight or flight, and I chose to fight. Before I knew it, I could see the chute. Powerful Takbo.ph big man Mond passed me over the final 400m, I could give no more. But even as my body gave out its last hurrah, the clock glanced 51:30. Oh my. I had did it. Getting to the end of the chute, my 305 stopped at 51:38. I pumped my fist and was overjoyed at a blood and guts victory over the most daunting opponent of all.The Aftermath Truly, the whole team was blessed that day. Nearly everyone I talked with set a new PR. Among others, head honcho Jinoe took a new 15k PR, and Bong Z. hit his sub 55 target. I'm so happy because everyone is rapidly improving across the board. As with most of the runners, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a finisher's singlet instead of the advertised shirt. And it fits! In addition, Mizuno saved the biggest surprise for last, announcing that the race was actually a time trial in preparation for next year's event dubbed 1.10.10. The winners would be contingent on how much one had improved from this year's time. Truly, another coup from Mizuno, one that we would all be eagerly awaiting. Afterwards, the group went straight to Mcdonald's Net One for some much needed refueling, the place slowly becoming our favorite post-race BHS breakfast jaunt.

A sea of White, Black, Yellow, Blue... . and Orange?

Ellen and Doc Roy with Migz lurking

Natz, Doc Lyndon and Rico

Matinee idol/speedster Bong with Pepsi and Ms. Morrison

The "Hard Core" Takbo.ph team

Me with Second Wind proprietor/ultramarathoner Hector

Running Couple Neil and Rach at Mcdo Net One

Chillin' out after a messy Mcdo Breakfast So there. When all things were said and done, numerous PR's fell, sunny skies and even sunnier smiles abound. Despite the anxiety and sacrifice, despite the blood and guts spilled on the road and the overpowering urge to quit when you were beaten down to the ground... ... It turned out to be a good day after all. Tito Caloy Quote of The Day :

" Di ako makakasama sayo, ako'y niyaya, napilitan, napainom, napasubo" - On choosing Emperador over Mizuno

As I glanced anxiously at my 305, the grim reality was sinking in. Unless I pull of an Usain Bolt, there was absolutely no way I would be hitting my goal. I need to leave everything out there. Right here. No tomorrows. A final push, one last heave for glory netted a 4:53 final lap... .

And I missed it by 15 seconds. Damn.

Thank God for Google Images

But wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves. It all started on a stormy Saturday night at Glorietta 4 ... .

GBM: Miss, may I register for the 10k? Thank you.
ECO-Dash Counter Girl : Eto po. 300 lang.
GBM: Hmmm. Where's the singlet?
EDCG: Ay, naubos na po, nung Sunday pa.
GBM: Aaah, ok.

(walks away, opens race packet, goes back)

GBM: Miss, why do you have two bibs? That is quite... unconventional .
EDCG: Ay Sir, ung isa para sa harap, ung isa sa likod. First time niyo ho ba?
GBM: Uh... . It's actua..
EDCG: Okay lang ho, kaya ninyo yan, basta hinga malalim lang.Nauso na nga yang ranning na yan eh. Nga pala sir, rain or shine yan tuloy!

So for 300 bucks I ended up with 2 race bibs, a bit of a weird conversation... . and that was pretty much it. Not that it actually matters - I heard a lot of gripes about its "minimalist" design - but I was hoping to get more bang out of my 300 bucks. Internet legend Tito Caloy was supposed to grace us with his presence, but was apparently caught up deep in training for the San Mig National Drinking Finals. So I went out on a dreary Sunday morning, in hopeful anticipation of the great unknown, what with so many intangibles put into play.

"Secret" Training
If you have been following this blog from time to time, then you're probably aware of my well-chronicled struggles against the menace that is ITBS.

Gone for good?
Forced to drastically cut down mileage , I put in a couple of duds at some of our recent races. I was already thinking, Am i done ? Is that it for me? Visions of a surgically repaired Samboy Lim and Shaun Livingston looking like ghosts of their old selves haunted me. What if I'll never regain my old form? Through the thankful intervention of a higher power, I have been running relatively pain free for the past several weeks. That's when I decided to flat out just go for out it. Serious training for two weeks, harder than I ever trained before. I was going to secretly target a sub-50 time for this race, if I fail I could just say I was "pacing" someone. So what did I do exactly?

