My Prosperity Walk 2018 [3.8km] (by Lingderella)

By

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February 26, 2018

The Prosperity Walk 2018 was organised by Pink Apple to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Flag off was 8.30am on 25 February 2018 at Marina Barrage. There is only one distance category of 3.8km at $38 for the early bird registration and the child rate was $28.

Woke up earlier on event day so Willis and I could enjoy some morning walk and scenery as we stroll from The Float to Marina Barrage through Helix Bridge and Gardens by the Bay. This was the shortest distance I’ve ever participated for a run or a walk that I’ve ever participated. Though I think as already walked at least about this same distance as well to and fro from event site and bus stop 😂

We reached the event site just a little bit earlier and joined the queue for the free Chinese calligraphy. There’s a list of auspicious words we can use as a reference to asked the calligraphy master to write for us. On the dot we were flagged off with a lion dance performance 😍

There wasn’t any baggage deposit available but it’s a walk so it’s fine actually to carry our baggage along. There were cute distance markers and road marshals to guide us directions along the route. There was no hydration points at all along the route which I feel that if there’s one hydration point at mid point it will be great. At the Marina Bay Sands where we reached the mid point for u-turn back, there’s a God Of Fortune mascot giving away chocolates in gold coins packaging 😍

Though its a walk but we still ran a little as the kiasu and auntie me wants to get back earlier so we didn’t need to queue too long for the free candy floss and popcorn while the rest is still walking 😝

It’s a small event with a few hundreds of participants as I guess the rest of the running community were mostly at other running events that were also held on this very same day as well. It’s great to see Eugene, a passionate runner and photographer along the way and very kind of him to help Willis and me take some super pretty photos for us to keep as treasure 😁

(Photo credits: Eugene Tan)

Once we completed the distance, we were given a super cute doggy medal, 2 mandarin oranges, a bottle of new water and a red packet which consist of vouchers.

So while waiting for the lucky draw of a Grand Prize of $1888 which we don’t have the luck of winning at 10am, we queued for the candy floss and popcorn which is not a very long wait 😁 And enjoyed the performance at the stage by the mascots. There’s a fortune master on stage giving advices for the different zodiac and I’ve seen the emcee at many running events before and he is by far the best emcee ever, he’s really funny and entertaining 👍

6 Cool Staircases To Climb Around The World

By

Mel

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February 26, 2018

Check out these staircases which is pretty cool to climb, a little dangerous but gives you breathtaking views! It offers you the adreanaline rush and the jaw-dropping moment of great beauty!

#1 Flørli Stairs, lysefjord, Norway

Norway arguably has one of the greatest views in the world with it’s magnificent fjord. Climb 4,444 wooden steps to enjoy the view to the fullest. The 4,444 wooden steps is often considered to be the longest wooden staircase in the world. The 3-km journey gives you about a 750m elevation gain. The climb is tough but one that rewards you with excellent views of the fjords and mountainside. The views really give the term breathtaking a whole new meaning.

#2 Heaven’s Gate Mountain, Zhang Jia Jie, China

Photo Credits: Charismatic Planet

To get here is no easy task – you first take the world’s longest passenger cableway which is 7.5 kilometers in length, followed by a bus drive through a winding road that has 99 bends, then walk up 999 steps. Walk up 999 steps to heaven’s gate located in Zhang Jia Jie. It takes you right under an unbelievable arch which stands 130 meters tall and 57 meters wide.

#3 1000 Steps, Mount Dandenong, Australia

Photo Credits: Adevnture Me

Located in the Dandenong ranges in Melbourne, the 1000 steps is very popular. It takes you through some lush and extensive greenery and gives you a great cardiovascular workout. You do see people running up and down multiple times! Thereafter, you can head to the famous Shannon Bennett’s Piggery Cafe for a really good meal.

#4 Gunung Raya, Langkawi, Malaysia

Gunung Raya stands tall in Langkawi island at 881 m above sea level. Hike right to the very top to give yourself great panoramic views of the Langkawi skyline and coast. The views take your breath away. Climb 4,287 steps right to the top! It’s a really cool and fun workout. To put things in perspective – the KL towerthon consists of 2,058 steps. This is DOUBLE!

