RunningAtom

Eternal Flame of Freedom

Before the year 2010 ends with a bang, the last race I joined for this year ended very well with a great fire on my legs, as well as with the camera. It is my year-ender race, but definitely not the type of race which I could just "scrap out" from my running milestones.

Up until now, the runner's high that this race left me still lingers. I can still feel from my feet the trails which surprised me, and the killer hills on the final 3k which really tested my will. The wonders of the island that rocked my soul, and the history behind Corregidor, will now forever live in my heart.

Words cannot express it more! Nevertheless, let the photos form the words for you about this great adventure, a test of will, endurance, strength, with a great history to tell, an incomparable race of the year.


I decided to make the run in "picture race" mode as soon as I got a glimpse of the beauty of the island along the route. If you are one of the participants, you will never race this race with your feet. But like what I did, you will let your heart flow with the history as you traverse the route. This is my best PR - the best "picture race" I had.


Congratulations to everyone who was rocked by this magnificent island. And also a special mention of Congratulations to RunnerIshi, who have conquered her first 6k, 7k, 10k, 15k, 16k, and 21k, only in this race. You made us envy of your great accomplishment!


Corregidor Island, a relic of war, and a living witness of the Philippine history, have now been a part of me!

Race Profile:
Distance: 21 km.
Official Time: 2:23:09
Official Ranking: 94th out of 306 Finishers

Race Info:
When: Dec. 19, 2010.
Where: Corregidor Island, Bataan
Event: Corregidor International Half Marathon 2010

Overall race result may also be downloaded here.

I could still remember some of the moments during the 3rd Condura Run. It was my 21st race, and that debut has also been a big basket of memories for me. To reiterate from my 2010 Condura Run race recap, it was during this event that the following two simple, yet memorable things happened:

1. The first time that I met a runner-blogger - that's Kassy Pajarillo, and since then we've been very good friends together with his loving boo. ;)

2. One runner accidentally covered our nice group photo, but later on, this runner become one of our good friend - that's Mish Quirolgico.

That's what I gain from running -- Dolphins, I mean.... FRIENDS!

Condura Run 2010 (photo courtesy of CaptainRunner)

A few months from now, Condura will stage their 4th running event. From Condura Run, the event will be re-branded to a much better identity, much bigger, and better Skyway run to be known as one of the premiere marathon event in the Asia-Pacific region by year 2012 - The Condura Skyway Marathon.

So what's there for us for the Condura Skyway Marathon?

For me, this race will be special once again, since I will be running my 2nd Marathon in this event, and this race is going to be my golden race (50th race count since I started running and went back from a decade of hiatus).

Then as we all know, from the time Condura sets off their first run, they already have an advocacy. The first of which benefitted the Park Rangers of our famous Tubattaha Reef (UNESCO World Heritage Site); The second event made the tourists of Sorsogon aware about the Donsol Whalesharks (commonly known as 'Butanding'), (thru ABS-CBN Foundation) through the construction of facilities for eco-tourism; while the 2010 Condura run benefitted, for the first time, the Dolphins of Pamilacan, Bohol (thru Ayala Foundation) where a Condura wharf was constructed for easy and safe boarding of the bancas for Dolphin watching.

We support and love the Dolphins (photo courtesy of Ms. Vimz)

Now, this time, the advocacy is for a much better purpose, which is also for the Dolphins of Bohol. Each runner registered for the race, gets to automatically donate Php 50.00 for the funding of scientific research, eco-tourism, and creation of livelihood opportunities for the people at Baclayon, Bohol that will help protect our precious Dolphins.

Not enough to convince you? Here are 13 MORE reasons why you should run in the Condura Skyway Marathon:

1. Run for the Dolphins.
2. Every runner gets a medal.
3. Special edition Dolphin shirt.
4. D-Tag technology.
5. Breakthrough e-Reg system.
6. 16K new race category.
7. First 10K on the skyway
8. New 21K route.
9. Run the new extended Skyway!
10. Fun route for the 3K and 5K runners around BGC
11. 2 Starts, 1 Finish
12. Lots of freebies and giveaways!
13. The top 3 Filipino (male & female) runners for the 42K and 21K categories will also be given special prize.

