Pilipinas Darating Ako Run: Ang Lakas ng Dating
I wasn’t able to run at all for two weeks, given an upheaval in my family life. Good thing I still have my other physical activities to keep the weight gain at bay. Still, I felt fat and heavy last week so when the race organizers of the Pilipinas Darating Ako Run informed me they had reserved a bib for me, I gladly accepted. (In return, I led the warm-up exercises for the race program.)
Since this was supposed to be a fat-burning run, I left my Gu energy gels at home and decided to drink only water for hydration even though Pocari was available. I also decided not to track my pace too strictly on my Garmin. The goal was to finish the 10K and enjoy myself.
Just like I expected, the run was tough on my legs and lungs. It felt like I was back to square one. Or is there a square zero? We only had to go up one flyover (Buendia) but I totally felt Roxas Boulevard’s false flats taking their toll on my quads. If you saw me smiling on the route, that was not a smile. That was a grimace. :P
photo from Team USB
Zombie Invasion on April 21, 2012: The Running Dead
OUTBREAK NOTICE: Zombie Infestation in Filinvest, Alabang
What is the Current Situation?
An outbreak of unknown origin has been ongoing in Filinvest, Alabang, since November 2011. Human cases have been confirmed near Palms Country Club. Despite systematic efforts to control the infection, the outbreak is continuing, with the progressive zombification of most members of the Army-Navy South Tri team.
How is the Zombie Infection Spread?
It is almost always spread by a bite but can also be spread when a zombie’s saliva gets directly into the eyes, nose, mouth, or broken skin. The primary sources of human infection worldwide are humans who have been transformed into zombies. Read “How can participants protect themselves” for more information. Continue reading »
Final Thoughts On Rising Registration Fees
It’s taken me a while to decide on what to say about this matter. As with anything concerning matters of passion and pocket, it’s difficult to separate emotion from fact.
Let me be clear on one thing, though. This is not a matter of warring PERSONALITIES (Kikay Runner vs. Coach Rio), as some may have painted it to be. I consider Rio a friend and I respect his accomplishments and what he has done for the running scene. Rather, this is a matter of clashing PRINCIPLES which needed to be addressed (keeping cost of entry into running low vs. offering bigger, better innovations).
I’m very thankful that Rio used the Run United blog conference to hold a dialogue with interested parties and address questions about how RunRio operates. He didn’t have to pay attention to me or what I say on this blog, but he analyzes all blog entries about his races, sees people’s comments on Facebook, and reads every private message to him even if he can’t reply to each one.
Races aren’t basic commodities and race organizers don’t have to show us their budgets and costing, but Rio offered to show it if I signed a nondisclosure agreement and agreed to organize a race on the same magnitude. However, that was not my intent. I have no desire to be a race organizer. I’m simply a runner, who has a blog, who is asking a question: “Why?”
I asked because I believe that running should be for everyone. When I heard of people stopping running and racing because the cost was getting to be prohibitively high for them, I sympathized with them. When I talked about races, people asked me why reg fees have become so high, and I didn’t have a definite answer to the question.
Rio said that last year’s registration prices had not been enough to cover his costs per runner. RunRio’s logistical expenses are: hydration, manpower, security, safety, venue and route, marketing and promotions, to name a few. I had no reason to doubt what he said, and thus no reason to probe the company’s expenses.
When Rio explained that he wanted to make races that would be excellent and internationally reknowned and competitive, I realized that the main target market of RunRio races are those people who can afford to go overseas and attend races there. They are those people who expect a certain quality at the races and can pay for it.
At the end of the day, RunRio is a business which has overhead costs and employees, and I respect that.
I think other race organizers have their own reasons behind why they organize races, and it reflects in how they price the cost of entry. It’s up to runners to decide what they are running for, and what they are willing to pay for.
I just spoke up because I thought it was the right thing to do. Not every Juan dela Cruz has a blog, right?
Kikay Runner with Coach Rio in 2009
For context:
- February 2011: On Rising Registration Fees
- January 2012: On Rising Registration Fees, Again
Races for Healthy Teeth, Bright Eyes, and Happy Hearts
Happy Valentine’s Day! Every runner knows that our sport is good for the health. I’ve got some races here that will benefit not just your health, but other people’s health, too.
Read on and you might just snag a free race kit to any of these races!
Pilipinas Darating Ako on February 19
In celebration of National Dental Health Month, the Philippine Dental Association is holding a fun run called Pilipinas Darating Ako on February 19 at Cuneta Astrodome. The race will also raise funds for the PDA’s projects: BINHI (Bawat Isa Nangangako Habangbuhay Iingatan), a reforestation program, and the VIP (Very Important Patient) program that sends dentists on dental missions. Registration fees are at P400 for all categories (3K, 5K, 10K) inclusive of singlet and bib.
