I have no idea what kind of prayer the organizer of Mizuno Infinity Run 09 invoked, but it certainly worked like a charm. For my readers abroad, its been raining with very strong wind here in Manila from Monday to Saturday. Add to that our weather bureau announcing there would be three straight rainy mornings starting Thursday, we were all gearing up for a rainy race just like Earth Run last Sunday. But as luck would have, Sunday became a very hot and sunny day we all had to endure and conquer. God must be on the side of Mr. Biscocho!

So I picked up Rodel and his brother in Bacoor and parked my car near R.O.X around 4:50am. A couple of takbo.ph guys were already there wearing their signature takbo.ph singlets. We stayed at ROX, chatted, stretched and had some photos taken (yeah we Pinoys are picture crazy). I also saw coach Rio instructing a foreign looking guy which turned out to be Mr. Fernando Zobel de Ayala and upon checking the color of his bib, i realized he’s running 15k too (Update: he finished the race at 1:19!!)! I ran half-kilometer to warm up and immediately noticed tight muscles on my legs. This could be the result of my lack of training the previous days, with last Sunday’s Earth Run being my last run! I ended up massaging my legs to relieve and free up tight leg muscles and next thing I know,its already 5 minutes before the race starts. Just like your typical Biscocho organized race, it started at exactly 5:30am (although some bloggers complain it started 5 minutes earlier).

The first 5 kilometers were easy. Although I felt tight leg muscles, they disappeared after running for a kilometer. I stayed true to my plan by running comfortably albeit a little faster than what I’ve planned. The next 5 kilometers was a struggle already, I was no longer surprised why my leg felt so tired easily, probably the result of having no runs at all. Jinoe catched up with me and we ran together for few meters until I have to tell him that he can go ahead of me. I tried to cheer up all guys I personally knew within the takbo.ph circle by calling out their names. If I see them wearing their ipods, I just wave my hands to greet them. The next 5 kilometers was the toughest part of the race. I felt like I was just dragging my legs and my focus this time is to finish the race not going beyond 1:40.

The starting road going to Kalayaan flyover is where I have to tell my mind to focus on the race. I remember Doc Lyndon near that part of the road and upon nearing him, I said to my self to attack the hill. And off I ran the uphill without stopping until I have to slow down near the topmost section of the road…and stop. I stopped for 5 seconds and suddenly, a macho in his 40′s gently reminded me “guwapo wag kang hihinto, hinay hinay lang, pagpababa na road, hatawin mo na”. In English, “Don’t stop looking for love, It can be found In the strangest places”. OK just kidding, he was telling me not to completely stop, to continue running slowly but when downhill comes, run normally. And so I followed his words of wisdom and ran away from him as far as I can. Lesson learned: follow experienced runners, you’ll never go wrong with them. Hehehehe!

Upon reaching the road near the Finish area, I was looking at the clock and noticed that that the time was 1:39:02 seconds. As my target was not to go beyond 1:40, I ran faster and overtook 8 runners to ensure that I won’t missed my target. Finally, I finished the race 1:39:35 seconds (update: it was 1:42 according to race organizer!), hopefully the race result will show identical time

Regarding the race, here are my observations:

1. Water stations : There were actually two tables available for some water stations if my memory served me right. One table would serve Gatorade and few meters away, COLD water in plastic cups. I’m very particular of this aspect in every race I joined and I’m happy to say the race organizer did this one so well. Cups are already filled with cold water/gatorade, I don’t remember passing a water station where I have to wait for the water guy to fill it up. I’m not surprised why majority of the runners in this race left their hydration belt at home.

2. Marshalls were easily identifiable via their race uniform. Without asking them, they would tell you which road to go. I remember almost running towards a 10k road (I joined 15k race) when a marshall quickly reminded me of my mistake. I believe they were all well instructed and very pro-active. There were also police in uniforms to ensure our security.

3. Kilometer markers are available.

4. No pacers available unlike last Sunday’s Earth Run. If this is available, this could be an almost perfect race!

5. I’m not really looking forward for any loots or give-aways, but the finisher’s singlet is a good idea. At the back of the singlet is displayed “1.10.10″ and we were all surprised to know later that this race is actually a time-trial race and whatever our finish time for this race, it will be compared againts our time on next year’s Mizuno race.

Lessons learned:

1. My testing with negative split for this particular race reveals that I’m not for it. With finish time of 1:42 last 16km and this race (15km) 1:39, my pace was obviously slower. The lack of training probably has something to do with it but from my observation, I already run out of steam and energy in the last section of the race. Positive split might be ideal for me.

2. I noticed that fast runners are slim, I got to lose 15lbs to reach my optimal running weight!

3. Respect the race by training for it if you want a decent time.

Here are other pictures.

Que with Jinoe in one of his funny moments

See you guys next year for another Mizuno race!

Its been raining for the past couple of days and because of that, I haven’t run for the last 5 days of my existence. Tomorrow, I’ll be running at Bonifacio High Street, maybe just 5km comfy pace to “wake-up” my feet muscle. With lack of training for Sunday’s race, doom is nigh.

Anyway, my strategy this time will be different from my previous race where I ended up doing positive split. I’m still in testing mode as to which one best fits me. So come on Sunday, I will ‘try’ to do negative split. I’ll be dividing the 15k race into 3 and here’s what’s gonna happen which I’m gonna keep in my mind:

1st- 5th km : Comfy pace, ignore speedsters. If speedsters look down at you while they speed away, have a mental shot of their faces and bib number, get back at them on the 6th – 10 km. Seriously!
6th to 10th km: Run faster. Don’t be an idiot trying to look at race bibs of each runner you overtake. Just run faster!

