Mens Health Training Combine

Posted on 3. June 2015 by Franc

Catch the June Issue of Mens Health.

#MHTrainingCombine was a test on the four pillars of fitness: speed, agility, power, and endurance.  It was challenging at the same time it was fun to do.  It’s a great way to determine key areas which you need to work on and it gives you a great workout to start your day.  About a hundred participants went on to test themselves against the challenges and it was nice to see some improvements in the trials. 

Men’s Health Training Combine

That’s how I fared at the Men’s Health Training Combine.  I still need to work on a lot of areas but I’m proud to say that all of my second trials was way better than the first.  It says that I can improve a lot with proper training.  This is how the fitness tests works out, you find out how well you did and areas to improve on.  Men’s Health Training Combine gives scientific assessment done by fitness professionals according to the four pillars of fitness: speed, agility, power, and endurance. After the baselines and benchmarks workouts, participants can opt to perform three grueling workouts—an urban obstacle course that tests both nerve and dexterity, a high-intensity landmine workout that challenges your explosive strength, and a grueling circuit that hones your mobility and endurance.  The event was held at SPARTA Philippines in Mandaluyong last May 30, 2015 with around 100 fitness enthusiasts raring to conquer the challenges.

Sparta was the perfect venue for the Challenges

Each participant was given a training kit and score card upon registration. Going through each station, they were scored both according to their fitness baselines and areas they need improvement on. The physically gruelling and mentally challenging tests include the Vertical Jump, Jump Throw, Broad Jump, 40-Yard Dash, 5-10-5 Agility, and 3-Cone Agility. Men’s Health Training Combine challenges and encourages readers to keep going as there’s always room for improvement; a Men’s Health guy never settles and never rests.

I went with some blogger friends for this one.

Before anything else, we started with the measurement of body fat percentage and I jokingly told the one testing if she’d be willing to sign a confidentiality agreement since I felt it’s gonna be a big percentage but it turned out that it’s about 19.5%, which was an acceptable level.  I think I should bring this down to 15% level in the future to be much leaner.

Fat Percentage Measurement

After the measurement, we had some warm ups to ensure that our muscles would be ready for the challenges.  We were given a combination of stretches and dynamic exercise and make sure that each muscle group is warmed up properly.

Warm ups before the challenges.

The next part was the vertical jumps.  From a squat position, we get to jump up powered by the legs.  I got 24 cm. on my first try and 26 cm. on my second.  For people with strong legs, they can easily go for 35 cm, and that’s something I need to work on as I used to have a higher vertical jump.

Vertical Jumps

The next challenge was the Jump Throw.  From a squat position, you try to throw a ball as far as you can.  I did a miserable 160 cm. on my first try but after getting the concept on where my power should be coming from, I was able to throw 234 cm.   That’s a really big improvement.

Jump Throw

The next was a Broad Jump. From a knee bended position, you try to jump forward as far as you can.  For the first try, I did 174 cm and was able to improve to 186 cm on my second try.

Broad Jump

The next was a 5-10-5 Agility test. This had us going from the middle cone to the right cone and to the left cone and back to the middle cone. This measures your agility as you go from one cone to another.  My first attempt was 6.75 seconds and improved to 6.59 seconds on my second try.

Half Way done.

The 3 cone Agility measure how fast we can go through three cones and back coming from Left and Right.  First attempts were in the 3.7 seconds and the second attempt was about 3.5 seconds for both sides.

The last challenged was the 40 yards dash which was a straight sprint until you reach 40 yards.  This felt so fun running under the soft surface of Sparta.  First try was a 6.19 seconds while second try was 6.03 seconds.  That felt really fast for me.

40 yards Dash.

We also did the circuit challenge which had us doing 15 mountain climbers, crawl to the other end of the field, 10 kettle bell swings and run several loops around the cone handled by HIIT.  We did it in over a minute.   It was exhausting doing this and also difficult transitioning from one exercise after the other but it was a great total body work out.

Star Pacer CJ doing the Kettle Bell Swing

There were also other challenges like the renegade twist and battle rope whips handled by functional fitness that tests your power and is a good strengthening workout.

Renegade Twists c/o Functional Fitness

Battle Rope Whips

Ninja Academy also came up with a challenging obstacle course where you do some burpees, jumps, climbs tire flips, hurdles and forward roll as fast as you can.   It was definitely a tough one.  We spent some time watching this and Allan of Running Free Manila went on to try it.

hurdles

It was indeed a great way to start our mornings being challenged by the different Men’s Health Training Combine Activities.  It’s pumps your system up for the full day and it gives you areas to work on for your other fitness activities. Yes, Century Tuna also gave us a really healthy and tasty breakfast for our efforts.  Looking forward to more Fitness Activities like this.

That’s All Folks.

This event is brought to you by major sponsors Century Tuna, Enervon Activ and Chris Sports, in partnership with Ninja Academy, Functional Fitness, and HIIT Philippines. Men’s Health June issue is now available on newsstands and in bookstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets nationwide. A digital edition of Men’s Health is also available for download on your mobile device through Apple Newsstand, Buqo, and Zinio.

It was nice meeting Grace of Summit Media too.

For more details, visit www.summitnewsstand.com.ph/mens-health, follow Men’s Health on Facebook: facebook.com/menshealthphilippines, on Twitter and Instagram @MenhealthPH.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

#TaleOfTheTrail Mount Marami (Maragondon, Cavite)

Posted on 2. June 2015 by Franc

Sittng at Silyang Bato and Admiring the Beauty that Surrounds It. – Photo by JC Igos

When it comes to climbing mountains, it’s never easy as each assault humbles us and makes us in a better position to appreciate the beauty from the top.  Mount Marami not only gives you the view of the neighboring mountains, it also gives you a seat (Silyang Bato) to serve as your throne as you’ve conquered your self in another tough terrain.  Each breathless moment climbing Mount Marami is rewarded with a thousand-folds worth of magnificent views. Get the Chance to Trek Mount Marami in an Actual Race as the 1st Mount Marami – Silayang Bato 21 Km FKT Trail Run Challenge is happening on August 9, 2015 with 21 km, 14 km and 8 km Categories. #TaleOfTheTrail #Merrel #Capra #Suunto #Ambit 2S #BerghausPH #LiveForAdventure #RunnrPH #UnderArmourPh #2XU

Read about:

Mount Marami

Before the Climb – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

Mount Marami was a late addition to my weekly calendar but trekking another mountain is just too tempting to miss even when I had cough and colds.  It was a recon for the upcoming Mount Marami – Silyang Bato 21 Km FKT Trail Run Challenge happening in August 9, 2015.  We had set our meet up points early at 4 am at SM Bacoor so we can start early.  We were a group of 18 runners joining this trek and this was a fast bunch of runners.  Mount Marami is located at Barangay Talipusngo, Maragondon, Cavite, which is accessible via Cavitex and a drive via Naic to Maragondon Town. From SM Bacoor, we had breakfast and met other participants and eventually reached the jump off point by 6 am.  It’s a dormant volcano with a summit of about 600 MASL and is popular for its rocky pillars adjoining the summit including one popularly called as Silyang Bato.  You can check out their event page for more details: 1st Mt. Marami- Silyang Bato 21 Km FKT Trail Run Challenge.   Mt Marami-Silyang Bato offers a lot to trail runners, from muddy trails (during rainy season), 3x river crossings, grassy, two and single track trails, 360 Degrees stunning view of Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas from the Summit (with Pico De Loro on its sight).

Map and Elevation

Map Powered by Suunto Ambit 2S and Suunto Movescount.