#5 Malminkartano Hill, Helsinki, Finland

This hill allows you to climb 426 steps (400m in length) right to the top with an elevation gain of about 90m. When you reach the peak, it offers you stunning 360 degrees views. There is something known as the Malminkartano Hill Challenge, whereby people come to tackle and run up the stairs as fast as they can, leaving them utterly breathless at the same time.

#6 Haiku Stairs, Hawaii

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven or Haʻikū Ladder, is a steep hiking trail on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. The total 3,922 steps span along Oahu’s Ko’olau mountain range. Although it is considered illegal to climb up the stairs, many do so illegally by trying to circumvent a guard at the bottom and starting their climb in the middle of the night. The views atop are unparalleled – explains why people would take the risk!

Cheers To Driving Less, Running More, Biking More, Walking More

By

Mel

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February 25, 2018

It’s time to ditch your car and commute differently to work. Trade in your car for a bike or a pair of great running shoes and start your ride-commute and run-commute to work!

#1 The Traffic Drives You Insane

Photo Credits: Motor Trade

The traffic can really drive a person crazy! I mean, honestly, spending 1.5 hours in rush hour just to get back home isn’t an ideal way to spend your time, is it? First of all, you’re stuck in such a confined space! You see people walking pass you and cycling pass you and doesn’t that drive you absolutely nuts? Sometimes, a 3 km journey potentially takes you 45 minutes which is ridiculous! You could walk there faster than driving! Think about it, spending 2 hours a day in traffic is 104 hours a year – which is equivalent to a little more than 4 days! Imagine the things you could do with this time!

#2 You’ll Be Fitter

If you traded in your car for a bike, instead of spending an hour of your time idle, you could get in an hours workout instead! What a better way to spend your time! Instead of munching snacks in the car, you’d be burning calories. Everday, day in, day out, and before you know it, you’ll be a lean mean machine!

Photo Credits: Gentleman’s Journal

Exercise helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol and builds a stronger heart. Because of all the exercise you’d be getting in when running, walking or biking, you’ll be in greater health state! This will help you lower your risk of dying from heart problems!

#3 Save The World

Photo Credits: Superhero Method

Being stuck in traffic means wastage of petrol and a whole lot of carbon emissions. The emission of greenhouse gases does so much damage to mother nature. This leads to global warming and potentially hazardous consequences for all living beings on Earth. This is a little step towards saving our world. It may be a little step, but if everyone plays their part, we will eventually get to where we want to one day!

Driving less and opting to run more, bike more or walk more makes for better mental health, better physical health, and a better world! So, what’s not to love about this run-commute and bike-commute concept?

Cover Photo Credits: Road.cc

New Malaysian Record At Tokyo Marathon 2018

By

Mel

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February 25, 2018

The previous marathon record of 2:28:19 was broken today at the Tokyo Marathon 2018. Sea Games athlete duo – Leo Tan Huong Leong and Muhaizar Mohamed were gunning for a new Malaysian Record! They both managed to break the national record with Tan Huong Leong setting a new record of 2:25:28. Muhaizar ran a 2:27:21. Both of them ran incredible personal bests.

Malaysia’s national record was not the only broken record! Japan’s Yuta Shitara ran an impressive 2:06:10 to claim the new Japan Marathon Record. This is only his 3rd Marathon.

Congratulations Leo & Muhaizar! Congratulations to all finishers of Tokyo Marathon 2018!

Source: Tokyo Marathon

Photo Credits: Jom Kita Lari

10 Books Every Passionate Runner Should Read (and Remember)

By

Team JustRunLah!

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February 23, 2018

Running is one of the most popular sports all around the globe, with more than 60 million joggers in the US alone. Motivation is extremely important in this type of physical activity because you get to compete only against yourself, so you are the only one who sets goals or limits.

You can find inspiration for running in a lot of places but books dedicated to this sport can really boost your motivation in that regard. At the same time, novels can teach you many things to improve your results and stamina. In this article, we will show you 10 books every passionate runner should read and remember.

