Run United Philippine Marathon 2013

The Blazing Road Eaters

From sparks to firestarters, passion for the love of this sport kept aflame and embers constantly burned. The fire in the hearts of these people were never extinguished and now after almost 400 days from their first marathon, blazing forth were the Road Eaters in their crisp-colored technical shirts like bonfires under a starry night.

The SUPPOrT CREW with Yeng

More or less 46 Road Eaters Running Club (RERC) members got ready in the wee hours of October 6, 2013 for the club’s official race for the third quarter of 2013, the Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM). In line with its objective to promote running, RERC – through their officers – pinpoints one major race every month and encourages their members to participate in it.

The 10K Runners

The 21K Runners

RERC’s 42K runners for RUPM 2013 had to assemble as early as 2 AM in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) for the 3 AM gun time while the 21K runners congregated at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) for the 4 AM start of the half-marathon race. RERC participants for the 10K started their race the latest at 5:30 AM. The race proved to be memorable for majority of the club members: this race was the first for several to finish a full marathon; for others, new personal records (PRs) were achieved such as finishing the 42K race under 5 hours [phoooey, talk about some serious marathon running pace]; and still for others, this was one level up in terms of the distance categories that they have thus far joined in their running experience.

The 42K Runners

In addition to the exhilarating results of the race, RUPM also came as the first year anniversary of the club. It was indeed a very special day for the club's delegates (the highest in number). Runrio's singlets looked as if the pavement was on fire especially when looking at the runners' backs; on the other hand, the Road Eaters' shirts proved to stand out and it was easy to say 'Hi!' and 'Hello' to each other.

"Hey! We have the same shirt! You're a Road Eater! Hello to you!"

For the second part of the anniversary, the Blazing Road Eaters had their lunch at Max's Restaurant in Manila. They got to know each other's names and celebrated Christy's birthday!

Pagkain! Pagkain! At marami pa pong pagkain please! Hanggang dulo po kami!

And for Christy's birthday, the crowd was like:

"Haa---"

"Haapp---"

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you!"

And after all of these, the Road Eaters will enter the next season in the sun. Congratulations!

Race Results (updated on October 14, 2013)

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Reviews & Comments:

Lalaine Sibulan, 21K
Experience: Super happy, I exceeded myself today. Beat my PR last RU2.
Race Review: As usual, bumabaha ng tubig & Gatorade, at may free energy gel pa =)

Gege Dilla, 21K
Experience: As usual, I'm injured again but still happy & fulfilled.
Race Review: Very organized, the best talaga si Coach Rio.

Mico Uba, 21K
Experience: First marathon (21K agad); masaya, masarap sa pakiramdam pero masakit sa paa.
Race Review: Well-organized, madaming water, Gatorade & saging station. Congratz Coach Rio!

Nino Donsal, 21K
Experience: Masaya na masakit (injured). Bawi next event.
Race Review: OK, well-organized at puno ng Gatorade everywhere.

Karen Nuez, 21K
Experience: Fulfilled, motivated, happy
Race Review: Organized

Rap Villareal, 21K
Experience: Happy =)
Race Review: Great!

Paolo S. Carreon, 21K
Experience: Happy, fulfilled
Race Review: Organized

Michael Salazar, Support
Experience: First time photographer & support. It was exciting because you get to see unique runners and cheer club members.
Race Review: Classic, organized RUPM

Carolyn Logatoc, 21K
Experience: First time to run without proper training.
Race Review: It's nice to be with the group since this is our anniversary run.

Jeremiah Mendoza, 42K
Experience: Another test of strength, stamina & tagumpay!!
Race Review: Runrio is always organized, has unlimited supply of water, walang mahabang lines sa claiming ng medals at loot bags.

Saldy Besenio, Support
Experience: First time to be part of the support crew /coordinator.
Race Review: Cool & fun.