Elevation Profile is powered by Suunto Ambit 2S and Suunto Movescount – Note: Elevation Profile is only for the first 16K, the remaining 6K is a rolling terrain back to the start area.

The route starts at Barangay Talipusngo, Maragondon, Cavite with a rolling terrain for the first 8 kilometer with moderate ascents and descents passing by several river crossings and Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Grotto/Chapel at kilometer 6.  After 8 kilometers, the course shift to single track dirt tracks with an assault of about 410 meters of elevation over the next 3 kilometers.  After the u-turn at the summit, the race descends back for the next 3 kilometers and goes on a rolling terrain for the next 8 kilometers to the finish.

Trekking Mount Marami

Run – Franckee – Run

This would be a recon for the race on August 9, 2015.  We started on muddy fire trails as it’s been raining the past few days.  The trails are not too technical but with a muddy trail, you get to deal with the accumulation of mud in your shoes and it gets heavier.  For race day, expect it to be a mudfest as August would be right in the middle of the rainy season.  The ascents and descents are moderate so you can go at a consistent pace without getting winded.  Since the terrain is rolling and easy to navigate, the kilometers just kept trickling in and you’ll barely notice the time.

Trail Time – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

This was the faster part of the trek as we just kept going at a steady pace.  The mud is a challenge though as it keeps accumulating at each step but once you get the hang of it, it becomes routine.  Though there were some stretches of small climbs that’s a bit of a challenge especially before and after a river.  We’ve covered about 5 kilometers in an hours time.

River Crossings!!!

There are several river crossings that you get to enjoy and appreciate.  At this time of the year, the rivers are a bit dry but the rivers would definitely be a larger stretch come rainy season.  It’s always scenic passing by river ways and would really be a lot of fun.  I also started using my trekking pole here since I get winded easily because of my cough and colds.  A trekking pole really helps you move faster on the treks and reduces the impact of your strides.  I kept hydrating or having candy to keep my throat from drying.   A few more kilometers, we are in the 6 kilometer mark which is the Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Grotto/Chapel and we took a rest here as well as some photos.

6 kilometer Mark – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

There is a shade in this area and come race day, there would be fresh buko for hydration too.  You already get to see a portion of the rocky pillars from this point.  You see your destination and how far you still have to trek to go to the top.

So far yet so far – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

This was a traverse and not a direct assault so it means we would be going around the mountain heading to the summit.  Seeing the rocky pillars at this point is both a challenge and an admiration of its beauty from afar.

The road to your goal takes one step at a time. – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

I was also with bloggers Rene Villarta of JazzRunner.Wordpress.Com and Jham Mariano of JhamJham.com.   Mountains are a test of patience and I guess, the appreciation comes with the hard work and perseverance.

With The JazzRunner and The Jham Jham.

It would be two more kilometers before the assault though you’d start to feel that the inclines are starting to be tougher at this point.  I started to slow down at this point and start preserving my energy for the assault.  It was a lot difficult climbing a mountain when you keep huffing, puffing and coughing. Thanks to mint candies, I was able to relax my throat for most of the times while climbing.

And the Assault Begins – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

At kilometer 8, it was the start of the assault with the fire trails shifting to single track ascending trail.  I positioned myself at the back of the pack with Vanessa and Da Bull, who was our sweeper.  It was a crawlfest for me at this point but we just made it one push after another. A few more kilometers, we were at a fresh stream, which was a natural water source.  I refilled my already depleted water supply with fresh stream water.  I made a wrong estimate in my water supply since I had to consume more because of the dryness in my throat.  I brought 1 lightwater and 2 gatorades.

And the long hard climb resumes.

Aside from the regular rest stops, we also had long stops at some enclosed areas with huts or shaded trees.  It was a struggle you are still several uphill kilometers away but you just inch your way through all the climbs. This was climbing 400 meters of elevation spread out in 3 kilometers distance with a single track route and uneven terrain.

Inching our way to the top – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro.

Aside from the terrain, heat is also a factor as the assault area has less shade so you really get the feel of the sun’s heat at this point.  We also had to manage our water supply so we’ll have enough by the time we reach our next water source.  The good part is that you get to see your destination closer but we are still on the other end of the mountain.

We’re closer to the top now.

There’s something in seeing the summit up close that renews your energy to push yourself further.  We had one finally rest about 500-600 meters to the summit and at this time, you can feel that you are nearby and the excitement is there to push you further.  There was a short shaded descent before we saw the final trail to the summit.

We’re nearly there- Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

It was one final push to the summit. After the shaded area, it was all uphill.  With the excitement of reaching the summit, we took this part faster and just had a few short rest.  It was a bit slippery with loose soil near the summit but good thing I had a trekking pole and a good traction in my shoes.  I crawled my way to the rocky surface heading towards the summit and then headed to the Silyang Bato area, which was adjacent to the summit and had the majestic view of the mountains.  It was a bit scary though since there is a part where there is a gap between the rocks so a misstep can really lead you down the cliff.

I’m on top of the World – Photo by Eric Tipon

I made my way to the Silyang Bato, which is said to be only for the brave and worthy. I guess the pictures speak for itself as one wrong move and you sure would wish you were Superman.  It was a struggle and not to mention I was not 100% healthy for this climb by I did earn my way to this throne and to the top of Mount Marami.  The view from he top sure makes you forget of the struggle to get there. You just get humbled by nature’s raw beauty and the wonder of God’s creation.

Summit!!! – Photo by Vanessa Tagaro

We then headed to the summit so others can have their photo at Silyang Bato.  Reaching the summit is always a milestone as it never comes easy but one thing for sure, it’s always worth the effort.  We started comparing notes and we all had a shortage of water so JC Igos suggested we make a fast descent headed for the water source about 2 kilometers away.

Mission Accomplished!

It was a fast descent. The first group made a really fast descent by running the descent.  I joined the second grouped with Jun who made a fast-paced walk heading downwards.  We just went on consistent with our pace and made our way to the rest stop, which is a hut.  There was a part with a lot of cows in the area so we took a longer route to avoid them.  After a short rest, we then headed to the water stop and it felt like paradise.  We started refilling our bottles, pouring water into our heads (more like taking a bath) and drinking as much as we can.  It was as if we accumulated too much heat in our system that we are now dousing off. After a while we then made our way back to Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Grotto/Chapel.

Buko and a short afternoon nap – Photo by Eric Tipon

We had fresh buko at our rest stop at Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Grotto/Chapel while awaiting the rest.  We also were able to catch some sleep here. After the last group had arrived and rested, we then made our way to the last 6 kilometers.  The muddy trail in the morning is dry now with the Sun’s heat.  At this point, the battery of my GPS watch was empty so had to make do without the watch.  I just went on and on and it was a mental challenge as you had no idea how long was 6 kilometers without the watch.  I just continued walking at a fast pace and after about an hour, I was back at the start area and the first stop was the nearest store for some refreshing cold drinks. That’s about 22 kilometers worth of Mount Marami.  I can say this trail can be an excellent one for both experienced and newbie trail runners and mountaineers.

