It was an overwhelming experience to see Coach Rio greeted and congratulate the awardees at the stage. I saw the youngest, to the oldest, to the fastest awardee of the night.

Photos taken during awards night.

According to few runners I met in the lobby, the medal from Runrio Triology is described more than a finisher’s medal. More power to Coach Rio and Runrio Team, Unilab ActiveHealth and other sponsors, and the star of the night.. the runners! Congratulations. Hope to be see you on the next Runrio Trilogy on 2013.

Before I forgot, I would like to congratulate my friend Banjo Asiddao, Runrio’s Blogger of the Year. We love you and we are proud of you. Ikaw na!

More photos in I am Biloggirl Facebook.

Vaseline Men Xterra

March 17-18, 2012

Liloan, Cebu

Vaseline Men, the fastest growing men’s skin care brand in the Philippines with a comprehensive range of products designed for men like facial wash, moisturizer, lotion and body wash and Sunrise Events, Inc., invite you to conquer your limits in the world’s premiere off-road triathlon event with the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series. Consisting of three legs, Pang Rave Run, XTERRA Weekend and Putik Pare, each activity promises to deliver a challenging yet enjoyable experience for all hard core runners, athletes, sports enthusiasts and adventure-seekers.

Kicking off the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is the Pang Rave Run, a trail run slated on February 26, 2012. The event will have an exciting course with magnificent views at the Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal. It will feature a demanding trail run in 22- 10- and 5-kilometer categories all with very exciting cash prizes up for grabs. Online registration is already ongoing at the Vaseline Men XTERRA website. To register, log on to www.xterraphil.com or visit any RUNNR or ROX store.

The excitement reaches fever pitch on March 17-18 in Liloan, Cebu for the Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend. Featuring trail run and triathlon races, the event promises to challenge even the most seasoned athletes. This year, XTERRA brings triathletes to the pristine waters and the rough terrains of Liloan, Cebu for a more exciting set of challenges that will surely test the athlete’s strengths and limits. One of the key segments of the triathlon is the ‘graveyard,’ aptly called due to the difficult terrain that it will pose in the mountain bike leg. The Vaseline Men XTERRA Team has exerted all efforts to ensure that the entire race route, including the run leg through the fishing lagoon Papa Kits, will be an interesting yet challenging segment for all participating athletes.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend in Cebu kicks off with a trail run on March 17 also at Liloan, Cebu. It will feature a demanding trail run in 21, 10 and 5 kilometer categories all with cash prizes both for the male and female categories.

More importantly, top age group finishers for the 21K trail run will qualify for the world championships for the XTERRA Trail Run slated in Hawaii this year. Registration for the March 17 Trail Run is ongoing at www.xterraphil.com and in all Runner Stores nationwide.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend caps off with two triathlon events on March 18 with the XTERRA Lite and the XTERRA Philippines Championship. The XTERRA Lite involves a 500-meter swim, 30-kilometer bike and a 5-kilometer run. On the other hand, the XTERRA Philippines Championship involves a more grueling challenge with a 1.5-kilometer swim, 30-kilometer bike and a 10-kilometer run. All of these will take place in scenic Liloan, Cebu. Apart from winning exciting cash prizes (total pro prize money is US$15,000), the top age group finishers will vie for 40 slots to the XTERRA World Championships in Maui, Hawaii. Registration for the March 18 Triathlon events is also already ongoing in the Vaseline Men XTERRA Philippines website (www.xterraphil.com).

Finally, this remarkable series reaches its climax on November 18 with XTERRA Putik Pare at Clark, Pampanga. Like the Xterra Weekend in Cebu, Putik Pare will also feature trail run and triathlon activities. The literal translation of Global XTERRA Event entitled “Muddy Buddy,” this event is a duathlon relay involving a trail run and mountain bike, ending with a now-famous Putik Pit. Those who have the will to gut it out also stand to win amazing cash prizes from Vaseline Men XTERRA.