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (Alan Sillitoe)

Alan Sillitoe published this story collection in 1959 to describe an emotional condition of a Nottingham-born teenager. The boy named Smith is a member of a working class family in a neighborhood filled with low lives and petty criminals. A title story shows how Smith turned to long-distance running to run away from everyday misery. The story was so well-accepted that it deserved a movie adaptation in 1962.

Footnotes: How Running Makes Us Human (Vybarr Cregan-Reid)

We all know that running drastically reduces the risk of health issues but Vybarr Cregan-Reid wanted to show us that it also improves the mental well-being. His intention in this book was to describe how people use jogging time to contemplate about life. Adding literature and philosophical references to support his ideas, the author made a genuine masterpiece.

Born To Run (Christopher McDougall)

Christopher McDougall believes that running is a constitutive element of an entire human civilization. According to him, we were not only born to run but we were also born because we run. McDougall develops this conclusion extensively to make a groundbreaking sports novel.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (Haruki Murakami)

People go running run for different reasons but one goal remains universal – passionate runners test their own limits with each race or training they take. Literature experts at aussiewritings.com told us that Haruki Murakami should have won the Nobel Prize already, especially having in mind his marvelous book ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’. Give this masterpiece a try and you’ll see what makes it so special.

The Cool Impossible (Eric Orton)

We don’t only love fiction novels about running. On the contrary, we believe every marathoner should read a few professional works to improve their capabilities and endurance. Eric Orton wrote one of the best books in that regard, offering you all sorts of valuable jogging tips.

Marathon (Brian Freeman)

You’ve probably noticed already that our list is not a one-way street. Including Brian Freeman’s ‘Marathon’, we made another turn. It’s a mind-boggling detective story built around the local marathon and the implications of a bomb attack. ‘Marathon’ is a fast-reading literature that can help you to get the mind off everyday problems.

Perfect Strangers (Roseann Sdoia & Jennifer Jordan)

If you are more into true stories, here’s an extraordinary book that talks about events surrounding the 2013 Boston marathon attack. Roseann Sdoia was present at the finish line right at the time when the terrorist’s bomb exploded. It’s a story of running but also about fear, tears, and unselfish help from three noble strangers.

Once a Runner (John L. Parker, Jr.)

It is time to go back to some ‘running only’ literature. Parker’s novel explains how it feels to be a real competitor in long-distance races. ‘Once a Runner’ reveals emotions felt by professionals who run not only for pleasure but more importantly for success and glory. It’s a great inspiration for all athletes who struggle to find motivation and personal fulfillment.

Running Like a Girl: notes on learning to run (Alexandra Heminsley)

Here’s the one from the ladies’ perspective. ‘Running Like a Girl’ tells the world how most women feel like when they first faced sports and the long-distance running. The style is direct and perhaps even harsh in some parts but that is the whole point – the novel will really teach you how to run.

Browning Ross: Father of American Distance Running (Jack Heath)

Jack Heath wrote a book about one of the most important long-distance runners in the US history. As the matter of fact, Browning Ross is the founder of this discipline in America. He was a remarkable figure both on and off the track, so you might want to read when you need some extra encouragement.

CONCLUSION

Reading and running are some of the most beautiful activities a man can perform. And if you read about running, it makes books even more interesting and helps you advance as a jogger. In this article, we showed you 10 books every passionate runner should read and remember. We hope you’ll take some time to read these novels – you won’t regret it!

Guest post / About the author: Olivia is an incurable optimist who always sees the glass as half-full. She likes nature, knows how to enjoy silence and is keen on writing for different websites. Meet her on Facebook and Twitter.

Five Bad Habits to Break to Ensure Long-Term Running Nirvana

By

Team JustRunLah!

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February 23, 2018

Running is one of the most rewarding sports that can improve personal performance through self-discipline and gives you the option to have an intimate relationship with a specific terrain.

It’s hardly surprising that theindependent.co.uk reports that two million people in the UK and 10 million in the US have actively taken up running and that it is fast becoming the most popular form of exercise worldwide.

While this trend may be on an agreeable rise, there are, however, a few bad omissions, actions and routines most runners are culpable of, at some point or another. Make sure you don’t follow veer off course by taking heed of the bad examples and staying in the straight narrow.

Wearing the wrong shoes

You don’t have to invest in much when you take up running, except for a good pair of running shoes. Your feet need your shoes to act as shock absorbers so the full impact of every step isn’t felt in your joints and ligaments.