Outfit Of The Trail

Optimus Prime – Photo by Eric Tipon

  • Top: Berghaus #TaleOfTheTrail Design by Breakout Design
  • Bottom and Socks: Under Armour
  • Shoes: Merrel Capra
  • GPS Watch: Suunto Ambit 2S
  • Compression Sleeves: 2XU
  • Trekking Pole: Columbia
  • Cap: Runnr
  • Muscle Tape: Rock Tape
Categories: My Travels | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 97 Comments

Do Not Be Afraid of The Dark With Fitletic Headlamps

Posted on 29. May 2015 by Franc

One of the Newest Products of #Fitletic is their headlamps and I was lucky enough to try The Fitletic Vivid Runners Headlamps.  It’s quite a journey with this headlamp as I was able to use it to run Mt. Pulag at the Cordillera Mountain Run while trying to catch the Sun to Rise.  I was able to complete the Energizer Night Trail in Singapore and I was able to surpass the night and early morning portion of the trek going to and from Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia.  I’m no longer afraid of the dark as Fitletic can really light up your way even on the darker parts of the road or trails.

Read About:

Fitletic Headlamp

When you say running trails that means going through uneven terrain and different type of surfaces.  That slows you down a bit as you get to focus on your balance and adopting to the different trail surfaces as you go along.  Then add darkness to the equation, it becomes an even tougher course to conquer.  That’s one of the reason why I was never comfortable running at trails in the dark.  I usually slow down, watch my steps and await the sun to come.  When I was able to get Fitletic, it gave me more confidence in navigating the trail as it has 3 different light modes depending on which one you would be comfortable with and one emergency blinker mode.  It lightens up your path with a maximum power of 120 lumens and can go with a 4 meter to a 115 meter coverage.  It is also adjustable so you can adjust the focus depending on your need.  Another advantage is that you can easily tuck it in your race belt once the it starts to brighten up since it’s compatible to the strap of the Fitletic Race Belt.  It’s been quite a journey with this one as I was able to trek the highest mountain in Luzon in Mount Pulag, one of the highest mountains in Asia in Mount Kinabalu and finish my first international night trail run in Singapore.

Fitletic Helped Me Chase Sunrise at Mt. Pulag

The first time I was able to use my Fitletic Headlamp was at Cordillera Mountain Run last March.  Our homestay and the dining area were two kilometers apart so it really helps to have a reliable headlamp to navigate to and from one location at night.  The real test was the actual run as we had a 5:00 am gunstart, which would be in time to catch sunrise at the Summit of Mount Pulag.  There are three light modes and one blinking emergency mode. The first one was a distributed light with a wider range while the next two were more brighter and focused lights. I usually use the 2nd and 3rd mode.  Since it’s adjustable, I use it slightly tilted so it can light my next few steps while navigating the trail.  The trail had a mix or dirt tracks and large rocks, which makes it a lot more difficult to navigate so I make sure I light up the next few steps so I won’t trip on the varying surface and terrain.  Since this is a mountain, it’s real dark without natural light.  I started to be more comfortable in the dark and was able to make my way to the summit before Sunrise.

Fitletic lighted my way to the dark trails of Singapore

Since I was in Singapore for work late April, I decided to extend a few days to be able to join the Energizer Night Trail in Singapore.  We were given Energizer headlamps as par of the kit but since I was comparing the range and the brightness of the two devices, I went on to use the Fitletic Headlamp instead since it will give me more options on the light modes.  Energizer Night Trail was a much different experience to the night runs here as you get less light on trails.  Trail conditions were much more tolerable in Singapore compared to more technical trails here.  Most of the trails were unpaved and uneven roads with no drastic change in surface except for a slippery hill midway into the race.  Since the race started at 8 pm,  the trail was dark one with only the headlamps guiding us. It was good that I had a really powerful headlamp so I was able to make my way to the trail with ease and without worry of the tripping or missing a step.  I was able to survive the hilly and dark trails en route to a strong finish in the race.

Fitletic was also my go-to Headlamp for Trekking Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is 4,095.2 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL) and one of the tallest peaks in Asia.  Traversing it is a real challenge as you have to go through more than 2,200 meters worth of elevation in a span of two days in order to reach the summit.  The first day had as trekking the Mesilau Trail starting at 9 PM.  The Mesilau Trail is about 8.5 kilometers to Laban Rata.  It was a tough one as you have to go through dirt tracks, wooden planks, rocky and stoney paths, granite structures, a mossy forest and not to mention that each step would be giant ones.  You’ll also be awed by the views from waterfalls, the forest and the view of the mountain from the traverse and we were also able to catch a glimpse of the rainbow.  It was about 6 pm and we were just about 6.5 kilometers into the course and that meant we had to endure the remaining 2 kilometers in the dark of the night.  It was then time to switch on my fitletic headlamp and even if each step was a challenge, it was nice that we had the lamp to guide our steps.  It was really pitch black in the middle of the mountain and our only light were from our headlamps.  We were able to endure the dark powered by Fitletic and that’s just the first half of the trail.  The next day, we had to start at around 3 am from Laban Rata going into the Lows Peak which is 4,095.2 MASL.  As usual, we had to really on the headlamp to navigate the course that included some part where we had to rappel on the granite structure of Mt. Kinabalu.  By now, we’ve now developed more ease being guided by the headlamp.  In no time, the sun was starting to rise and we were already in the summit enjoying the out-of-this-world view of Mt. Kinabalu.  We had one last round of dark trails as we made our way back to Timpohan Gate in the afternoon until about 8 to 9 pm and by now, we were no longer afraid of the dark trails as our route were properly lighted with our headlamps.

It’s one thing being comfortable in the trails but it’s another thing going through a trail at night or early morning.  It’s common being on the trails at the dark as not all trails are day trails so it’s really good to have the proper hand lamp and I’m glad I found my go-to headlamp with Fitletic. Fitletic Headlamps is available at Runnr Stores.

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 75 Comments

Incoming: 2015 The North Face 100

Posted on 28. May 2015 by Franc

The North Face 100 has been a test of endurance and strength for Endurance Athletes with 100 kilometers, 50 kilometers and 22 kilometers categories.  The past 3 years was all about elevation gains with the mountain terrains of Baguio City testing the mettle of the participants. 2015 shifts to a faster but equally challenging Nuvali, Tagaytay, Batangas Course.  Get Ready to feel the Thrill of the Trail as #TNF100PH2015 is happening on June 12 and 13, 2015 with a starting line at Nuvali.

Read About:

The North Face 100

Right: 2014 TNF 22K and Left 2013: TNF 22K

I’ve joined the past 2 editions of TNF 100 in Baguio City with the 22K distance.  It was a totally different experience for each race.  The 2013 edition had a lot of stretches of roads while the 2014 edition was mostly trails.  Both were really challenging when it comes to elevation gain with Baguio’s mountain terrain.  It’s the first ultra marathon trail series and it’s been a staple for endurance athletes because of the challenge.  This year, comes a faster but equally challenging Nuvali – Tagaytay – Batangas course with a different look and different sets of challenges for endurance athletes.  It’s time to experience the thrill of the trail and here’s some of the reason why you should join TNF 100.

 

TNF is Asia’s first trail running series. It would be a challenge to participants.  It’s not an easy one but with pain comes the pride of joining and finishing an event.  On its 7th year, The North Face 100, Asia’s 1st Trail Running Ultra Marathon Series and the Philippines’ mother of all trail runs continue to break boundaries and challenge everyone to Never Stop Exploring.

There are scenic views and surprises along the route.  It’s a new scenery for participants as after 3 years of high altitude running and massive elevation gains, 215 ushers in a “fast course” where speed and multi –terrain adaptability play much bigger roles. This provides a welcome opportunity for ultra road runners to try and experience the trails in a more accessible, controlled yet still challenging environment.