Nora Salvador, 10K
Experience: First time with support crew. Glad that there were people willing to assist you. Grateful for them. Happy to meet new friends. Happy to experience that someone can cheer you up.
Race Review: Hydrations available; roads are wide; organized.

Samuel Mas Jr., 42K
Experience: My first Full Marathon.
Race Review: Woooh!!! Pagod!

Jerome Catipon (Gwapong Kuneho), 42K
Experience: So fulfilled, it was my second full marathon and I got a new PR. Lesson learned: Don't use something new on the race day.
Race Review: As usual, overflowing hydrations and runners were really in good hands.

JL Ligsay, 42K - crazy comment!
Experience: Cramps on both legs, however, I still finished the race because I didn't have a choice.
Race Review: Runrio did a good job.

Mack Santos, 21K
Experience: Cramps on both legs. Medics were asking me to quit at the 18th km. I cried while walking as fast as I could while thinking about my wifey and kids. It helped me a lot and forgot about quitting!
Race Review: It was my first time to join. It was great! I will join again.

John Paolo Sorilla, 42K
Experience: It was my first full marathon, didn't expect this to be hard and tiring, and the weather was hot. But overall, it was fulfilling. I walked for the next 15K because of my aching knee. Good thing Sir Josh and Ray were there to support.
Race Review: Good job, organized system but there were trashes everywhere.

Ray Sarmiento, 42K - Editor's Pick
Experience: It was my second time to join RUPM (the first was on Oct. 28, 2012). This year, I was able to complete the RunRio Trilogy (21K-32K-42K). Running a full marathon was not that easy especially if you're not physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually prepared. One advise I can give to aspiring marathoners is to just relax & loosen up. They must not stress themselves over the numbers. They're strong & God's running with them.
Race Review: The race organized by Coach Rio was always beyond perfect, except for the trashes.

Ronald Allan Martinez, 21K
Experience: Last leg for RU 2013 with new PR, 2:36:04 Gun Time, 2nd wave. I paced with Lalaine until KM 11 along CCP way back to MOA then I started my run alone, finishing the sub 2:30 for chip time. Great run! Finished strong!
Race Review: Perfect, Coach Rio! Kudos!

RERC was created in 2012 amongst a group of friends who love to run and, of course, to eat promptly after the energy-consuming workout; thus the club’s tagline “Run Now, Eat Later”. To know more about who the Road Eaters are and how to join us in our club activities, visit our FB page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadeaters/.

Blazin' Road Eaters: Setting the Road on Fayah!!!

Writer/Contributor: Christy Daguia

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Tag : 10K, 21K, 42K, anniversary, Max's Restaurant, Our Races, SM Mall of Asia,

37th National MILO Marathon - Eliminations 2013

Students, members of various running clubs and elite runners (eherm!) once again rose to the challenge of the 37th National MILO Marathon on July 28, 2013 at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

Filipinos now have higher awareness in running that’s why the number of participants exceeded the targeted 40,000, marking the largest number of registered participants in a single race in the history of the MILO Marathon.

This celebration also has the highest number of Road Eaters, beating the number of delegates of the Run United I 2013 marathon. Most of them joined the 21K race. New club members who joined in this prestigious event were: Pau, Ma'am Nora, Emille and Vic. The amazing 42K runners were: BJ, Jerome, Marvin and Christy.

Everyone’s determined to finish the race within the cut-off period. Milo Marathon’s challenge makes every runner push themselves to their limits. However, not all Road Eaters succeeded. Unbelievable. Were the Road Eaters sabotaged? Was it because of some conspiRUNcy theories?

Hmmm… maybe it’s the saying: “Do not try anything new in the race.”

Here’s what we found out:

Kirk and Marvin wore new shoes.

Billy wore a new cap.

Ma'am Nora wore new shorts.

Anjo and Eya used energy gels for the first time.

Josh listened to the music for the first time while running a marathon.

