More Reasons To Enjoy MTBiking More

With the help of my best friend, my bike had its semi-but-precious-makeover! Simply put, i have three good reasons to look forward to enjoy riding my mtbike more….

my mtbike, do you think i better give it a name? 😉

1. From a manual disc brake set, my mtbike now sports the new TEKTRO Auriga Pro Disc Brake. Tektro has been known to produce good performance gears for a reasonable price. With this new Auriga Pro, they are said to have been setting their sights higher still. Hmm, pretty exciting huh! 😉
2. A TOPEAK Panoram V12 wireless cyclocomp – its kinda different from the standard cyclocomps in the market because it comes in widescreen version. Meaning I can see my riding information in a single glance. Sweet! I have been wanting to put a cyclo computer on my bike for long and i guess, my long wait was well worth it.
3. A TOPEAK headlight – one that’s small, easy to attach and detach and cheap. Umm… Friendly to someone like me who doesn’t enjoy complicated “contraptions”. hehe… I guess I have to be ready to join night rides soon. 😉

The Tektro Auriga Pro Disc Brake

Topeak's Wireless Wide Screen Cyclocomp

My Topeak headlight - cute! 😉

I have only been able to test the cyclocomp fully in one ride but the brakes and the headlight are still waiting for their ride debut. I have tried checking the brakes by riding along the streets here at home and can feel the improved performance and feel – braking now is softer, lighter. The headlight on the other hand will eventually serve its purpose.  *GRIN*

Thanks to P as usual. Oh, I still have other SECRET bike gear upgrade wishes in mind but I’d better keep it a secret still. What I have for now will suffice. Meanwhile, I really hope to be back on the trail SOON.

Ride safe bikers!

Schedule of Races

Finally, I was able to update my List of Running Races page. 🙂

RUN FOR HOME: The Globe-Ayala Land City Run for Habitat for Humanity

Run for Home event poster

On July 19, a foot race will be held that is set to establish a lot of firsts in Philippine running history.

The event, coined as Run for Home: The Globe-Ayala Land City Run for Habitat for Humanity initially represents Globe’s aim to help fund the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig Project’s construction of resettlement houses in BAYANIJUAN in Calauan, a housing relocation site in Brgy. Dayap Calauan, Laguna.

Mr. Angelo Yanares of Globe Telecom

Vince of FINISHLINE explaining the details of the race

Coach Rio Dela Cruz

But as the details of the event was presented to us during its launch last Tuesday, June 23 at the Kabisera restaurant at Bonifacio High Street by speakers Angelo Yaneza, Brand Events Manager of Globe Telecom and Vince and Coach Rio of Finishline, I realized that the race is so much more than a just a race for a good cause. There are a bunch of reasons why runners – elite and kulit alike will consider this event worth looking forward to:

1. The race includes Ayala Avenue as a race route which is a welcome change for regular race participants who are already too familiar to the Fort Bonifacio and Roxas Blvd/MOA race routes.
2. The race will make use of the disposable Champion Chip – a timing chip that will accurately record a runner’s actual start (not the gun start time) and finish times. Meaning, the Finish area will not be crowded since there will be no need for Finish Chutes for each race distances.
3. There will be live microblogging through Twitter and Plurk  during the race and will be broadcast on the official race site and all existing widgets (that will be posted into various running blogs and other sites)
4. Live photo feed broadcast will also be available while the race is on-going on the official race site and all existing widgets
5. Pixlink photo uploads and TATTOO blog booths in between distances.
6. A photo gallery will be available on the GLOBE site post-race with search, picture publishing to SNS account, rate and tag photos functionalities.
7. A race results page will also be available which will enable everyone to view results, view top ranked runners and compare results with friends
8. Run Analysis will also be available via RunPix which as I have gathered is the same tool used at the Singapore Marathon last year and on several USA-based marathons. RunPix provides analysis of your run by using images to enable you to visualize your achievement in 3 ways: compared to all entrants, within gender, and within division.
9. FREE race pictures download from PHOTOVENDO.
10. A food bazaar that is similar to the Salcedo Weekend Market will also be put-up at the race venue wherein an option to use GCASH as payment will be made available for people to avail of discounts.
11. Registration fees are cheap (there is a promo and non-promo registration option) considering that timing chips will be utilized or the race. Reason for this is because Globe Telecom is subsidizing part of the race cost.
12. Aside from water stations, 100 PLUS sports drinks will be available for runners for rehydration. What’s best, race organizers were able to reach a special arrangement with 100 Plus wherein the carbonation of the drink will be removed especially for this race.

As you may have now realized, this race promises a lot of unprecendented firsts that may influence or help shape the type of future races here in the Philippines. Interested in joining already? Here are the registration details:

Registration Period: from June 19 to July 3, 2009 only

Registration Venues:

1. Any GLOBE Business Centers in Metro Manila
2. All Fitness First Clubs – Metro Manila Branches
3. RUNNR Store at Bonifacio High Street, The Fort
4. ONLINE registration is also available through www.globe.com.ph/runforhome ( a 13% transaction fee will be charged when you register online)

Registration Fees:

PROMO

Registration Details: PROMO

NON-PROMO

Registration Details: Non-Promo

Each race registrant will be issued race coupons for claiming of race kits. From July 16 to July 18, 2009, race kits will be available for pick-up  between 10 to 11 a.m. and will include the official race number, safety pins, route maps, singlet and the disposable electronic timing chip, at the Bonifacio High Street (in front of ROX).

the race coupon

 

All of us present during the event launch have already registered for this event. I encourage you to do so too so that you can also be part of running history.

 

Click here to download route maps for : 3k, 5k, 10k and 21k.

