Marquez' Travels: UP Diliman

Showing posts with label UP Diliman. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tiktakbo 3: Isa, Dalawa, Takbo

My Running Diary (scroll to see the full list):

It surprised me seeing my list that I have been off from running for almost a month. Well, it is brought by my no show at the Run to Read last August 15 where I should have run my first 15K. Anyway, I had laced up and ran a 6K Couples category in Tiktakbo 3: Isa, Dalawa, Takbo at UP Diliman last Sunday and had more or less 5K of cool down (if that's what we can call it) in the UP Academic Oval. I don't know if race results were already out, but my unofficial time is 48 minutes 59 seconds.

Thumbs Up

The race bib is printed in tarpaulin. I make it a thumbs up for race bibs in paper easily tore apart.
Registration fee is pretty cheap, PhP600 for a 6K couples (2 race kits).
It started on time.
I have to commend that there are portalets situated beside the venue.
New route (at least for me).
Sufficient hydration, and a refreshing cold Pocari Sweat around 1K before the finish line and after the finish.
The venue itself, for me, is a thumbs up for you can still have your cool down around the UP Acad.

Thumbs Down

KM markers and marshals become insufficient for the last finishers of the 18K category. My girl and I waited for ChickenLegs to finish his race. But upon seeing that it's time for us to leave, we decided to leave. Luckily, we still spotted him and was able to cheer him for he was only a few meters before the finish. That is when we noticed that there were no more marshals to attend to the remaining 18K runners.

After the race, we headed on to Conti's for a post breakfast :)

Monday, December 14, 2009

Pioneer Mighty Bond Mighty Run 2009 at UP Diliman, Quezon City

My Running Diary:
Adidas King of the Road 2009 - October 25, 2009 : 0:48:59
A Run for the Pasig River - November 8, 2009
Time is Running, The 2009 Timex Run - November 15, 2009 : 0:43:49/0:41:23
Men's Health Urbanathlon and Festival 2009 - November 22, 2009 : 0:53:50
New Balance Power Run, Raising Hope 2009 - November 29, 2009 (Bandit) : 0:38:19
1^st Catholic Ministry to Deaf People Yes Run 2009 - December 6, 2009 : 0:42:25 (unofficial)
Pioneer Mighty Bond Mighty Run 2009 - December 13, 2009 : 0:38:13 (unofficial)

For the record, joining run events is bringing fun and fulfillment on my part. And the greater challenge for me in each and every race is not to cross the FINISH line; but to wake up early in the morning and catch a bus going to the meeting place, LOL! It has always been hard for me to wake up early; and it is harder to catch up a bus. Not to mention the very early moderate traffic brought by the Balintawak Market and the ongoing MRT-LRT construction. Nonetheless, I still make it on time to the meeting place.

In the starting line, we were situated almost next to the Kenyan winner of the Time is Running, the 2009 Timex Run (if we were not mistaken). Unlike last 1st CMDP Yes Run 2009, I did not dare myself to run along with him; for I know I will just tire myself out in the first few seconds of the race. As the trigger is pulled to signal the start, I just fixed my eyes on him, until I had no vision of him at all. He really runs so fast, but with simplicity. My girl allowed me to go ahead of her. She told me that she’ll practice her pacing. But of course I did not let myself run too far from her. I would always see to it that she is just within my eyesight.

My role as her official photographer had been detached from me for this run, LOL! Thanks to RunningAtom's wifey who captured our photo perfectly. I did not even notice her. So this is a natural picture of me while running.

Oh, look at my saggy cheeks =(

In the second water station, we stopped to have ourselves hydrated. And then she held my hand. I know she needed my support, and so I ran beside her. She told me that her left knee was aching; but she is a wonder for she was still able to run and continue with her pace – until we crossed the FINISH line at 0:38:13.

After crossing the finish line, we already lined ourselves up in the freebies to finishers: (1) Mighty Bond bracelet, (2) Lugaw with Quail Eggs, (3) Bacchus Energy Drink, (4) Magazine, and (5) Certificate. We failed to have the free Elasto Seal, they ran out of stock. We also did not avail of the free photo shoot for we’re seeing that it’ll just be a waste of time similar to what happened in the New Balance Power Run, Raising Hope. We just take photos of ourselves.

At the stage

While waiting for the program to end, awarding of the winners and raffle prizes, we sat in front of the Palma Hall.

RunningAtom, BanditRunner, RunningPoy, CaptainRunner, TsuperRunner's Son Quiel, BanditRunner's Sister, MinnieRunner, and TsuperRunner

For me, UP Diliman is the best race venue so far. It is for nature lovers.

Friday, December 11, 2009

1st Catholic Ministry to Deaf People Yes Run 2009 at UP Diliman

My Running Diary:
Adidas King of the Road 2009 - October 25, 2009
A Run for the Pasig River - November 8, 2009
Time is Running, The 2009 Timex Run - November 15, 2009
Men's Health Urbanathlon and Festival 2009 - November 22, 2009
New Balance Power Run, Raising Hope 2009 - November 29, 2009 (Bandit)
1^st Catholic Ministry to Deaf People Yes Run 2009 - December 6, 2009

WOW! I am amazed that I already got a total of six (6) runs; when in fact, I only started last week of October. Conclusively, I have been running on a weekly basis, and I feel great about it. For this year, I got a couple of races more; then, we would be resting our tired legs and continue our addiction next year.

It was my first time to run at UP Diliman, Quezon City. In the last five (5) runs that I had joined, they all took place at Taguig (Fort Bonifacio and McKinley Hills). Upon arriving at the university, I got a little chilled by the cool breeze. There were a lot of trees in the surroundings that contributed to the cold atmosphere. And I said to myself, "It would be great to run here at UP Diliman."

CaptainRunner with MinnieRunner

Before the race began, I position myself in front of the line. I would try to run along with the 'competitive runners' until I surrender, LOL. At the gun start, I really tried to run as fast as I could to keep up my pace with those runners who were really running for the prizes. After a short distance, 200m perhaps, I stopped and gasped for air. I really can't run with them. Well, in fairness to myself, I haven't been training for such type of running. But at the back of my head, I would have wanted to run as fast as they could. And oh my, this race had startled me; even my girl is running faster than I do. I remember a number of times when she was trying to encourage me to run and not to walk. The world just turned upside down now. Before, I would run farther from her, she would catch me, then I would run further and ask her to continue with her pace. But now, it's the other way around. I even mentioned to her that she could continue her pace and just me meet at the finish line. But she loved me equally that we still cross the finish line at the same time.

Yes Run

After the 5KM stretch that we ran, my girl and her colleagues do some jump shots for the university's grounds is really suitable for such. We had so much fun out there.

The Best Jump Shot

My Best Jump Shot

And while there were still busy doing some photo shoots, I roam around and found out a number of booths around. There's the 2010 Bull Run and Rizal Day Fun Run booths. (We registered ourselves in the Bull Run.) I had also spotted a free clinic at the university every Sundays. We are planning to join this clinic next year.