Subic International Marathon 2012

Distance: 21K
Time: 2 hours and 18 minutes
Date: January 22, 2012
Pace: 6:34 minutes per kilometer

It's More Fun in Subic

Subic is always a great weekend getaway and at the start of the year it becomes a stage of the Subic International Marathon. It brings in a droves of passionate runners, fit police and army personnel and even newbies who just want to enjoy a run in Subic scenery in 3K, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon Categories.  It was 3 times the fun for Team Total Fitness at Subic as we were able to sneak in a bike ride around Waterfront drive with a view of the Subic Sunset on Saturday and a swim at Camayan Beach Report on Sunday after the Run.

Route and Elevation Profile

The Race starts at Remy Fields Oval then you take Rizal Highway for the next two kilometers and then you turn right to Argonaut Highway for the next 6 kilometers. This stretch provides a view of Subic Bay and a climb at Subic International Airport.  The last 2 kilometers before the u-turn slot is another climb towards Corregidor Road with a view of the Forrests of Subic.  The Elevation is almost flat for the first 5 kilometers before you start a climb approaching Subic International Airport and another climb to Corregidor Road covering 50 meters of elevation on the second 5-6K approaching the u-turn slot and then it's almost downward to flat run from there to the finish line.

The Race

I came into the starting line a little low on sleep and high on training mileage as I'm in my build phase of my training but running in Subic is refreshing with the fresher winds, the scenic bayside view and the fresh forrest scenery you get to see along the road.  The level of competition is also a bit higher here as you get to test your mettle against passionate runners and fit police and army personnel.  I was able to use my head light from the energizer run for additional illumination over the dark skies of dawn. I was off to a flying start for the first three kilometers.  I then settled at 6:30 pace from then on as I want to test how long I can go at a steady and consistent pace.  I was tempted to go slower on the climb at Subic International Airport but I didn't want the training effect that a hill brings to your legs so just maintained my pace.  It was a nice view approaching the u-turn at Corregidor Road which was surrounded by tall trees with fruit bats flying around.

I always get a fresh burst of energy at the halfway u-turn slot as it is the time you start counting down the kilometers to go and the climb towards the airport is now a dowhill path.  The sun also started to be a factor as it was a hot morning but since it's countdown mode,  it just gets me more excited to reach the finish line earlier.  Struggled a bit with a bit of soreness in the calf and quads muscles going in the last 5 kilometers so just went on with a slightly slower pace towards the finish line back in the oval.  As I crossed the finish line, I have a new PR for 21k at 2:18 and it was done running at an aerobic phase.  It was a good run and having a new PR is an additional consolation.  The race was great and improved a lot from last year in terms of lighting, water supply and even had a water hose to shower runners along the way.  The 21K finisher dog tag was also a unique memorabilia for the run. Now to look forward to 2013 Edition.

Team Total Fitness

Another great run for Team Total Fitness.  Team Total Fitness was also able to take some photos during the event at the oval area towards the finish line and here are the links.

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PSE Bull Run

Distance: 10K
Time: 1 hour and 6 minutes
Date: January 8, 2012
Pace: 6:36 minutes per kilometer

Bull Run

A bull run in the stock market means a period of increasing share prices in the stock market.  It is also the time that the investors are aggressive (or bullish) and is one indicator of how our economy is performing.  Some stock markets including our own Philippine Stock Exchange holds bull runs to spur hopes of a bull period in the stock market which directly translates to good economic fundamentals and high investor confidence.  This run was a run for the economy.

The Course

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line and the shortest distance in a race course is... a straight line.  A straight course is an easier run as you tend to lose momentum when passing through curves and turns.  The 10K course was such a straight and simple course. It starts from 28th Street all the way to 26th Street and 5th Avenue to enter Kalayaan Flyover and proceeds to Buendia before taking a u-turn near Malugay and back to the 26th street using the same course except that you'll use 3rd Ave going back instead of 5th Ave.  While the elevation profile is generally flat, the climb to and from Kalayaan flyover is always a challenge to runners.