If I told you, then it wouldn't be a secret anymore, right? :) :p

The Case of the Missing Ipod

In an extremely weird twist of fate, I lost my beloved iPod the day I learned that my quest for that elusive Master's degree was finally over. Ahh. My life seems to be in bittersweet symphony right now. But what should I do? I find it extremely hard to run without music, I seem to be grossed out by my own snarly breathing.

Will give dog for ipod
Thankfully, I found a weird-looking Mp3 player lying around the house, the type you could get for 500 bucks at the mall. 256 mb, no song randomizer, weird shape. Sold! At this point, I would have brought a Walkman to the race if need be.

If you ever ran with one of these, thanks for visiting my blog Master!

The Race Itself

Okay, let's be practical. Due to the nature of this belated post, by now you should have already read a plethora of blog entries outlining how drenched we were, how there was a lack of marshals along Bayani, et.al. Obviously, I won't go there - your time is more precious than mine. Instead, let's go straight to the crux of the matter, punctuated by the precise songs blaring from my cheapo Mp3 player in homage to my newly departed and dearly beloved Ipod.

Kilometer 1 - Dreamgirls Theme (not a word)

Jesus Christ and Mary it sure is cold! I don't think I have ever started a race at this temp, it's even colder than when we did Botak Baguio. Oh shoot , crappy Mp3 player auto adjusts its volume everytime you turn it off. It's .. it's not loud enough! I still hear my own breathing! Crap. Where do they make this thing anyway? Rain is pouring down pretty bad, I don't have time to get it out of my hydrobelt. Yes it's that pathetic I need to squeeze it into my hydrobelt. Opening pace is at 4:29, think I could have gone faster but the rain is slowing me down. Just passed a runner who is complaining about the rain audibly. Hmmm, chess isn't so bad once you get used to it.

All you got to do is dream...

Kilometer 2-3 - Do You Believe In Magic - Loving Spoonful

So I got out of the bane of all runners this side of town in one piece. The Kalayaan Flyover was my first major hurdle, and I did a 4:44/5:03 on it, first time I ever hit a sub-5 split on it. People walking all around me. Yes, it does get the best of you. Given that 82.67% of all Sunday race routes pass through this point, I'm guessing it doesnt have too many fans.Much like an untamed beast in the wilderness, oftentimes you can but just hope and pray you live to tell the tale. Relatively unscathed, I come flying downslope. Current total pace is at 4:45. So far so good.

Yup, never heard of em' either

Kilometer 5 - VST & Co. - Sumayaw Sumunod

Wow, these drivers are crabby! You woulwd think that they'd be more relaxed on a Sunday morning. The honking was reminiscent of Edsa Dos. Unfortunately, seems that we're the subjects of their profanity-laced tirades. They should go to the Kanye West School of Charm.

It's just like rush hour traffic, only on a Sunday. Why so angry?

Completed the halfway point at 23:48, that may just possibly be my best 5k split ever. Route reminds me of my Globe Run for Home debacle. Is this my day of vindication?

Sumabay sa mga bagong tugtugin ngayon... .

Kilometer 7-8 - Eraserheads - Huwag Kang Matakot

As much as I would like to imbibe the E-heads spirit on this, the pressure was so intense it was hard not to be. The homeward bound Kalayaan Flyover won this round, dropping me to a 5:22/5:34 split, breaking both my body and spirit. The pressure was getting to me , and I was starting to panic inside. Total pace had dropped to an even 5:00, which meant that I would be missing my target. More panic. I need to make up time. But I'm zapped out. Must... soldier... on. Just 2k more... ...

One of their last albums before calling it quits

Kilometer 9-10. Amy Winehouse - Rehab.
They say that running is just as much mental as physical, sometimes even more. I completely agree, 100%. Here I was , on the cusp of beating one of my biggest running goals, and I was doing a completely chokejob. Mentally, I was messed up. I was freaking out and panicking. Prematurely celebrating, I was even thinking of a title for the blog post already. Physically, I was spent. Blatant lack of training. A quick, anxious glance at the 305 showed 45:00 with a little over a kilometer to go. Running on fumes, a blatant attempt to let it all hang out was hatched.

