Well, I’m going to fix that. I’m plotting my races for June, and here are some that have caught my attention.

Brooks Run Happy on June 3

The race distances here are 6K, 12K, and 21K. Interesting! If you’re a regular at races but wonder what it feels like to go beyond your usual distance, the 6K and 12K may be appealing. The half-marathon distance is hard to come by these days so kudos to Brooks for including it in their categories.

Pricing for the distances is reasonable at P500 for 6K, P650 for 12K, and P750 for 21K. Proceeds from the Brooks Run Happy will benefit the Foundation for the Philippine Environment for their biodiversity conservation projects in the country.

Race: Brooks Run Happy
Date: June 3, 2012
Race Venue: Bonifacio Global City
Registration Ends: May 27
Reg Fee: P500 (6K), P650 (12K), P750 (21K)
Registration Sites: RUNNR (Bonifacio High Street, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center); Toby’s Sports (Shangri-La Plaza, SM MOA, SM North The Block, Glorietta 4)
For Inquiries: 0927-8756671 (during office hours)

One Run. One Family. One La Salle Run on June 10

La Salle’s alumni love putting on the sports events (I’ll be joining the Animo Triathlon on the same weekend as this race), and the OROFOLS Run will be held for the benefit of the Green For Life: One Million Trees and Beyond project.

Registration fees for the distances are: P400 for 3K, P500 for 5K, P600 for 10K, and P700 for 16K. This race will be a chip-timed one, so this is a pretty good deal! (P100 discount on the reg fee will be given to La Salle alumni, La Salle students, La Salle admins and faculty, and senior citizens.)

Check out the OROFOLS website for more details.

Race: One Run One Family One La Salle Run
Date: June 10, 2012
Race Venue: SM Mall of Asia
Reg Fee: P400 (3K), P500 (5K), P600 (10K), P700 (16K)
Registration Sites: De La Salle University Alumni Association office, Toby’s Sports (SM MOA), RUNNR (Trinoma), ROX (Bonifacio High Street), A Runner’s Circle (Roxas Blvd.), Olympic World (Alabang Town Center), online registration
For Inquiries: OROFOLS website

Isa, Dalawa, TAKBO: Run for Children’s Rights on June 24

As the school year starts again, I am reminded of how many children fail to complete even a basic primary education, don’t get adequate nutrition or shelter, and are basically left to fend for themselves on the streets. The Isa, Dalawa, Takbo: Run for Children’s Rights aims to raise funds for Lingap Pangkabataan‘s programs to organize and empower communities to provide a better social environment for poor and marginalized children to grow up in, where their rights will be respected and protected.

Visit the official Facebook page of Isa, Dalawa, Takbo!, where online registration is ongoing. Registration fees are P300 for 3K, P400 for 5K, and P500 for 10K.

Race: Isa, Dalawa, Takbo: Run for Children’s Rights
Date: June 24, 2012
Race Venue: UP Diliman Academic OVal
Reg Fee: P300 (3K), P400 (5K), P500 (10K)
Registration Sites: online registration
For Inquiries: Ma-Anne (09178130632); Lia (09173473044); Cathy (09273477926)

It’s quite an economical run, with reg fees at P500 for 3K and 5K, and P600 for 10K and the 10-miler (or 16K). Race kits include a tech shirt, bib, and timing chip. All finishers will receive a medal.

There will be costume contests for Best Green Archer Attire and Best Green and White Buddies (2 runners of any gender combination, one wearing all green and the other, all white). Of course like every Greentennial-organized race, you know there will be plenty of photographers snapping away on the race course so you can download your running shots on the Greentennial Photos Facebook account after the race for free.

Race: De La Salle Green & White Run
Date: April 1, 2012
Assembly Time: 4:45am at Bonifacio Global City
Gunstarts: 5:15am – 10-miler; 5:40am – 10K; 5:30am – 5K; 6:00am – 3K
Registration Dates: starts on March 1
Reg Fee: P500 (3K/5K), P600 (10K/10-miler)
Registration Sites: A Runners Circle (Aloha Hotel, Roxas Blvd.); Second Wind (Teacher’s Village and Ortigas Home Depot); Toby’s Sports (Park Square and Shangri-La); Mizuno (Mall of Asia, Eastwood, and Alabang Town Center)

With many thanks to the race organizer, I am raffling off five race kits for any race distance (3K/5K/10K/10-miler) at the Green & White Run! Here are the mechanics:

1. Follow @kikayrunner on Twitter.
2. Tweet “Animo! De La Salle Green & White Run on April 1, 2012. Let’s run for the scholars! @kikayrunner”
3. The first five people to tweet will win a free race kit each.
4. Winners must claim race kits at their chosen registration sites.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Melanie Intalan (@nie048), Ian Intalan (@ianintalan), Jonard Aries Gamboa (@boypickuprunner), Russell David (rusz_08), and Allan Gregor (@AllanGregor07) for winning the race kits! I’ll forward your information to Greentennial so you can pick up your race kits soon.