The Race

It was a hectic training week with me already logging 30 kilometers and 3 hours on bike before the start of the race so I decided to adopt a race to train approach and run at an aerobic rate.  As long I get to finish each kilometer below 7 minutes per kilometer pace I should be fine.  For the first four kilometers including the climb to Kalayaan Flyover, I was struggling with some slight muscle pain so I had to endure until I get warmed up. At the 5th Kilometer, I was already able to go at a faster pace without much pain so maintained that pace to the finish line.  It was a bit dark in Kalayaan flyover before 6 am though it was tolerable.  Hydration (Water and Energy Drink) was overflowing and the water was cold which was a good way to rehydrate.  There were also sprinklers in the course of the race to refresh the runners.  Since the organizers had limited the participants, the run didn't feel crowded and runners had space to run.  I ran the 10K race course though I did hope to run the 16K category since they had a cool finisher shirt and medal for 16K but 16K and 21K slots were as a hot as a top selling stock.  Overall, it was a good run and with it comes the hope that the economy can be as successful as the run.

Team Total Fitness Running

It was another good run for Team Total Fitness.  We (Charles, Gryf, Andie and me) all joined the 10K category.  Thanks to Chris Sports for providing our race kits.

Run for Pinoy Glory

Distance: 5K
Time: 27 Minutes and 20 Seconds
Date: January 7, 2012
Pace: 5:27 minutes per kilometer

The Cause

The race is for the benefits of the Filipino athletes who will represent the country in the 2016 Olympic in London.  Some of the athletes even took part in the event along side the Police Force and the Army.  While the run had less fanfare than the big time runs, this one was definitely a strong and challenging field.  The Run had 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K, Executive and a special category for those on wheelchair.

The Route

The route for the 5K category was simple.  It starts at high street area in 9th Ave then proceeds to the 26th Street all the was to 3rd Avenue and shifting back to 5th Avenue before taking a loop in the 32nd Avenue and Lane R before returning to 5th Avenue on the way to 30th Steret and finally, the finish line in 9th Ave.  The high street area is relatively flat and after not running here for quite some time, the changes is very noticeable with new structures rising in the Global City.

The Race

This is my first race for the year and I was only expecting to run at an easier pace since I have back to back races this weekend.  At gun start, seeing the strong field, I tried to keep in pace with the lead pack in the first kilometer but slowed down a bit as I've felt that my legs was still a bit weary from the trainings I had for the week.  I did try to run at sub 6 minutes per kilometer.  It was also inspiring to hear chants from the army and seeing them moving in unison.  I just maintained my pace until the finish line and crossing the finish line at the 27 minute mark, which was a great time for 5K. The race course was a bit short of the 5K distance but since this should be part 1 of back to back races, the shorter the course,  the better. I'm excited to take some pictures of the other distance as part of  Team Total Fitness desire to cover some races.  Overall, it was a good race. It was not too crowded, hydration was sufficient and it was a nice challenge.  What a way to start a year, a fast paced 5K run.

Nice seeing the army running in unison.

Behind the Scene

Took photos after the run which is posted in Team Total Fitness Facebook page.  When it comes to taking photos, I'm such a newbie and it did take me time to adjust the right setting to take better pictures but Team Total Fitness will try to cover some runs as much as we can.  It was fun taking pictures of runners and I'm such an active Photographer as I keep moving places while taking photos in hopes that I get to finish sooner.  Being race photographer is a real taxing job but it's fulfilling as well, every time people smile back at you and say thank you.

Team Total Fitness Running

This is Team Total Fitness first run for 2012 and first of back to back runs.  Thanks to Chris Sports for providing the race kits.  We'll be running again tomorrow and hopefully have a chance at taking photos again.