However, the grim reality was sinking in. Unless I pull of an Usain Bolt, there was absolutely no way I would be hitting my goal. More panic. I need to leave everything out there. Right here. No tomorrows. A final push, one last heave for glory... .

And I missed it by 15 seconds. Damn.

Gut-wrenching. I broke down mentally that last two kilometers. Got caught up in the moment so to speak. Wasn't able to deliver. On the precipice of success, I blinked. And in that nanosecond, I missed the bus. At the highest echelons of all sports, this is what separates the men from the boys. The winners from the pretenders. It's that requisite mental toughness designed to take you to the next level.

I think I need to go to rehab after this

Overall, it was a bittersweet moment. I still set a new 10k PR at 50:14, lopping of a minute and a half from my pre-injury best. Was a tremendous day for Takbo.ph denizens Sam, Vicky, and Argo as they all set new records on their 21k times. Tremendous improvement. Keep up the good work guys!

PR people with podium gal Carins

John Lloyd an d... Luis?
In retrospect, this race taught me a lot about myself. Getting so near, only to falter in the end inspires me to do even better next time around. To quote William Ernest Henley, "my head is bl oody, but unb owed". Indeed, we all live to run another day.

And sometimes, in the greater scheme of things

That's all that really matters.

Editor's Note : Results just came in, wanted to add that this performance was good enough for 26th place amongst 532 runners in the category, my best finish ever :P

First off, thanks to all who joined. Your support for our site is much appreciated. To my friends who are expecting a lutong macaw sorta thing, sorry you have to bribe me with more food next time :P

Anyway, the winner was determined by an algorithm courtesy of Random.org, and I merely put in a subset from 1 to 78, which was the total number of comments for this post. If it falls on a post wherein I replied to your comment, that counts as a win as well.

So the first drawing goes to... ...

The 36th comment, which is Clint Benjie. Congratulations!

The 2nd drawing goes to... ..

Congratulations to Chelle, or Chelle Belle on Twitter.

You could all get in touch with me through Facebook or Twitter on how to get your prizes asap.
Till next time everyone!

The favourite season for tourists in the Okanagan has to be summer, with families coming to enjoy the beautiful scenery, majestic mountains, and sparkling crystal clear lakes.

A hands down favourite for both kids and adults alike is marshmallow harvest time.
Coinciding with the end of school, tours book up quickly so don’t wait.
S ummer’s soft billowing heat and sunny skies are heralding a bumper crop this year, and its undoubtedly going to be a popular one among locals and tourists alike.
Farmers are busy at work in the countryside, pulling together the ingredients to make the white orbs.
From generation to generation, father to child, these family recipes have been used by marshmallow farmers for as long as the locals can remember, and are closely guarded secrets.
Communities hold competitions for sweetest, tastiest, and fluffiest marshmallows, with winners holding bragging rights throughout the year.
Each farmer has his own special mixture which will be used to create puff after puff of giant mounds of sweetness seen dotting the rolling fields every summer.
After baking in the sun for a few days they will be perfectly plump, and luscious, and gleaming white. Farmers will then gather up the giant morsels and ship them off to special holding areas called barns until they have reached the right stage of deliciousness and are ready for market.

Imagine the joy of biting into one of these pieces of delightfully gooey, sticky sweet confection, with their slippery threads of melting sugar dripping onto your chin.
Millions of people all over the world are waiting for the newest crop to hit the stores, and clamouring for more. Their popularity is growing beyond anything the Marshmallow marketing boards could dream up, and fans can be found all over the world.
Marshmallows are one of the Okanagan’s most popular exports second only to our award winning wineries in sales. With new and improved machinery, and careful tweaking of the secret recipes, marshmallows are predicted one day to overtake wine sales which will be a stupendous accomplishment indeed. We are told that there are exciting new flavours in the works but we can’t let that secret out yet.

