nike we [run] manila

After a long hiatus, I joined another fun run. Last Dec 1, I was part of the Nike We Run Manila. This was fun run number eight.

It was actually a birthday gift from my flat-mate and fellow TBR dreamer, Chris (Salamat Chris!). It was the first time I experienced registering to a run using a prepaid card. So Cool! We registered as running buddies since having one is a requirement by the event.

On the day of the run, I almost didn't go.  I was still recovering from my cough and cold and wasn't feeling 100%. I also had work deadlines to finish.  But the run was a birthday gift and I couldn't say no to a birthday gift. :)

We got a text from RunRio to come to the venue at 1PM to avoid the traffic.  Deciding that it was sound advice, we left Manila early and got to Marikina a few minutes after 1PM. We avoided the traffic but we had to wait three hours for the run to start. Prior to going to the race venue, we stopped by the house of Chris' lola and picked her up for lunch. We ate at Krung Thai, an authentic Thai restaurant a few blocks away from the race venue (Sarap!). I saw a few runners having lunch there too.

After lunch, we headed to the race venue. It was packed! There were so many runners and all of us were running the same distance. By 3PM, the announcers told us to proceed to the starting line.  Even though we still needed to wait an hour for the race to start, we were already part of the second wave! I think there were three waves in total.

so many eager runners waiting for the event to start

with running buddy Chris

After an hour of waiting, the race started. I did a 2:1 run-walk ratio, something I learned from my TBR training. It was refreshing to run along the streets of Marikina.  The air was not-so-polluted; the residential sights were a big contrast compared to the buildings of the usual fun run routes; and the cheers of the residents themselves were enough to lift anyone's tired spirit.  The streets were narrow though.  Too many times I had to weave around some of the runners and walkers to get past them. There were adequate hydrations stations.  The stations were as long as one city block with Gatorade and water. Unfortunately, even if there were huge garbage containers at the end of each hydration station, most of the runners still chose to throw their cups on the street. Tsk tsk. I wonder how the Marikina government reacted to that.

I crossed the finished line after 1 hour 58 minutes (1 hour 49 minutes according to my timing chip). My usual pace is 10 minutes per kilometer. So I guess that's not so bad considering I'm not that well during the time of the run. :)

It took me less than a minute to get my finisher's shirt and water bottle. They were that organized.  Kudos to RunRio and Nike for this well-organized event but I hope they choose a different venue next year.  A lot of people had trouble getting to and home from the venue; the streets were too narrow for 15 thousand runners; and based on what I heard  from different fora, a lot of residents were negatively affected by the traffic redirection. If not for that, it would have been a perfect running event.

Run Gopher at the finish line 

(photo credit: JRLO of the Running Photographers)