Corregidor International Half Marathon

Distance: 21K
Time: 2 hour and 52 minutes
Date: December 10, 2011
Pace: 8:11 minutes per kilometer
Ridge Run vs Trail Run
I finally got my answer on which is more difficult between a ridge run and a trail run.  The answer is a ridge run and a trail run combined A.K.A. Corregidor International Half Marathon.  CIHM has been known to be an extreme marathon since it has an endless amount of killer hills and slippery trails.  The race would at the same time be a tour around Corregidor wherein you get to see the ruins and structures in Corregidor plus the Ocean View on some parts and an eerie experience of ghostly proportions.
Cabana

We came a day earlier and were housed in a Cabana in the resort side of Corregidor via Sun Cruises.  We were able to get some stops along the island and at the same time had an idea of the upHELL climb awaiting us the day after.  The Cabana was cozy enough for sleep and had a good ocean view.
Course and Elevation

The race starts at the south dock and leads you straight to a dark and eerie Malinta Tunnel then a you continue to climb towards Japanese Garden of Peace at about the 2K Mark.  This is followed by a descent towards the resort side and walking along the trail road just beside the sea and climbing the stairs towards the first u-turn slot.  After the u-turn slot you get to climb back to the Filipino Heroes Memorial and then trek down to the airfields wherein you get to pass a long stretch of grass area between the 5th and 6th kilometer.  Next, you go back to National Heroes Memorial and head back to Malinta Tunnel at around the 9K mark and is followed by more than a kilometer climb to the other side of the island where you get a 5-6 kilometer stretch of trail and road combination passing through the hospital, mile-long barracks and the light house.  From the 16K you get a 3 kilometer descent back to the dock area and kilometer 19 and 20 is the toughest part with a steep climb along the road near the shoreline. Finally, the last kilometer is a descent back to Malinta Tunnel and to the finish line.

At gun start, you immediately go uphill covering a 40 meter of elevation in the first two kilometers followed by a kilometer descending 40 meters of elevation and climbing back again another kilometer. This is followed by two kilometers of slow decent of around 20 meters of elevation to the airfields and climbing back another 2 kilometers of the same elevation. At kilometer 8, you get a kilometer descent to Malinta Tunnel with about 40 meters of elevation.  From there you get to start your climb at kilometer 9 wherein you get to cover 180 meters of elevation over a 7 kilometer stretch of road and trail.  You start your descent of about 3 kilometers with about 180 meters of elevation.  Kilometer 19 and 20 is the toughest part with a 60 meters elevation climb spread out in 2 kilometers.  Finally, you get to descent to the finish line in the last kilometer covering 60 kilometers of elevation.

The Race

Knowing that this was an extreme marathon because of the terrain and the trails, I really didn't know what to expect so I'll just go with the flow and take it slow and easy.

Kilometer 1-9

The first 9K consists of moderate climb and descents so I went slow on the inclines and fast on the descents.  I was able to finish this part at a steady time.  This course also had you past the creepy Malinta Tunnel twice.  The first one at the start of the race and the second one approaching the 9K mark.  It felt scary on my second round as the next runner in front of me was 10-20 meters away so I covered this area faster than my regular pace.

Kilometer 10

Kilometer 10 was the start and the steepest part of the climb.  I walked this part of the race to save energy for other parts of the race given this is a 21K race. It does take so much energy to go for climbs this steep.

Kilometer 11-15

Kilometer 11 to 15 was a combination of an uphill climb and a trail run so I ran the flat portions and slight inclines and brisk walked the steep inclines and the slippery part of the trail.  This was my first trail experience and the rain the day before made some portions of the road slippery but it was also exciting trekking in this trails as it also had some nice views and surprises in between.

Kilometer 16-18

Kilometer 16 was the start of a 3 kilometers downward descents.  Unfortunate for me, this is where I experienced my first cramps on my right calf muscles just I was about to attack the descents.  I thank some fellow runners who assisted me as I fell with the cramp and helped me to stretch and stand up during the portion.  I went for a slow jog from there on and good thing it was the downhill part so less stress on the calf muscles and was able to withstand the distance despite the cramps.

