Here we are again, facing another fee increase for a certain set of races by one organizer, which may spur another round of fee increases from other organizers. I’m not writing this post to criticize, but to explain why I, as a blogger, a runner, and a citizen of the Philippines, feel the need to address the issue of rising registration fees. And yes, it certainly is an issue if all I hear from runners I encounter on the road is, “Hindi na ako sumasali ng races kasi ang mahal!”

You may say that there’s no need to complain, and all you have to do is simply not register for the expensive races. I have to say right now, I do not agree with this “put up or shut up” mentality. This is hard-earned money we’re talking about spending here, and I think that in a free society there is room for serious yet civil discussion about the cost and quality of goods and services we pay for.

In case you aren’t aware, we do have consumer rights and responsibilities in the Philippines. We have a Bureau of Trade Regulations and Consumer Protection under the Department of Trade and Industry, which operates to protect consumer rights and promote awareness of consumer responsibilities. Check out this PDF pamphlet of your Consumer Rights and Responsibilities published by the DTI.

The pertinent responsibilities of a consumer on which I base my stand are (paraphrasing from the abovementioned pamphlet):

• Critical Awareness: to be more alert and questioning about the use of, and the price and quality of goods and services we use.
• Action: to assert ourselves and act to ensure we get a fair deal. The pamphlet goes on to say in much stronger words, “Remember that as long as we remain passive consumers, we will continue to be exploited.”
• Social Concern: to be aware of the impact of our consumption on other citizens, especially the poor, exploited, disadvantaged, or powerless groups.

As you can see from these responsibilities, I cannot simply sit back and accept the price increase in registration fees; I must ask for the reason behind this. I believe I should speak up, as one of the courses of action to ensure we’re getting a fair deal. I do this because continuing to tolerate rising prices without justification means that the poor or disadvantaged people who want to join a race may eventually (it is happening even now) be priced out of doing so.

I am looking forward to Coach Rio’s promised discussion of the registration fees at the upcoming Run United press conference. (He promised that last year, too, but it didn’t materialize.) I have him on record inviting interested runners and bloggers including myself to send him a personal message for inclusion on the press conference’s guest list.

Meanwhile, I encourage you, dear reader, to continue seeking the best value for your money in the races that you train for and join. There are a number of conscientious race organizers who offer races at affordable prices with part of the registration fee going to charitable causes. Seek them out and give them a chance; they may pleasantly surprise you.

Last weekend, 74 (crazy) runners showed up at the Kilometer Zero marker in Mariveles, Bataan to start a journey that would take them through Bataan, Pampanga, and finally Tarlac to retrace the route that Filipino and American soldiers took during Bataan Death March in World War II. This was the BDM 160.

It all starts here.

This being the second such race of its kind held by Maj. Gen. Jovie Narcise (ret.) (more popularly known as Bald Runner), plenty of stories had been swapped since last year of the trials and tribulations that participants went through. For the 2012 edition, I joined a crew to support my Endure teammate Melvin Pangan, who was undertaking the distance for the first time.

super early!

After driving from Manila at 12 midnight, Marga, Tracy, Carina and I arrived in Mariveles at 3:30am. Already many support vehicles were parked on the side of the road, and many of the ultrarunners were already there, waiting for the 5am gunstart.

I went over to say hello to Jonel, who was attempting the BDM 160 again after a seriously scary DNF last year due to overdosing on salt capsules. While we chatted about his new race strategy (natural foods only, no more supplements), other noted ultrarunners came by to say hi to him. I met Victor Ting, who at 66 years old was the oldest BDM 160 participant!

My pastor from Victory was also there as a participant. Pastor Ferdie had completed the BDM 102 (the original distance of the race, and the prerequisite for the BDM 160) last year to benefit Real Life Foundation scholars. This year he was attempting the 100-miler, running it for his son John Philip.

Ferdie Cabiling, excited for the race. What.

Finally, we rendezvous-ed with Mel and discussed our support plans. Marga, Carina, and I (crew #1) would support him from my car beginning from 0 until the 50th kilometer, at which point crew #2 composed of Mel’s wife Rose, his brother-in-law, and Tracy would take over in their support vehicle. We would again meet at KM 102 (the old train station in Pampanga, where the POW’s had been loaded onto trains bound for Capas, Tarlac) where I would begin to pace Mel for 20 kilometers. Carina would take over pacer duties for another 10km, then crew #2 would take over and Tracy would pace for 20km. The last 10km, we’d planned for Rose to run with Mel.

