A new (Nu) place to run

The AC runners normally do their work outs along the roads of Laguna Technopark during weekdays.  For the newbie’s it’s been the challenging 3.2km route of the North Main Avenue – left to East Science Avenue – left to Trade Avenue – another left to the ascending Technology Avenue before completing the loop back to the North Main Avenue.

The training grounds of AC Runners

For the intermediate runners, they normally extend their run of the Technology Avenue until they reach the North Science Avenue.  The 5km loop will be completed by taking a left at the North Main Ave.  Altas Copco’s Head Office is located just in front of IAMI.

Now, one of these days, the AC Runners is looking forward to run in a different place south of Laguna Technopark.

A Nu (New) Place to Run

Road Running: A new challenge

There were a lot of newbie runners in Atlas Copco (AC) who have started to join the weekend road races.  Starting today and our succeeding posts, we will feature these new runners as they start their passion for running.

Let us start with the princess of the AC runners, also known as Mel.  You may ask, why did we mentioned the “princess”? Check out the photos below.

Mel (first from left) with the 21k, 10k, and 5k runners of Atlas Copco

5k Runners: Now, do you see why she's the princess of the AC Runners?

Mel became serious into running during the 2nd quarter of 2009.  We often see her jog on the treadmill after office hours at the AC Gym.  However, during the 2nd Quarter of 2009, she started to go out and run along the wide roads of Laguna Technopark.

The 33rd National Milo Marathon – Manila Eliminations was her baptism of fire in road racing.  We saw that she was very excited on her very first try.  But we can also feel that she was a bit nervous a few week before the 5th of July.  Mel shared her objectives for joining the Milo race, “I joined Milo just for fun and to have an experience.  It doesn’t matter if mabagal.. basta makarating sa finish line.. natapos ko (5k) in 39 minutes.” beaming with pride.

And, as we see in most, if not all, new runners, the passion continues to grow after your first road race.  Mel signed up anew to join another race two weeks after the Milo run.  She joined the Run for Home of Globe where she enlisted for the 5k run.

The runners will agree with me that all coaches will tell you that a one (1) minute improvement from your previous race is already a big achievement.  For Mel, she even did a two (2) minute improvement in the Globe 5k run finishing the entire course in 37 minutes.  “Then sa Globe, nag improve ang time to 37 (minutes). Syempre happy ako!  Na-challenge tuloy ako  to improve more.  Kaya i’m looking forward for the next run.  Kung kaya nila, kaya ko rin, wala pala sa size.  It’s all in our mind!  Idol ko yata si Romel aka Big Boy!” narrated a jubilant Mel when she got her race results of the Globe Run for Home.

Well, Congratulations Mel! And we are looking forward to another great run in your next road race!

Passion for Running! Hey, she's got a good running form!

(editor’s note: thanks to Leo B, Eric A, and Photovendo/Globe for the photo’s)

Breaking the Half Marathon at the 33rd National Milo Marathon

After weeks of preparation, Romel, Mark, and George braved the long road to the finish line and have a taste of their first half marathon.  A lot of sacrifices were made just to run this half mary.  Last July 5, these runners woke up to an early wake up call of 3:00am just to be at the km. zero (0) before the starting gun is fired at 5:00am.

Half Marathon virgins no more! (L-R) Mark, Romel, and George

These three (3) runners finished their 1st 21km race with a sub-3 hour time.  Not bad for a first timer half marathoner – and a casual runner.

Romel finished in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 36 seconds.  Mark and George almost got an identical finish time at 2hours, 57minutes, 57 seconds and 2hours, 58 minutes, and 23 seconds respectively.

Congratulations to the new half marathoners! It was a huge achievement for you guys in your young running “career”!  Looking forward to more runs in the future.

Fresh pa rin after running 21kms. (L-R) George, Mark, Eric, Romel

Running Romel: A newbie runner suiting up for his first half mary run

Romel is a newbie in running.  He just started last March 1, 2009 when he joined the Botak Paa-bilisan 5k race held at the Bonifacio Global City with his fellow runners from Atlas Copco.

Speeding up the 10k at the 1st PTAA Charity Run

After a few more races, he jumped to the next level when he joined his 1st 10k race at the Airspeed Runs for a Cause last April 5, 2009.  Since April, he joined the following 10k races to build up his endurance to prepare for his very first half-marathon:

• April 5  – 10k Airspeed Runs for a cause
• April 19 – 10k Greenfield City Run
• May 31 – 8 miles IE 8 Run
• June 14 – 10k 1st PTAA Charity Run

With a little over two (2) weeks remaining, he is now seriously preparing for his very first crack at the 21km race at the Manila eliminations leg of the 33rd Milo Marathon.

Yes, July 5 is the big day!