Kilometer 19-20

This was the killer hill portion of the race so I just walked this part and taking bigger stride to cover more ground instead.  It was a tough climb especially coming from cramps but I expected this part of the race so just had to find ways to endure.

Kilometer 21

Entering the last kilometer, I had my second fall with cramps on both calves.  Lucky for me that I landed on grass areas and that a race marshal was nearby.  The race marshal help soften the cramped muscles and help me on my feet again.  I just walked the remaining part of the race except for the creepy Malinta tunnel wherein I started to jog.  It was also a scary idea on what if I cramped again inside Malinta tunnel but fortunately I didn't.  I jogged myself all the way to the finish line.

Conquering Corregidor

I may be banged up big time for this one but I was able to conquer Corregidor and this medal stands out from the rest as I practically had to crawl myself up in getting this one.  It's really not a good feeling cramping up during a run but a finish is a finish and I have set myself a new PR... personal records for most cramps during a  run at 3 (2x on the right calf and one on the left). Oh well, what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger. I'm not yet done licking my wounds but as McArthur once said in Corregidor, I shall return...

Team Total Fitness Running

As always it's been a pleasure running under the Team Total Fitness banner.  Congrats to Rojan for placing 5th and Mascy and Gryf for finishing their first half marathon.

Quezon City International Marathon

Distance: 10K
Time: 1 hour and 3 minutes
Date: December 4, 2011
Pace: 6:12 minutes per kilometer
Quezon City
The unique treat in joining a race in Quezon City is that you get to run at the widest highway in the country, Commonwealth Ave.  I used to shy away from Quezon City based run since I am based in Makati with BGC and MOA being closer locations but this time, it seemed to be a well organized run backed by a strong sponsor, SMDC and Runnex. The different race categories are spaced apart and that would avoid an overcrowded run with 42K taking off at 4:00 am, 21K taking off at 4:30 am, 10K taking off at 5:45 am and 5K taking off at 6 am.
The Route and Elevation

The race course for the 10K category is quite simple.  It starts from the Quezon Memorial Circle in front of Quezon City Hall and goes straight to Commonwealth Avenue and with a U-turn at halfway point which is a little past Amsterdam Avenue in Don Jose Area in Commonwealth and then you take the same road back to Quezon Memorial Circle for the Finish Line.  The advantage of a straight course is you don't get much disruption of momentum because of curves and turns in the course.

Though the course way seem flat the elevation can be tricky with the first 5 kilometer of the race being a slow uphill climb with series of inclines and descents along the way which includes the Tandang Sora Flyover.  After the u-turn you get the course in reverse with slow downhill descent back to Quezon Circle and passing again through several inclines and descents along the way.

The Race

At first I was more worried about the parking than the race being not so geographically familiar with Quezon City.  I was able to get a nice parking space near the Quezon City Hall of Justice.  I did short runs of warmups and the regular stretching routine.  This race was more of a build up for longer runs so my main strategy was to run at a relaxed and steady pace throughout the race and just have fun.

I was not pace-conscious during this race and was more concerned in avoiding so much walking breaks and I was surprised when I saw my pace in Garmin. It was as flat as it can be with the blips just for short stops at the water stations.  I am used to running at a volatile pace sometimes starts strong, fade a little, recover and end strong but I'm happy I got to run at a pace I was able to sustain for the full 10K of the race and it was a decent time and a strong finish and most important of all I had fun.  Since Commonwealth is wide, there was enough room to run and it was a good thing that they did separate the 5K runners u-turn slot to add more running space for 10K, 21K and 42K runners.  It was a bit congested in the finish line but still tolerable since the 21K, 10K and 5K runners almost came at the same time due to the spacing of the gun start.   Hydration was spaced about 2 and a half kilometers apart and it was good I did have my hand held hydration.  It was a good run and the weather was cool for the whole duration of the race though the full marathoners did have a taste of rain.