Melvin with BR

Crew #1 left before the gunstart and made our way to KM 7, past the steep, narrow, and sharply-curving “bitukang-manok” mountain pass. Those 7km the participants had to run single-file without support crews leapfrogging them because there were no road shoulders to park on.

I was the driver for those first 50 kilometers while Marga and Carina jumped out of the car as we leapfrogged Mel every five kilometers. He was running strong, and would chat with us lightheartedly for a bit at every stop.

Kilometer 25

BDM 160 participants had some great weather during that first 50: it was overcast, and would drizzle intermittently, allowing them to pick up their pace comfortably.

one of the few times I got out to stretch my legs

I had been under the impression that the BDM 160 or any ultramarathon for that matter which required a support crew was mostly a solitary matter. Was I wrong! This isn’t called “the longest street party” for nothing; support crews cheered on every runner that came their way, and crews cheered on crews. While driving the highways it always lifted my spirits every time I came across a vehicle with a BDM 160 “Race Ongoing” banner.

eventual women’s champ Keshia Fule w/ fellow runner Alfred

Just a few kilometers before the 50-kilometer mark, Mel asked us to start leapfrogging him every three kilometers. The sun was starting to come out (it was about 11am, after all) and he was starting to feel it. He’d also been drinking only water, but his urine had started to darken. We started managing his hydration and food needs more strictly; he needed to take a sports drink more often at this point; the isotonic drink would be better absorbed by his body.

Kilometer 50

The 50-kilometer mark is a major pitstop for most BDM participants (both for the 102 and the 160 distances). Here there’s space to park plenty of support vehicles. Most participants take the opportunity to sit down, have a full meal (Mel had pork adobo and rice), and maybe get some liniment rubbed on. It was here crew #2 took over. Crew #1 headed to the King’s Royale Hotel in San Fernando, Pampanga to get some shuteye; at that point, I had been awake 28 hours and had survived on catnaps at the first few leapfrog stops.

At 8pm, we had again met up with crew #2 and had taken over support duties. This time, I was dressed in my running gear, ready to run or walk with Mel.

Good friends are like a good bra — supportive!

As it turned out, I walked with Mel most of the way. His feet had started to bother him after a change of shoes, and he confided to me that he wished he’d saved the first pair of shoes he’d worn during the race for use during this latter part. (Not naming brands, of course, but… ;D) He was also peeing a lot, which worried us because it meant his body wasn’t holding on to the water anymore — it had been depleted of salts and electrolytes. I had to feed him corn chips, nuts, etc.

And then he got his second wind. Or was it his third, or fourth, or… at KM 118 it’s hard to tell. We started to run again. It was midnight.

I swapped pacer duties with Carina after KM 120. By this time we were leapfrogging at every kilometer. I really thought that Mel would keep running. But at KM 130, Marga and I waited for what seemed like ages before we saw Carina running toward us, without Mel. His will had flagged. We had to go back for him.

We came upon him 500 meters back, seated and shivering at a deserted tricycle stand. Marga covered him with a large towel, then handed him a fresh shirt to change into. He complained about his feet, and when we’d removed his shoes and socks we found huge blisters covering the balls of his feet, his arch, and a giant cherry-red one on his left little toe.

(Just a note: it was 2:30am and there were reckless drivers on the roads. A motorcycle and car crash happened not 10 meters from where our car was parked, and we’d heard earlier that two pacers had been run over by a drunk motorcycle driver at KM 104.)

Mel’s feet were in a sorry state, but his leg muscles showed no signs of fatigue at all. We were all convinced he could still do it if we treated his feet. But that wouldn’t matter if he wasn’t up to it.

“Nurse” Noelle lancing the cherry blister

Crew #2 arrived some minutes later, and Mel spoke with Rose. He told her, “I’m at peace. Alam kong hindi ko kaya. Promise, Ma, hindi ko na uulitin next year.” And that was that.

(I think he might be back next year, though. Or the year after that. Basta eventually he’ll make a go at it again. Ultrarunners never rest until they’ve conquered the distance, right?)