It’s all about experiencing, surviving and getting to tell people about your awesome experience and accomplishment.  The greatest stories ever told are not those devoid of hardships and challenges.  It’s how you surpass them and how it defines you as a person that makes it exciting.  The outdoor pioneers have shown that with fundamental skills, proper training, and reliable equipment extreme trails can be conquered, now we challenge the greater majority to level up their game, be counted among the ranks of trail runners and be one of The North Face in Breaking All Boundaries.

It’s a character-defining run.  So whether you are an aspiring trail running beginner or a seasoned racer looking for new challenges, unparalleled experience is offered in each competition of this season’s largest trail running series.  You’ll be up against a field of local and international participants so just imagine the prestige and honor of being part of your country’s pool of athletes.

It’s among the prestigious trail running events so there’ll be real time tracking with your mobile phone. Since this would be a new location, be part of the pioneers who would be conquering this tough terrain and Break All Boundaries, and Never Stop Exploring!

The North Face 100 was made possible in partnership with NUVALI, SEDA Hotel Nuvali, AXN, Gatorade & Summit as it’s official hydration sponsors, the Primer Group of Companies, R.O.X., Department of Tourism, LGUs of Laguna, Cavite and Batangas, Tagaytay Highlands, Municipalities of Canlubang, Tagaytay and Talisay. Thanks also to our media partners Business Mirror, Business World, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, MB Sports Digest, Speed Magazine, and Men’s Health.

The North Face is exclusively distributed in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia by the Primer Group of Companies.

Race Details

Date and Venue

  • June 12 – 13, 2015, Nuvali, Laguna

Distances and Inclusions

  • 100K and 50K Ultra Trail Run – P4,000 or $100
    • Authentic, limited edition TNF100 2015 Race Jersey
    • Race Bib
    • Finisher’s Medal
    • Discount voucher on TNF products
    • Supplemental nutrition at select aid stations
    • Cash and product prizes plus trophy for winners
    • Raffle entry
  • 22K Trail Run – P2,500 w/ Jersey or P1,800 w/o Jersey
    • Authentic limited edition TNF100 2015 race jersey
    • Race Bib
    • Finisher’s Medal
    • Discount voucher on TNF products
    • Cash and product prizes for winners
    • Raffle entry
  • Note: Guaranteed for first 400 registrants/finishers only.
  • Special rates:
    1. Free registration upon booking of accommodation with event partners: Seda Hotel and Tagaytay Highlands.
    2. 50% discounts on registration fees upon purchase of TNF Footwear: Ultra Trail 2 and Ultra Cardiac models.

Registration

  • Online: TNF Website
  • Onsite:
    • The North Face – SM City North EDSA Annex • SM Megamall • Shangri-La Plaza • Glorietta 4 • SM Mall of Asia • Alabang Town Center • SM Cebu • SM City Davao Annex • SM City Cagayan de Oro • SM City Iloilo • SM City Clark Pampanga • Harbor Point Mall Subic • SM Aura Premier
    • R.O.X. – Bonifacio High Street • Camp John Hay, Baguio

Gun Start and Cut-off

  • 100K – June 12, 2015 Start at 4:00 AM, Cutoff June 13, 2015 10:00 AM
  • 50K – June 12, 2015 Start at 5:00 AM, Cutoff June 12, 2015 10:00 PM
  • 22K – June 13, 2015 Start at 5:00 AM, Cutoff at June 13, 2015 10:00 AM

Race Updates

  • Website:: The North Face 100
Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Nat Geo Earth Day Run – Baguio #NatGeoRun2015

Posted on 26. May 2015 by Franc

21K on Uphells Central!!!

Date: May 25, 2015

Distance: 21 Kilometers

Venue: Burnham Park, Baguio City

The memorable races for me are not my Personal Best races but it’s those where I struggle and find a way to finish the race.  #NatGeoRun2015 Baguio Leg was a real challenge with Baguio’s natural mountain terrain and high altitude.  It was a crawlfest as we’ve made our way to the steep ascent from the bottom of South Drive to the peak of Mines View and it was a mental challenge going back on a long ascending stretch of Loakan Road.  It was great to be one among thousands of runners appreciating the climate, getting awed by the view, surpassing the challenge and contributing to the cause of the environment.

Read about:

Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2015

Nat Geo Earth Day Run is among my regular races yearly.

Nat Geo Earth Day Run is among the regular causes I love supporting having done it for years now.  This year, Nat Geo not only came up with its biggest edition in Manila last month but also came up with a Baguio Leg. The original plan was to do both races though I eventually gave a way my free kit in the Manila and registered for the Baguio Leg due to conflict in schedule.  Baguio is an easy sell for me since it’s my hometown and even if I struggle on a hilly terrain, I still would love the experience of being at home and enjoying my passion for running.  I went to Baguio last Friday to enjoy a short breather since it’s been a busy schedule all summer so might as well enjoy the old town feel of Baguio City.  I was also able to sneak in a trail run too at John Hay even on the usual rainy afternoon in Baguio.  I guess that’s my final tune up before the half marathon.

Nothing like the cold rain to bring the fresh scent of pine in the CIty.

Race Route and Elevation

Race Route Powered by Suunto Ambit 2S and Movescount

Elevation Profile is Powered by Suunto Ambit 2S and Movescount

The race starts at Lake Drive in Burnham Park and it goes to the South Drive Area via Governors Pack and Upper Session Road for the first two kilometers of the race covering total ascent of 50 meters.  The South Drive stretch is about 2 kilometers with a net descent before the climb resumes at Outlook Drive.  Outlook Drive is another 2 kilometers worth of climbs of another 60 meters.  After Outlook Drive, the route shifts to Baguio Tuding Road for about 1 kilometer of descent with about 50 meters of elevation passing through the Mansion and Wright Park.  The race goes on a steep climb of about 2 kilometers with an elevation of 100 meters at Gibraltar heading to Good Shepherd and Mines View.  The next 2 kilometers is a descent back to South Drive via Outlook Drive with and elevation drop of 100 meters.  South Drive is another 2 kilometers of moderate ascent before heading to the long stretch in Loakan.  Loakan is another 3 kilometer descent with a 120 meter drop with a u-turn at the 16 kilometer mark.  From the u-turn slot, you then climb Loakan again for the next 3 kilometers worth 120 meters of elevation.  The remaining distance of the race is a drop of about 50 meters covering military cutoff and Kisad Road all the way to the finish line.

The Race

Jittery at the start

I was jittery at the start of the race since it’s my first time to be in a road race again since March.  I’ve been practically on trail or in the mountains the whole summer.  The last time, I was in a half marathon in Baguio’s mountain terrain, I had a  bad case of shin splint and there’s just something about the terrain and the ascent that triggers it.  Well, I’ll just adjust my strategy as the race goes along.  Anyway, I just needed to be back on the road to build up for the next races.  I was early on the race as I had to warm up.  It was nice to see a big race in Baguio though I do enjoy the community feel of most intimate races here.

Let’s find a way to finish this one. – Photo by Mherlz Lumagbas.

At gunstart, I tried to move at the middle of the pack as I didn’t want to start fast.  The thing about starting fast is that you don’t give your muscles enough time to warm up and end up paying for it for the whole race.  It was an immediate ascent going to Harrison Road so I just kept my pace at a moderate though I can already feel the familiar pain in the shin I usually encounter at the start. It was shin splints all over again.  I just went along with a climb after climb from Governor Pack to UP to Baguio Convention Center and then Upper Session Road.  It was taking me longer to recover from the shin splint since the terrain had me exerting more effort.