Race: Pilipinas Darating Ako
Date: February 19, 2012
Assembly Time: 4:30am at Cuneta Astrodome
Reg Fee: P400 (3K/5K/10K)
Registration Sites: PDA chapter building (Ayala Avenue Extension cor. Kamagong Street, Makati City beside Makati Central Police), onsite registration
St. Luke’s IEI Eye Run on March 11
I first became aware of the Eye Run at the Todo Responde Run where they had a booth. When I did my research on eye disease in the Philippines, I discovered that an estimated 500,000 people are blind, and many more have a visual impairment to some degree. (I actually can’t run without my contact lenses; my myopia’s so severe I might fall into a ditch without even seeing it.)
The leading cause of blindness in adults is cataract, which is easily and effectively treatable. But because of the cost of treatment and lack of access to it especially in the rural areas, many go without treatment and live their days in increasing darkness.
The St. Luke’s IEI Eye Run on March 11 at Bonifacio Global City aims to raise funds for St. Luke’s service patients — charity cases that need to be operated upon. Registration started yesterday, February 13. Reg fees are P500 for 3K, P600 for 6K, and P700 for 12K. What’s special about this fundraiser is that 100% of the registration fee goes directly to the cause. So yes, the organizers and sponsors don’t make a single peso off what you pay for the race!
Race: St. Luke’s IEI Eye Run
Date: March 11, 2012
Assembly Time: 5:00am at Bonifacio Global City
Reg Fee: P500 (3K), P600 (6K), P700 (12K) — 100% of reg fees goes to the cause
Registration Sites: RUNNR (BGC & Trinoma); Toby’s (SM MOA & Shangri-La); St. Luke’s Quezon City (Ophthalmology Conference Room, 2nd Floor), St. Luke’s Global City International Eye Institute (Main Hospital, 2nd Floor)
1, 4, 3 Go! Run for Philippine Heart Center on March 18
The Philippine Heart Center is a government hospital specializing in treatment of heart disease. The Social Services Division of the PHC is overloaded with requests for financial assistance, but of the 33,000 who inquired last year, only 2,514 were serviced. While many of these are adults, did you know children can also experience heart ailments? (Talk about heartbreaking.)
Love is sweeter the second time around. The 1, 4, 3 Go! Run is on its second year; last year it raised P92,500 for charity pediatric patient operations and an outpatient pediatric play room, which isn’t bad at all considering University of the Philippines students (from the UP Organization of Business Economics Majors) conceptualized and executed the race event.
This year the race aims to raise funds for pediatric patient operations, and also to raise awareness for the PHC social services division. Every year, the government’s budget for the PHC grows smaller so they’ve had to tap outside sources of funding. A useful outgrowth of holding fun runs like these is they encourage a healthy lifestyle of exercise, which prevents and treats many heart problems.
1, 4, 3 Go! Run will be held at the University of the Philippines Diliman on March 18. Reg fees are P400 for 3K, 5K, or 10K. There’s also a special 5K couples category at P750 with 2 bibs and singlets. Participants in the couples category will be bound together from start to finish with the aim of finishing together at the same time.
Race: 1, 4, 3 Go! Run for PHC
Date: March 18, 2012
Assembly Time: 5:00am at University of the Philippines Diliman
Reg Fee: P400 (3K/5K/10K), P750 (5K couples)
Registration Sites: Chris Sports (Megamall, SM North EDSA, Robinsons Ermita); UP School of Economics Rm. 122 (UP OBEM Tambayan); Secondwind Running Store (Teachers Village); PHC Social Services Division
Continue reading »
Ask Kikay Runner: What Shoe Brand Should I Buy?
Posted in Ask Kikay Runner, Blog
This is a new section on my blog where I answer questions people ask me. If you have any questions for future Ask Kikay Runner entries, contact me!
I always check what shoe brands appear on the feet of other runners around me. Since I’m a Mizuno Sports Ambassador for running, obviously I will be wearing Mizuno (and I believe it’s one of the best brands for runners). But people have brand loyalties because they’ve found what works for them, whether it’s because of function or aesthetics.
“I just would like to ask for an advise [sic] of a running shoes on what brand you would suggest, I’m a New Balance guy, I ran/jog for 7 years and I stopped. Reason is that I got my very first daughter last year. And I know I’m way out of shape again. And I really am craving to go back hit the road again, problem is my 3 runnings [sic] shoes now are way out of shape for me to run at least a 5km or 10km. I notice that you’re into Mizunos, and I know for that fact they’re on par with Nike, Adidas, or any other A++ brand of shoes. My dilemma is what brand I’ll have to buy! Hope you can enlighten me!”
I think “What brand of shoe should I buy?” is the wrong question. The most important question when you’re buying shoes for the first time is: “What kind of shoe is right for my present needs?” Continue reading »