It is worth consulting a podiatrist, physiotherapist, trainer or another expert if you can, to map the specifics of your feet and advise on the best shoe technically fit for your feet.

Wearing your normal walking-the-dog trainers could lead to discomfort, pain, injury or a permanent change in gait. Also invest in quality, moisture-absorbing shoes.

Not eating and hydrating correctly

Nutrition may not be the very first thing you think of seriously as you may be just fine with your food and eating routine, especially, if you naturally feel sated. If you’re on a low-carb eating plan though, you’ll need to adjust as ideally, your runner’s plate should consist of 60% fiber-rich carbs and 40% lean protein.

Devising nutrient-high breakfasts that are both tasty and convenient to grab or prepare are vital, as you need these to kick-start your day and as snacks throughout the day. It’s equally as important to take water or have ready access to it when you run so you don’t dehydrate.

Refusing to rest

Your body needs to recover and this means not only taking off a full day but slotting in two or three easy routine runs in your week. Your muscles need to rebuild. Not factoring this in can lead to injury, slower times, the dreaded never-ending plateau and loss of motivation as a result.

Lack of commitment once started

Consistency is key. Whether it’s working out how to adequately nourish your body, settling on a good warm-up and cool-down stretching routine or tackling too-difficult runs too soon, stay with the changes you’ve made. The brain needs repetitive actions and signals before it rewires neural pathways so new habits become instinctive.

Ignoring discomfort or pain

Worse than ignoring discomfort or pain, is self-diagnosing and being your own doctor. Don’t push through the pain – your body has sent you a distress call, and you need to respond with help, not more trauma. If resting up for two or three days does not lead to significant improvement, consult your medical practitioner. It could be a stress fracture or full-blown ligament damage and failing to treat it will lead to stress factors of a mental kind, too.

In the end, it all boils down to applying sensibility, body intuition and a burning desire to indulge the urge to challenge the open road.

Cold Weather = Personal Best? True Or False?

By

Mel

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February 22, 2018

Weather certainly makes a difference when it comes to running. Take a look at the breaking 2 project – where conditions were carefully selected in order to produce the best possible results. There is a reason why they chose to run it in Monza, Italy, where conditions are much cooler and not Sepang Track, Malaysia or F1 Track in Singapore. This is also why you don’t see World Records being run in sunny Malaysia or blistering hot Hawaii. They are usually run in cooler conditions such as Berlin and London.

Running In Cold Weather Improves Performance

Running in the cold can be difficult – with the strong icy winds. It’s much easier to stay in under a warm blanket and hibernate. However, the cold weather actually is much more conducive training weather. This is because – in cold conditions, your body is put under less stress. Running at a 5-minute pace in cold weather puts less stress on your body as compared to running the same pace in hot weather.

Why?

This is because the running motion produces heat as a byproduct when producing energy. Our body needs to lose this heat to avoid a build-up of heat which can be damaging to our body. Think – heat stroke! One mechanism to lose heat is sweating. However, when we sweat, our body also becomes dehydrated. Another mechanism is by transporting this heat to the surface of our skin. This makes your heart work harder. So, the dehydration and the additional work your heart has to do puts your body under more stress.

Photo Credits: Gear Patrol

This means that running the exact same pace in colder weather takes less effort and less energy. Your body is also put under less stress and less pressure.

Potential Problems

One of the leading myths is that in colder weather, your body has to burn more calories in order to keep your body warm. However, it is important to note that this amount of additional calories is a negligible amount. You can mitigate this risk by wearing suitable clothing to keep your core temperature warm. Pro tip: Use rechargeable hand warmers to keep your hands warms during your run.

What you should be taking note of is that in cold weather, your body relies more heavily on glycogen rather than fat as an energy source. So, in order to prevent yourself from hitting the wall, you should take an extra packet of gel as compared to racing in warmer conditions.

Also, it is easy to forget to hydrate yourself. You may not exactly feel thirsty as the lower temperatures prevent you from getting the thirst sensation. However, the possibility of dehydration is very real. Have a hydration strategy and stick to it regardless of whether or not you feel thirsty.

