Race Report: Run United 2/RunRio Leg 3 10K - 11/20/2010

My race report on Run United 2/RunRio Leg 3 held on Nov. 20, 2010 at the Bonifacio Global City. The report has a similar format as my Perfect Race blog post.

My goal was to finish under 1:20. My strategy is to do a run/walk/run with one-minute walk breaks at the water stations and run the run portions at around 7:45 min/km. It worked! The clock showed 1:19 when I crossed the finish line. According to my Garmin, I finished in 1:17:59 for a distance of 9.87 km with an average pace of 7:54 min/km. If I extrapolate that to 10 km, that will be 1:19:00. It could have been a bit better if I wasn't stopped twice at two intersections.

• Water Stations: Many and well stocked. Long tables. No need to bring your own hydration. There was enough Powerade and water. Water and Powerade were readily available at the finish line.
  
• Cheering: None
• Route: Ok. It was the same as the Nature Valley Run/RunRio Leg 2 10K. The route was big enough to accommodate the runners.
• Traffic management: There were no cars on the route but there were still angry motorists. Specially the ones from the Kalayaan/Buendia flyover. I was also stopped twice by the marshals to allow motorists to pass (almost a 1 minute total).
• Kilometer Markers: There were markers but it was still not at every kilometer.
  
• Weather: Cool.
• Marshals: There were enough and they knew what they were doing.
• Singlets: I didn't wear it.
• Timing chip: Yes - D-Tag.
• Race Results: None yet after two days.
  
• Photos: Yes, by Photovendo.
• A run for charity: Gawad Kalusugan and Hero Foundation.
  
• Finisher's shirt: Yes. I wore it after the race.
  
• Finisher's medal: None for 10K
  
• No injuries: Yes.
• Personal Best: Yes! 1:17. My previous best was 1:22 and my previous best on the same course (during Nature Valley Run - May 2010) was 1:27.

PERFECT Race Experience Index: PERFEC

Things I really liked:

• There was ample supply of water and Powerade - which is my favorite. The tables were really long so there were no lines or crowds. I could choose where I will get my water/Powerade.
• It was very easy to claim the finisher's kit (loot bag).
• Water/Powerade was available at the finish line.
• Splitting the various race distances to two days prevented crowding on the route because of runners from different race distances converging. Unlike in Runrio Leg 2 which has the same routes, there was no need to weave in and out to pass other runners.
• PR!

Things that they can improve on:

• They could have rerouted the vehicles before they even went up the flyover from Buendia avenue instead of blocking them when they were already at the corner of Rizal ave.
• There were many kilometer markers, but why can't they put one at every kilometer?
• I was stopped twice at two intersections to let vehicles cross.

Race results can be downloaded from here.