So this year, prepare to conquer it all at the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series. To know more, log on to www.xterraphil.com or visit www.facebook.com/vaseline. You can also visit our partner stores – ROX and Runnr for more details.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is also sponsored by Alaska, Timex, Gatorade, Summit Water, David’s Salon, LBC, AirPhil Express, Prudential Guarantee, 2XU, Dusit Thani Manila and media partners The Philippine Star, Multisport, SBR and Studio 23. Host venues for this year are Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, and Amara, Porter Marina, and Papa Kit’s in Liloan Cebu.

There were 4 activities in the hall: basketball (shooting), football (hitting the target), biking (stationary), and running (treadmill). Few blogger friends joined the activities and won in the challenge.

Check them there:

@kulitrunner, @pambasanglegs and @letguieb

Sports Bloggers

@princeofmonaco3, the Twitter Addict!

The new sports drink was proudly endorsed by country’s celebrity runner Rio Dela Cruz, fitness diva Chinggay Andrada, basketball player David Semerad and football player Niel Etheridge.

The New Powerade ION4 helps replenish fluid losses and the four key electrolytes in the same ratio typically lost in sweat: sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It also contains carbohydrates at 15 calories per 100mL. POWERADE ION4® encourages the body to absorb fluid and maintain fluid balance. Carbohydrates are replaced as well, supplying your working muscles with fuel, helping you sustain mental and physical performance as you exercise. To help you fight off dehydration, POWERADE ION4®doesn’t switch your thirst receptors off prematurely. It keeps you feeling thirsty until you’re properly rehydrated.

Want to know the latest promo at Riovana Store?

Here is the promo mechanics:

1. Customer will need to accumulate Php5,000.00 receipts in Riovana BGC & Katipunan from January 28 – February 28, 2012
2. Customer will receive Riovana Gift Certificate amounting to Php500 pesos.
3. GC is not convertible to cash.
4. This Promo is not in conjunction with any other promos
5. Riovana Gift Certificate is valid 1 year upon issue
6. Redemption is valid 60days afrter promo period.
7. Participating Stores- Riovana BGC and Katipunan

Fore more details, please visit their Facebook Fan Page: Riovana Philipines or send your tweets @RiovanaPH

Happy shopping!

Discovery Channel

presents

Vertical Run 10k

McKinley Hills, Taguig City

February 12, 2012

I’m very excited and looking forward to this vertical run in Stamford Executive Residences on February. This is stairs running!!! Rock on.

For the first timers in vertical running like me, I am sharing to you some stair training I got from Mark Verstegen of http://coreperformance.com

Here it goes:

The Ascent

On the way up the stairs, think “more power.” Climbing every other step is terrific, but focus on actively extending your leg and driving your foot down into the top of the step as if you were taking off for a lay-up or dunk. This produces the greatest force and creates a far superior triple extension of your hips, knees and ankles, meaning you’ll generate more power.

Also, pull your toes up toward your shin on the lead leg. If you’re landing on your toes with your heel way up off the ground, you’ll like suffer shin, knee, hamstring, hip flexor or back problems sooner or later. Keep your toes up with the weight on the ball of your foot and push through your leg.

The Descent

The trip down is where pain most often occurs. Here’s how to avoid it.

Absorb the impact with your butt.
On the way down, there is a tendency to have “knee dominant absorption” instead of “glute dominant force reduction.” This simply means that most people absorb the impact with their knees instead of using their hips. The force that’s created by your body weight dropping the distance of 1-2 steps compounded by gravity and poor biomechanics can cause muscle soreness or exacerbate tight areas, leaving you more prone to injury.

Be aware of the your alignment.
Try to keep your knee in line with the second toe. And don’t forget to use your hips. The tendency is to hike your hip on the opposite side or swing your hip out to the side instead of keeping it behind you. If you’re having a hard time controlling this posture on the way down, use a hand railing if there is one.