Keeping to this – pick a race in ideal cooler conditions and you are on your way to hitting a personal best!

Looking for an Overseas race to run a PB?

Check out JustRunLah!‘s interactive bucket-list.

Aussies are now slower than ever, study finds

By

Andreas

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February 22, 2018

In a recent study, researchers from RunRepeat.com analyzed marathon timings in Australia from 2000 to 2016 and concluded that Aussies have never been slower. Their database includes 183,061 results from 154 different races.

When they plotted the mean finishing times year after year (figure shown above), they observed a trend that indicates that Australian marathon participants have been getting progressively slower for the last 17 years. It is important to note that there is an average increase of about 20 mins in the average finishing time of a marathon in 2017, compared to 1999.

A number of different reasons could be responsible for this trend. Some of them are:

The overall increased participation;
The increased numbers of female participants;
The increase of the average age of the participants.

However, what they have found is that these reasons can not explain the trend entirely.

Increased Participation

It is true that the numbers of marathoners have increased in the last 17 years. This might mean that the more popular marathon running becomes, more and more unprepared participants join and they drag the average down. However, when the finisher times are segmented by speed, slowing down across all groups was observed. Additionally, the percentage of people, who just walk the race has been and still is minuscule and cannot be responsible for the overall increase in finishing times.

Increased Female Participants

As we know women are on average slower than men and with more women, the average time goes down. However, when data were segmented by gender, it was found that men and women are slowing down at equal rates, as shown in the plot below:

Aging Population

Interestingly, contrary to the global trend, the average age of marathoners in Australia has been slightly declining. Such an argument, therefore cannot be valid.

What about health?

Obesity in Australia, as in most developed countries, is on the rise. Researchers Andersen and Nikolova used the data on obesity from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and what they found is that both obesity and hypertension trends correlate strongly with the slow-down trend, both when studied in short- and long-term.

It is important to note that correlation is not causation and we can’t be sure that these results are the complete and only explanation for the slowdown of Australian marathoners, but it is worth noting that the deteriorating health seems to have an impact even on the more active and health-conscious marathon runners.

Looking for marathons and races in Australia? Use our free mobile app to discover and keep track of your next running events. Available for iOS / Android.

Awareness For Wellness This March 25

By

Servinio

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February 22, 2018

A VERY different type of fun obstacle course will happen this coming March 25 at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City entitled “Awareness for Wellness: Speed Bump Obstacle Course”. The said event is staged by the husband wife team of Dr. Rob Walcher and actress Patricia Javier.

Over 10 various kinds of obstacles will spread all over the venue and participants may choose between running four or two kilometers. Part of the proceeds will go to the Hope For Lupus Foundation.

For sure everyone’s strength, agility, speed and sill will be put to the test but they can be assured that the obstacles will be just right that even kids could do them. Aside for the race itself, other activities have been prepared to complete the Sunday morning family day experience.

Registration is now ongoing at Garmin branches located at Glorietta 5, Uptown Mall BGC, Alabang Town Center, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM City North EDSA. The race kit includes a sublimated print t-shirt and a race belt to hold one’s number.

Both the four and two-kilometer categories carry the same registration fee of only PHP 700.00. Participants will also get the chance to race with surprise guest celebrities.

The event is made possible with the assistance of the Pinoy Aspiring Runners (PAR) and also marks the birthday of Dr. Walcher, a chiropractor. “My business is to make people feel good by aligning their spine and that will benefit all especially runners and athletes,” he said.

Formerly based in California and with two growing sons, the family made the decision to relocate to the Philippines in 2015 and since then, Dr. Walcher has established two clinics in Quezon City and Makati City. For more information, please visit www.DocRobChiro.com.

It’s About How Badly You Want It

By

Mel

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February 21, 2018

We all know dreams require sacrifice, so, what are you willing to give up to get to your dreams? It’s really about how bad you want it! Do you want it bad enough to put in the sweat blood and tears? It is the mental fortitude that makes the difference between a good athlete and a great athlete. It’s this mental toughness that can push you through your physical limits. This is also the reason why the fastest race course is a course with the loudest spectators. Because they give you this mental boost.

Check out these inspiring moments that show us how badly these athletes want it!

