"on a shoestring"

Flashback. How did this bike/run came into being? This happened when a group of people on twitter began using #HelpDOT (hash-tag Help Department of Tourism) and share something beautiful about Philippines, something like these. So people became interested and DOT U.Sec Enteng Romano scheduled a meeting/brainstorming for the Manila-based twitter people to make one step forward- do something on promoting tourism starting in Manila and hoping that others will share the idea. So this is a volunteer-led thing.

Some runners while waiting for the start run

During the brainstorming meeting, Carlos Celdran (who offers Intramuros Tours and Imelda Tours) was sharing his plans of having a bike tour for free tarting at the Manila Film Center, then around Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, and Binondo and back again. He likes to “to outline a potential bike/pedestrian tourism corridor between these areas. I would love to see a clean, green, and beautified beltway that links the CCP complex all the way to Chinatown.” He adds that, “It would be very beneficial to tourists if we can find a way to link together all our historical spots through proper landscaping, public art, pedestrian paths and bike lanes.”

I really don’t know why I was there at the meeting, but when asked what I will contribute, I said, “I’m a runner and I can invite friends to run with you guys.” – Yeah! I’m a runner and I’m proud of it! \m’

Starting Line, The Manila Film Center

And so I started giving teasers on my FB account and sharing the ideas to friends thru other social network sites and then finally making a blog post about it to make it more official. Noelle (KikayRunner) picked up the idea and promoted the run too! Thanks to her! I also posted this on Takbo.net (Forums on Philippine running). And people started to get excited on the idea. Credits to Boss Jinoe, Argonaut, Noelle and a lot of people who promoted and shared the link. They made the group larger and so in the morning of September 5 about 50 runners and 100 bikers met at The Manila Film Center.

ABS-CBN reported more than 500 bikers join this. Terribly RWONG, RWOGN! WRONG!

FAST-PACED. I really thought this is an LSD (Long Slow Distance) but since I was running with Kikay Runner, it became a tempo run. Her LSD is my tempo run..haha (she is blazin’ fast maaaaan!). So I got a 3K warm-up (7:00/km) before the run started then a 11K tempo run (5:15/km) and another 4K slow run (6:45/km) for a total of 18K.

Feels like we are the lead pack because of the motor escort

The Purpose? Run/Bike along the historical streets of Manila and help promote tourism. But because of the hostage-crisis that happened weeks ago that shocked the whole nation and killed 8 HK tourists and Mendoza (the hostage taker), we also want to do something that will help heal and rebuild the nation. We had one major stopover- at Intramuros to have moments of silence- to pray.

Excerpt from my Prayer

The Route: Start at Manila Film Center – CCP Complex - Roxas Boulevard - Intramuros - Escolta - Plaza Lawton -Luneta Monument - Film Center. This is about 15 kilometers. Others did only half on this, about 7K.

Post Run Class pic

THE FUTURE. Going home, I was talking with Macy. And she was thankful

Good job guys!

for a nice run. Thank God I haven’t heard any complains yet (except for the longer route and being fast). She was asking if there would be part 2. That brought me to thinking of organizing a race with a twist. It will be called “Tour de Santiago” (Tour of James). Maybe I would do that next year. I just hope I can get sponsors for this event. Hmmm? I want something that is not expensive, something that will promote tourism and traveling. A race organized not to make money but to make friends. This would be fun. I hope this will materialize. If you are interested with this or know someone who wants to do something like this, please let me know.

Thanks to all who participated in this bike/run! Blessings form Jah!

Note: Photos grabbed from Takbo.ph, Argonaut, Racs and JB Pacia’s FB account. Thanks for the tags!