DELOS SANTOS PLACES SECOND IN KL INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

Congratulations to Cebu-based runner Mary Grace Delos Santos for bagging 2nd place in the 21k women’s category of the recently-concluded Kuala Lumpur International Marathon. Read more on Delos Santos feat on the press release from RUNNR as featured below:  🙂

Delos Santos (middle), bagged 2nd place when she finished the 21k with an official time of 1:26:16

Delos Santos with Renze Banawa of Newton Philippines

MANILA – Cebu’s most dominant long distance runner Mary Grace Delos Santos capped her first international stint with a second place finish in the women’s 21k category of the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon yesterday.

Delos Santos finished the race in 1:26.02 more than 2 minutes ahead of the 3rd placer. She showed guts and determination to come from 4th place and finish ahead of two Kenyans and a German.  It was a spectacular performance for Delos Santos considering the advantage of the 1st and 3rd placers who had pacers assisting them.

“I ran a well even if I was stranded in the water stations because of so many runners. Unlike the others who had pacers I ran on my own and had to get water for myself.” Delos Santos said.

Delos Santos left Cebu Thursday night then took a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur with Renze Banawa of Newton Philippines.

She brought with her the hope and prayers of the Philippines running community. Although she is quite young and relatively inexperienced, Delos Santos has dominated road races in Cebu for the past two years. Among her conquests, it was the triumph in the Great Lapu-Lapu Run last April that had the most impact and paved the way for her participation in the Kuala Lumpur marathon.

One of those who took notice of Delos Santos was Toby Claudio, the founder RUNNR. He first met Delos Santos in Cebu in November last year. Soon after she was taken on by Newton Running as the shoe brands’ first sponsored athlete in the Philippines.

On June 11, which happened to be the 23rd birthday of Delos Santos, Claudio called her from Manila to break the news that RUNNR will be sponsoring her entry and travel expenses to the Kuala Lumpur Marathon.

Upon learning of Delos Santos’ podium finish this morning, Claudio said, “We are so proud of her . She’s a rare talent and we’re just thrilled that she did this well in her first big international race. Despite her young
age she has such a great attitude and work ethic We’re hoping this is just the first of many international victories for her and Philippine runners.”

Sherwin Managil, coach and trainer of Delos Santos felt that the 21k category is best suited for his ward. “When I was asked if Grace is ready to run the distance, I told them she’s ready. The half marathon is Grace’s favorite event.”

Delos Santos who hails from Zamboanga first came to Cebu in 2009 and won the Sinulog Half-Marathon in 1:27:00 breaking the record of Liezl Gitaurelas, the 2008 winner, by one minute.

From then on, Delos Santos had won almost all races in Cebu. Her latest conquest was the 10th DYAB Kapamilya Run last June 13 where she topped the 10k women’s division in 59:28.58 or almost five minutes ahead of her closest rivals.

Her most notable run of the year was the Great Lapu-Lapu Run where she topped the women’s 21k division thereby earning a berth in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon next year.

When Delos Santos fielded the call from Claudio, she first hesitated because she was committed to run in another run in Manila the same weekend.

Delos Santos relented, however, and agreed.

The rest, as they say is history.

About Newton Running™

Determined to create new innovation in running shoes and to advance modern running technique, a small group of elite Boulder, Colorado-based runners founded Newton
Running. Newton Running applies The Science of Motion™ with patented Newton Active Membrane Technology™ that absorbs more impact than traditional running shoe
foam and converts energy into forward propulsion to help runners go farther and faster with less fatigue. Newton Running shoes are available exclusively at
select Toby’s Sports and RUNNR outlets. For more information on Newton, log onto www.newtonrunning.com and www.facebook.com/newtonrunningphils./

The Fresh Air Fund

A few weeks ago, I received an email about this US-based organization with an advocacy in providing children living in the city experience how it is to live in the suburbs or countryside and in the process, get to experience FRESH AIR.

I have not easily posted the email or created a post for this because this is not applicable here in the Philippines from which this blogger is located. Honestly, how I wish this is being done here too as I have been born and raised in the city.  How I would have loved  to experience living in the province even for a while.

I may not be able to fully support this US-based advocacy but Sara, told me that my blog can help them spread the word around. So in my own little way, I am now publishing the full transcript of her email to me. Luckily if somebody from the US happens to read this post, support can be generated too. And to Sara, I do hope you get to have the needed number of host families for this.  Here it is–

Hi

As a lover of the great outdoors, I thought this would be an issue that you and the readers of Kulit On The Run would care about. The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give them a Fresh Air experience that can change lives. If you could help to get the word out it would really help us place these wonderful children into a loving host family. It’s only for up to two weeks, but it’s an experience that can change their life.

I’ve put together a social media news release, so please feel free to use any of the images, graphics, banners, or copy:

http://freshairfundhost.com

We also just received a tremendous offer by a very generous donor. Any gift given from now until the end of June will be matched dollar-for-dollar. I was hoping you could help by posting a mention, tweet, or by putting up one of our banners on your site. Please let me know if you are able to help and if you have any questions.

Thank you so much,

Sara

RUNRIO Registration Update

The new RunRio registration process started smoothly today at all registration venues for the Rexona Run 2010 race. Runners were able to finish with the paperless registration within the span of 5 minutes and went home with their race kits containing the D-Tag timing device, race bib, early bird singlet (in gold) and a Rexona Men Sport Defence aerosol.

available starting July 1 or 2

But then these early bird registrants missed getting hold of the RunRio Membership Card. This card, which is to be given for free to all registrants of RunRio races, will be the main “instrument” that will be used for registration to future Runrio races. It aims for an easier, fuss-free registration wherein registrants will just present their membership card (bearing a unique membership number) and their choice of race distance to participate in. All of the other pertinent details will just be retrieved from the registration system’s database which the participant provided during the initial registration.