#1 Devon Bailing

Just shy of the finishing line, Devon Bailing collapsed due to exhaustion. But, she wanted to finish the race so badly. She could not get up, so, she rolled. She completed her race in 3 hours 34 minutes, an impressive time with a unique finish!

#2 Paula Radcliffe

Back in 2005 during the London Marathon, Paula Radcliffe wanted to go for the World Record. She wanted it bad. She was having stomach cramps mid-race and really needed to go. She relieved herself in front of the hundreds and thousands of people watching her attempt at the World Record. But it was all worth it, because she ran a 2:17:42 marathon.

#3 No Legs, No Problem!

This dude is one of the most inspirational people. Despite his disability, he displayed true strength and grit. He shows is that truly nothing is impossible if put our mind to it! His never give up attitude inspires admiration and respect. This is one of the most amazing things I’ve seen.

Remember, everything is achievable if we set our mind to it! There is nothing that is impossible. Our mind is stronger than we think it is. It’s about how badly you want it! So, how bad do you want it?

Singapore Running Series 2018: 5 Things That Runners Should Note

By

Yvonne Siew

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February 20, 2018

The Performance Series (TPS) is coming back this year in its 3rd edition and it will bring runners to FOUR different locations:

22 April – Punggol Waterway
24 June – Pasir Ris
5 August – Bedok Reservoir
14 October – East Coast

Before we go into any further, there’s a VERY IMPORTANT info for you: In order to maximise every participant’s race-day experience, each TPS 2018 race will be capped at 3,500 registered participants. So before you missed out this, check out the 5 things that you should know about TPS 2018.

#Back to Basic: 5km or 10km, across Singapore

“Simplicity. Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest.” This year, TPS is going back to basic by bringing participants to run 5km or 10km at four interesting venues across Singapore. You can challenge yourself to achieve a new Personal Best in 5km or 10km, or you can invite your friends and family to run with you in this more manageable distance.

Series Finisher Medals

First ever in Singapore, The Performance Series 2018 is introducing a Finisher Medals Collection that featuring Singapore Nature & Wildlife, Singapore Heritage and Uniquely Singapore. Does each of them look familiar to you?

Series Finisher Tees

Do you get bored of the usual Finisher Tees design? TPS has something fresh and cool for you! Classic, yet extraordinary. You will definitely want to put these on you every day.

Series Event Tees

Stay with TPS throughout the #TranscendYourself journey: RUN, AIM, TRAIN and REACH. Check out the bright colours TPS 2018 Series Event Tees:

Get on board and become one of The Performance Series Athlete.

“We run together, we explore together and we transcend together! Together we do great things.”

2018 TPS Ambassadors

If you are a competitive runner, there’s a chance for you to win the prizes; if you have a great transcend story to share, you can be one of the 2018 TPS Ambassadors! TPS will be rewarding 4 transformations with S$1,000 cash each. More information about this – a first for Singapore – will be announced soon!

So if you have not signed up TPS 2018, hurry up and get your slot at a discounted bundle price!

Marathon Runner Prevented From Running His Boston Dream Due To Trump Ban

By

Mel

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February 20, 2018

Many runners have the Boston dream. They put in the time, effort and dedication in hopes of running a Boston Qualifying time. It is a privilege and an honour to run the Boston Marathon – not everyone can run the Boston Marathon. First, you must run a Boston Qualifying time. But, you must be among the fastest applicants to be accepted to run the race. This year, qualifiers who were 3 minutes 23 seconds or faster than the qualifying time for their age group and gender were accepted into the 2018 Boston Marathon. So, if you are accepted to run the Boston Marathon, you are surely within the top 10 – 15 percent of your age group.

Toronto’s Soroush Hatami, ran a 3:05:42 at the 2016 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, running well under the 3:10:00 mark required for his age group. He was ecstatic. It’s not easy to be able to run the Boston Marathon but for Hatami, it was even harder.

Read More: Boston Marathon 2017 Moments

Born In Iran

For Hatami, it wasn’t running a qualifying time that was the challenge, it was because of his passport. Hatami has lived in Toronto since 2013 and is a permanent resident of Canada. He is currently in the process of applying for his Canadian Citizenship. He however still holds an Iran passport.