Use your recovery strategies.
Reduce aches and pains with self massage using a foam roll, massage stick, or Trigger Point kit. Key areas include a small muscle called the tensor fascia latae, (start at your hip bone and work down the side and front of your thigh), your piriformis (on the back of your hip where your wallet would be) and your lateral quadriceps (down by the outside of your knee).

Stair Workouts

Keep making progress on the stairs with a planned progression. For any readers who have never tried stair training, simply start by walking up and down the stairs. Then use the progression below to slowly increase the intensity and effectiveness of your training:

Jog up and walk down.
If using bleachers, jog up, walk across the top, then walk down.
When you get in better shape, instead of walking across the top of the bleachers, just come down (less rest makes it harder).
Run up, run down, rest, and repeat. Depending on the length of stairs, you can continually challenge yourself by increasing your speed and the number of repetitions you do (going up and down once equals one rep).

If you’ve already been doing stair training, step it up a level:
Level 1: Run up for 6-12 seconds, then slowly walk down. That’s one repetition. Repeat for 6-12 reps.
Level 2: Sprint up for 8-12 seconds, then walk down. That’s one rep. Do one to two sets of 8-12 reps.
Level 3: Run up for 12-20 seconds, then walk down. That’s one rep. Do two to three sets of 8-12 reps.

Personally, I would like to thank Timex for giving me the opportunity to do my very first 10k in Timex Run: Time is Running in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. And, not to mention the bonus shot with Piolo Pascual.

I am proud, I finished it in 1:50. They said it was an impressive PR for a first timer in 10K but as for me, completed the course without injury was a blessing.

See you on the next run!

Photo was taken by Vima Mendoza

Asian Hospital and Medical Center

presents

RUNew 2012: Run for a Better You

Alabang, Muntinlupa City

February 26, 2012

RUNEW 2012
February 26, 2012
Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang
3km/5km/10km/21km

EVENT DETAILS:

Online Registration: January 16, 2012 to Feb. 19, 2012.
www.runrio.com

In-Store/On-Site Registration: January 16, 2012 to Feb. 19, 2012.

- Asian Hospital & Medical Center, MOB Lobby
Alabang 2205 Civic Drive, Muntinlupa City

- Riovana Store BGC
28th St. cor. 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Mon-Thurs : 11am to 9pm; Fri-Sun : 10am to 10pm

- Riovana Store Katipunan
3rd floor Regis Bldg. Katipunan, Quezon City. Across Ateneo and Beside KFC.
Mon-Sun : 10am to 8pm

- Tobys
SM Mall of Asia
Mon-Sun, 12nn to 8pm

- The Athletes Foot
Robinsons Galleria
Mon-Sun, 12nn to 8pm

For more information, visit http://www.asianhospital.com/run or http://www.runrio.com

“No one can put a good cause down.” These were the words of Bingle Felizardo back when we were planning the “Bisaklat in Boracay” last year. And beyond our tight schedules and out of country business trips, etc, I can’t begin to wonder how we, all of us involved, were able to pull everything off. Especially with the negative criticisms that hounded us during this earliest part of this project. Somehow, being focused on our purpose and objective, we were able to succeed in our project.

Believe me when I tell you, that this is NOT a simple project. With the help of the family, friends, various mountain bikers community, the Atty. Allen S. Quimpo and Family, we were to manage and organize the entire event in 3 months. This included donations, logistics, transportation, accommodations and other coordination associated to bringing books to these communities. You need dedicated people to do this, and that is what we had, a group of people dedicated to biking and of course, doing philantrophic work.

During the preparation, the donations came in first, which allowed us to coordinate communications to Kalibo and Malay way ahead of time. Logistics of books were then delivered on time. These were blessings that we thought were quite critical to our time line. An like icing to our cake, we also were able to make use of a SAG vehicle, as support vehicles for our participants to Bisaklat.

