On Your Mark! The Draw the Line Run-for-a-Cause

GMA QTV sponsored a fun run for a cause called "On Your Mark! The Draw the Line Run-for-A-Cause". They also have a show with that title and its advocacy is to protect women against abuse.

Boy was I glad to be on this one. So far, this has been the most satisfying run I've had. First, I didn't stop as much to walk (I would say a cumulative time of less than 5 minutes! ) and I finished with a PErsonal Record of 1:08:51 for the 10k...now that's something regular runners would scoff at and I would too if I was an athlete! :) If there's somebody to thank, it's Austin for telling me to take smaller strides and maintain my pace at 90 counts for every minute.

But Jerome also achieved a personal best by going below 1 hour for the first time in his running "career".

"Hooray" right? Leave it to eternal optimists like us. As soon as I hit the finish line, Jerome's first question was: " 'tol, parang maikli ano? " (Wasn't it too short?). If it was, that would be a disappointment. So we'll check the internet this week to see if other runners felt the same way. And of course, there's our idol "The Bull Runner" who will have her own say on the subject (and that will be the final word in my book...she's got a Garmin personal GPRS). It was also nice to see her back where she belongs: on the road! :)

I'd like to say that it was a well organized event. The organizers should really give themselves a pat in the back...and a big bonus from their boss :) Let me count the ways:
1. cold bottled water: on my way back at the 7.5km mark, they still had a lot to go around!
2. Sufficient staff to direct traffic and point directionally challenged people to the right path
3. Nice looking kilometer markers :)...they really helped me a lot
4. Best giveaways so far this year (the shoebag was really nice ... they really matter to me, you see)

...There's another run at the Fort next Sunday at 6AM sponsored by Anta. Just sign up at the Anta Stores in Trinoma and BHS (Bonifacio High Street). The ladies there also told me to wear the Anta shirt after the race if I wanted to get a nice discount card (30%!!!).

DND AFP Run

Joined the 7th DND-AFP Gintong PAngarap half-marathon last Sunday at Villamor Airbase. Wait, let me qualify that: I was in the 5 km fun run category. It was my brother, Jerome, who tried his first 21-km event.

Let me just say that this was one of the better organized runs that I've joined so far. I have to hand it to the organizing crew because I really didn't hear anyone complain the whole morning! (Believe me, "bitching" seems to be a favorite emotional outlet for many people).

First thing that caught my attention, were the kilometer markers they put along the way. FOr those without Garmin Personal navigators, this was the next best thing! :) Maybe it's just psychological, but it sure helps when you know how much more you have to go!

They also had marching bands along the route. I saw only one (since I had to turn already at SLEX) but Jerome told me there were still two more in Fort BOnifacio. For a guy without an I-pod, listening to a live brass band play "Itaktak mo" (an Eat bulaga! tune) was just what the doctor ordered.

Villamor was a good choice because of the nice surroundings. The roads are clean and not too many cars.

They also seemed to have a lot of water (in comparison, the run i joined two weeks ago was a disaster!) which is top-of-mind for most runners: I mean who likes dying of thirst?!? I do lug around a bottle of water all the time for insurance.

At the finish, it was a big surprise when someone handed me a plastic bag of goodies: 2 pandesals, saging na saba, and boiled egg. That definitely made me smile. These DND-AFP guys really know how to take care of their runners! Good job!

It was the first race certificate that I saw where somebody actually signed!

I hung around for a while at the grandstand and watched a marching band perform. I took videos on my phone(maybe ill download them later this weekend) and walked around to enjoy the place.

It was a well organized event despite having no big name sponsors. It was also nice to see the top brass of the Air Force attending the event and providing moral support to their troops.