Team Total Fitness Running

It was nice running with Team Total Fitness again with strong finishes in 10K and 21K categories with Andie and Richie finishing their first half marathon. Congrats to the whole team for another great race and given that we've just survived a very tough "From Tokyo with Love" a few days ago.   It's great running under the Total Fitness banner and being part of a team that trains hard and race harder.

Nathan Ridge Run

Distance: 10K
Time: 1 hour and 18 minutes
Date: November 20, 2011
Pace: 7:48 minutes per kilometer

Ridge Run

Running in the scenic Tagaytay Highlands route is very enticing  but with it comes running non stop uphill which makes the run challenging and exciting.  I was hooked on joining this run under the Team Total Fitness banner since I first heard about it not because I'm a glutton of pain but to experience the scenic highlands terrain.  It was a different run and I really had no idea what strategy would I employ in this type of run.  You usually attack a hilly course with a steady pace you can sustain from the foot to the top of the course but what if the climb is more than 3 kilometers at a time?  I had more questions going into this one than a game plan but all I know is that it will be a learning experience from doing something for the first time.

The Route and the Terrain

It starts near the sports center and goes on with more than 3 kilometers uphill climb with about 200 meters of elevation via Belle View Avenue until the Peak Bar and is followed by about 4 kilometers descent back to Belle View Avenue until halfway into Midlands Avenue covering 300 meters of elevation. 2 kilometers of steep inclines covering around 200 meters of elevation is next from Midlands Avenue until Belle view Avenue. Finally,  the last kilometer is a descending terrain worth a 100 meters of elevation back to the area near sports center.

The Race

It starts with an early morning road trip from Manila to Tagaytay Highlands and as we made our descent to the starting line area, we got a peek of what's in store for us and it seemed like a real challenge.  We did try a bit of the hilly route during the warm ups and running uphill proved to be too energy consuming so this will be a test on how deep your energy base is and how well you manage it.

3K Walk - After gunstart, I tried to run a few hundred meters and even at my best effort I can't seem to get a pace better than 8 minutes per kilometer so change of strategy brisk walk along the steep inclines and run on the flats and it proved to be a right move as the inclines went on for 3 more kilometers until the Peak Bar.  A good bonus though even if you are walking uphill is that the view of Taal Volcano in the foggy morning mist was splendid.  This is photography heaven but unfortunately, I'm here running and not taking photos so I'll make do with the panoramic view of the whole highlands in my mind.  The u-turn in the peak bar was refreshing with the white foggy backdrop and the soft morning breeze.

4K Run - Gravity dictates that what goes up must go down.  The second part of the run was an all you can descent from the Peak Bar going 2 kilometers back to Belle View Avenue and another 2 kilometers descent to Midlands Avenue. This was the part when I went all out in a gutsy attempt to catch up on lost time.  It does take real courage to run downhill on a fast pace as your muscles do take a beating and of course, the risk of losing your balance would mean the free fall of gravity in full effect.  It was to my benefit that I was wearing my ON running shoes as the 3d cloudtec sole cushioned most of the strides downhill.  I went full gear and running at 5 to 5:30 minutes per kilometer pace until the 7K mark.  About 500 meters to the u-turn slot, I slowed down as the downhill path become too steep.

2K Crawl - The second uphill climb was too steep and no one was even making an attempt to run at this point.  It was a slow walk as each steps of the killer hill felt punishing and the heat of the morning sun also started to creep in.  Kilometer 8 was the longest kilometer I ever had as the steep incline made it difficult to even walk.  I even tried to walk backwards to make it less stressful.  Kilometer 9 was more tolerable as there were some parts which you can jog already and at this time I am now building up my energy base for a strong finish once I'm done with the climb.