Want to see more details regarding this event, click here to go to the official race site. For FAQs, click here.

raymund, me, mariel, junc, taki, mark, tiffin, marga and que

vince, jay, me, coach rio, jaymie, raymund, taki, kristel, marga, dingdong and junc

runner bloggers all with siblings vince and kristel (sitted) both of Finishline

press kit and registration form

My Nike Lunar Glide+ Test Run Experience

our favorite group pic - the nike lunar glides take center stage this time! 😉

Last Saturday, I was fortunate to be one of the invited runners to test the new Nike Lunar Glide+ running shoes. The original test run schedule was actually supposed to happen several Saturdays ago but heavy rains during weekends prevented us to do so. Not one of us expectedly would want to run on the rain and have our new shoes get wet!

Group pic during our first test run attempt

test run take two - finally no rains this time! 😉

On both instances, I was glad to be in the company of a number of runners who mostly are also friends. We were all giddy with excitement while listening to the test run briefing being given by speakers Mr. Tony Atayde, Nike Sports Sales Manager and Mr. Jerwin Ngo, Nike Product Specialist talk about the features and benefits of the new lunar shoes.

Tony Atayde, Nike Sports Sales Manager briefing us on the Glide+

Jerwin Ngo, Nike Product Specialist explaining to us the features and benefits of the Nike Lunar Glide+

After the briefing, we ran four loops, led by Coach Rio, around Bonifacio High Street to complete 4.8k. The test run was done on an easy pace with most of the participants exchanging stories that borders from funny to utmost hilarious. Oh and of course, the pace also allowed us to have easy photo-op sessions with Ben at one point, the photographer that he is, in an almost-kissing-the-ground-position just to be able to take a good shot of the runners.

Coach Rio explaining to us how the test is to be conducted

and the test run finally pushed through!

The Nike Lunar Glide+ is supposed to be a wholly improved version of last year’s Nike Lunar. It doesn’t have what used to be known as the Nike Lunar foam but what it has now is the Dynamic Support – an innovative midsole design architecture which in simple words mean that it is supposed to provide superior cushioning and stability by adapting to a runner’s foot type or gait. Having said this, the Nike Lunar Glide+ is touted to be the running shoe for all runners, breaking the myth that runners must compromise their needs by selecting between two industry-standard categories of Stability or Cushioning by providing both in one shoe. Want to know more about the shoe’s technical details? Jaymie (TBR) has posted the technical sheets on both the men’s and women’s version on her blog.

I was able to run with my pair during the test run only (I would not want to use it during the following day’s Men’s Health trail run) but I have also worn it for walking in several instances already.  So with just one run experience with it, what you will have to see posted here are my initial observations/experience:

the strap on the midfoot is a women's version only feature 😉

1. I love the color combination! Definitely a whole lot better than the Nike Lunars of last year in the “looks department”. The women’s version is great and so are the men’s! We girls during the test run were wishing we could have a women’s version in the men’s color combination too! 😆
2. The strap over the midfoot of the women’s shoes is a great innovation. This allows personalization of fit.  For someone like I who possess narrow feet, an option to be able to adjust the width of my shoes comfortably to my liking is really a treat.
3. It is light. My Nike Air Pegasus has been the lightest running shoe I have had so far but the Glide+ is much lighter.
4. It fits my feet snugly. It is soft and comfortable, especially the inner sole. As soon as I slipped into it, I already felt the soft, cushiony feel of the inner sole – it’s as if my feet are stepping on a pillow. 
5.  I am generally a runner with neutral pronation but there are some pairs of shoes which cause me to supinate – as relayed to me during my gait analysis at both the Second Wind and Runnr stores. With the Glide+, I can feel the support or cushioning even at the sides of my feet while running. I guess this is the Dynamic Support doing its job huh. (Hey Coach Rio, this is the on I am referring to you about something I can feel at the sides of my feet while we are running. It actually feels new but comfortable. hehe!)

happy with our new Nike Lunar Glide+

My over-all initial assessment is that the Nike Lunar Glide+ is good for me, perfect even. I can’t think of anything to say negative about it as of now. But I will have to run with it a few more times and see how my shins will feel after running in a distance greater than 4.8k. Until I am able to do that, it is safe to say that the Nike Lunar Glide+ will be my running shoe of choice for the moment. 😉

don't they look great? 🙂

The Nike Lunar Glide+ will be available globally on July 2009 (except for the US where the shoes will have its debut on August 2009). In the Philippines, it will retail at a price of PHP 5,999.00.

* Many thanks to Nike Philippines led by Mr. Tony Atayde for inviting us to test run the Nike Lunar Glide+ and of course for the good breakfast treat at Pancake House after. 🙂

* See more pics from the first test run attempt here and the second and final one here.

2 in 1!

The Men’s Health All -Terrain Race was my second trail run (i ran the 5k) and first mtbike race (i signed-up for the beginnr’s category). What was supposed to be a “newbie-friendly” trail turned out to be one hell of a challenging route with all those twists and turns and rolling terrain. I was just so lucky to have joined this race and be able to run and ride the trail which sits on a private property at Sta. Elena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Oh and mind you, I completed both run and bike races and did not finish last (well almost!)! 😆

Thanks and congratulations to Men’s Health Magazine and to the people of Finishline headed by Coach Rio and Vince for this fun-filled event. 😉

P.S. I am super excited to see the Photovendo pictures especially for the mtbike race because it is their first time to cover a bike race. 🙂

5k runners waiting for gun start

running to my 5k finish

with Women's Health Ed-In-Chief, Lara Parpan prior to the bike race

Pol with friend from PhilMoFo and Agu, Men's Health Ed-In-Chief

me and Christine Ong, Women's Health Assoc Publisher

with Vince of FINISHLINE

eds-in-chief both - agu for men's health and lara for women's health 😉

pol's strong finish

my muddied shoes

mtbikes ready to go home

View more photos here