I saw Glads and Mark of Team Ponkan in the Race

Just 1.5 kilometers in the race, I was already limping with pain in my left shin. I saw Glads who asked if I was ok and I said, I’m having shin splints but I’ll be ok.  I tried shifting my weight to the other side and after a while it was on both legs.  I still tried to run and tried ignoring the pain just to allow the muscle to warm up. Even with the pain, I was making some distance.  I wasn’t able to take advantage much of the descent at South Drive since I had to stop every now and then to stretch.  I was just trying to cover some distance even at a slower pace until the muscle pain is more tolerable.

A lot of Manila based runners also joined in the fun and the cause.

That’s 4 kilometers into the race and the next part was a climb.  When the race shifted to a climbfest at outlook drive, I took the chance to insert some effort in between by adding a few 30 seconds to a minute run on the climb before a recovery walk.  The slower pace gave me time for my muscle to recover at this stretch. 6 kilometers into the race,  I felt better and it’s either I got used to the pain or my shin has warmed up.  After two long kilometers climbing, it was finally a descent and this time, I was able to take advantage of the descent this time since I was able to run this stretch passing by the Mansion House and Wright Park along the way.  I sure wish there was a photographer assigned at the mansion as it would really be a nice running shot.

Also saw Coach Mherlz (Left) in the race among the faster runners in the race.

It was now time to catch up or so I thought as after we made our turn to Gibraltar, it was a steep 2 kilometers climb to Mines View. If you’ve pass this road, you’d realize that even vehicles struggle in climbing this stretch.  Since I lost so many time at the first 5-6 kilometers of the race, I tried to insert some runs along the climb. This ended up to be my slowest two kilometers of the race as the climbs were long and steep.  It’s a test of patience but one effort led to another until I finally reached the Mines View area.  It was time to speed up a bit as it was a descent.  It was a long 2 kilometers descending stretch back to Outlook Drive so made the most out of this with only water stops in between.  After the descent comes another 2 kilometers of moderate ascent at South Drive.  I just went on with a run walk scheme to get pass this stretch.

Loakan was a 6 kilometer out and back loop with long ascents and descents. – Photo by Run Cab

13 kilometers into the race and the race heads to Loakan Road.  This was about 3 kilometers straight descent with about 600 meters of rough roads and an equivalent ascent on the way back.  This was my favorite part as you would see practically everybody on this stretch with the faster runners finishing this loop and the other runners as you approach the u-turn.  I took advantage of the descent and went on a straight run except for water breaks.  I was more relaxed at this point since this was a lot tolerable than the Mines View loop.  The rough road part was tough since there were holes on the road and you had to watch your step plus there were also vehicles in the road so you also have to be vigilant as well.  The scene with runners all over Loakan Road was such a nice view with runners sharing the road and enjoying the run.  The road back was a mental challenge as that’s a 3 kilometers climb with about 120 meters of elevation.  This time, I was mentally stronger so I just went on with a run walk sequence and I was able to slowly crawl myself out of this stretch.

The last two kilometers was downhill with the stretch at Military Cutoff and Kisad Road. After all the climbs, that was great news. I just let gravity do its work here and cruised on the last kilometers before heading to the finish line.  It was a struggle for the whole race but the thing I learned all these years running is that even if you struggle, you still end up a better runner after.  This is why I enjoy finishing a race as a story unfolds with every step.  There’s a struggle and there’s that spirit in you that dig deeps to get past the difficulties.  It was a well organized run as always by Runrio. There should really be more big name runs in the City as even with the mountain terrain and the shut up legs moment, Baguio is such a great place to run.  It was also great to contribute to the cause of the environment.

Outfit of the Race

Simply Orange

  • Top: Berghaus #TaleOfTheTrail Design by Breakout Design
  • Bottoms: Under Armour Compression Tights
  • Shoes: Newton Distance 3
  • GPS Watch: Suunto Ambit 2S
  • Socks and Visor: Under Armour
Categories: My Runs | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 80 Comments

Brothers Color Manila Blacklight Run

Posted on 21. May 2015 by Franc
6K Brothers Color Manila Blacklight Run done.

Distance: 6K

Date: May 16, 2015

Venue: Filinvest City, Alabang

I am a big fan of the Color Manila day run because being splashed with color powders is so fun.  They took that concept to the night and it was equally fun as they took glow in the dark powders that’s visible with black light.  Thousands also came to the party atmosphere at Filinvest and enjoyed the run, the luminous powders and the music. 

Read About:

 

Color Manila Blacklight Run

That’s me during the launch. – Photo by Enrico Caramay

It was probably the best weekend to be in Filinvest City as both Color Manila Run and Slidefest would be in the area.  Since, it was a busy weekend, I decided to just check in Azumi Boutique Hotel to save on travel time.  I’ve been excited with the Brothers Color Manila Blacklight Run since it was launched as you can see, the powders glow in the dark and glows even better with blacklight.  Color Manila Run is always a big hit with about 7,000 participants this time around for 10K, 6K and 3K categories.  I decided to go with the 6 kilometers distance since it comes with a free Brothers Ink Pillow for finishers.  Just in case you are curious why the 6K categories has more perks, that’s because it represent the 6,000 pages print output of the latest Brothers printer.  I came early for the event since I claimed some kits in behalf of some friends and in between the claiming of the kits and the run, I was able to meet friends in Festival Mall and also had a good dinner.  This would be another colorful fun once again.

Race Route

Race Route Powered by Suunto Ambit 2S and Suunto Movescount

The race starts at the back of Crimson Hotel and proceeds to Civic Drive and goes to the full length of Filinvest Avenue midway to the race.  After the u-turn you head back to the other end of Filinvest Ave where go to another quarter of the loop before heading back to Civic Drive and eventually to the finish line.  I like that the route were mostly the outer loops which didn’t disrupt major roads at Filinvest.

The Race

Before the Race

While I was early at the area, I was only able to go to the start area at around 8:30 pm, which was about 30 minutes before gun start. I took time playing with my inaanak Coltin while I was at the Festival Mall area and also waiting for Jham since he would be leaving his bag in my car.  I was that relaxed for this one and I didn’t even use my heart rate monitor since I would just be running or walking this one at a very chill pace or so I thought.  Jham reminded me that if I finish earlier, I don’t have to queue for a long time at the ink pillow claiming. That makes sense so I’ll be adding more effort to this one and will make this run worth my while.  There were about 7,000 participants for this one and it felt a bit chaotic at some points.  Even if there was only one entry point to the starting line. Some people were going over the railings just to enter the start area.  This is a fun race and not even a timed one so why are people rushing to the starting line?  Anyway, that’s their prerogative.

We’ve finally made our way into the starting arch in time for the 6K gunstart.  After gunstart, I started fast since it was crowded. This would allow me more room to move as I run.  We made past the first two color stations going into the first kilometers and I slowed down at each color powder station to grab some colors though I would eventually sweat them out of my system during the run.  It was humid so you can actually feel the heat even if it was already night time.  There were several more color powder station as we made our way to Filinvest Road 1.5 kilometers into the race.

Color My World!

The full length of Filiinvest was a little over a kilometer and this is also where the 10K runners and 6K runners parted ways.  6K runners went straight head while 10K runners would turn right midway into Filinvest Avenue.  There were no color powder stations at this part so the focus was just to cover as much distance here. I made a u-turn and headed back to the other end of Filinvest Avenue.  At the corner we had to make a quarter loop at the other side of the road which was a bit of challenge since some stretches where hilly.

The outfit gets better with the blacklight powders.

After this stretch it was about a kilometer to go before the finished so went on to the same route and making sure I hydrate since it was a humid night and I was sweating a lot.  I had to pass by each color stations once again and I made a stop a few hundred meters to the finish line to have my photo since I saw KB from Photo-Ops.  Funny, how he took several photos because he saw I’m a bit red on the pictures.  As he looked outside the camera, he realized that I was really red from all the efforts plus the pink powder added to that effect.

