"on a shoestring"

I was doing my heat-training in the hills of McKinley yesterday when i witnessed one of the most grueling race in the country: a 7-hour non-stop running on a 2.4km loop.

Here are some photos I took during the event:

FOCUS

DETERMINATION

COOL DOWN

PAIN

HAPPINESS

FIGHT

HIGH-FIVE

SUPPORT

STRENGTH

POISE

HELLO

BEAUTIES

APPLAUSE

TRIUMPH

More photos on my Facebook Fan Page: Rogin-E Last Man Standing Photos

For 5K amd 10K Race Results, you can check this Link: Last Man Standing Race Results

To all Last Man Standing Runners, saludo ako sa determinasyon ninyo!

Congrats Sir Edward and Rogin-E!

The University of the Philippines Industrial Engineering Club, Asia Brewery and Rexona invite you to join

LUNTIRUN: Make Every Route Greener

Date: March 27, 2011

Venue: Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang

Distances:
1.5km (for 12 years old and below)/ 3km / 6km / 12km

Registration fee:
1.5km – 300php // 3km – 350php // 6km – 400php // 12km – 450php
(RACE KIT includes: Event Singlet, Race bib and stub for 20% off on regular priced New Balance item)

UP Students may register at the UP IE Club Tambayan (3^rd flr, Melchor Hall)

You may also register online at http://runnersrunner.com/luntirun
Check out our FACEBOOK page at http://facebook.com/luntirun

Other registration sites are:
- SECONDWIND stores (45 Malingap St. Teachers Village, QC ||  Ortigas Home Depot, PASIG CITY)
- NEW BALANCE shops (Festival Mall, Alabang || Shangri-la Plaza); Saturdays and Sundays
- BIKE KING PHILIPPINES (Bonifacio High Street)
- MJ46 Factory Outlet (Bicutan)
- The Village Sports Club (BF Homes Parañaque)

Registration is until March 20 only!

This event is for the benefit of the Isko Cleans UP, a project to implement solid waste management in the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

For inquiries, contact MIMI LUCAS at 09178158227 or email us at luntirun@gmail.com .

OFFICIAL RELEASE:

RUNRIO TRILOGY 2011 LEG 1 – RUN UNITED 1 REGISTRATION UPDATE

Hello Runners!

Thank you for your overwhelming response to and support of the first leg of the Runrio Trilogy 2011 –
Unilab’s Run United 1. For everybody’s guidance, here is the updated registration status per category:

RACE CATEGORY
500m – CLOSED
5km – CLOSED
10km – CLOSED
21km – CLOSED

With this development, we officially announce that the Runrio Trilogy Leg 1 – Run United 1
REGISTRATION is now OFFICIALLY CLOSED.

It gladdens us no end to note that this race was able to set a record in terms of registration turn-out,
with slots being sold-out in just a span of three weeks (registration opened last January 31,2011), but it
also saddens us that there were still a lot of runners who were not able to sign-up for this race. In fact,
we continously receive requests (oh and sometimes, demands!) for slots to be added for the 5km, 10km
and 21km categories.

Unfortunately for reasons mainly of safety and security (among other reasons), we regret to inform you
that both Unilab and Runrio have agreed to be firm in its decision of keeping to the planned maximum
target number of participants.

You might want to consider registering for other upcoming Runrio-organized races such as the Women’s
Health – Athena All Women’s Run (March 19) or the AACE The G.O.O.D. Run (April 3) instead.

We would also like to encourage you to look forward to the Leg 2 of this year’s Runrio Trilogy, the
details of which we will be announcing soon. On a happier note, we have taken into consideration your
requests and as such we look forward to accommodating more runners in Leg 2 by increasing the number
of available slots/target participants.

Again we give our sincerest thanks to all of you for your unending support to Runrio-organized races.

See you all on March 6!

