My New Pen Name: Minnie Runner

For the record, I am growing less concern with my paid posts. What I find interest now is blogging about the running events that I had joined. I guess I already have to have a new name - Minnie Runner.

Last Sunday marked my 6th running event - The New Balance Power Run Raising Hope 2009 (NBPR). This is supposedly held last September 27, but since we had an unexpected visitor then, the event was moved on the 29th of November. Nonetheless, an organized race event was held - it is worth the wait.

As always, I woke up as early as 2:30AM to catch up with the 'before 5AM' call time of my co-runner enthusiasts. Since it is miraculously-no heavy traffic at EDSA, I was able to make it ahead of time. And I believe we were now improving as per punctuality now. We were able to make it to the starting line before the gun start, when the sun ain't shining yet. Kudos to us, he he.

At the gun start, I had hopes of beating my personal best from Time is Running, The 2009 Timex Run. And fortunately, I did. I had finished the race in less than 40 minutes. The official result is not out yet as of this writing. But my photographic memory tells me that I crossed the finish line in 0:38:17.

After crossing the FINISH line

I would like to congratulate the NBPR organizers for having the most organized finish line I crossed. After crossing the finish line, you'll queue in a line where you will be able to get your finisher's medal (in lieu of the certificate), banana, and drinks. They also got ton's of co-sponsors where the runners enjoyed their freebies. There were Alaska cereal drinks, DOLE banana and pineapples, energy drinks (I forgot the name), loot bag from Coppertone (plus a spray of their rub-free sunblock), Nesvita cereal drinks, back issues of Men's Health, Women's Health, and A&F Magazines, potassium tablets, and PartyPics (where we had a really bad experience, which I no longer wanted to elaborate) .

Posing at the NBPR Stage

We were also beginning to acquaint ourselves with the regular runners (and winners, LOL!). Ricky Davao and Tessa Prieto were among the few celebrities whom we often spot at the race events regularly. And of course, the man behind the afro, Coach Rio dela Cruz!

With Coach Rio

It was another worthwhile event for a good cause. We just began to realize that the registration fee that we spent for the event is already worth it, with the singlet and all the giveaways during the race day; plus you had helped an organization, a life. And with that thought, I am now living with my new pen name, Minnie Runner.

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Update: The race result for the New Balance Power Run Raising Hope 2009 is already out. Check on how you did or who did great in the 5K, 10K, and 21K categories. I am glad that I am improving in every race that I joined. My photographic memory did not fail me, he he. Well, before crossing the finish line, I saw the official time as 0:38:17; while, as I cross the finish line, it already read as 0:38:19. :D


Only, it is not sorted as to rank, but as to bib number. Anyway, it is still unofficial, so maybe they were still sorting things out.