So how can runners/registrants get hold of their cards when there was none given when registration opened today? According to Coach Rio himself, supplier’s delivery of the membership cards did not reach the target opening date of registration but will be available by Thursday, the earliest or Friday, the latest.

Those who have registered today, June 28 and those who will do so by tomorrow until Wednesday, will have the option to (1) just have their cards delivered to them – i am assuming, delivery fees will have to be applied, OR (2) just leave either their mobile phone number or email address so that they will either be sent an SMS message or email notifying them that their cards are already available for pick-up at the center where they have registered.

Meanwhile, check back in a while to the RUNRIO site for the availability of the ONLINE registration facility.

*thanks to Jaymie for the picture.

The Rexona Run 2010

 

REXONA RUN 2010
August 1, 2010
SM Mall of Asia
Distances: 3k/5k/10k/21k
www.runrio.com

1. REGISTRATION VENUES:
Early Registration Period: June 28 to July 19, 2010
SM TIMEX Shops – Mall of Asia, North EDSA, South Mall, Megamall
TIMEX Glorietta 4
R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Late Registration: July 20 to July 26, 2010
SM TIMEX Mall of Asia
R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Online Registration: June 28 to July 19, 2010
Click HERE for Online Registration

LAST DAY OF REGISTRATION: July 26, 2010

* Registration is subject to a limited number of slots and may end earlier than announced deadline. Race kits will be provided while supplies last.

* SPECIAL REGISTRATION UPDATE FROM THE ORGANIZERS:

In order to fully prepare for the first day of registration for The Rexona Run 2010, which starts on Monday, June 28, please be advised that on this particular day, we have decided to open registration at 1pm instead of 12nn. This is to give us some elbow room to attend to some minor glitches we might encounter on the first day. Rest assured that on the succeeding days, registration will open daily, according to the registration site’s store hours. Registration in SM Timex Shops will be open from 10am to 9pm while that in R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street is from 12nn to 9pm. Please be guided by the revised schedule and register for The Rexona Run 2010. See you there!

2. REGISTRATION FEES:

event fees

3. ASSEMBLY AND GUN START TIMES:

call times

4. FREEBIES UPON REGISTRATION:
Rexona Men Sport Defence aerosols will be given to the first 5,000 registrants
All participants will use a disposable timing device called D-Tag

D-Tag

Singlets will be given to the first 5,000 registrants. Singlet size and color availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Singlet for early bird registrants

Singlet for late registrants

5. FREEBIES UPON FINISHING THE RACE:
3K to 10K FINISHERS – Drink, Lootbag (STRICTLY FOR FINISHERS ONLY), Free print-out from Photovendo, Official race results analysis from RunPix.
21K FINISHERS – Finisher’s Medal, Drink, Lootbag (STRICTLY FOR FINISHERS ONLY), Free print-out from Photovendo, Official race results analysis from RunPix.

6. RACE BIB COLOR GUIDE:

race bibs

7. D-TAG INSTRUCTIONS:

Instructions on how to use the D-Tag

8. IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
•Registration hours are from 12nn to 9pm only.
•Registration may end earlier than announced deadline. Race kits may run out before July 26, 2010.
•Singlets will be given to the first 5,000 registrants. Singlet size availability will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
•As soon as the Rexona Run 2010 singlets with black and gold design are sold out, late registrants may avail of the Rexona Run singlets with the black, green, and blue design. Size availability for these singlets will likewise be on a first-come-first-served basis.
•Rexona Men Sport Defence aerosols will be given to the first 5,000 registrants.
•A disposable timing device called “D-Tag” will be used by all participants during the race.
•Medals will be given to all 21K finishers.
•Finisher’s loot bags are strictly for FINISHERS ONLY. Loot bags will be given upon finishing the race.
•For questions, please contact the secretariat at (02) 703 1736.

Girls’ Bonding at the Team Woman Run by Lactacyd

It was a different kind of girl bonding as 85 all-women teams and 896 women gathered together for this morning’s Team Woman Run by Lactacyd.

Team Woman members Amanda, Leica, Bea and Chesca

The general atmosphere at the vicinity of McKinley’s Venice Piazza Mall was festive and fun. The race has the correct mix of features that will cater to both serious and recreational runners. The route, i was told, was challenging. Generous prizes were given to outstanding  race finishers – top three for the individual race category and top ten for the team relay and best in costume participants.

Team fRONT RUNNER took home top honors in the relay category by clocking in at 1:18:42

Saluan Serenata ran a 0:18:02 - 5km and won first place in the Individual 5k Run

Perlita Ruben ran in her Darna costume giving her the Best in Costume top prize (individual)

Team Rocking Dolls costume and unbelievable energy resulted to a 15K and more yield as they bag the top spot in the Best in Costume for Relay teams award

when i comes to costumes, can the Sea Princess be far behind? Of course not! Tessa Prieto-Valdez and her team won a special award for their kick-ass costume

For the first time, men played second fiddle as women took centerstage in a sport which is usually dominated by male participants. Men patiently waited in the sidelines, cheering on and taking pictures as their ladies race. The event’s activity area is filled with various post-race activities that anyone will want to linger even after a tiring run. It was totally girl power!

women would love to have their afros in PINK of course!

the activity area at Venice Piazza

it was both fun and

...and race worthy

It was a great Sunday morning for women. Kudos and thanks in behalf of women to Sanofi-Aventis, Event King and Runrio for putting up a great event. Hopefully, I’ll be able to participate in next year’s edition. Hmm, just thinking about it makes me feel excited already. What are we ladies supposed to expect for next year? A better race than this, as if this one is not yet great? Oh, excited me! ;P 

*Special thanks to good friend Princess Galura for the pictures. 🙂