The IronBaby Running Experience

Earth Run not for Earth
Another earth run for this month, this time its on the exact week of earth day. This time its organized by National Geographic and EventKing. Since the announce of the event, there were a lot of criticisms from people, saying that it is a very expensive run.

Since there were a lot of complaints about the registration fees, I expected that there will be only a few participants. Upon  reaching the starting line, I was surprised that there were a lot of 21k participants. There were about a thousand participants for the 21k category. I am assuming that the bib numbers started from 0000 or 0001 and the highest bib number I so was in the range of 1100-1300. That was only for 21k category, how much more people have signed up for the lower categories? I don't have the exact numbers as of now, but its very ironic to have a lot of complaints about the fee and the number of participants.

Overall there was enough hydration, I have a guesstimate of at least 1 station for every 2-3 kilometers, they had an overwhelming amount of water stacked at the back of each station. The organizers were quite prepared for this one, they used mineral water. How do i prove it? Simple, I asked a liter bottle from one of the marshals and poured it into my body. After an hour or so, I accidentally rubbed my arms and felt some salt like crystals on it. Its only a theory though, I will have to research on this to verify my assumptions. One thing they have missed is a sponsorship/partnership with a sports drink company, a sports drink would really help a lot, since a sip or a cup of it would lessen the chance of cramps and improve overall performance.

The route was quite new, the route wasn't the common route which organizers use when they have races for 21k at Global City. We had to run over Lawton Ave. Then turn right towards Heritage Memorial Park then make a U-turn back to BGC. Then turn left towards Kalayaan Flyover then to Buendia Ave and U-turn again at the intersection between RCBC Plaza and The Pillars. Then back to BGC and head left towards 8th Ave then U-turn then head towards the finish line. I enjoyed the new route since there was a change of scenery.

One sad part of the run, there were no freebies :( I got only a medal and nothing more. The medal was just like any other medal, gold finishing and some art which weren't detailed. I personally like those bronze medals since they are not really shiny and they have this striking look.

Another sad story is that THIS IS AN EARTH RUN! Let me repeat myself its an EARTH RUN, dedicated to mother EARTH. And yet, the organizers used a lot of PAPER CUPS and PLASTIC BOTTLES. These Two pictures are taken from the last U-turn of the 21k category, so there are not so much participants on this section of the route. Imagine this on the other hydration stations lets have a  guesstimate of 10 other stations where as these stations are the most populated ones. Imagine the amount of cups you see in this two pictures. Double, triple  or even multiply that amount to 10, that is how much cups and bottles were used during the event. How many trees were CUT to produce those bottles and how long will those plastic bottles be sitting on the landfill. I wished that they advised the participants that there will be no cups and bottles. That the participants should be self-sufficient and that they will only provide refilling stations.

I personally disliked the so called "techshirt" that the organizers provided. It was breathable, however too thick and doesn't have a nice fit. I wore my road-x-trail shoes, dryfit singlet, a visor and a short. I will write a review on my shoe since its my second time to use it in a race. This review will be up later this evening.

The cause is noble, but the way of delivering is the exact opposite of the cause. I can't really get over with this.. A run which was SUPPOSEDLY an EARTH FRIENDLY EVENT.. but it wasn't at all.