Nike's very first 10K run in Manila (Nike We Run MANILA 10K)...

I claimed my race kit today at BGC around 2pm. So obviously, a lot of runners are so excited about this event. I spent over an hour, standing in line to have my chance. Well, so far I wasn't disappointed. Tee shirt is of high quality and as per its tag, I assumed it is from a genuine Nike apparel, I also love its color - orangey... The only glitch is that my D-tag's number doesn't match on my tee-shirt's.. hmmm.. what the heck, it doesn't matter ;D  maybe they've decided this number to be just a design only haha.. doesn't make sense at all..

As an added bonus, a Nike marked drinking tumbler was included in the Nike loot bag but still waiting for the thumb-drive, will be given after the race as part of the finisher's kit...

Below will be the freebies & race route...

Eight thousand runners are expecting a lot from this event. So we'll see how the race goes on the event itself... insights about the run to follow... ;)

Race day... October 15, 2011 - Manila is the 3rd city from south-east Asia and among the 15 cities around the world participating in the Nike We Run City 10K races

This is it! The much awaited big event. My first night run. Whoa! I got lost... I didn't find 34^th street immediately and almost missed the gun start (at 5:20). Baggage area was too crowded and everyone was a little bit disoriented including the staff themselves. I hurriedly made my way over to the starting line at about 5:18 and as expected I was able to position myself at the tail already.

I was thinking of how to surpass this 9, 000+ (yes, you read it right, the supposedly 8,000 slots expanded to 9,000+) runners (or should I say walkers?) Darn! We were like a colony of fire ants gathered into a very large group ready to attack. I had a hard time getting my target PR (this should be my first time to set a Personal Record) as it is very hard to pass through these walkers err runners. Most of the people who joined here I think was beginners (of course I myself is a beginner also, what I meant was 1st timers who joined just to say they were able to join, just like before I got serious into running ;p), because they have started race walking already until the end of the race and since I am at the end, I can't run also for they have blocked the whole track and didn't even bother to keep at the right side to give way to runners on their left even ignoring warning shouts ("On your left!") from runners who wanted to get through... well, it's also my fault because I came in late, but to hell with the traffic, I didn't expect it to be this severe since it is Saturday already. Apart from this, lack of lighting's in some areas slowed down runners as well and the road was already wet, hazardous plastic cups were all over inviting accidents.

This is the reason why I'm having second thoughts about joining big events such as this because of too much hassle, but I can't blame RunRio (the event organizer) for this, I understand it's not easy to organize events which involves a very large group of people with different attitudes, ouch! haha. Well, enough with the complaints and grumbles, at least I did enjoy the after party/performances from Chicosci, Sandwich & Parokya ni Edgar ( <- you guys rock!!) while waiting for our chance at the snap zone photo booth and photo operation from our own cameras. And of course freebies are still great although after finishing the race I just received a letter from RunRio apologizing for the delay distribution of USB drives aw! Will wait for it tho', is still so excited.

photo ops before and after the race.. w/ running buddies - jay, merry, kuya joven - ... also met w/ @runnerstoe (rod) of PF community...

snap shot @ snap zone

Congratulations to UST for winning the school challenge and all other winners from all categories.

It's still a fun event.. looking forward to upcoming RunRio events. More power runners!

practice run @ UP grounds (PinoyFitness followers)...

I've been sneaking on the Pinoy Fitness Calendar & Community site for quite some time now but I just registered a month after the PF Community was launched. I was never interested in any forums before I got addicted to running. I am running alone most of the time and I could always see group of individuals  running together which sort of triggered me to join PF's forum to search people who are also addicted to running and of course, to learn a few tips from the site and fortunately, I learned a lot from them. From 5K tips for beginners up to marathoners advises and a lot more. To top it all, I was able to meet some of them. Highlight of the story, we've decided to organize a group practice run. Cancelled for a couple of times but at last, this one was pushed through.

UP Diliman on September 24, 2011

photo ops before and after practice...

taking advantage of the moment and first meeting, with jonard, @joy_c(kristinejoy), @bratinElla (rhea), @chowk9(franz), regz, @gray(lyn) & baby

More practice to come PF pipz and may I also borrow @Yingski's line " MORE HORSEPOWER " ...

I took the action.. I challenged myself..

My first 10k race distance...   New Route New Distance

AXN Runs Philippines held at F.Ortigas Jr. Road, Pasig City on September 18, 2011

I was so excited about this event that I've even registered on its first week of registration. The long-awaited day came, I woke up early and dressed up quickly so I could arrive at the place ahead of time since I am not familiar with the route and that I could also prepare for a little warm up. As soon as I have arrived at the place, I went straight to the baggage area worrying line might be too long but was glad to see there were few runners standing in line at the designated area for us. Did a little stretching and familiarized myself with the booth camps to know where to head directly upon crossing the finish line to get some freebies haha...

On the race itself, as I've said, I was so excited and was so eager to finish the race but to my complete disbelief, my stomach started to hurt and realized I am suffering from side-stitches to think that I am still on its first kilometer. At first, I tried to ignore it but as I continue along it felt more painful that I've decided to just walk until it passes off. When I was feeling better, I continued with my pace but then again, as I was still recovering here comes the fly over, aw!. My jaw dropped for a second as I did not prepare for an uphill. I felt my left leg hurting... 'oh no shin splints' coming back!' I wanted to cry for help and wanted to go back... call the attention of the waiting paramedics. Crazy, exaggerated thoughts played on my mind.. I thought of smashing myself with the passing trucks so they could just throw me back in, straight to the finish line or just jump over the fly over because I can no longer make a few more steps, I almost wanted to crawl, just lie down and will just wait for someone to pick me up. Silly thoughts it is, but I was freaking out at that moment thinking it was already impossible for me to finish the race. Too many negative thoughts simultaneously precipitated on this head of mine already. But since I was alone, I also realized no one will assist me. "Who will bring me home?".. so I forced my legs to hit a few more strikes and make it to the finish line without being swept due to cut-off time, they've allotted 2 hours for the 10K distance. As I moved along, always looking back if there were still 10K runners slower than me because I was worried I'll be the last finisher but thank God (unselfishly) I could still see some runners behind me. I kept myself busy, misleading the exhaustion and the fatigue lingering all over me, by amusing myself of other runners who were tired as well and almost giving up. They were already shouting and complaining, I saw myself on them. And then finally, I could see the right-turn curve towards the finish line, I felt relief and tried to sprint so I could be done already and rest my sore legs. At last, here it is.. the finish line, I wanted to cry, just like the other first timers (who shared their stories on the runner's homepage) but I can't.. I felt numb and exhausted that my other emotions had been overpowered. I'm disappointed because I finished it for an hour and a half. I was expecting to finish barely an hour and ten but to my dismay, due to many circumstances that kept me from going on, I am now a certified snail-runner. I expected way too much. I went home a few minutes after the race to rest and did not bother to visit other booth camps set.

But thinking on the positive side, it was indeed a great run. Hydration was all over, I did not even stop for 1 to 2 stations because I already feel bloated. Photographers were all over so I kept (or at least tried) on smiling whenever I could spot one of them. Of course photo operation is the best part of every running event. And also, I was able to meet another co-PF Community (Franz aka chowk9).

A bit disaster on my part but no regrets at all. It was still a great run and indeed one of the best runs I had. It's a very challenging experience for a beginner like me.

It was not as big and as prestigious as the runrio events but I salute the organizer (finish line) for a job well done, it's another respectable organizer to look forward to.

my 1st 10K official race result of 1:32.. a big disappointment but swore to get even better on my next 10K race..