By the cut-off time of 30 hours, 54 runners had made it to the finish line, Sir Victor Ting included. Pastor Ferdie had a respectable time of 28+ hours. Jonel took his sweet time, but was able to finish on this second attempt. Congratulations to everyone who participated, finisher or not!

After being on an ultrarunner’s support crew, I have much more respect for the ultramarathon’s niche in our sport of running. To endure even when there is no strength left or any hope to make it to the finish line on time, just to finish the race is their prize. What a metaphor for life!

If you ask me to support again, I’d do it.

This post is dedicated to my sister and brother-in-law and their newborn baby, Brooke Gabrielle D. Manahan. We are all called to run the race of life. What matters is that we finish strong. (2 Timothy 4:7) I’ll be right here with you, supporting you to the finish.

Of course that doesn’t mean sports drinks really are just the same regardless of brand, and each brand tries to improve their taste, sugar content (for those conscious about their liquid calories), and electrolyte delivery systems.

Powerade ION4 was first introduced in 2009 in the U.S. market as a reformulation of the old Powerade formula. It boasts four electrolytes instead of the usual two kinds of electrolyte found in sports drinks. Aside from sodium and potassium, ION4 has calcium and magnesium in the same ratio as that lost from sweating.

Powerade ION4

Now, this more complete formulation has finally come to the Philippines and is endorsed by the likes of fitness coach Chinggay Andrada (lately of Biggest Loser fame), international footballer Neil Etheridge (also of the Philippine Azkals), basketball player David Semerad, and running’s own Rio de la Cruz.

I missed the grand press launch today due to work commitments, but after reading the PR material sent to me I’m intrigued about this new formula. When it gets rolled out to stores, you can bet I’ll try it out during a long training run or ride — and I’ll let you know how it compares to the others I usually gulp down.

Just like the Spice Girls who inspired a whole generation with “Girl Power”, it’s time to reclaim running like a girl and make it ours!

Be proud to run like a girl and wear it on your sleeve — or in this case, on your shirt. Introducing “I RUN LIKE A GIRL” shirts from the Kikay Runner shop on Multiply:

I RUN LIKE A GIRL shirt

Made of 100% cotton, this shirt is perfect for wearing after a race or a workout. Available in sizes SMALL, MEDIUM, or LARGE at P250 in limited quantities. Multiply also has a free shipping promo until January 31, 2012 (for a P400 shopping cart total), so order now. :D

Unilab Active Health Events 2012

While the Run United Philippine Marathon is the most noticeable change from previous Run United events by Unilab Active Health, what caught my triathlete’s eye are the Tri United events. Yes, EVENTS. From just ONE Tri United held every year since 2010, there will now be THREE.

Cross-referencing this with the Triathlon Association of the Philippines list of events, the April 14-15 Tri United in Batangas may conflict with the NAGT to be held at Ayala Alabang Village. The June 30 Tri United is on the TRAP list, and the November 10-11 Tri United is on the same dates as the Multisport Weekend and the Philippine Duathlon Series finals. This is going to be an exciting growth year for triathlon!

UPDATE 02/01/2012: I’ve just seen the reg fees for RU1 on the RunRio website, and they’re approximately P200 more expensive than their prices last year per category. I hope there’s a reasonable explanation for this, but meanwhile I’m reassessing whether I should register for RU1 since I’m not training for anything specific that warrants a race on that date.

frazzled and tired (photo by May Quezon)

