Adidas miCoach

I was doing the usual rounds during lunch today: restocking my HammerGels (Toby's is already selling btw) and ogling continously at the Asics Kayano16 and GT2140 at Olympic Village when I chanced upon the Adidas stall there.

My current shoe, the Adidas Response Stability shoe, was still there. I'd still look at it since I thought that I really made a steal when I bought the same for 50% less at another store months back. However, I realized that it was an upgraded version when I looked at the insole. I was surprised to see this logo:

My suspicion that it's going to compete against Nike+ was well confirmed when I removed the insole and found an oval spot where one can insert the gadget. Definitely, they're going to give Nike a run for their money (no pun intended).

One big advantage over Nike+ is that it can connect to any mp3 player. Another is that it has those color-coded training zones that Nike+ doesn't have. Samsung even released its own miCoach phone as beautifully demonstrated in this video:



Here's the Adidas miCoach website if you'd like to learn more. I advise that you click Watch Demo to gain a preview of this gadget. Adidas can contact me as well if you'd want me to review it further (wishful thinking, hehe).

In terms of keeping time/pace since I started running last March 2009, I've moved up from a stopwatch, to using the Nokia Sports Tracker, and finally to a Garmin 305. I can say that having a gadget to keep time/pace is very important if one wants to improve on running/racing.

It really helps.

Run Fatboy Run!

I was able to catch this 2007 film last night on HBO.

It's a funny look into marathon-training of a desperate guy who wants to make amends to his girlfiriend whom he left pregnant at the altar as directed by "Friends" star David Schwimmer. My favorite scenes were the blister and when the main character "hit the wall."



Nice popcorn movie.

Future runner

Every chance we get, my family and I would spend Saturday mornings at BHS. A hearty brunch at Pancake House is in order since Saturday mornings are scheduled for my long runs. Pancake House 2pc chicken, SARAP!

There is always the mandatory window-shopping at RUNNR, salivating on the latest shoes and other running gear displayed in the store. There are times that I do buy Hammer Gel to replenish my stocks, used primarily for long runs and races. "Tropical" is the flavor of choice. Pag wala, it's always good to experiment to try the other flavors.

Lucas, my 3-year old, loves to run whenever that Tiger biscuit commercial is on the tube (the one with the "Rocky" theme playing in the background). He playfully imitates the mascot with matching punches in the air a la Sly.

As we walked out of RUNNR one Saturday morning, Lucas just started running around the empty lot in the middle of BHS. Probably he still had LSS of the Rocky theme the previous night. Here are some pics I took of the little fella.

Good form, good stride. Hmmm...

In case he wants to pursue running in the future, I'm giving him my full support.

Who knows? He could be the first Filipino to win the Boston Marathon. ;-)

So, you want to run the Boston Marathon?

Many posts/blogs often cite the Boston Marathon as THE mother of all marathon races. What makes it so popular?

To quote the Boston Marathon website, it's simply "the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road racing events." Further, the popularity to it is that the qualifying times to join the full-marathon event is so high. Thus, having to just qualify for the race makes one the creme a la creme of the whole running population. To be more specific, below are the designated qualifying times per age-group:

Thus, at my age now if I want to qualify for the Boston Marathon on April 19, 2010, I should've finished the mandatory 42.195km distance within 3hrs and 15mins!

3:15?!?!?! Are you f*cking kidding me?!?! There's absolutely no way that I'll finish a full-marathon within that time! Well, not right now, at least. Probably as my running improves over time, I'll probably make it (in 10 yrs? hehe).

Secondly, the qualifying race that you should join must be listed in the Boston Athletic Association's (BAA) accredited list of races.

There are also qualifying races outside the US but, unfortunately, I found no Philippine-held race listed. The nearest would be Thailand (3 races), Singapore (1), Hongkong (which has 4 races, 2 of which are half-marathons), China (with 6), Malaysia (2), and Chinese-Taipei (4).

But hey, who needs Boston when the running boom in the Philippines is approaching its peak right now? We have a host of good races coming this year like the Condura, RunRio Trilogy, Adidas KOTR, NB Run, and last but not least, the Milo Marathon which is our very own Boston Marathon. With a 4-hour qualifying time for the Finals, this should be a piece of cake IF I compare it with my 3:15 target time for Boston.

But first, I need to finish one full-marathon which I predict to be somewhere over 5hrs. Probably 5:30. Er.....probably 6hrs? Hmmm...I'll never know until middle of this year (I hope).

Keep on running!

The 2009 Daytripped-Running Awards

Here are some of the awards I would like to hand out after a mind-blowing 2009 year of running for me. Take note that the awards I'm giving are based on my own running experience only.

1. Best Organizer: RACE

When you need to have a well-organized race, you bring in the big guns. A definite stand-out is Rudy Biscocho's RACE. The Condura, Mizuno, Milo Finals, Adidas KOTR are among RACE's amazing work. (Special mention: Finishline, XTribe)

2. Best 5k Race: Condura

My first-ever race. A simple route around BHS/Serendra/Market2x. Marshals all-throughout.

3. Best 10k Race: Mizuno Time Trials

The surprise announcement that it was a Time Trial was totally unique. I can't wait to beat my 69mins set-time in the 2010 edition this coming April! (Special mention: QCIM)

4. Worst 10k Race: Run for CHILD

Until now the race results have not been posted. The fact that the National Nutrition Council run by the Government was one of the endorsers didn't help.

5. Best 21k Race: Milo Finals

KOTR should've won but the Expo Day1 mix-up could not be denied. With Milo starting the race at km-zero, it was a dream come true. Long tables, timing-chips, great control of vehicular-traffic, and a cheap registration fee of P150.00 earns Milo my vote. (Special mention: NB Power Run)

6. Best singlet: Adidas KOTR

Absolutely THE best singlet of the year. Period.

7. Best value-for-money Race: Slimmerun

With a 300.00 (or was it 250?) reg-fee, this race was the best value since there were lots of freebies given after the race.

8. Best Finisher's shirt: QTV Step-Up-For-A-Cause

9. Most challenging route: McKinley Hills

Magneto wins this one by a mile. (Special mention: Buendia-Kalayaan flyover)

10. Best running-blog: Just Another Head Fake

It's the simple but poignant posts that I keep coming back to read this blog by "halimaw" Wilson Tan. Back-dropped by a very simple layout, the posts are pretty straightforward and almost always makes me think, "Oo nga ano?!" This is THE essence of a runner's blog. (Special mention: The Gingerbread Report, Run Unltd)

11. Best running-community: takbo.ph

Could there be anything else? ;-)


Come back next year for the 2010 awards! :-)