That was one fast ride to the finish.

I then made my way to the finish line and got my ink pillow, medal and hydration with my green shoes now looking like a hot pink shoes.  Thanks Proactive and Color Manila for really looking for more ways to give us a lot more colorful fun.  Of course, the run is just part of the event as its the color powder ceremony and the after party that’s the highlight of the event.  ‘Til the next colorful adventure from Color Manila!!!

Outfit Of The Race

Gang Green!!!

  • Top: Oakley with MyRuns design by Breakout Design
  • Shorts and Shoes: Under Armour PH
  • GPS Watch: Suunto Ambit 2S
  • Eyewear: Rudy Project
  • Socks: Nike

 

Categories: My Runs | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 98 Comments

#SlidefestPH has Landed in Alabang

Posted on 20. May 2015 by Franc

#1000FtOfPureHappiness

#SlidefestPH just got even better with #SlidefestAlabang.  The country’s biggest slip and slide event also came with two foam sliders to complement their regular sliders to give participants more chances to have the slide of their life.  The adrenalin rush you feel as you descend on the country’s largest slip and slide is just pure bliss and happiness.  #FilinvestCitySummerFun

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Slidefest Alabang

The run before the slide

To say my weekend was hectic was an understatement.  Over the weekend, I had a fight form workout, an investment conference, a color run a regular morning run, met my inaanak and an under armour event but I wouldn’t dare miss Slidefest Alabang even on a tight schedule.  I decided to just book myself a room at Azumi Botique Hotel, which is just a few kilometers from the event.  Azumi was the same hotel I used during Condura Skyway Marathon and in terms of value for money, I highly recommend the place.  So the drill was do fight form workout in Metrowalk on Friday evening. Saturday had me attending Investment Conference in SM Aura in Taguig in the morning before heading over to Azumi to check in at noon, drop by Slidefest Alabang, meet friends in Festival Mall and do 6K Color Manila Run.  I decided to just go for the 10 am-12 noon wave so that frees up a portion of my morning for about 10 kilometers more of running and allows me a few more hours before attending the Under Armour event in BGC.

A foam of snow along the slides

I dropped by 3 pm on Saturday to get my media pass just to go around and observe the place.  The venue was the slope near Palms Country Club along Laguna Heights Drive.  The biggest change was there were 2 foam sliders, which was shorter but equally fun since it gives you a different experience of sliding through a foam filled slide and the regular 2 1000 ft slide.  The queue time was short even for wave sliders because there were more slides.  This was such a big improvement from Slidefest Subic.  The place also had the same party atmosphere and a lot of food, music and entertainment.  There were also snow foam in the area at random times.  I did enjoy taking my slidefie with my GoPro.  I guess slidefie is the next selfie as most people sliding were documenting their slides with a GoPro or video cameras.

I reserved my slide time for the next day and decided to just go with the 10 am to 12 noon wave instead of the 7-9 am family wave.  In place I sneaked in a run around Alabang and in the vicinity of the slidefest area.  After my run, I made my way back to the slidefest area to finally get my slide pass.   I queued along with the wave sliders and the turnover of people was fast.  I then went on to start my slide and started with the right foam slider.  The right slider had the thickest foam and it was really fun to go through all the foam. Even if this was shorter than the regular slider, you really feel the slope and the rush that comes with the swift descent as you crash your way to the bottom of the slide.

Up next, I went to the left long slider, this was much longer than the foam slider. I was alternating long slider with the foam slider so I would get more slides.  The queue time was really fast and I was on my second slide with just around 20 minutes into the time.  The longer slide is always a thrill to be in as slippery slide propels your downwards swiftly.  I tried controlling my direction but I always ended up turning around and twisting as I went my way to the slide.  It was flat towards the end of the slide so that gives you a chance to slow down before you hit the bottom part of the slide. There were also shower areas near the slide so you can cool down with a cold shower on a hot day.

I then went back to the left foam slider and this was an even quicker queue time since most people are queuing on the right foam slider.  I enjoyed the shorter sliders because you get to feel the slope since it’s shorter and you get the scare of crashing towards the end of the slide since you still maintain your momentum at the end of the slide.  There are marshals to stop your momentum with a cushion of floaters.  I am also learning how to naturally slow down already on the sliders.

Filinvest City Summer Fun

I’m done 3 out of 4 slides and on my fourth slide, I was surprised that the right lane in the longer slide was open so that just means, I would be able to complete all four slides in less than an hour.  It’s another exhilarating ride of pure bliss and happiness.  Each twist and turns and the fast paced ride along the giant slippery slide is just capital FUN.  I’m really enjoying this adventure.

Excitement as it happens.

After 4 sets with one each per slide, I think I’m good to go even if I still have more than an hour to go.  I heard some were able to do up to 10-12 for the 2 hours wave slide time.

With Meia and Tracey

After my last slide, I met Meia and Tracey doing their rounds.  I went on to join Tracey do her rounds at the sponsors booth.  The slide was one thing and the sponsors booth was another as each sponsor booth had different gimmicks and games and not to mention a wide array of food choices.  There were also several contest, prizes and giveaways. My favorite was the one havaianas had where they would be giving away flip floats to those randomly spotted people wearing the havaianas.

WIth Tracey at Havaianas Flip Floats Area.

And I was lucky enough to bring my very own flip floats and I can’t wait to use it at the beach or in a pool. I’m such a big fan of havaianas because of their comfort and design.  It was a funny thing though how I’d slow down every time I passed their booth. I was spotted at the slide area.  I spent my remaining time hanging around the slide area and watching the snow form display.  This is just a summer of happiness and slidefest is a large part of it.  I’m super excited for the next location of slidefest.  ‘Til the next Slidefest PH.  Where’d you want to see the country’s largest slip and slide event to happen next?

It’s a scorching hot summer, remember to keep hydrated with a cold and healthy dose of Vitamin Boost.

What’s Next for SlidefestPH?

7,000 people joined Slidefest Philippines in their Alabang Leg.

Slidefest Philippines is the first family-friendly, adrenalin-pumping, GIANT slip and slide event in the country. Its first installment was in Subic last April 18, attended by three thousand five hundred people. Last May 16 and 17, a massive slip and slide invaded the streets of Filinvest City, Alabang with more than seven thousand people zooming through the giant slide, complemented by a festive atmosphere of music, refreshments, and activity booths.

Where’s the next Slidefest?

“This event is one thousand feet of pure happiness! And what’s better than one day of slipping and sliding? Two days of Slidefest! We really wanted more people to experience this one-of-a-kind slide. And we hope to bring the concept to more places around the country soon!  What’s next for Slidefest? The group aims to take over the streets of different cities over the next few months. So who knows, you could wake up one morning with a giant slide just a few blocks away! Those who missed Slidefest have a lot to look forward to. We’re not sure when or where yet, but we guarantee that it’s going to be a lot of fun!,” says Angelo Cruz of Slidefest Philippines.

Where do you think would the next Slidefest be?

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 100 Comments

#UnderArmourPH holds First Leg of their #EarnYourArmour Challenge

Posted on 18. May 2015 by Franc

BGC become host of the first ever #EarnYourArmour Challenge

Dozens of Participants walked the talked and joined the first ever #UnderArmourPH #EarnYourArmour Challenge at the Bonifacio Global City last May 17, 2013.  Aside from the Fight Form workouts, celebrities like Lucky Manzano, Sid Lucero, JM De Guzman and MMA fighter Mark Streigl also showcased different fighting techniques.  2nd Leg of the Challenge is happening on June 28, 2015 at UP Town Center.