1. Prepare everything beforehand. I usually get all my running gear ready the night before, and that’s exactly what I tried to do. I even hopped over to RUNNR BGC to restock on Gu gels, which I ran out of over the holidays. I thought I was all set, but I misplaced my favorite pair of Mizuno running shorts. I spent three hours chasing it down within my closets, to no avail. I eventually settled for a different pair of shorts, but even as I lay in bed my brain kept obsessing over those shorts. In short (pun intended), I fell asleep at around 11:30pm.
2. Get a good night’s sleep. Aside from falling asleep late, I hadn’t been sleeping well for the past few weeks, so I’d accumulated a huge sleep debt. Do you know that feeling of being tired, but excessive thinking keeps your eyes open? I was having that kind of sleep problem.
3. Wake up early, have breakfast, get ready. I set my alarm for 3:30 so I could reasonably be up and about by 4am. This is where everything went to pieces. I did wake up, but I started fiddling with my BlackBerry and lay back down to allow a Facebook comment to load. The next thing I knew, it was 5:10am and I had to be at BGC for the 10K’s 5:30am gunstart.
4. Be on time for the gunstart. That was the fastest I’d ever gotten to BGC. Considering my house is often 30 minutes away due to traffic, blessings like stoplights going green in sequence and very few cars on the road shaved my travel time down to 15 minutes. Still not enough to beat the gunstart. After finding parking in an unlikely place, I climbed over a few fences just to get to the starting line right before the 5K gunstart.
5. Reset the Garmin. I knew I couldn’t trust the finish clock to give me an accurate record of my run so I hit my Garmin’s start button when I left the start chute. But when I checked my Garmin I realized I hadn’t reset it to zero. It was counting my mileage upwards from the last race I’d done. Eek!

So there I was on the route, running on a Gu gel and 200ml of Lightwater. I had to hope Timex Run logistics were up to par with their previous record in 2009. That was the main reason I’d registered for this race: I hadn’t done the Timex Run back in 2009 because it was more expensive than other races I had been to thus far (among runners who have been around for a while, Timex Run 2009 ushered in a new era of higher registration fees in the P600 range). However, all the reviews and word-of-mouth had been overwhelmingly positive, so it was believed back then that a price increase was justified for all the cushy benefits it gave registered participants.

This year, the Timex 10K was priced at P700, about P100 more expensive than past RunRio 10K’s. I truly wanted to experience what the fuss had been about. What is the difference between a P600 10K, and a P700 10K? I wondered. There’s not much else you can throw at runners to impress them if they’ve already gotten fireworks for a gunstart or a free concert post-race.

Sorry, no sub-Piolo for You

Newspapers announced that the face of the race, Mr. Piolo Pascual, was set to beat his previous 10K best of 47 minutes and 54 seconds. Runners in 2009 had dubbed a finish time shorter than that as a sub-Piolo. I managed to accomplish my own sub-Piolo the next year. But, eh, I was a different runner back then, better-trained and better-rested.

Surprisingly, I didn’t have to weave through too many runners in the tail end of the 10K. (Timex pegs participation at a modest “close to 6,000 runners”. That’s significantly less than the monster numbers I’ve been used to in other RunRio races.) The route was also downhill for the first few kilometers, allowing me to warm up. I felt okay but knew that with all I had done wrong, an energy drop was just over the horizon.

The route took us from the front of the Riovana store around the block with left turns until we hit Fifth Avenue. This then led to Triangle Drive, around kilometers 3-4. I saw a cluster of tall men with a springy afro amid them coming back just as I entered that road. It was Coach Rio pacing Piolo with a group of strong runners (I later found out they were from the military). With no chance of catching up to them (the distance difference was about 1.5 kilometers), I settled into my own pace.

I started tiring around kilometer 5 (equivalent to the distances I’ve been running lately) and realized that I need to put more mileage on these legs. I saw the Piolo retinue again coming back up 32nd Street on their way to the finish line just as I exited the Home Depot area. I gutted out the last few kilometers, getting a speed boost on kilometer 9 from following a guy wearing Vibram Five Fingers. He left me in the dust, and I crossed the finish line 51 minutes after I had started. On the clock, it was 58 minutes.

The RunRio timing marshals, who have probably gotten used to seeing me finish earlier, asked, “Bakit ang layo mo ngayon?” I had to say I’d gotten there late. Nicole “Coy” Wuthrich, Coach Rio’s fiancee, was also at the finish line and backed me up, saying she’d seen my late start.

I collected my Unilab ActiveHealth loot bag but didn’t bother to line up at the other freebie booths. I just wanted to get out of my wet clothes, and check Twitter to see if Piolo had beaten his PR. Not surprisingly, he did. (Just playing with semantics here, but Piolo can never do a “sub-Piolo”. He can only set a new Piolo, which he did. Congrats Papa P!)

feeling fresh again (photo by Samuel Aquino)

For me, this race was a reminder of how disciplined I really need to get again.

UPDATE: Timex Run 2012 results are out. I came in at 59:24 for gun time, but my chip time was 51:12. Not bad for my first 10K of the year.