This video was taken and documented by Jire Carreon:

January 13 and 14, participants of Bisaklat from Manila started to arrive in Kalibo, some flew in while others biked all the way from Manila to Kalibo.

Did you hear me. Let me make that clear. OTHERS BIKED ALL THE WAY FROM MANILA TO KALIBO! Can you imagine the dedication of these people when it comes to biking, or helping a great cause.

They gathered in Bakhawan Eco Park and Research Center, a wide collection of mangroves that lead to beach at the end.

Some photos was taken from Andrew Calachan of Biker Friends.

The Mangrove

The Bakhawan Eco Park

January 15, all bikers assembled at Bakhawan Eco Park and Research Center in Kalibo then, had a short walk at Ati-atihan Festival and proceed to Baranggay Caticlan, Malay where Siklista Malay were waiting. Siklista Malay is mountain biking club based in Malay. We had a short introduction afterwards, bikers went to Mount Carla where Ati Community were waiting for us.

Like the usual Biskalat program, it started with a song which lead by Carla Jacaba and Dennis Castillo to build rapport among the children. I saw the smile of the children and they were excited to hear our stories and see the books we brought. It never crossed my mind that this project will go to places. We never expect…

Check out the photos posted in Mountain Bike Philippines Facebook Fan Page.

In behalf of Bisaklat storytellers, we would like to thank the following:

UAE Mountainbiking
Philmofo
MTB.PH
Wow Pinay
Yadu
Bike Statement
Atty. Allen S. Quimpo and Family
Jire Carreon
Bingle Felizardo
Siklista Malay
Aklan Cycling Club

Next Biskalat project is scheduled on April in the little island of Suguicay. If you are interested to join and donate, please contact the following person:

Jenny Arce ::: i.am@biloggirl.com
Bingle Felizardo ::: bqaguila@yahoo.com
Carla Dane Jacaba ::: cadadizon@gmail.com
Aileen Quimpo ::: aqhernandez@yahoo.com

Its already 2 days to go and I am just in time for 2012 Timex: Time is Running to be held on January 22, 2012 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. I’ve been running the same 5k distance for several months and took me 40 to 45 minutes to finish. I believe this is the time for me to break a leg and move to 10k.

Wish me luck!

It has been common for mountain bikers biking as a group to go out for a long rides or century rides with biking buddies and friends. But how about biking alone? How much more for a lady biker biking alone in a new place?

I first experienced biking alone in Cebu last year during the XTERRA race and had another opportunity of biking alone when I visited Bohol last December 2011.

I went to Bohol for the launching and turnover of 100+ bikes of Bikes for the Philippines. Most of the beneficiaries were students and teachers of Baclayon Elementary School and ALS (Alternative Learning System).

I flew in from Manila and arrived 7am at Tagbilaran Airport. After which, I biked all the way to Baclayon, Bohol.

One thing I like about biking alone is that I have complete control of the pace. I can go at a fast pace or go at a leisurely pace anytime I want to.

Few of my important gadget were full charged, 3 phones and a tablet as these are for emergency purposes and maps.  Medicines like Paracetamol and Loperamide, and of course, few candies and money.

Communicating with Boholanons, the people from Bohol, and strangers were not a problem too as  they understand and speak Tagalog with ease.

Ms. Jojie Pestelos of Balay Kahayag provided me the directions but Google Map led me to get to Baclayon. I took Calceta Street then turned right to C.P Garcia Ave, once reached the Plaza Rizal Park, I made another short right turn, then biked the stretch of Venancio P. Inting Avenue and Tagbilaran East Road.

From Baclayon Church, it took about 500 meters pedal power before going to the steep hill of Upper Laya, Baclayon.

It was already 9:00am when I reached Balay Kahayag, an agriculture training center and a dormitory in Laya, Baclayon.

It was patterned to a traditional Bahay Kubo surrounded with green plants, flowers and trees. Bed rates cost Php350/day with free breakfast.