This is what I was doing two summers ago:

sleepy at the Skyathon 2010 pre-race briefing

Whenever I’m in Boracay, I try to find time to do a morning walk or run along the beach. I love taking it all in, from Station 1 to Station 3, before the tourists wake up, and running’s the perfect way to do it. I’ve gone to Boracay every year since 2006 and I’ve seen the shoreline change, for worse or for better. I’ve seen it clean and smooth, I’ve seen it strewn with litter and algae. I knew there must be some way I could do my part as a frequent tourist to the island.

I ran at Skyathon 2010 because I happened to be vacationing in Boracay on the same weekend the race would be held. I had also heard that some proceeds from the race would go toward a beach clean-up fund, and race participants would be encouraged to clean up the beach after the race. The organizers of the Skyathon kept it up with a bigger race last year, and this year they invited me to experience Skyathon 2012.

Info from the Skyathon website:

SKYATHON is a 5K and 10K running event that will be held in Boracay Island on April 21, 2012 (Saturday). It’s on its 3rd year and is one of SKYCABLE’s signature events. It’s an eco-friendly race where Finishline’s Green Chips will be used, and part of the registration fees will go to the clean-up programs of Boracay Foundation, Inc.

Registration fee is similar to Manila races, especially since logistics are handled by Finishline. For 5K, it’s P600. For 10k, it’s P700. There is also a couple’s relay (romantic and platonic couples) at P1,000. Two runners will team up and run 5K one at a time using the same Green Chip.

Race kits will be released on April 20, the day before the race, at Epic beachfront, D’Mall, Boracay from 3pm to 7pm. All race kits will have a race bib and singlet. Singlets are available in 6 sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and 2XL. These will be available until supplies last.

Participants who already have the MYLAPS Championship Green Chip (used at the Finishline-organized AXN Runs) can use that as their timing device. Non-owners may choose to buy their personal Green Chip with ankle strap at Php400 or rent a timing chip at Php250. All finishers will receive finishers’ medals.

You can register at R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street on Saturdays and Sundays only, from February 4 to April 1, 2012. Online registration (via credit card) is available on www.skyathon.com. If you haven’t made travel arrangements yet, the Skyathon website also has some great airfare and hotel deals offered at 0% installment.

There’s also an early registration promo. If you register before March 15, you become eligible to win one of ten American Tourister bags (worth around P7,000 each).

So if you were already planning on going to Boracay this summer anyway, why not make a race weekend out of it?

Race: Skyathon Boracay Beach Run 2012
Date: April 21, 2012
Assembly Time: 5:00am at Epic beachfront
Reg Fee: P600 (5K), P700 (10K), P1000 (10K couple’s relay)
Registration Sites: R.O.X. BHS (Saturdays and Sundays only), online registration

Additionally, all 12K finishers will receive a finisher shirt from Smith Optics.

Top winners for all race categories will receive a medal, P50,000 worth of personal accident insurance from SunLife, and a gift pack from Toby’s Sports, Adidas Body Care, and Dona Maria.

Up for grabs on race day are the following raffle prizes: cellphones from MyPhone and Sun Cellular, watches from Soleus, Sun broadband kits, gift packs from Toby’s Sports, Adidas Body Care and Resorts World, and a gift certificate from F1 Hotel & Tagaytay Hotel.

Participants can also expect the following give-aways at the race venue: Purefoods hotdog, Pan De Pugon pandesal, Tang and DOLE juice, Tullys coffee and banana, Big Chill fruit shake, Nature Valley and Kelloggs fruit shake, Soyami Chips chips, FujiFilm photo booth, ON Optimum energy supplements, B&L vitamins, DKT condoms, Resorts World visor and membership card, St. Luke’s Medical Center bags and fans, and Sun Life Financial personal accident insurance.

For EARLY REGISTRANTS who paid the old reg fee, there will be a rebate booth on the event day (March 11) to claim your refunds.

I’m super thankful that there are race organizers and sponsors who have stepped up efforts so that people can still enjoy quality races at affordable prices.