Ok, still not convinced? Why are you such whiny? Here's the most wonderful reason why you should join the Condura Skyway Marathon: You'll get to have your own "Dolphins", no kidding! As many as you can, not just two like what I gained from my previous Condura race. ;)

Cute friends, aren't they?

For more race information, race maps, registration details, please visit the Condura Skyway Marathon website.

 
Last November 28, 2010, over two thousand running enthusiasts, families and friends gathered to join the 2nd McHappy Day Fun Run in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities’ (RMHC) mission of helping kids learn how to read. Held at the Venice Piazza, in McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, The McHappy Day Fun Run was for the benefit of RMHC’s banner program Bright Minds Read (BMR).

Ready, Set, Go-Kids at the 500m dash

After a fun and fulfilling run for all the participants, the following emerged as top placers for each race category:


Together with event sponsors Coca-Cola, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, Megaworld, Franke, Genosi, Technolux, Foster Foods and other partners, the McHappy Day Fun Run was able to raise P1 million for RMHC’s BMR program, which will provide beginning reading toolkits to 100 different public schools nationwide.

Runners at the McHappy Day Fun Run

Since 2002, RMHC has tirelessly worked to uplift the lives of children through reading. RMHC’s Bright Minds Read (BMR) program is in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to teach beginning reading to Grade 1 students in public schools all over the country with the use of reading toolkits. Every BMR toolkit consists of 33 storybooks, a teacher’s lesson plan and student’s worksheets. To date, over 2,600 public schools are under the BMR program and have recorded a significant contribution in the decreased number of non-readers in the country.

McDonald’s President and CEO Kenneth Yang said, “On behalf of the entire McDonald’s family and the thousands of children whom we have helped by joining the McHappy Day Fun Run, I would like to thank each and everyone for your support and commitment to this cause.”

Hosts of the event Donita Rose and Anthony Suntay

RMHC Executive Director Kim de Leon also expressed her heartfelt thanks to everyone, who ran in the 3K, 5K, 10K and 500 meter dash races. “Every meter and kilometer that we ran has taken us one step closer in achieving our goal of having zero non-readers in the country. Thank you and we hope to see everyone again in next year’s McHappy Day,” she said.

You may now download the race results for this event.

For us who are yearning to take our feet on the trails, cycle our pedals, and burn our shoes on the road, here's a good race coming to us from Finishline this December 11, 18, and 19, 2010.

Finishline.ph, the official distributor of MYLAPS-ChampionChip Sports Timing in the Philippines, have launched their Road x Trail event, a launch of the In-Motion series, consisting of three sport events which includes cycling, running, and duathlon. And for each discipline, you can choose wether to take the road, or try your wits on the trail. All of these events will be held at the famous Nuvali, Sta. Rosa in Laguna.

Races:

Cycling will be pedaling it's way this December 11, 2010. The registration started last November 15, and will end on December 8, 2010. Race kit redemption will be at your designated site from December 6 to December 10, 2010.

Visit the following link for more details:
IN-MOTION SERIES ROAD X TRAIL CYCLING

Running, the second of the event, will be on the road and the trail on December 18, 2010. Registration runs from November 15 to December 15, 2010.

Visit the following link for more details:
IN-MOTION SERIES ROAD X TRAIL RUNNING

Duathlon, will hit its mark on December 19, 2010, and participants shall swarm the registration centers from November 15 to December 15, 2010. Race kit redemption will also be at your designated registration sites on December 6-10, 2010.

Visit the following link for more details:
IN-MOTION SERIES ROAD X TRAIL DUATHLON

Download the entry/registration form:
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