Race in Review

Route: Like I told Coy with a knowing wink at the finish line when they asked me how the race was, the course was designed by a sadist. (Hi, Rio!) Or a masochist, since he ran it, too. Past routes had made these inclines downhills, but this time directions were reversed and they became uphills! Ow, ow, ow. But in a good way. I also liked how the routes allowed for less convergence between the race categories.

Traffic Management: One of my Twitter followers, @jbellevillegas, told me that before the 10K gunstart, Piolo and VIPs were escorted to the front of the pack with a human barricade between them and the rest of the runners (even the elite/professional runners). I’ve seen this done in a few other races and I think the only valid reason is security concerns. Then again, Piolo didn’t have a human barricade during the Sunpiology Run, so it happens on a case-to-case basis according to organizer discretion.

Hydration: It felt like forever to get to the first water station, but I think that’s the effect of being dehydrated. The stations were spaced about two kilometers apart, and the tables were loooooooooong so I was able to snag a drink and still avoid crashing into the other runners converging at them. (I think it’s great we had Powerade and Viva for this one; the 2009 race had 100-Plus.)

Package: P650 for 5K, P700 for 10K, or P750 for 16K gets you a bib+timing, singlet, and a Timex discount. Well, there was the post-race event where Piolo showed up and fans could take photos of the stage where Piolo was, and if lucky they could approach Piolo and get a photo op with him. And there was a raffle of 35 Timex watches…

Off the top of my head, last year at various races we got post-race expos, freshening-up booths, fun games, photo booths, fireworks for gunstarts, dancers, firebreathers, free concerts, and the like. 10K’s were priced around P600 but even shorter distance categories (at a lower price) were able to partake in these things. So at around P600, runners were already super-pampered. At P700 with none of those things offered, the Timex Run 2012 felt rather anticlimactic.

I also have to wonder why late registration (past January 15, the original date registration would end) was rewarded with this promo, which wasn’t available to those who had registered earlier. The first 15 group registrations from January 18-20 with purchases amounting to P1,500 per group from Riovana BGC or Katipunan would get a guaranteed meet-and-greet with Piolo and Rio and free use of Riovana showers on race day, plus a free Timex watch per group.

original source: SwimBikeRun.ph

In triathlon, registrations get progressively more expensive the closer you register to race day. In running, organizers keep encouraging people to register early for races so they don’t run out of slots or singlet sizes. So what kind of message to the running community does this promo send? What if next time, people register at the last minute because they come to expect promos like this?

Don’t get me wrong; it was a race that was well-organized and carried out. But given the other races that had come before it, I didn’t think this one was very special, much less raised the bar. I guess I expected more. THREE-AND-A-HALF KIKAY PINKIE FINGERS out of FIVE.

What an honor to be on the inside pages of the issue featuring my tri-idol, Noy Jopson!

I met RW’s editor-in-chief Marie Calica at a Godiva pictorial in 2010. She was my makeup artist! The multitalented Marie is also beauty editor for Women’s Health and an instructor at Barre3 (a ballet, yoga, and Pilates fusion workout at The Spa). She’s a woman I look up to, so I think it’s very fitting she’s our featured anniversary interview.

I stole this photo off her Facebook wall.

Noelle: Hi Marie! Thanks for doing this email interview.
Marie: Wow, your website is two years already? Happy anniversary!

N: How long have you been running? How did you start running?
M: I started running in the late 90′s when I trained for my first triathlon. Of the three disciplines, I liked running second (loved swimming, hated biking). I stopped doing tris in 1999 and switched to sport climbing.

M: In 2006 I started again, this time just to keep fit. But a good friend of mine suggested that we join a marathon, which we did in 2007. I’ve been running ever since, joining a marathon every year. In 2010 I did my first ultramarathon, the TNF 100 in Baguio, but that has been my only ultra so far.

N: Which appeals to you more — longer distance, or shorter time?
M: Longer distances appeal to me more because I’m not a fast runner (I’ve started incorporating speed workouts into my training though, and I’ve felt the difference).