When Trump was elected President, Trump imposed a ban blocking citizens of several Muslim countries from entering the United States. Iran was one of the countries on the ban list. He has accepted that it is unlikely he would be able to run his Boston dream.

Raising Funds

In light of his current situation, Hatami realizes how this ban adversely affects so many people. This ban doesn’t just affect runners, but students, families and medical patients from entering the country. Together with Marathon Dynamics runner Daniel Sellers, they have come up with a project aimed at raising funds for the Muslim Advocates legal organization and the International Refugee Assistance Program. These 2 groups working to oppose the travel ban and support people affected by it.

They are hoping to raise a total amount of $26,000, $1,000 for every mile of the marathon. Their cause is a worthy and interesting one – check them out!

Source: Running magazine.ca, Banned on the run 2018

Busting The Running Myths

By

Mel

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February 19, 2018

Running has been given a bad name by some. Didn’t you know it strains your heart and it’ll hurt your knees, so don’t do too much running! Haven’t you heard about the guy who died of a heart attack running the marathon last weekend? We’ve heard it all before! But, running isn’t bad. You’ve been misled and misinformed.

#1 Running Is Not Bad For The Knees

You know who you hear this from? You guessed it right – non-runners. In fact, running helps strengthen your knees and joints according to research. On the other hand, lazing around sitting in front of the tv with your favorite crisps? Now that is bad for your health, and your joints, and your arteries, and your lungs, and your heart, and your mental health.

#2 1 Hour Of Running Adds To 7 Hours Of Your Life

According to an article written by Alex Hutchinson, an hour of running adds an additional 7 hours to your life. He points out that this is calculated based on relatively minimal amounts of running. The more you run, the more you gain out of it. Assuming you run for 3 hours a week, that would be 156 hours of running a year. That would add 1092 hours to your life which is roughly 1.5 months of additional life. If u were running for 10 years, that would be 15 years of additional life. Interesting isn’t it? Imagine the things you could do with an extra 15 years!

Read More: 8 Running Tips For Beginners

#3 Running Is Not Bad For Your Heart

We know that there are a couple of cases here and there about runners dying from a heart attack mid-marathon. However, we must stress that it is not running that causes the heart attack. It is paramount to always go for a body check up to know how much stress you can put on your heart. If you have a blocked artery or two, you shouldn’t be stressing yourself out too much. You can still benefit from running, however, perhaps use a heart rate monitor to keep yourself in check and avoid pushing yourself too hard.

Read More: How Many Calories Does Running Burn?

Running brings immense benefits – from physical to mental!

PAR Launches New Four-Part Series

By

Servinio

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February 16, 2018

A NEW race series is sure to attract the attention of many starting this April 15 – “Takbo PARa Sa Kalikasan” consists of four separate fun runs this year staged by the Pinoy Aspiring Runners (PAR) and MnK Concept and Events with the advocacy of protecting the environment. The first race, Fire Run, will be at the Liwasang Ulalim inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex with Haribon Foundation as the event’s main beneficiary.

Runners may join either 16, 10, five or three kilometers with the corresponding registration fees of PHP 850.00, PHP 750.00, PHP 650.00 and PHP 550.00 respectively. All race kits are inclusive of a singlet and race bib number plus all finishers will be awarded a medal upon crossing the finish line with 16-kilometer participants getting an additional t-shirt as well.

Onsite registration is now being conducted at Garmin branches located at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 5 and Uptown Mall BGC. Promos and discounts await those who will register for the entire series or sign up in bulk as a group or team.

After the Fire Run, the series will continue with the Water Run on June 17 and the Air Run on September 30. The series will culminate with the Earth Run on November 18 which is sure to be a hit not just with runners but also their families as several side activities are in the plans.

The four medals can be combined to form one big medal. There will be increasing distance categories as the series progresses and everyone is sure to look forward to the four collectible singlets from each leg.

“We may not be aware or care about climate change these days because we are already used to it but that should not be the case as global warming is a very big problem,” said PAR President Joseph Balbino during the recent media launch. “We decided to adopt an environmental advocacy this time after conducting many charity fun runs.”

