ek-xo-dus

This year marked the ever-rising number of running events aiming to raise funds for various groups, organizations, and charities. A lot of people have also been joining these running events, from as young as 5, and to as old as 80 plus. The population of competitive or serious runners have also increased, but some of them still don't have enough training or the knowledge with the proper form and posture in running. We need not just practice, and daily run trainings, but also the correct knowledge, form, techniques and posture in running to prevent injuries on the road. So, if you are ever planning to attend a running clinic, pick one below and start in properly training your mind and body for your upcoming race schedules.

RUNNER RUNNING CLINIC
Coach: Jojo Macalintal
Schedule and Venue: SUN, 5:30AM, in front of Abelardo Hall, U.P. Diliman
Contact: Rene Villarta 0915-6606291
Website: www.runnex.org

NIKE RUNNING CLINIC
Coach: Rio de la Cruz
Schedule and Venue: TUES, 7PM, Philsports Complex (ULTRA)
FRI, 7PM, Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street
Contact: Coach Rio 703-1736
Website: www.nikerunning.com.ph/clinic

MIZUNO RUN CLINIC
Coach: Ige Lopez
Schedule and Venue: THU, 7PM, Bonifacio High Street
Call Jai, 757.3160 loc. 515

TEAM BALD RUNNER SPEED TRAINING
Coach: Saturnino Salazar
Schedule and Venue: Every TUE, WED, FRI, 5:30PM, Philsports Complex (ULTRA)
Website: www.teambaldrunner.wordpress.com

The Catholic Ministry to Deaf People, Inc. (CMDP) held it's very first running event, dubbed Yes Run 2009 with main goal of raising funds for the schooling of deaf children and youth.



Official race results will be posted soon.

Race Profile:
Distance: 5 km.
Net Personal Time: 00:27:28
Official Time: 00:00:00
Official Ranking: xxx

Race Info:
When: Dec. 6, 2009.
Where: UP Diliman, Quezon City
Event: 1st CMDP Yes Run

Just a day after the New Balance Power Run 2009 (NBPR), another race has been scheduled. It was Bonifacio Day, and at the same time, it was the McHappy Day for the children beneficiaries of Ronald McDonald's House Charities (RMHC). This is also the first time that McDonald's Philippines held a running event, aiming to raise fund for RMHC's two flagship programs: Bright Minds Read (BMR) and Bahay Bulilit.

The registration for the event has also been sponsored to us (the "Strathletes" team) by our Company - STRADCOM Corporation. It's the second of its kind for this year that our company have fully supported our running-for-health-and-fitness campaign. And again a big thanks to our HR, organizers, and the people behind who made our sponsored run possible. With this, we were able to invite a total of 23 company participants, the biggest so far, and out of these are 9 first-time runners.

Although most of us have just cooled-down from the previous day's run of NBPR 2009, under the team and flagship of The White Hat, we are still excitingly fueled-up for this race. After all, the direct beneficiaries for this event are the children and kids of our future. And yeap, this time, we are all on-time for the race's pre-event program. So we were able to stretch out our legs and body, a good reminder specially to our team's first-time runners.

As the gun-start fired, I was able to outlast all other 5k runners within the 400 meter distance. When I felt that my knee pads have not been properly placed yet (oh such a memory gap!), I immediately put it on but then I wasn't able to chase and pace with all the other runners again. Finishing the race with my personal timing of 0:25:30, as of this moment, this is my 1st personal best run for the 5k category, topping out my previous 5k runs on "GMA Tatakbo Ka Ba" and on the "21st Milo Marathon". I guess the pressure from one of the male first-time runners in our team helped a lot since he's been faster than me from the 400 meter mark onwards. If he have stayed on the course for 5k, we might have finished at the same time or finished with only a few seconds of finish time gap.

The post-race event programs also surprised a lot of runners, specially the kids who witnessed Angel Locsin, and with the presence of the cute singer Charice Pempengco. I cannot deny that I shivered in excitement seeing Angel Locsin in person, lol! She's really beautiful from inside and out, and even in her most simple appearance, without the make-ups and gorgeous dress. If I have known that she would run in the 3k category, I might have also registered in the 3k so that I could run side-by-side with her (just for friendship / fan's sake, really, I'm already married), hehehe!

The official race results though have not yet been released by, I believe Finishline.ph since we saw Coach Rio busy organizing manning the McHappy event.

Race Profile:
Distance: 5 km.
Net Personal Time: 00:25:30
Official Time: 00:00:00
Official Ranking: xxx

Race Info:
When: Nov. 30, 2009.
Where: McKinley Hills, Taguig
Event: 1st McHappy Day Fun Run

November 2009, it marked my calendar's busiest month, from the family affairs on the holidays, and the running events on weekends. A day after my day of birth, comes one of the most awaited running event of the year after more than two months of schedule postponement. The New Balance Power Run 2009 dubbed Raising Hope, was supposedly fired-up during the hype of typhoon "Ondoy".

Although after a long wait for this event, I still got around 5 minutes late for the 10k gun-start. The same thing that happened to my Timex Run with more than 15 minutes late. I think that's what I get for running alone on the 10k category among my running buddies (no hurt feelings, really, lol!).