N: What do you like most about running?
M: That I can do it all alone or with a group of friends. That I can go fast or slow. That I can start a run feeling troubled or confused and end up being enlightened and refreshed. That I can discover a new place (or my own neighborhood) on foot. That I can travel from point A to point Z. That I can do it on the track, on the road, or on trails. That I can meet new people and listen to their running stories and be inspired. These are just some of the reasons I love running.

N: What is the worst injury you’ve ever gotten from running and how long did you have to rest/rehabilitate?
M: The worst running injury I’ve ever had was tendinitis on my left ankle, when I was training for my first marathon. At the time I didn’t know what it was, and every sports doctor, acupuncturist, chiropractor, and Dorn therapist couldn’t pinpoint my problem. I kept running through the pain, shifting my weight here and there and all the compensating that my other body parts did only made matters worse. The pain then traveled to my knee, then my hip. I remember breaking down and crying in a doctor’s office (one of the many I visited) because I was sick and tired of being in pain. Months later I met ultra-runner and back surgeon Paolo Punsalan, who took one look at my running shoes and made me realize I had to fix my running gait. The pain left soon after.

N: Based on the reception Runner’s World has gotten, how big is running in the Philippines right now?
M: We at Runner’s World have been getting tremendous feedback from runners all over the Philippines who are excited to start running, to step up their performance, or finally get back to it after so many years. Since the 80′s, participation in foot races has jumped 200% (according to race director Rudy Biscocho), so running in the Philippines is huge. Is it here to stay? I certainly hope so. That’s why we try our best to educate and inspire runners with our magazine so that they start off on the right foot, and stick with the sport.

N: Describe Marie Calica the runner in 3 words.
M: Slow but sure.

Runner’s World Philippines is a quarterly publication of SUMMIT Media. You can find it at major bookstores near you.

Kristine wrote: When I started running a year and a half ago, I could not even finish 200 meters without gasping for air. Now, 40lbs lighter and able to withstand running straight for 3, sometimes 4kms with even breathing, I think it’s more than passion that makes me go on and run. I think running is a state if being, when the whole world fades away and your vision becomes clearer, the air crisper, the sun on your skin life-enahancing.

I’ve run through stifling heat, 0 degree temperatures, in rain, wind and snow, literally. I’ve run through injuries, amidst marching people, chased by rabid-looking dogs and fanatical men practicing golf swings on the street. I’ve run at 2am and I’ve run at high noon. I’ve run in several countries. And I’ve run mostly alone. Haruki Murakami is right to say that running is a solitary occupation. I joined my first race just September last year and I never ran to win. People say I’m crazy, and maybe I am.

But running for me is being transported to a different plane where your only rival is yourself. I repeat to myself, just one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other. Running makes me tenacious. It gives me patience. It makes me hope and dream. It generally makes me a better person. This is why I run.

Rah wrote: “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” -John Bingham

I run because it makes me happy. I will keep on running until the day it ceases to bring happiness.

Pouring out one’s reasons for running is hard. Like a confession, it is personal. Some may not understand, some may not care at all, but it is my hope that in some way people will discover the right sport for them as we runners did, whether it’s running or something else.

There are a lot of reasons why people get into running: to lose weight, to heal a broken heart, to overcome an adversity; some run for fitness, some – a combination of different reasons. The reason why I found my self running I guess is a combination of different reasons, too. But if I were to choose just one reason, I think it is because of this: “Running makes me happy.” Whenever I see people running, I’m like a child in awe. It’s like a circus show, a cotton candy, a balloon, and all the things that can make a child in me amazed and inspired. When I’m in a park, a track oval, a race, anywhere where people are running, it’s almost as if I can absorb other people’s happy auras. The happiness running brought to my life changed my life in ways I never imagined possible.

I was insomniac ever since I can remember. The long nights were endless and the mornings were torture. I was a zombie throughout the day and an owl at night. Through the years I’ve tried to cure myself of this curse. Milk, listening to soft music, beer, sleeping pills, counting sheep, nothing worked – not until I tried running in the morning. I resolved to buy the largest, loudest alarm clock at SM; I have resolved to set it up at five every morning and told myself that no matter what, I will run. Running at a regular schedule brought my sleeping patterns back to normal, the quality of my sleep has tremendously improved, sleeping on time became easy, and mornings have become as beautiful as ever before. Sunrise. It is glorious. For me a single sunrise is better than a hundred sunsets.