Sold as a companion item to the marshmallows these untoasted graham crackers can be seen where they have left out in fields left to ripen.
They will be harvested when they have turned a toasty brown, which takes a few weeks.
Graham crackers were accidentally found to be the perfect addition to campfires, and backyard barbeques when someone sandwiched toasted marshmallows in between them.
It is thought they might have originally used them to stop the marshmallows from sticking to their fingers.
Adding in chunks of chocolate have made them even more popular among the foodie crowd.
The trend caught on very quickly and they are now called S’mores.
The name most likely originating from the gooey sugar coated tongues of children requesting some more.
Make sure to mark the Okanagan marshmallow harvest as a family must have trip, it’s a sweet time that you will enjoy the memories from for years. I’ve got some really great news today about my blog, it’s “doing the happy dance” kind of good news.
Blogher has syndicated one of my original posts, it’s being publishing today on their site.
If you haven’t had a chance to read it, or even if you have, please go on over and check it out and give ‘em some bloggy love. There is a Blogher badge on my top sidebar, or you can use this link to see it, and if you wanted to click on a few of the share icons I would really appreciate it also.
Naked Niche bloggers why we don’t fit the mould

You have got to be kidding me. No way. Inhuman effort at Nike Human? Goodbye sub-50 dreams.
A steep incline seemed to be sardonically staring me down just as I was gathering momentum. I figured, yeah I'll ride it out and hang on, I have enough in the tank and enough of a pace bank. Little did I know, that was easier said than done.

But hey, what the heck am I talking about? For the sake of literary jurisprudence, a short backgrounder.

Strictly speaking, the Nike + Human Race 10k was originally conceptualized in 2008 as a relative point of convergence for runners from nearly 30 key cities from all over the world. The routes would pass through some pretty awesome sights, for instance in Istanbul you run across the bridge that connects Europe to Asia. Utilizing Nike + technology, a case could be made for the "the world is flat" paradigm as thousands of runners all over the world could log on to the Nike website and upload their times , essentially engaging in a virtual competition in a race that knows no borders.

Bridge between Asia and Europe is... Cool.
To spice things up, there are different Nike Ambassadors assigned per country. The Philippines had five, all with teams under them that add up to the virtual tally board on race day. In terms of representation, runner blogger par excellance Bards Bathan of Bananarunning took up the cudgels for the general blogosphere.

Who was your ambassador?Even if Manila was not chosen as a key city for this year's event, the race actually took on a greater cause in the wake of recent calamities that have struck the country. For every kilometer ran by a Nike + Sportband user who took up the Nike Ambassador challenge, P10 would be donated on their behalf. In addition to that , finishers would have P100 of their registration fee donated to Gawad Kalinga efforts for Typhoon Ondoy victims.

So now that you know all about it, what exactly happened on race day?

Remy Field. Subic Bay Freeport. 4:00 pm.
So I'm here at the impressive track oval of Remy Field, just a few minutes away from our hotel at Forest View. Some of the Takbo.ph gang have already gathered around, some of them running their maiden 10k's like Lorie and Bea/Notsquare .

As people were milling around aimlessly, there was a certain palpable degree of uncertainty over the whole thing. Why? If you are used to the whole "event-style" weekend runs as of late, roughly 30 minutes before gun time it seemed as though there was nothing going on. No fancy American accent DJ host blurting out ads and wittycisms, no hot Fitness First gal to do stretching, no Pia Cayetano giving words of inspiration, no Luke Mijares to sing "Love of my Life" (oops got ahead of myself there).

Sorry Luke, you're up for the next column
I was somehow expecting a shtick of some sort, just because it was Nike. Nah. Not a few runners approached me and asked "Sir, tuloy ba?" . I really didn't know what to tell them. But hey, I could care less. I came here for the thrills, not the frills. Although frills never hurt anyone :)

Remy Field. Subic Bay Freeport. 4:25 pm.
Out of nowhere, an emcee abruptly announced that the race would be starting in 5 minutes. I looked around, and by my estimate about 200-250 runners were there. Slated to run the 21k event the following day, my mind was fixated on a quick, flat run. A run wherein if I get lucky, I could nab that elusive sub-50 without expending too much energy. The utopian in me got a bit carried away I guess. Quick countdown, quick prayer, and let's see how this thing unravels.

