"on a shoestring"

Ready, Get Sweat, Go! (3K/5K/10K)

March 13, 2010 (5:00am) at The Fort

Race Fee: Php250 for all distances 

Beneficiary: Philippine Society for Crippled Children & Filipino Athletes

Organizer: Evangelista Sports Management, Inc.

Registration: 2- Registration is not accessible to everyone. C’mon Pocari who would go to your office just to register. Good thing that you give the singlet, race map, bib number, and Pocari Swear bottle holder as we register. The website is not working during the first day of registration, good thing you manage to fix it. One thing more, it was my first time to use a tarpaulin race bib- very creative and I bet cheaper than the water-proof bibs used in most races.

Starting Time:2- The website information said that assembly time is 5:00am so we hurriedly went at the venue. Instead of taking jeepney we had to take the taxi. Too sad because we waited for more than 30 minutes before the race started. Good thing there where warm-up exercises and a short program- National Anthem and Prayer before the race started.

Route Markers, Marshal and Traffic: 1- No kilometer marker. Just a handful of marshals who doesn’t even know what to do. The race was not close to traffic. I heard some motorists bonking their horns on runners. I hope those motorists learn to run someday.

Start/Finish Lane and Race Clock: 2- I know this is only a P250 fun run but

hey I think a start/finish line is a must for every race. The clock was too small you have to see through the crowds when after you finished your distance.

Restrooms/Baggage Area: 1- This is the first time I looked for a portalet and I find none. This is very important race organizers. You said will portalets are provided but there was none. Next time I suggest that you station at least 3 person at the baggage area. It was tiring job for a single person considering that more than 2,000 runners registered for the race.

Hydration Station: 2- “Ice tubig” at Pocari Sweat on 350ml bottle inside the cooler. It was unhygienic for me to drink water from an ice bag just because I don’t know where it came from- too bad. Luckily I have a tough stomach. What

a waste of Pocari as the marshal pass 350ml bottles to every runner. We just need to sip some as we are more focused on our running. I actually brought a bottle with me at the last 2 kilometers to my detriment cause I’m used to running free hand. To make things worse, they didn’t follow the water stations as stated on their water station guide.

It was also chaotic after the race because the 3K and 5K runners rushed to the Pocari Station to get as more than they needed. I also saw some who are not registered getting drinks. I will not forgot someone wearing blue who get a box full of Pocari for his own. I feel sorry for the 10K runners who didn’t get a drink after the race. A claim stub or a mark on the race bib would do the trick.

Singlet: 4- A combination of white and blue. I just noticed that its heavier than my previous singlets especially when it is wet. I guess the cloth used is cheaper than the dri-fit materials used in most if the races I’ve joined.

Course: 4- I heard that the 3K route was not followed as prescribed in their planned race route making it lacking some 500m. On 11th Ave the runners headed straight to the finish line forgetting to turnright to 30th street. The 5K route has a short downhill at 5th avenue which I enjoyed cause it is here that I was able to overtook most of the runners. The 10K route just followed the 5K route. You just have to run twice the loop. Luckily, i joined the 5K because i’m not a fan of loops- its kinda boring. I know of some who opted to run just 5K instead of the 10K because its tiring to get back on where you have run already.

More photos (thanks Gideon for bringing your camera):

 My 3rd 5K race at 26:45 (unofficial time), a new PR for me.

There were pacers for the 10k runners- 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 & 8:00/km

Post-race program and games:

5K Winners: 1st Place- Jujet De Asis (16:22)

 5K Winners: 1st place-Maricel Maquilan (20:59)

 Runners from Los Banos (Me, AR and Gideon)

 Beneficiary of this Fun Run- The Philippine Society for Crippled Children

Special Mention: I just to thank Sir Toel Toel who registered us for this race. Sir, without you my friends and I will not able to experience how to race in The Fort. Thank you also for the Adination of runners registration form.

Summary. I enjoyed this race over-all because I was able to bring my running buddies from Los Banos. They absolutely had fun in their first time to experience running at The Fort. What I admire the the most from the organizers is that they invited the beneficiary to come to the event and even render a special number for the runners. They also gave a cheque amounting to Php150,000 for the benefit of Philippines Society for Crippled Children. This would give confidence to the runners that a certain amount of money they paid for the race indeed goes to the right hands- in their case- the right feet (they are crippled). It was a a small, simple race without much fun fare, festivities, corporate freebies, finisher’s medal, LCD screen or spectators but a memorable race indeed. After all what separates the best races from the common ones are the memories shared, experiences encountered, the strong finish you made and the thought that you made friends along the way.