Race: St. Luke’s IEI Eye Run
Date: March 11, 2012
Assembly Time: 5:00am at 34th Street BGC (near Mercato)
Reg Fee: P500 (3K/6K/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)

UPDATE March 7, 2012: Eye Run race venue has been moved to 34th Street, Bonifacio Global City (near Mercato) per request by BGC Management. Race routes have been adjusted accordingly. This is a larger venue and there’s lots of parking behind the Turf BGC field, so it will be more convenient for participants. Please help spread the word about the venue change!

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.

How can Participants Protect Themselves?
Consider stepping up your speed and agility training.

On race day, April 21, at 5pm, participants of The Running Dead will be released in waves of 100.

• Each and every participant will begin the race with Life ribbons/flags.
• The participants will run a 7k on-and-offroad obstacle course of rugged flats, inclines and obstacles infested with zombies who are out to capture your Life flags.
• Your objective is to finish the race with at least one Life flag intact to qualify for race honors and/or a special loot bag.
• If you lose all your Life flags you are ineligible for place prizes.
• Racers are not allowed to push, punch or taunt zombies; zombies are not allowed to touch or push a racer.
• Marshals are on the course to enforce a no rough-housing rule.
• All participants have free entrance to the Running Dead after party.

What Kinds of Zombies Are There?

• Walkers set the tone of the course. They shuffle and moan and move slowly and only grab a flag if you’re very close.
• Startlers hide near obstacles and grab flags at bottlenecks on the course.
• Runners ensure that no one reaches the final stage with all flags intact.
• Elite members of the national team will make sure that your finish line sprint leads to a personal best.

What Do Survivors Get?

• 1st male & female: P10,000
• 2nd male & female: P5,000
• 3rd male & female: P3,000
• All qualified finishers keep their brains and get a loot bag and shirt

Proceeds from the race will go to four (4) deserving graduates of the Super Tri Kids program run by Coach Ani de Leon. With so many young athlete hopefuls in any sport in this country, many fall through the cracks after their junior training status. The goal of this race is to keep these high-potential kids in training and progressing in the sport. (Hopefully they’ll end up eventually representing the country in international races as national athletes.)

Coach Dan Brown says, “This sort of private funding help is what is so desperately needed to assist junior development of triathlon in this country and keep these athletes in the right capable hands during this time… I am very excited to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they are given this opportunity!”

Race: The Running Dead
Save the Date: April 12, 2012
Assembly Time: 5:00pm at Filinvest, Alabang (Palms Country Club)
For Updates on Reg Fee & Reg Sites: The Running Dead Facebook page and The Running Dead on Twitter

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

And Now For Some FREE RACE KITS!

I’m raffling off one race kit for each of the races above. Here are the mechanics:

1. Follow @kikayrunner on Twitter.
2. Tweet “I want to run for a cause!”; mention @kikayrunner and the race’s hashtag within the tweet. One Twitter account, one race, one entry. Example tweet: “I want to run for a cause! @kikayrunner #eyerunmar10″
3. PDA Run: #pdarunfeb18
4. Eye Run: #eyerunmar10
5. 1, 4, 3 Go: #143gorunmar18
6. First Twitter mention for a race wins the free kit for that race.

UPDATE: I realize I put feb18 instead of feb19 in the PDA Run hashtag and mar10 instead of mar11 in the Eye Run hashtag, but I will just let the mechanics stand. And within 10 minutes we already have winners for each of the race kits!

To the winners, congratulations and I’ll get in touch with you for further details for your race kits. To those who sent in their tweets but weren’t fast enough, I wish I had race kits enough for all of you. Please do still check out these races and see which one deserves your registration fee. Make a charity patient happy. :)

Taray Pamulinawen Laoag Marathon on February 25

It’s obviously too late to start training now for a full marathon happening in two weeks, but if you happen to be in Laoag on the weekend of February 25, prepare to be caught up in the festivities of the Taray Pamulinawen Laoag Marathon, part of the fiesta of St. William the hermit, Laoag City’s patron saint.

“Taray” (accent on the second syllable) is the Ilocano word for “run”. From a longest distance of 11 miles last year, the city of Laoag has taken the leap to organizing a full marathon. I’ve been to Laoag once and the described route is a full tour through its picturesque streets, lonely highways, and famous sights. The route will take runners through the famed sand dunes, the sinking bell tower, Gilbert Bridge, the Tobacco Monopoly Monument that stands in the city proper, and Fort Ilocandia.