1K Run to the Finish - As  I reached Belle View Avenue again, I wanted to catch up and was so excited to finish the course already so I went on an all out sprint with 4:00-5:00 minute per kilometer run towards the finish line.  I ended up having my last kilometer as my fastest kilometer for a sprint finish.  I ended up finishing 97 out of 300 to 400 runners and as a reward I'm one of the 100 finishers who earned a medal.  A big medal for a big effort though I have high respect towards the difficulty of this course and I guess, every finisher is a winner.

This race felt more like mountain climbing and it was a battle of who had the guts to go all out on the descents.  It was a well organized and unique race brought to you by Nathan.  It also had a green concept of not using plastic cups and instead using hydration bottles which was included in the race kit.  It was well covered by organizers and volunteer photographers and it was definitely a unique experience.

I started the race not knowing what to expect and what strategy to use but I ended up learning a few more things from conquering a ridge run.  My muscles may be a bit sore at this time but those killer uphill climbs will make them stronger.  It was racing redefined and I'm glad I was part of it.

Team Total Fitness Running

This was the first time we were able wear the official race jersey of Team Total Fitness and it was another good performance for the team as Rojan Pajarin and James Orlanda finished 5th and 12th, respectively and me catching up in the top 100 finishers.  It's been a real honor to be running with the team and it does give me additional motivation to train harder as carrying the Total Fitness banner and running with support of sponsors comes the great responsibility of being the best person you can ever be on the race course, the training ground and in life.

SGV Run for Learning

Distance: 10K
Time: 1 hour and 6 minutes
Date: November 6, 2011
Pace: 6:36 minutes per kilometer

SGV & Co.

It's common knowledge that I started my career at SGV & Co and even up until now, I am still connected as a client of SGV & Co.  SGV Run was the closest thing I have to a Company Run and as early as the time this was just an idea, I already have said that I'll join this run.  Of course, it's also an advantage is that I get my race kit free as a client.  The objective here is just to have fun as it would be nice seeing familiar faces in the run.

Rainy Day Run

This was my second rainy day race for the weekend.  Funny, how even SGVeans was asking me if the run would push through because of the rain.  I guess, I have the image of running without regard to the weather.  The gun start was moved from 5:30 am to 6:00 am to let the rain taper a bit but the trend on runs lately has been GO whether rain or shine.  I really don't mind running in the rain as its free hydration.  As the clock hit 6 am it was now the start of the 10K race since I was in front I went with the leadpack before settling at a more comfortable pace after the first kilometer.  I think my Garmin hates a certain area in MOA as this is the second time it wasn't able to get GPS signal at gun start so just have to make do with using my Garmin just monitoring my pace on a per kilometer basis and not overall time and distance.  After a speedy start, I struggled with some stiffness in my legs in the first half of the race so just went at a 6:30 to 7:00 minute per kilometer pace before hitting the turbo button on the second half of the race.  There was a change in race route taking away the CCP area and in exchange having 2 loops in the area near the chapel until Macapagal boulevard which was a surprise to me as it may have added a few hundred meters to the total route but it's all part of the race.  After my second loop, it was 1 KM away to finish line and also time for my sprint finish.  I'm starting to get the habit of finishing strong and finished at around 1:06. It was far from my PR but I did have fun in this run.

Entourage

 

Having a run held under your former home also means you have the luxury of having an entourage to support you.  Reeah was my instant photographer, Lance was her PA and there's also Kuya Nonoy and Padie and it's also nice to see familiar faces, MFG, Mae, Eric and some former partners in SGV who bought my Total Fitness Magazine.  This was really more of a company fun run than a formal run with PR-obsessed people.  It's nice to race in this environment from time to time.  I do hope they do more of this and maybe time it during the deadline of tax filing season and the finish line being able to file the tax returns.  That would be fun.

Excess: ON Time

I'm starting to get adjusted to my ON Cloud surfer and I'm glad that it hasn't deserted me on rainy days but so sorry to my shoes for being rain drenched for the third straight run. It does give you extra energy for a strong finish.