"on a shoestring"

Sapphire Run Official Race Results are now available for download (just click the link below):

3K Race results (352)

5K Race results (429)

10K Race results (324)

 

Congrats to the winners, especially to my friend Karylle Tatlonghari for placing 8th on the 5K category. Way to go!

 

You can also download some photos on Sapphire Facebook Page, by clicking this photo:

If you joined Sapphire Run, do let us know your feedback so we can do better next time. Thanks, I appreciate your comments!

I just want to share this run for a cause at UPLB.

The FUN RUN (“100 for 1″) for our Sis Nina Kristine Abad, is already approved by UPLB Chancellor Velasco. We are hoping to get as much participation from our brods and sisses as possible. We highly encourage friends of our organization to join the Run. This Fun Run is in cooperation with the College of Development Communication, Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Theta Epsilon Sorority and Teatro Umalohokan Inc.

 

 

The details of the fund-raising activity for our beloved sis are as follows:

When: Sept. 24, 2011 (Saturday) | 5:30-8:00 AM
Where: This is a 5KM-route Run around UPLB Campus which will start and end at the Baker Hall.
Registration Fee: 100php (inclusive of water, bananas and snacks)

*The fastest runner of “100 for 1″ shall be acknowledged in the event. Certificates shall also be given.

 

How to Get to UP Los Banos:

1. From Cubao. Take the Bus at HM Transport Terminal (Near Victory Liner Terminal) going to Sta.Cruz. Tell the conductor that you will get off at College, Los Banos. Then take the jeepney going to UPLB, tell the driver that you will go to Baker Hall. (Bus fare: Php104, Jeepney fare: Php8). Bus start to leave Cubao at 3:00am. Travel time is 1:30-1:45hours

2. From Gil Puyat/Buendia LRT. Take the Greenstaror DLTB bus going to Sta.Cruz. Get off at College or Junction, Los Banos. Take the jeepney going UPLB, get off at Baker Hall. (Bus fare: Php94, Jeepney fare: Php8). Travel Time is 1:30-1:45hours

3. From Alabang. Take the Bus going to Sta.Cruz, HM. or You can ride the bus going to Calamba. From Calamba Crossing (Fare: Php45), take the jeepney going to UPLB (Fare: Php20). Travel Time is 1:00-1:30hours.

 

 

 

Dreaming of a new route; varried course- uphill, downhill, flat, rolling; huge trees; fresh air; and a relaxing venue? (Do I have to mention our famous Buko Pie and cheap yogurts at DTRI?)

Well, your dream comes to life! Save the date now OCTOBER 30, 2011 (Sunday)!

 

SAPPHIRE RUN “Save And Protect PHIlippine Resource Ecosystem”

Race Venue: UPLB, Baker Hall
Date: October 30, 2011 (Sunday), 5:00am
Race Category: 3K (Php270), 5K (Php320), 10K (Php370)
Assembly Time: 5:00am
Gunstart: 10K- 6:00am; 5K 6:10am; 3K- 6:20am
Expected Participant: 2,000runners
Race Organizer: MacRunners Sports Inc. (Organizer of Biodiversity Run 2010)

 

“Isang takbuhan sa UPLB, napakamura lang, mapapamura ka pa sa ruta.“

Registration Areas:

Los Banos: Baker Hall, UPLB every evening starting September 19, 4:00-8:oopm

Online: Download the Registration form, fill-out and e-mail to macrunners_sports_ inc_1978@yahoo.com together with the scanned/photographed image of your deposit slip.

Entry fee may be deposited to BPI Family Bank. Account name: MACRUNNERS SPORTS, INC. Account # 005803-1928-65.

Deadline for submission of entries and online registration is on October 28, 2011/Friday, until 12:00 midnight.
Download Registration form: SAPPHIRE RUN Registration Form (721)

 

Prizes at Stake:

 

So, Top 10 Finishers will have someting to bring home (and brag about).

All Finishers shall receive Finishers Certificate.
Race Route:

 

 

 

Activity Area:

 

Objectives:

• To establish SAPPHIRE RUN as an annual reputable road race for the advocacy of environmental awareness, conservation and protection;
• To promote running as very affordable avenue for physical fitness / wellness;
• To foster healthy competition and camaraderie among local residents, invited athletes, running enthusiasts and running clubs from all walks of life;
• To enhance local tourism in Los Baños through the conduct of road race within the rugged terrains of Makiling Forest, Jamboree site, Forestry campus and adjoining areas of UPLB Campus ; and
• To generate funds from the advocacy run for the establishment of a plant nursery of Multi-Purpose Tree Species in line with the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) and other similar environmental conservation and protection endeavor.

 

Btw, I will be giving away some free race kits. And will publish the singlet design soon. For now, please spread the word! Thanks!

 

How to Get to UP Los Banos:

1. From Cubao. Take the Bus at HM Transport Terminal (Near Victory Liner Terminal) going to Sta.Cruz. Tell the conductor that you will get off at College, Los Banos. Then take the jeepney going to UPLB, tell the driver that you will go to Baker Hall. (Bus fare: Php104, Jeepney fare: Php8). Bus start to leave Cubao at 3:00am. Travel time is 1:30-1:45hours

2. From Gil Puyat/Buendia LRT. Take the Greenstaror DLTB bus going to Sta.Cruz. Get off at College or Junction, Los Banos. Take the jeepney going UPLB, get off at Baker Hall. (Bus fare: Php94, Jeepney fare: Php8). Travel Time is 1:30-1:45hours

3. From Alabang. Take the Bus going to Sta.Cruz, HM. or You can ride the bus going to Calamba. From Calamba Crossing (Fare: Php45), take the jeepney going to UPLB (Fare: Php20). Travel Time is 1:00-1:30hours.