Whatever may have caused it, still majority of the Road Eaters finished the race strong and in glory! We congratulate all participants. It became a motivation for all to do better for the next race. Soon, the National Finals will open for them.

Jerome the 42K finisher.

The medal looked like a BIG Marie biscuit!

Race Results:

Off to Rufo's Famous Tapa!

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Tag : 10K, 21K, 42K, MILO Marathon, Our Races, Rufo's Famous Tapa, SM Mall of Asia,

Run United II 2013

This day marked a special period of the evolution of the Road Eaters Running Club with the launching of the official club singlet, designed by their very own Jemai. The singlets have white, blue and red colors and features the club logo in front and the member's name at the back.

The 21K and 32K Road Eaters

The 10K Road Eaters

The RU2 experience was definitely awesome wearing the attire that represents the club. Anyone who wears it could stand-out from the rest. Some runners caught the attention of the Road Eaters wearing RERC singlets within the sea of dark-colored RU2 singlets. They would say to themselves, "Whoa! Who the heck are those running in white, blue and red singlets?" or others would say, "Those singlets look so cool. Maybe I should join their club!" Maybe that was one reason why the club was featured in the Unilab Facebook page after the race and lots got interested to join the club for the first time.

For the Road Eaters, it was easy to find their lost running buddies. On the other hand, sending cheers to their co-Road Eaters wearing the official club singlets even on the other side of the road granted an exhilarating feeling and made them proud that they would want to experience it in an unlimited fashion.

The group photo that caught the attention of Unilab :)

Hooray! Make way for another history! First-time 32K runners who braved the race wearing the RERC singlets were Josh, Jemai, BJ and Kevin.

Race Results (updated on June 7, 2013)

Off to Lola's Best!

MJ the birthday celebrant.

Free Halo-Halo desserts are worth waiting for!

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Tag : 10K, 21K, 32K, Lola's Best, official RERC singlet, Our Races, RU Race Series, SM Mall of Asia, Unilab Facebook page,

NatGeo Earth Day Run 2013

There are more reasons to celebrate the Earth Day. And there are more ways to do it. But what on Earth did the Road Eaters do to participate in this event?

Of course, of the many reasons to take part in this celebration, the Road Eaters simply became one with the Earth by joining National Geographic Channel's Earth Day Run 2013.

Weekly marathons were no longer a surprise and were already part of the Road Eaters culture. Nothing could stop them, even if this run attracted anxiety due to the recent Boston Marathon tragedy; even if this was another expense (sheesh); nor after a punishing trail run a week ago! What on Earth!

Well, they made sure that this should be a group run, and this should be slower, noisier (they made fun of everything that their eyes could bear to see), and selfier. Selfie-er or Groupie-er? Oh, they kept on showing their best poses for each photographer along the way. Unfortunately, some were only by-standers. False Alarm.

The Jemai signature pose.

Road Eaters Anjo, Arjay and first-time 21K runner MJ competitively went ahead of the group. Sam the newest member of the club also joined this race.

On their Finisher's Tee.

Race Results (updated on June 7, 2013)

Off to Longganisa Sorpresa!

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Tag : 10K, 21K, addiction, BGC, Earth Day, Longganisa Sorpresa, NatGeo, Our Races, SM Mall of Asia,

Run United I 2013

In almost 7 months of operation, the Road Eaters Running Club hit a total of 30 members with 25 of them (the highest so far) able to join the much-awaited Run United I 2013 – to start completing the popular RU race series.

New members include: Sam, Pau, Don, Michael, Paolo, MJ and Karen.

Two vans were needed to bring the Road Eaters to the Mall of Asia grounds. An unexpected delay happened, but fortunately, the club had competitive half-marathon Road Eaters who could outrun the others. Eya was also with them, for her new level race.

To start the running season, a lot of changes were noted: The routes were slightly new, the singlets were improved for better comfort, and unlimited bananas and Gatorade were made available.