The 3rd part will vary depending on my energy level and mental alertness. But if these two variables are OK, this is what’s gonna happen:
11th to 13thkm: Try speed work-out. 2 minutes hard run and 4 minute recovery run.
14th km-15th km: Run like its the end of the world!

Phiten Stuffs to test: necklace, lotion and titan tape

For the first time in this race, I’ll be wearing a Phiten necklace which in theory will help regulate and balance the flow of energy throughout my body. I’ve seen many people wear this, baseball players in U.S swear by this and Ria mentioned that Elite runners Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe also wear this.  I also saw a couple of runners in races I’ve joined wearing this. I’m going to test if this is just voodoo science in the name of profit or this thing actually works. I will post the result by next week. Additionally, I’ll also be trying Phiten lotion and Phiten tapes on my legs and back to achieve the same result as of that necklace. Now I understand why some male runners shave their legs. It’s gonna be a painful experience once I start removing these tapes!

Phiten Titan Tapes on my hairy legs! Any idea how I can remove these as painless as possible?

For my hydration, I’ll stick with Gatorade as Plus 100 gave me weird feeling on my stomach the last time I used it. For my attire, I’ll be using same as before and for my shoes, the ever dependable Nike LunarGlide+.

See you guys on Sunday at Mizuni Infinity Run 2009!

Oh my suggested finish time is anywhere between 1:30-1:40. Conservative di ba? Hehehehe!

RUNNR INTRODUCES THE VIDEO GAIT ANALYSIS. Elite, hardcore and casual runners can get state-of-the-art recommendation from RUNNR’s highly professional staff through video gait analysis.

RUNNR HITS HIGH STREET

The first state-of-the-art concept store for running opens its doors on June 12 on Bonifacio High Street. RUNNR is the first and only specialty store of its kind with all manner of runners in mind.

It will have the best running gear from all the top brands such as Adidas, Asics, Fuelbelt, Hammer, Mizuno, Nathan, New Balance, Nike, Polar and many more. It will also be the first to launch the revolutionary line of Newton Running Shoes and CW-X compression apparel in the country.

Runnr Video Gait Screen

RUNNR will feature an exclusive Footworx Fitting process that leads customers thru a comprehensive series of tests such as our Footprint Scan and High-Speed Video Gait Analysis. Plus we will be the first to offer Custom Insole Moulding in the store, while-you-wait.

RUNNR, thru the vision of its founder and avid runner Toby Claudio, has enlisted the services of the best in the fields of retail and running. Andy Niven, an elite runner who is an Ironman triathlon finisher is the man leading the team from RedGoods, a Hong Kong based retail entertainment design firm who did the design for the store. Niven has had more than 20 years’ experience managing broad-based retail and commercial design throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for such clients as Disney and New Balance.

A team of highly trained and passionate staff will be equipped to analyze foot morphology using the Runnr Podoscope, which uses two combined features: a themodynamic scanning system for viewing the foot print and direct measurement of foot and arch dimensions which determine foot type. The store is also equipped with the Professional High-Speed Video Gait analysis system to determine a person’s precise gait characteristics as he/she runs on a treadmill.

The RUNNR staff is also capable of recommending the proper footwear to suit the individual’s foot type, leg axis, and gait pattern based on the results of the video analysis. These customized services ensure that whatever one’s requirements as a runner, the shoes minimize foot instability for better absorption of shock, and minimize fatigue while maximizing energy transfer. There’s also the option to create a custom insole using the exclusive RUNNR “FlashFit” process that uses heat to create special insoles molded to the exact shape of any foot in just 10 seconds. This machine won an innovation award for being the most creative invention for the running market in 2008.

Other running gear available at RUNNR include Fuelbelt and Nathan hydration packs, Polar heart-rate monitors, and will be the first to market the revolutionary line of Newton running shoes in the Philippines.

RUNNR specialty store is the only one in the country and in the world to incorporate all these products and services under one roof.

For more information, you may visit the RUNNR at building B3 of Bonifacio High Street.

Note: From the conversation I had with one of their marketing team, foot scanning, custom sole machine and CWX Compression Apparel are not yet available. Video Gait Analysis is ready for testing on June 12!

Earth Run Race result can be found at Advertising and Events website.

Here they are:
3k
5k
16k

My official finish time for 16k is 1:42.25 and not 1:40 as earlier expected. Well still not bad for my first 16k

I got an email regarding this one from one of the organizer of this race as early as last month but only have the time to post it here due to my busy sched. So here it is.

Event:
June 28 for GIGRUN 2009.
What For:
This is for the benefit of the Padyak Foundation and the reforestation of the Ipo Watershed organized by the UP Mountaineers.
What to expect:
Cash prizes for the winners of the 2.2, 5 and 10km races.
Great raffle prizes care of Columbia and Hitachi (aircon worth around 45k hehe).

Registration Sites (where you can get reg forms, pay, and get the race kit/jersey):

1. Columbia stores (Gateway, Greenbelt 5, SM North)- STARTING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 onwards
2. Second Wind store along Maginhawa St., Teacher’s Village Diliman- STARTING MAY 30 onwards
3. Meet ups in UP Diliman Campus weekdays, 10:00-11:30 AM, 1:30- 4:30 PM (contact Bernice, 09178344425)

For more info, email join@thegigrun.org

Race Map :
http://takbo.ph/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=36&task=view.download&cid=197

Registration Forms :
http://takbo.ph/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=36&task=view.download&cid=196

Get a 20% Discount from Columbia Sportswear upon registration at the store. Promo from June 5 – July 5,2009. Just show your race number.