Color Manila Run 2015 #ColorManila2015

• Color Manila Nite Run 2014
• Color Manila Run 2014
• Color Manila Run 2013
• Incoming: Color Manila Run 2015

It’s A Colorful 2015

Color Manila always bring the colorful fun for the new year.

It’s my third straight year of having Color Manila as my first race for the year and it’s the perfect race to start your running year.  It has the really fun 3K and 5K distance that would be perfect for those who wants to start running but are intimidated by the distance and they have the 10K distance for runners like me, who’s in need of training mileage onwards a big race.  I was really looking forward to be back racing after missing a few run events towards the end of the year.  It would also be my first run during the year as I’ve been dealing with a minor sprain days before the race.  It’s time to shed of the Christmas pounds and enjoy a good colorful run at the same time.

Ready to Run!!! – Photo by KB for Photo-ops

Race Course

Race course is powered by Suunto Movescount

The route for this year is an out and back course.  I like the out and back course since it divides the race into two and you can count the kilometers dwindling down on the way back.  Race starts at 34th Streets and heads to 9th Avenue all the way to Triangle drive. The race goes to 11th Avenue all the way to the high street area where the race loops until 26th Street with a u-turn in 5th Avenue before heading back to the finish line.

The Race

I was in the race venue around 5:30 am and excited to start the race for 2015.  The area was festive with dance performances before the start of the race.  There were about 8,000 runners across the different distances so it was difficult to find anyone I knew before the race.  My goal was to do a decent 10K and try to enjoy the color stations in between.  The race started at around 6:30 am.

Color Stations gave runners different shades of fun.

The race started fast with runners eager to start the race.  I was wearing my Go Pro Hero 3+ attached to my wrist so I was able to stop and take some photos at the color stations.  After a short stop at each station for photos, I would go again. First thing, I’ve noticed is that I’m a bit rusty from the long break.  The stops at the color station was a great way to warm up.

I like that they used eco cups at some water stations.

The six color stations was distributed at the first 2 kilometers of the race starting with Blue and Green at 9th Avenue, Orange along Triangle Street, Pink Along 38th Parkway, Violet at 11th Avenue and Yellow approaching 32nd Avenue.  After all the color stations, it was about 5 kilometers worth of road going to the high street area.  This was the time to go for a faster time.

Find the Photo-bombing Franckee – Photo by Anj Cruz

After the yellow station, I started going at a faster pace all the way to the high street area.  This is familiar territory, I know where to take advantage of the descending part and manage the false flats.  It felt easier thinking just going past the 5 kilometer u-turn slot and just think of the remaining 5K after that.  I also like how efficient the roads were used as it didn’t eat up a lot of area in Bonifacio Global City.

It was a party on the way back.

On the way back, I was counting down the remaining kilometers and was impressed how many runners were in the field.  I was already around the 8th kilometer mark and there were still runners approaching and that’s about 8,000 runners having fun.   The first 2 kilometers had me covered in colors but the next 6 kilometers had me lose most of the colors to sweat.

Different Shades of Running – Photo by Photo-ops

The plan was to get dirty the last two kilometers and as it turned out, the rest also had the same idea with people rolling over the color powder and having the time of their life.  I went on the last two kilometers just watching the fun environment and still going at a decent pace until I reached the finish line.

Still look clean after the finish.

I ended up looking still clean at the finish line.  There’s still the annual color powder ceremony to get colored by the color powders.  It was a party after the race and Color Manila brought in great host and DJs to make it an even greater after party.

Another Great Color Manila Run Completed – Photo by KB for Photo-ops

Of course, the highlight of the event was the color powder ceremony and it’s always amazing watching that part each year.  After the color powder ceremony, people were not done partying as they had great music, friends and a festive color manila environment to enjoy.  Cheers to a colorful 2015!!! Great Job Proactive and Color Manila!!!

Picture Speaks Louder than Words – Photo from Color Manila

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