Kilometer 1-2 . Resisting Temptation.

Positioned near the starting line, the lead pack of runners took off in a blinding burst of speed. I estimated though that there were about 30 runners running like there was no tomorrow, can't have that many elites around right? So I resisted the temptation of going at it guns blazing... and my calculations turned out to be correct. One by one their pace dropped, and by the time we got to Km 2, I had passed about 10 of the early birds already. Was cruising at 4:35 - 4:39 km/min, felt pretty strong at this point. I was thinking, if I can build enough of a big lead during the first half, I could hang on for a nice touch to my weekend. Turns out, the fates weren't agreeable with me today.

Hard to resist the temptation to go all out when people are passing you.

Kilometer 2-5 Better Luck Next Time.

Just when I was getting comfy, the incline that came into view took the wind out of my sails. An extremely steep, curving incline that instantly reminded me of those that I had faced in Baguio (I walked) and Corregidor ( easy run, I got really tired) . With no hill training over the past two weeks, I churned in a big fat 6:12 split over the stretch. My pace plummeted all the way down to 5:30 . I was getting more and more zapped by the minute. With my positive split strategy, no way I could make up that big of a differential in a diminished state. That was it. Game over. Better luck next time. Uwian na. But then again... .

Missing the sub-50 worse than getting "basted"?
Kilometer 5-8 What Goes Up, Goes Down : The Final Stand
I stopped for a moment at the 5k water station to get my bearings back. I traveled all the way here, spent a couple of bucks on a hotel, for what? For this pedestrian effort? C'mon quit whining and get it going. I made a resolute effort to give this my shot. If I'm going down, I'm going down on my shield. At the risk of blowing out my quads, I blazed through the downhill portion with splits of 4:08, 4:12, and 4:18. Gave it all I got . And yet again, this only managed to get the pace down to 5:02. Gulp.

Make it worth your time and don't go down without a fight
Kilometer 8-10 . Accepting reality.
Having brought down my pace to some semblance of respectability, I was fast fading. I was hoping that after my final assault, I would be at borderline below 5 minutes. Not happening. So the key is to be realistic, just accept that it isn't your day, and go on to fight another battle. But I still had 2 kms to reconcile. I had a bike escort with me, which was cool. The bike escort couldn't do anything about the truck fumes that were right in my face as we negotiated the route though.

As I was reentering the Remy Field oval attempting to chase down a powerful runner (I affectionately dubbed him Energizer Bunny ) who was about 20-30 seconds ahead of me, I suddenly realized that I cleared 10k much earlier! The distance turned out to be in excess of 450 meters, or nearly half a kilometer. Finished strong with a split time of 52:01. The reality was, I missed my goal. But given that monstrous incline, satisfied nonetheless

The reality is, I gave it my best. But my best wasn't good enough.

The Aftermath
What a race! I enjoyed it, even in a masochistic sort of way. The buzzword amongst the finishers was "!@#$ na hills yan". Even Jaymie/TBR agreed that it was one of the toughest, if not the toughest 10k of the year. Somehow got ensnared in an interview for QTV along with Ambassador Bards afterwards, gak :)

What freebies did I get? An uber cool, exclusive Nike Human duffel bag (okay so it's the same thing they gave away at QCIM but it's still cool), one Pocari Sweat and one water. I heard beforehand there was supposed to be some sort of finisher's Nike bracelet or band, didn't really see anyone with it.

What could be improved for next time

Nothing to lose sleep over, but still noteworthy to mention for future considerations. Distance was in excess of 420-450 meters, matched this with mine and 3 other people with a Garmin. There were no water stations after the turnaround point, woe to the newbie runner or those making a jump to 10k. Also, the people kept on sticking around for the results, the emcee kept on stalling until after the SIM winners arrived to keep the people there. It was announced more than 3 hours after the finish, and by that time I had to leave to support the rest of the team at km34. Went back after the whole thing was over, and had to badger the ACSAT people for the results. Took 15th place out of 270 overall , my first time to crack the top 15 of any race, so hooray. :)

To conclude, the route itself provided a lot of thrills for those who ran. It was definitely not your typical weekend 10k. And knowing that P100 of my money would go to a GK project for Ondoy victims makes my screaming quads a whole lot happier. No-frills , lots of thrills, even more uphills. In spite and despite, was proud to have been part of this.