Running in Batanes: Basco Town Proper to Valugan Boulder Beach (Part 1 of 2)
Running in Batanes: Quickie Runs at Sabtang Island (Part 2 of 2)

I was pinching myself just to make sure it was not a dream. It all started with a desire to run around the Philippines (one of the reason why I call this blog JourneyingJames) and I can’t believe it, I was running on the northernmost part of the country- Batanes, specifically in Batan Island (2nd largest island among the 10 islands of Batanes Province).

The Route: Town Proper to Valugan out and back

I can’t wait to run on this island and I will not forgive myself if I will be a slacker. So I woke up before dawn and readied myself for an easy run to Valugan (Valugan means East in Ivatan language).

At the first 2 kilometers, the run was kinda normal (about 6:45/K) except for the constant pinching to check if this is for real. On the 3rd kilometer, the sound of the crashing waves became my iPod (as I don’t bring iPod while running), then the view of the majestic Mt.Iraya surprised me! It was stunning that I have to stop for a while and breath as much air as possible, it surely took my breath away. “Words are not enough to describe the experience” is such a cliché but that was the feeling.

Valugan Boulder Beach, you can see a portion of Mt. Iraya covered with clouds (Photo credit: Wanderlass)

After some more meters pave roads are no where to be found and the Boulder Beach is posing me a challenge. You know me, I love trail running, so I ran (and jumped, and scrambled ) on the boulders (the photo below shows the terrain) for about 1.5K. Then back to the pave road towards the town proper.

The boulders on the beach lining were actually andesite rocks spewed by Mt.Iraya when it last erupted, 1454. These rocks were smoothed overtime by the undulating tides of the Pacific Ocean (Photo from Izah of Tripadora).

At the last kilometer, I saw an Ivatan kid, Robert (Grade 6 student), he was running after me. I thought it will only last for about 50meters because I was getting faster, but he kept pace and we ran together (and have some chit-chat) until I reach the airport (finish line). He was walking to and from school everyday, but he ran with me that particular day. I said thank you and my heart was smiling for an unexpected thrilling run.

The Ivatans are genuinely nice, all of them smiling as I pass them on my route and their “good morning” greetings are straight from the heart. I was touched. THIS IS RAVE RUN!!!

____ ____ ____

Running Stats:

Date of Run: February 12, 2011 (Saturday)

Route: Basco town proper to Valugan Boulder beach, Batanes (out and back)

Distance covered: 7 Kilometers

Pro’s: The weather was fine, fresh air, Ivatans were smiling when I pass them, the sound of the crashing waves amped me, the majestic Mt.Iraya was breath-taking, the boulder was challenging and develops sense of balance.

Time: 47:38 (6:48/km)

Temperature: 18°C or 64°F

Running Apparel: Nature Valley tech shirt, Craft running shorts, cycling shorts and Nike cap.

Shoes: VFF Sprint (Red)

*So sorry I have no picture of myself while running.

____ ____ ____

***This happened during the Batanes Bloggers’ Winter Tour last February 11-14, 2011. The trip was made possible by SEAIR. My heartfelt thanks goes to Tita Lydia of Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant and Dir. Bless and the rest of DOT Region 2 staff. Dios Mamajes!

I was able to join this tour because my entry, “Batanes, Ichaddaw ku imu” (Batanes, I love you) won the SEAir Bloggers’ Contest.

I have a confession to make. My feet gets excited when the eyes see that there is a trail run coming. My heart throbs quickly and I get fired up.

While malling yesterdayat SM Megamall, I saw a poster on Columbia Store:

Colombia Eco Trail Run 2011 in Baguio

Everyone is invited to join Columbia Sportswear’s 1st Eco Trail Run on March 20, 2011 (Sunday),

at Camp John Hay, Baguio.

Elite Category: 10K

Fun Category: 5K

Registration starts on Feb 11-March 11, 2011.

Registration open in all Columbia stores: 2/F SM Mall of Asia, Gateway Mall, SM Megamall, The Block at SM North Edsa, The Podium, Festival Mall (Alabang)

Late registration fee will be PHP. 500.

Wish I am living near Baguio City so I can easily join this. This would also be a perfect training for the Ultramarathon I’m preparing to run come April.