Meanwhile, PAR also used the occasion to introduce their new website, www.par.com.ph and also their PAR Loyalty Card which may be used to avail of discounts or earn points when joining events or patronizing partner shops and restaurants. PAR has also lined up several other events for the year so watch out for it very soon.

For the latest information and updates, please visit and like Fire Run on Facebook.

40 Year Old Mother Of 2 Runs a 3:24:57 To Qualify For Boston

By

Mel

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February 15, 2018

From Taiwan, Tan (陳淑娟) 40 years old with 2 kids, but she had a dream. She had the Boston dream.

She is the epitome of it is never too late to start. She started running late, but that did not mean she could not hit her dream. She believed that although she started late, with determination and perseverance, she would be able to run a Boston Qualifying time. She said believing in yourself is more important than a hundred other people believing in you. She believes that you should never underestimate your ability – because if she can, everyone can too.

The Boston Dream

The Boston dream isn’t just about running the Boston Marathon. It’s a journey. It starts with a race, and can become many races (if you fail) – in hopes of running a Boston Qualifying time. Hitting the mark is not a guaranteed acceptance. Only the fastest applicants will be accepted to run the race. This year Qualifiers who were 3 minutes, 23 seconds (3:23) or faster than the Qualifying time for their age group and gender were accepted into the 2018 Boston Marathon. So, you can rest be assured that if you are running the Boston Marathon, you are running amongst the best.

She ran the beautiful Tarako Gorge Marathon and surprised herself with a personal best of 3 hours 38 minutes. She had hit her Boston Qualifying mark for her age group. However, given that only the fastest timings would be accepted, she was worried a 3 hours 38 minutes would not be good enough. She set her eyes on running a timing well under the BQ mark – a sub 3 hour 25 minutes marathon.

The Training

As Usain Bolt would put it, the race part is the easy part, what you don’t see – the training, the tears, the sweat, the blood, that’s the hard part. So she knew she needed to buck up in training to hit a sub 3:25:00 marathon. She knew dreams require sacrifice – so how far are you willing to go to hit your dreams?

She had to strike a good balance between – work, family and training. She incorporated speed work into her training. She sacrificed sleep to do her long runs on the weekend. She was discipline with foam rollong and stretching to prevent her from incurring any possible injuries. Although it sounds exhausting, but she said she never once felt tired. Because she knew with every step she took, she was getting herself one step closer to her dream.

Show Time

The weather was cooling on race day – Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon. She told herself to trust her training, trust the process, and results willl naturally speak for itself. The first 30 km went according to plan. But after the 30 km mark, fatigue started to settle in. Her pace dropped slighlty. However, a sub 3:25:00 was still possible if she could maintain her pace for the final 12 kilometers. She wasn’t ready to give up. Her boyfriend, knowing how important this run was to her decided to pace her. He encouraged her, reminded her to fuel and hydrate herself – and it was his act of putting aside his own goals that pushed her to not give up.

She ran the Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon in an impressive 3:24:57 (Gun time). What a stellar run with a brand new personal best.

And that’s her ticket to Boston!

So, remember, it’s never too late to start chasing your dreams. You just need to start!

Source & Photo Credits: Running Biji 陳淑娟

150 Women Come To Run – Dressed In Sarees

By

Mel

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February 14, 2018

Almost 150 women took to the streets of Bengaluru dressed in Sarees. Looking glamorous in the traditional Indian dress, you would think they were there for a wedding. You would never think that they were there to run. Some women even had babies strapped to their chest whilst they ran the 3-kilometer route along the 100-feet road.

The run was organized with the aim of raising awareness about women’s health and breast cancer. Some women ran the 3 kilometers in an impressive 15 minutes but the average women took approximately 30 minutes to complete the distance.

Photo Credits: Decan Chronicle

Upon completion of the run, women shared inspiring stories. They shared personal stories about breast cancer – the battle and their journey. They talked about breast cancer – prevention and the significance of early detection. They shared the importance of health to them. Everyone had their own stories of strength, hope, determination, failure and sadness that could inspire anyone. The stories shared told one narrative – to believe in yourself and that you have the strength within yourself to resolve anything.

Photo Credits: The News Minute

It was a great run, with a great cause. Thank you, women!

Source: The News Minute