(starts writing letter to Nike making Manila a key city in 2010)
:P

Powerpuff Boys. TPB. The crew with the can't-miss singlet has steadily garnered a cult ever since a highly controversial runner-up finish during the inaugural Chris Sports Epic Relay 250 Race. In the months that had passed since their cause celebre' , the open-source singlet had become a veritable fan favorite amongst running denizens. Perhaps because of the fun color, but more so because a lot could relate to the scrapping, never-say-die attitude the team exhibited during its maiden campaign.

It's fuchsia.
With team running events few and far in between, not a few wondered when the men in fuchsia would ever don their proud colors again. Would they ever get a shot at redemption? Alas, a rare opportunity presented itself - The Fort Running Festival. 30 runners to a team, best cumulative time wins. The yahoogroup immediately went off the hook as the team scrambled to search for possible members, given that the original team only had ten competing members .

In the mold of the original team, the closest thing to a competitive sub-elite team was formed. These are dudes who may not be considered as "elite", yet showcase an advanced level of fitness in consistently placing in the upper percentile of local races. I guess people could relate because you don't have national -team level professionals , but ordinary working people with day jobs who have dedicated themselves to a committed healthy lifestyle. Weeks turned into months amidst numerous roster changes due to a laundry list of reasons. The final lineup comprised of a motley crew of marathoners, ultramarathoners, triathletes, mountaineers, running veterans, greenhorns, and one running ninja.
I had quite the experience with the team during our Epic Relay run, certainly one of the highlights of my year. Even if I was one of the central figures in our "controversial" finish, the goodwill generated by the entire experience overshadowed whatever bitterness ensued. That said, I couldn't wait to race with these guys again. Much to my chagrin, it was scheduled on the same day as the Speedo National Age Group Triathlon, which I had been preparing for. So I essentially passed for this race. In yet another twist, registration slots sold out like hotcakes three weeks before, which practically never happens. Thus, I was left without a race! Great. Blessings come when you least expect it though. Regrettably, someone had pulled out from the roster due to injury days before the race, and they were scrambling to find someone on such short notice.

While it's not exactly GBM saves the day, because I'm really just a roster filler, I was overjoyed at the prospect of donning our pink colors once more and just having an awesome time with the gang.

D-Day
The team met beforehand for a quick pep talk and to finalize all remaining logistical concerns. We also wore the Adobo Run promotional bibs that our buddies at Paul Calvin's Deli hooked us up with. To quote that dude in Ocean's 13, I felt like I was in a " field of excellence". Some of these guys I had never met before, but I was well aware of their running pedigree. The ones I did know, these were stacked with very strong runners, top-tier stuff. Original TPB members abound too, practically everyone from the Epic Relay campaign was there. As much as the atmosphere was light and relaxed, there was a subtle yet palpable feeling of pressure.

I had to deliver. I couldn't let these guys down. Not while wearing these colors.

And So It Begins
The gun went off without any warning, and so were off. I was particularly worried because I have been putting more effort into bike and swim training, and my supposed bread and butter running capabilities were pretty much non-existent. Got to pace with low-key original Takbo.ph moderator and Philippine Blog Award finalist Natz Garcia, one of the strongest runners I know. A past Milo National finalist, his season-long spartan approach to training manifested immediately as I could barely keep up with his machine-like pace. There was jostling on the route, some starting out crazy fast. I was a goner by the 7th kilometer. Gasp. Wheez.

Halfway Mark
Settling down to a more comfortable pace, I got to hang on with speedy TPB pioneer Mark Mulder, our short-distance specialist who was making his debut at the pikermi distance. Always helps to have someone act as your metronome, keeps you from slacking off. Entering Bayani and Heritage, we were hanging tough even as a mass of people from another race got us off-tangent for a couple of moments. Note to self: You should go inside Heritage Park more, it's actually beautiful inside. Ran into original TPB skipper Brian Rivera (who regrettably skipped the race due to injury) and Doc Eire there snapping up photos and mouthing words of encouragement to us.