My best shot, again, no photo while running :(

So to make up with the lost time, I maintained my somehow "fastest" pacing from the starting line up to the finish line. After all, I was also aiming to finish first among the White Hat (TWH) team participants for the prize of one month yogurt ice cream supply, hehehe! Having such kind of inspiration (the yogurt supply), and with the workout that I got from the recently held Men's Health Urbanathlon, I was able to outpace a lot of runners, and even beat my own 10k records. To date, this is my second best run with official time of 0:53:59, and personal time of 0:51:47. The ranking though has not been published yet.

After the race, me and together with one of my running colleagues who already finish his 5k race, immediately went to the booth of The White Hat to check if they already have the winner result for TWH team. I asked the ladies on the booth how will they verify the winner for the team, and to our surprise, me and my buddy were entertained like we are the winners for the 10k and 5k categories respectively. And yes we are! We were then asked to pose a photo at the back of their booth with The White Hat's tarpaulin. Photos were then taken with the Certificate and the claim stubs for one month yogurt supply. We felt like celebrities, and I could already imagine my appearance at TWH's website, holding a certificate, stub, and finisher's medal, lol! Then after the photo shoots, another finisher for the 10k also arrived at TWH booth, asking about the "celebration" going on. To their surprise, the guy (if I can remember right, his name is Rex) also has a medal. It was then that they realized that all the finisher's were given a medal. Then we also realized that our winning for TWH team has not yet been verified, and that they only thought that we were the top finisher since we are the first one who went to their booth, bearing a medal. Such a dismay! Well that's the fun part of the event!

Another photo collection with Coach Rio

The post-race feast was also sumptuous. A lot of sponsors such as Alaska and Nesvita gave out an unlimited cereal drinks and milk. A juice product that has a weight-losing ingredient that is claimed to be better than L-Carnitine was also sampled. It doesn't taste that good compared to the known Fit 'n Right, but I think the weight loss is real since I have been going in and out to our comfort room for a number of times in a day for three days straight, lol!

Party pics live - the photo contractor for this event, were also present to take the photos of the runners, not during the running event though, but for the post-race. Me, MinnieRunner and her hubby - Paulo went on a long line for more than an hour to have our photo taken. Unfortunately, the event's time cut-off have already lapsed, cutting out also the electricity supply for the Partypicslive's booth. Gladly, one of their crew still accommodated our request to take our photo using Paulo's DSLR cam.

At the PartyPicsLive booth

You may download the Unofficial race results at the New Balance's website or on the links below.
5k results     10k results     21k results

Race Profile:
Distance: 10 km.
Net Personal Time: 00:51:47
Unofficial Time: 00:53:59
Official Ranking: xxx

Race Info:
When: Nov. 29, 2009.
Where: Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Event: New Balance Power Run 2009 - Raising Hope

Aside from the outdoor adventures that I like such as hiking, biking, and running, one of my first love was mountain climbing. It feels great whenever you reach the highest peek of a mountain, feeling the soft breeze of air throughout your sweating body. You would feel an immediate release from the stress or depression if you're feeling any. Reaching the peek would make you feel like a 'King' or a 'Queen' being on top of the world, having a bird's eye-view of the little towns, and the entirety of the area surrounding the mountain.

And thinking of reliving my old self with enjoying activities that are close to nature, I would have to make another preparation for hiking or possibly mountain climbing activities. So to remind myself, and also for the guidance of other climbers, I have thought of posting these gear listings for a multi-day climb that was previously given to me by my climbing buddy - Jaymark. Remember that some of the gears listed here may be shareable to your buddies if you already have one. Teamwork plays a vital role in climbing!

Complete Gear Listings for Multi-day Climbs
MUST HAVE/REQUIRED:
I.D.

CORE GEAR:
Backpack
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Ground Sheet
Tent/Tarp/Bivy w/ guy lines and stakes

HOUSEKEEPING/KITCHEN:
Stove w/ fuel and windscreen
Cook set (outdoor lightweight pots, shareable)
Spoon
Water Bottles
Collapsible water bladders (2 Liters total)
Stainless Steel Cup

PERSONAL NECESSITIES:
Soap
Toilet Paper
Tootbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
*everything should be lightweight and compact

CLOTHING:
**Clothing would depend on the length of the outdoor adventure**
Rain gear (Waterproof Jacket/Pants)
Breathable/Quick drying/Moisture wicking Shirts
Breathable/Quick drying/Moisture wicking Pants
Insulation (Fleece Jacket for cold weather)
Socks
Underwear
Bandanna
Gloves

SURVIVAL KIT and MISC:
First Aid Kit
Multi-tool/Knife
Headlamp
Compass
Matches
Emergency Blanket/Space Blanket
Whistle
Water Purification Tablets
Signal Mirror
Sewing Needle w/ Thread
Candles (2 birthday-sized)
Utility Cord
Garbage Bag
Camera
Pen

Hey, Jaymark, buddy, wherever you are, I hope you'll read this soon, I'm already preparing for our Mt. Pulag Christmas expedition on 2010. ;)