Running also showed me what commitment is about. Before I was running, I was scared to commit in anything. I was afraid to pour in my heart into something. It seemed to me that every goal was the ultimate end. I just wanted to finish a task for the sake of just finishing it. I never poured my heart into my work. I just wanted to be in the background. I hated groups, I hated organizations, I hated any institution that required sticking around. But when I discovered my love for running, I realized that commitment isn’t that hard if you’re doing something that makes you happy.

Just like in running, I realized that commitment isn’t a goal but a journey. It is doing what makes you happy daily (with regularity). Just like in running, where the finish line is not the ultimate reward, the prize in commitment is the belief that it makes you a better person – the belief that you are part of something larger, a bigger plan, something really important, and you are happy fulfilling that plan as a journey. In other words, running helped me discovered the beauty of living in the present, living in the “now.”

Running has changed my perspective ever since, I started watching out what I eat, I started looking after my health. I started to be more understanding and more spiritual. Running trained me to endure more physical and mental stress. The sense of regularity and rhythm that comes with my running allowed me to think more clearly and more efficiently – which translates to better performance at work and in school.

God has blessed me with two legs, two lungs, one heart, and two eyes with a vision; and each stride is like a prayer of gratitude for all the blessing God has given me. Everyday, at five in the morning, I wake up, lace my shoes, and jog my self to church to pray. Running gives me something to look forward to. Running pushes my limits, works out my endurance, speed, and gives me direction. There’s nothing quite like it. I believe it is worthy pursuit – it just makes me feel more alive. Running is love that grows in time.

The prize in running in my book, isn’t medals, personal acclaim, cash prizes, personal records, loot bags, running with celebrities, no it’s not. For me, running is the prize itself. And realized that fact, brings joy to my life.

Congratulations to Kristine and Rah! I will email you for more details ASAP.

To everyone who joined this contest, thank you very much for your comments. I am more inspired than ever to keep running!

Todo Responde Run

According to the organizers, this event took only a little more than two weeks to put together. With technical organization by ProActive, additional logistics by Runrio, sponsored venue by BGC, and volunteer work by a bunch of running clubs and groups, this event felt very “big-time”. I only wish they’d given themselves more time to attract more participants. For the same amount of effort they could have gotten more registrations, which would have meant a bigger amount to apportion to the beneficiaries.

I registered for the 5K run because I was planning to ease myself back into running with short distances first. I didn’t even bring my Garmin (it’s still alive after two years! yay!) because I didn’t want to see how fast I would slow down after the first kilometer. So I was pleasantly surprised at how hungry my legs seemed to be for speed. I didn’t even have my usual Gu gel and yet there I was at the starting line revving and raring to go.

Running has always been incredibly therapeutic for me and after weeks of not running (and a really bad week prior to the race), I really let loose. The great logistics of this race helped me forget about everything else and just pour my whole being into running. The endorphin rush was exactly what I needed.

post-race with running friends (photo by Pam Mangampo)

Race in Review

• Route: I loved that there were long stretches of straight road so I could really pick up speed. I managed to catch up with the tail end of the 10K but the race routes again diverged, separating the categories and decongesting the finish line.
• Traffic Management: volunteer marshals and BGC traffic personnel were on point here, ensuring runners’ safety through intersections, making sure we took the correct routes to complete our respective distances. Of course there were some hard-headed runners who shortcutted to the finish line; I hope they learn someday that they’re only cheating themselves.
• Hydration: ProActive had its genesis when the larger races needed to outsource their hydration management, and as expected this was one of the great things about the race. I didn’t have to go too long without water or Pocari Sweat, and towards the end of the race I actually skipped a few tables (I had drunk some Lightwater before the race).
• Package: For P300 I got a bib and a smooth race experience. San ka pa?
• Freebies: I didn’t expect any freebies since all money collected from the registration fee would go to the beneficiaries, but I was glad to see MultiSport and Run BGC magazines being given out at the finish area.

This was a great race with a big heart, and I hope that assistance for Sendong victims and for Baby Raphael won’t end with the conclusion of the race. FOUR KIKAY PINKIE FINGERS out of FIVE!