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Under Armour Earn Your Armour Challenge

One Fighting Championship bantamweight Champ Mark Striegl

Under Armour Philippines officially launched the first leg of its “Earn Your Armour” campaign with the “Fight Form: Elite Edition” at Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City last May 17, 2015. The campaign is organized by Triple Private Ltd., the exclusive distributor of Under Armour in Southeast Asia. Participants went on to Earn It and managed to conquer tough fight form challenges that tested their skills and endurance.

Actor Lucky Manzano shows his stuff in a Muay Thai exhibition.

In partnership with Ultimate Fitness gym and Coach Erwin Tagle, the “Philippine Bruce Lee”, the challenge brought together dozens of martial arts enthusiasts for an evening of intense workouts. Pioneered by Coach Erwin Tagle, “Fight Form” is a fitness program that utilizes martial arts movements in a no-contact format. The high intensity workout lets athletes practice mixed martial arts movements such as jabs, kicks, sprawl and brawl, and others without need of a sparring partner. Athletes are scored based on number of repetitions within a set time limit, or maximum time to sustain a particular movement or position.

Actor Sid Lucero also showcased his Jjitsu Skills.

To highlight Under Armour’s kinship with the martial arts community, the launch also featured exciting demonstrations of Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. Celebrity athletes Luis Manzano, Sid Lucero, JC de Vera and JM de Guzman showed their martial arts prowess to the delight of the audience.  The different actors also showcased that they can also mixed it up in the different martial arts and that they work out amidst their busy taping schedule.   Aside from celebrities, kids also had a sparring session that just proves that martial arts is not only for adults but for kids as well.  We can just say that the future is bright for mixed martial arts.

That Thing Called Tadhana Star JM De Guzman, shows the crowd that he can also wrestle.

Also gracing the event were MMA Asia superstar and One Fighting Championship bantamweight title holder Mark Striegl, volleyball superstar and fitness icon Gretchen Ho, and Robi Domingo.

With my favorite Under Armour Ambassador, Gretchen Ho

“With the growing popularity of mixed martial arts, the public wants to experience that same kind of exhilaration and physical challenge without necessarily engaging in combat against another opponent. ‘Fight Form’ lets the athlete get that kind of experience while honing his Agility, Speed, and Endurance, which are cornerstones of the Under Armour philosophy”, said Adrian Chai, the Chief Marketing Officer of Triple Private Ltd.

Actor JC De Vera was also among who joined the Earn Your Armour Challenge.

The launch of “Fight Form: Elite Edition” kicks off a 6-week program for aspiring athletes to Earn Their Armour with daily and weekly challenges. Participants must log on to www.tripleready.com to register, then download the Endomondo fitness app to receive their challenges and to log their accomplishments. At the end of the series, the participants with the highest number of points get to bring home a full suite of Under Armour apparel and footwear.

Dozens of athletes turned up to “Earn Their Armour” at the Fight Form Elite edition by Under Armour.

The Earn Your Armour: Fight Form Elite Edition is the first leg of a 6-part series. Its fitness partners include Ultimate Fitness, FortRock Fitness, Focus Athletics, and Hammer Program. Its media partners for the event were Business Mirror, Health and Fitness, and SpeedTV by MP Turbo.  Dozens of participants went on to challenge themselves through the difference Fight Form Challenges that required them to do as many sets in two minutes and the endurance challenge where they have to do planks and squats as long as they can.   It was an impressive display of fitness, skills and endurance with some going over the endurance activities for about 30 minutes.  They came to Earn It and they did as win or less, all participants became a part of the first ever Armour club.

MMA Star Mark Streigl Showing his Stuff

Contestants can sign up to participate in Earn Your Armour on www.tripleready.com , a one-stop fitness and wellness online portal. The campaign uses Endomondo, a social fitness mobile app, were participants are able to track workouts on-the-go with their mobile devices.

With One of the host for the event, Miss Earth Philippines Contestant Angelia Ong.

Certified trainers from the various institutions will select winners of the campaign, taking into consideration number of successful exercises the individual has done.  Winners will be awarded apparel from Under Armour. For the first leg, winners took home the new Avengers seamless replica compression wear.

First Leg Winners.

Congratulations to the winners for the first leg of Under Armour Earn Your Armour Challenge.

Ground and Pound

  1. Lance Penzon (Fitness Camp)
  2. Kelvin Yu (Ultimate Fitness)
  3. Emrose Azarcon (Kratos)
  4. Maribel Angana (Ultimate Fitness)
  5. Charles Absalon (Kratos)

Sprawl and Brawl

  1. Happy Puno (Ultimate Fitness)
  2. Annie Rivas (Anytime Fitness)
  3. Mark Jullian Itaas (Spartacus)
  4. John Erwin Tan (Ultimate Fitness)
  5. Monica Luzuruaga (Ultimate Fitness)

(Left to Right) “Fight Form” Coach Erwin Tagle; Celebrity MMA athletes JM De Guzman and JC De Vera; Christine Majadillas (Managing Director, One Of A Kind Marketing) Under Armour;Wilfred Mong , Marketing Manager Triple Pte Ltd Under Armour SEA; MMA athlete Robi Domingo, volleyball star Gretchen Ho; and MMA Asia’s superstar Mark Striegl.

 

The next leg of Earn Your Armour will be on July 22 at UP Town Center. Try-outs are ongoing at Ultimate Fitness and Anytime Fitness. For schedule updates please check www.tripleready.com

Winners and participants of the first leg of Under Armour Earn Your Armour Challenge

More event photos here: Franc Ramon Facebook Site

Participation Details:

  1. Sign up at www.tripleready.com/earnit
  2. Join the challenge by clicking the Endomondo link provided by Tripleready.com
  3. Submit entries on Endomondo by logging qualifying workout(s) during the challenge, using the Endomondo iOS/Android app, or other fitness tracking device (e.g. GPS- enabled watch)
  1. Complete stipulated workouts every week of the challenge
  2. Share workouts on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtags #EarnIt ,

#EarnYourArmour, and #UnderArmourPH

Follow the campaign on Facebook at facebook.com/UnderArmourSEA and on Instagram with the hashtags #EarnYourArmour and #EarnIt.

 

Categories: My Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , | 73 Comments

#UnderArmourPH #EarnYourArmour with #FightForm at #UltimateFitness

Posted on 18. May 2015 by Franc

Fight Form Workout Gives You a Feel of an Actual MMA without the actual contact. It gives you a series of simulated drills that’s gonna challenge your skills, power and endurance.  I was able to try out the Fight Form workout at Ultimate Fitness. These challenges would be similar to the actual workouts to be done at #UnderArmourPH #EarnYourArmour Challenge. It’s fast but it gives you a total body workout in just minutes. It’s not easy but you’ll just have to #EarnIt

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#EarnYourArmour

This is one of a kind challenge!!! #FightForm #UltimateFitness – Photo by Andy Leuterio

When Under Armour launched their Earn Your Armour Challenge last month, we were among the first to have a feel of the challenges that had us try different varieties of bur pees, sitouts and some sprints in between. It was exhausting and it took me time to recover.  Well, that’s only the beginning as I got an invite to do an actual fight form challenge at Ultimate Fitness.  The fight form workouts would be the base workouts for the Earn Your Armour Challenge and is based on offense and defense moves from mixed martial arts.  Without thinking, I said yes.  I’m not really athletic as the only way I’ve been able to go by the fitness lifestyle was being consistent with working out.  A small time away, it’s back to zero for me but that doesn’t stop me from trying out new fitness workout and testing my limits.  When it comes to outfits, I always go with performance brands like Under Armour.  It’s always a good investment when you go for Under Armour because it keeps you comfortable working out, which means you can work out longer or you can push yourself farther.  The fight form is an actual class and when it was my turn, it was only me and DJ Rico Robles doing the workouts.  There would be 10 workouts with each workout being 30 seconds before switching to the next.  I was also briefed how each workout would look in a real fight environment.