Pain amidst beauty at Heritage for the TPB Boys
3/4 of the way

Last 15k. As me and Mark were laboring on the way back to Bayani Road, I was telling him that if we just gut out that last uphill at the Essensa area, we'd have it made. Silly me. They keep on adding these fun uphills in a never ending variation of all possible Fort Routes. Running on fumes, don't even know how I'm sustaining this. Mark is lagging back a little, from what I would later learn were shin issues. Just a bit more... .

Last Kilometer
Surprisingly, I still had some spring in my step, so I was pouring it on with Mark right on my tail. Strong finish, let's go for this. Only, the finish line was coming in too... early. Aww shucks. I clocked in at 1:43 on a 21.3 course, which would have meant a phenomenal 7 minute improvement over my personal best. Extrapolating that pace to the full distance (and there's no doubt in my mind that I could have held it, lowered it even), it would have come out to a high 1:46. Not bad,still a personal best. As much as personal records are nice though, this was one race where the team came first.

Near the chute Vindication, Retribution
Though this race lacked the inherent drama of Epic Relay, there still was a lot of suspense with it. As the TPB crew piled in one by one, we had no idea if the aggregate time of the team would be sufficient to win it. Further exacerbating our anxiety was the fact that Running Ninja Sam, a regular sub-2 hour finisher and BDM 102 veteran was racked with cramps somewhere along the route. Tough break. In our heads, our worries about teams making up the distance were only overshadowed by our worries for a fallen comrade.

Time seemed to stand still. Finally, we saw Sam limping through the line in a gutsy 2:30 effort. Cheers abound. Now all we had to do was wait for the official announcement.

I was chatting with Abby when suddenly I heard awards host DJ Chloe of 94.7 call out the winners of the team event ... .

TEAM POWERPUFF BOYS!

Oh my. Bedlam ensued. Suddenly, 30 pastel-decked guys were rushing the stage like a victorious soccer team at the World Cup. It was noisy. Very noisy. I honestly thought the stage would give way. Celebration indeed! It was particularly sweet for the pioneer Epic Relay team , who not only lost the championship under highly questionable circumstances, but also saw our runner-up finish completely unacknowledged . At least for one fine day, we were champions. Indeed, victory is sweet.

And in deference to a completely forgotten aspect of racing, something had slipped our mind, because it's usually reserved for the pros - we had won something! In this case, cash! A cool P15,000! Ah. The spoils of war.

Beep Beep can't take his eyes off the prize

We win at last.

Post-race breakfast at Paul Calvin's

Victory celebration at Joey Pep and launching of dri-fit TPB shirts

They say life goes around in karmic cycles. I guess this race is a prime example. Thank you to all those who have supported us through our ups and downs, we truly appreciate it. As for the team, it was an honor racing with you guys. I wonder where the next adventure will take us?

Wherever it may be, I'm pretty sure the boys in fuchsia will be ready for it.

He works cheap, but he’s got a bad work ethic, and he likes to lay down on the job a lot, he’s distracted by anything that moves. But the Purr baby, Boots is a furry gardener that is totally into his job, as long as he is rewarded. And he will work for cat treats, how great is that?

With that kind of wages who cares?

Hey Bootsie, could you bring that watering can over here, I need to give this tree a bit of water.

Might work better if you lift it with your paws.

No, there are no mice hiding in the watering can.

Bootsie I’m waiting over here… PS: I will announce the winner of the Goose Creek Candle draw in Sunday’s post. Don’t forget you can still purchase candles online, use code 1050 to receive 25% off your entire order until October 31st. Although Far Side of Fifty has already picked her winners [she added a second snow daze date] we have yet to see any snow here in the Okanagan. As of yet we don’t have a winner to be announced here for MBD’s part of the Snow Daze contest… but the snowball award goes to Far Side… lol. Stay tuned for snow. Jane