And thanks to TODO RESPONDE RUN, I’ve got a shiny new bauble to start my 2012 off right. <3

photo by Nikko Peralta

Every few months someone drops me a message in my Facebook profile asking how I train. Presumably it’s so they can do likewise and maybe get the same results or improvements I’ve experienced as a runner. I usually respond with some generic information about the kind of mileage I have when I’m not building mileage and intensity for a 42K.

photo from Ironman Phil

I undertake a lot of training by myself (the so-called “secret training”) because I have unusual liberty with my time, being a TV host and group fitness instructor. Also, believe it or not, most of my hours of training don’t occur on the road or the track! So I don’t think I’m the typical runner who uses running as her main means of keeping fit.

In any case, this is the secret behind the cardio fitness, body awareness, flexibility, and core strength I use for running. I get them from teaching two group fitness programs, BODYJAM and BODYBALANCE.

BODYJAM

BODYJAM™ is the cardio workout where you are free to enjoy the sensation of dance. An addictive fusion of the latest dance styles and hottest new sounds puts the emphasis as much on having fun as on breaking a sweat. Funky instructors teach you to move with attitude through this 55-minute class. So grab a friend, get front and center, and get high on the feeling of dance. — Les Mills BODYJAM™

I started taking BODYJAM classes in 2006 and totally loved the combination of creative dance moves that let me express myself, and the interval intensity that raised my cardio fitness level to the point where I could do one-and-a-half hours of the class nonstop (we called these “BODYJAM marathons” at the gym). So when I did my first race (a 10K) in 2009, my legs and my lungs were well-prepared to handle an hour of running.

What makes BODYJAM so great for my cardio fitness is the way a class is structured. We have two intensity peaks within that 55-minute class, with a recovery between them. So it’s like heart rate training because both the aerobic and anaerobic zones are explored during the class.

Additionally, BODYJAM doesn’t just involve the legs; it uses the whole body, so you develop a sense of where your body is in space (“body awareness”). When applied to running, this makes me more aware of how I’m striding and landing, and I can pull up my posture or land more lightly on my feet accordingly. My core is also engaged all throughout to keep my spine stable especially through twists and jumps. Good core strength is vital in keeping good form in running, reducing fatigue (since bad form uses more energy).

Now that I’m an instructor, I teach approximately three hours of BODYJAM in a week; I have two classes on Mondays and one on Tuesdays. Keep in mind that a person needs about 30 minutes, three days a week of moderately-intense exercise to keep the heart healthy.

BODYBALANCE/BODYFLOW

BODYFLOW is the Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates workout that builds flexibility and strength and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Controlled breathing, concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches, moves and poses to music create a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance. (For copyright reasons, BODYBALANCE™ is known as BODYFLOW™ in the USA). — Les Mills BODYFLOW/BODYBALANCE

I started teaching BODYBALANCE in 2007. The video above is deceptive because it shows only the slow movements we use in the tai chi warm-ups and the slow transitions we have in the yoga poses and Pilates core work. That slowness belies the muscular strength and flexibility these exercises have given me.

A BODYBALANCE class is structured with a Tai Chi-based track plus Sun Salutations to warm-up the body. Yoga-based standing poses develop leg strength and the sense of balance. After some stretches through the hips, Pilates-based mat exercises work the core (both abs and back). Twists and stretches conclude the main work in the class. A focus on using the inhale and exhale with the moves and poses develops lung capacity and the ability to relax under pressure.

Just like BODYJAM, I teach BODYBALANCE three times a week. Applied to running, BODYBALANCE helps me to stay relaxed throughout my stride so I use up less energy. I’ve learned to breathe deeper so I provide more oxygen for my muscles, enabling me to stay longer in the aerobic zone even when increasing speed. The stretches I do in class maintain my range of movement and help my muscles recover. And again, maintaining proper torso form relies on core strength.

I also like trying out different exercises and fitness classes, as well as putting in some time in the pool and on the bike. But these two group fitness classes are the mainstay of my weekly regimen.

So where does running fit into the plan?  I do my twice-weekly training runs specifically to get my running muscles used to the motion, check on form, and indulge in some liberating sprint work. Most importantly, I do it for fun!

I think training plans are very personal, and what works for one person might not for another. Do check out the January issue of Runner’s World Philippines (coming out on the 19th!) for some great basic plans on how to start running, then create your own customized training plan from there.