Workout Number 1: Jab, Straight, Knee, Sprawl – Photo by Andy Leuterio

Let’s start with some round of offense with the workout of the sequence of throwing a jab, a straight, a knee and doing a sprawl continues for 30 seconds.  You throw a jab to your opponent then you follow it up with a straight and then add another knee.  Of course, with all that offense your opponent would retaliate so you sprawl to the ground to evade and then rise again to attack again.  This one is a full body workout with full use of the body.

Workout Number 2: Cage Lunges – Photo by Andy Leuterio

After a round of attacks and sprawling, you then shift to try to grapple your opponent by doing lunges with the resistance of the cage.  The workout builds leg strength and while you’re doing alternate lunges on both legs, you keep both leg strong in keeping your balance even on one leg and for leg take downs.

Workout Number 3: Mountain Climbers – Photo by Andy Leuterio

The mountain climber is set on a slippery mat with cloths adding resistance to your steps while in a push up position. The move simulates climbing that requires you to rapidly move your legs as if climbing up a mountain.  Like mountain climbing, this helps to develop the quads and also helps on your core.  These also helps when you are in a grappling position while trying to overpower your opponent to the ground in an actual fight.

Workout Number 4: Ground and Pound – Photo by Andy Leuterio

When you have overpowered your opponent and you have pinned him to the ground, it’s time for some ground and pound or like The Thing of Fantastic Four would say, “It’s clobbering’ time.”  With the aid of dumbbells, you throw some punches to the direction of the ground.  This is my favorite part just imagine that the ground is your opponent.  This also works on arms’ strength.

Workout Number 5: Sitouts – Photo by Andy Leuterio

When your opponent gets the upper hand on you and is above you, you do some sit outs to avoid your opponent’s attacks while figuring out a way to turn things around.  This would prevent your opponent for fortifying their position and going for the knock out.  The sitouts alternate by one foot kicking with the other hands raised and switching to the other side in sequence.  I think this is the hardest for me as I am not used to this workout yet.

Workout Number 6: MB Box Squat Kicks – Photo by Andy Leuterio

The squat kicks is doing squats with a weight bearing ball and following it up with a forward kick.   The squat helps build on your quads and core strength and the kicks can help increase your kicking power.  This can also simulate the action of taking a hit and hitting back with a kick.

Workout Number 7: Lateral Box Shuffle – Photo by Andy Leuterio

One important thing in a fight is your footwork. This is where the lateral box shuffle is important as it works on the fluidity of your movements as well as your leg strength and balance.  This is the time you dance around your opponent trying to evade attacks and figuring out how to connect on your offense.

Workout Number 8: Stationary Squats – Photo by Andy Leuterio

This is one you’ve probably mastered in school because of being too noisy or as a punishment for your mischief.  Squats keeps the core and legs strong.  It also gives you mental toughness and endurance.  In a battle, the ability to withstand pain can go a long way and having that innate toughness can turn things around as you recover within a match.

Workout Number 9: Plank – Photo by Andy Leuterio

Plank is another endurance workout that focuses on your core strength.  Core strength and endurance always goes hand in hand as keeping the right posture allows you to properly distribute workload to the different muscle group in any sports and keeps you from crumbling.  It’s a mental challenge against time whenever we do planks.

Workout 10: Full Situps – Photo by Andy Leuterio

We all know that situps is a great exercise for the abs.  This also simulates being able to pull yourself up when pinned by your opponent to the ground.  It builds core strength and power, which can also increase your endurance level.

I was so happy to survive doing all the 10 exercise with 30 seconds for each exercise and was really tired, exhausted and winded.  30 seconds felt like forever as you struggle your way from one workout to another.  Coach Don then announced that there was a 1 minute break for the second set. WHHAAAATTTTT??? There is a second set and even a third set.  That came as a real surprise and that also meant I never even asked how many sets I would be doing.  It was a good thing that DJ Rico Robles was also doing the same. As they say, misery loves company so we went on with the second and third set.  It was a struggle but yes, I did it.  That was 30 seconds per workout with 10 workouts per set so it take you just 5 minutes to complete one set.  You have 17 minutes for the 3 sets including two 1 minute break. That’s a really efficient way to burn calories and strengthen up.  The good part with fight form is that you use limited equipments and you can do it anywhere and does not require much space.  The next time, you say, I don’t have time then think about this 17 minutes that could really give you an intense workout.  As for me, I would love to do this again… and again… and again.

Ultimate Fitness is the most extensive gym in the metro geared towards providing our clients with the most intensive, high intensity, efficient, result oriented workouts!  They are located in Metrowalk in Pasig City and you can follow them on their facebook page for more details:  Ultimate Fitness.

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adidas launches their Marvel Avengers Line

Posted on 15. May 2015 by Franc

Kids and Kids at Heart (That Includes Me), here’s some great news for you coming from adidas as they are launching the Avenger shoes and apparel collections for kids and adults.  Kids can go wear Captain America, Ironman and Hulk themed shoes while adult will include one worn by Pietro Maximoff with the adizero Prime BOOST™ technology.  Check them out in the nearest adidas store and it’s time to gear up. #adidasPH

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adidas Avengers Collection

The summer always gets bigger every time an Avengers Movie is out. After all, seeing all the superhero team up to save the world once again is something kids and adult alike does not want to miss.  The buzz is still hot with the recent Avengers: Age of Ultron and kids and adults alike are still hang up with their favorite superhero.  There’s some good news from adidas as they bring a shoe and apparel line with avengers fans in mind.

The adidas Avengers collection will feature exciting new designs reflecting the unique personalities of three of the film’s superheroes: Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America. Both lines, which cover infants, little kids and youth boys alike, offer full head-to-toe outfits including tees, shorts and accompanying shoes and accessories with matching colours to ensure a wardrobe with fresh new looks for every true Avengers fan!

Not to be outdone, adults would also have a running shoes in four matching designs. The adult line includes a silver-green adidas adizero Prime BOOST™ that will be featured in the film with an exciting new Avengers character Pietro Maximoff.  For the biggest fans and a united look this colour-way will be a key feature within the kids’ collections!

The new adidas Avengers collections go back to the classic roots with footwear inspired both by the original comics’ style and the graphics of the movie. Various models include running silhouettes for adults and kids as well as low and mid cut multipurpose silhouettes specifically designed for kids. This includes the Response BOOST Ltd that features adidas’ premium BOOST™ technology paired with Marvel’s greatest superheroes design as the primary source of inspiration. adidas BOOST is a breakthrough technology that provides the highest Energy Return of any foam cushioning in the running industry. Along with BOOST foam cushioning, adidas adizero Prime BOOST upper consists of adidas Primeknit, a digital knitting technology using the latest engineering methods to develop an upper that is lightweight and fits like a second layer of skin, providing added performance benefits. Each section of the adidas Primeknit upper is carefully engineered to provide a precision fit for a secure, comfortable run.

Check out the collection at the nearest adidas store.

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