 

 

 

“I started running in the 70’s. How old are you during those years?,” asked the Running Priest at the first mile of our run. I said, “I’m not yet born and my mom is in her elementary.”

 

I was telling the Running Priest, “Father, this is one of dreams, to run with you; and I can’t believe that its happening this soon.”

 

In the beginning…

It was a right decision to wake up early on the first day of August. The run started at Botanical Garden in UPLB. A place that is close to my heart as there I started to love nature. It started when I was in my 3^rd grade when I first climbed Mt. Makiling. 16 years later I found myself running with Fr. Robert Reyes supporting him on his advocacy of preservation the mountains of the Philippines.

 

 

Takbundukan: An Avocacy Run for the Environment

With a wooden staff on his hand (made of a special species of bamboo–handcrafted by missing Jonas’ mom, Edith Burgos) and a 22L backpack Fr. Robert Reyes was preaching the conservation of nature by running. I together with my running teammates, Vic Caurez and Sunday Ombrog joined him on the first day of his 4-day run around the towns of Laguna and Batangas, towns that surround Mt. Makiling. Mt. Makiling proved to be the lungs of CALABARZON, an important watershed in this industrialized region.

 

 

The run should be Los Banos to Alaminos but because Fr. Reyes will do a homily on the second death anniversary of the late President Cory Aquino. We just ran from Los Banos until Calauan, Laguna; about 19 kilometers under the rain.

 

On Humility

My respect for this man has become deeper he walks (runs) what he preaches. On one talk in the municipal hall of Bay, he asked for forgiveness in behalf of the MitsuBishops that accepted SUVs from the former Pres. GMA.

 

 

 

Until My Last Breath…

On the service van I asked him until when he plans run for change. Coming from the heart, he said, “Until I’m breathing and I can still run, I will run.” The running priest is already 53 years old, has battled a lot of politicians that seem to encumber the development of the country, but still strong, fighting for the good not only of nature but also of the society.

 

Thinking-Out-Of-The-Box

This man cannot be boxed and will continue to effect change in the best way he can- run.

 

On the 4^th day of his advocacy run, Takbundukan, I will run again with him. From Calamba City to Los Banos.

 

This humble man of God, indeed, runs what he preaches.

 

Photo credits: Sir Audie dela Cruz, DENR Region 4A

 

It was a fine Sunday morning when I, X, Christian and Carly met at UPLB gate for a trail run using the punishing route of Mt. Makiling, popularly known as MakTrav (or Makiling Traverse) by mountaineers.

Carly on the rope segment before approaching Peak 2. Everyone who conquered Mt.Makiling is familiar with this particular spot.

We started the run half an hour past 7:00am, run-walk strategy to conserve energy. We found ourselves refilling our hydration bags just before Agila base, preparing for the uber muddy trails from Camp 20-30. I think muddy is an understatement as we saw the mountaineers coming down from Peak 2 all-sullied-feet/shoe.

Carly, Christian and me at Peak 2 enjoying the chilly air for a while before continuing the trek to Peak 3.

No one from us (except for X) knows that this is how the gentle Maria Makiling greet her visitors. Making them muddy and dirty from the mud (no one is exempted), wounded from the thorns (especially Christian), and bloody from the limatics (we saw one). Our quads are still sore at the time of this writing.

This time with X, the master trail runner with his special skills of power walk. Running the difficult terrain seemed like a ‘walk in the park’ for this forester.

But the view from Peak 2 and 3 are breath-taking. The chilly air and the moving fog are a welcome treat after a tiring, punishing hike (we tried to run but we just can’t).

Remembering our trail food, we brought: 1 Cream-O pack, 1 Siopao, 4 slices of Gardenia Raisin Wheat Bread, 1 Nature Valley Peanut bar and 2 Rebisco Strawberry Sandwich.

This is also the first time I tried the Orange flavor of Hammer gel, I love it and is now my fave.

From the famous Peak 2 (where most mountaineers have reached), we dared went to Peak 3. I was surprised with a different viewers angle of the Taal Lake and Volcano, a 360-view, it was more than rewarding, we stayed for some more minutes until we are ready once again to retrace our route.

The view from Peak 3, Sto.Tomas, Batangas side, from here you Taal Volcano, Mt. Maculot and Mt. Batulao can be seen.

Carly suggested we call this run X-Trail in honor on Xerxis, known as X, because he is “the” master of the MakTrav trails.

Most of the terrain from Peak 2 to Peak 3 is unrunnable, there are spots where you have to crawl. Now I know the meaning of what dean Karnazes said, "crawl if you must, just never give up."

We started running as soon as we went down the 90° rope segment near Peak 2. Attack the downhill was the motto until we reach the “lugawan” near Mudspring. We are dead tired and hungry as we sat down at the eatery.

We survived the arduous X-Trail Run version 1.0 after 7 hours and 18 minutes, after running some 25kilometers of mud, thorns, sharp rocks, moss and every obstacle in between you can ever think of.

Version 2 is on the drawing board already, we hope to bring other to experience this too! Anyone interested?