For those not ready for a full marathon, there are also shorter distances: 750-meter kids dash; 5K; 10K; 21K; and a 42-kilometer mixed relay.

(Don’t forget to have some empanada post-race; it’s a great recovery food!)

Race: Taray Pamulinawen Laoag Marathon
Date: February 25, 2012
Gunstart: 5am at Laoag City Hall
Early Bird Reg Fee (Jan. 9-Feb. 18): P500 (42K/21K), P250 (10K), P200 (5K), P100 (750m), P1,500 (42K mixed relay)
Late Reg Fee (Feb. 19-22): P700 (42K/21K), P400 (10K), P350 (5K), P200 (750m), P2,400 (42K mixed relay)
Registration: Bank Deposit, Credit Card
Registration Dates: January 9-February 18 (early bird), February 19-22 (late)
For More Info: Taray Pamulinawen info website

Don Bosco Fun Run: Run, Jump, Make Noise on February 26

Don Bosco schools have been educating Philippine youth since the 1950′s. To celebrate their 60th year, they are staging a simultaneous fun run in six venues: Quirino Grandstand (Manila), Nuvali (Laguna), Clark (Pampanga), San Jose (Nueva Ecija), Naga City (Camarines Sur), and Legazpi City (Albay).

The Don Bosco Fun Run is a fund-raising activity to create a trust fund for the eight Don Bosco Technical-Vocational Education and Training centers. The TVET schools impart technical skills to marginalized youth, enabling them to find employment with car manufacturers, technical offices, and the like. Apart from the free schooling, Don Bosco also funds basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and medical assistance.

Registration is at P350 for all categories (3K, 5K, 10K), with all proceeds going directly toward the TVET trust fund.

Race: Don Bosco Fun Run
Date: February 26, 2012
Gunstart: 6am at all six venues
Fee: P350 (3K/5K/10K)
Registration Venues: Don Bosco schools (Mandaluyong, Makati, Manila, Canlubang, Pampanga, Naga, Legazpi, Nueva Ecija); ROX Bonifacio High Street; participating Chris Sports Outlets (Festival Mall, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, Glorietta, SM MOA)
Registration Dates: February 4-24, 2012
For More Info: Don Bosco Fun Run 2012 on Facebook

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.

Registration started on January 6, 2012 at the following sites:

• R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street
• A Runner’s Circle (ARC) Unit H, Aloha Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Cor. Quirino Ave.
• RUNNR Alabang Town Center

Donations in kind will also be accepted at the registration sites. To donate in cash, visit EatPrayRun.org.

Let’s take a closer look at the beneficiaries:

Typhoon Sendong victims

In case you haven’t sent a financial donation through the PNRC website or sent a donation in kind through Sagip Kapamilya, the Todo Responde Run gives you a way to do so while also indulging your love for running. Eighty percent of the total funds collected from the registration fee as well as further donations will go towards aid efforts for Typhoon Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

Baby Raphael Carlos Bautista

Born premature weighing only 1.9 pounds, Baby Raphael is fighting for his life. With a hospital bill amounting to over P500,000 and still much more to be done to keep Raphael alive, his parents Richard and Cecilia are asking for help. Twenty percent of total funds collected will be given to them to help pay the hospital bill.

(I’m still verifying whether the money for Baby Raphael, if paid in lump sum, will be liquidated and accounted for so we know it was used for the hospital bill.)

Rescue Run 2011, December 31

This is a no-frills race for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Sendong. For a minimum P150 donation, you can run a 5K loop however many times you want at McKinley Hill. Bring your own hydration and support, though. No singlet, no timing chip, no freebies. Just a simple year-end run.

Registration is at R.O.X., A Runner’s Circle, and Secondwind Running Stores. You can find more information on Takbo.ph.

Run For Pinoy Glory, January 7

Did you know that we are sending a really small delegation to the London Olympics and Paralympics this 2012? And that though the country is paying for our delegates’ trip, they barely have enough to cover the training and living expenses leading up to it? The proceeds from Run for Pinoy Glory will provide supplementary funding for qualifying athletes.

There are 3K (P450), 5K (P550), 10K (P700), and 21K (P750) categories, and special categories for wheelchair (5K at P550) and executives (10K at P700). Registration is until December 30 at R.O.X. Registration ends earlier on December 29 at Chris Sports Megamall, and December 28 for Chris Sports Glorietta, Market Market, SM North The Annex, Robinsons Place Ermita, Festival Mall Alabang. Takbo.ph has all the details.