It was a busy day for me yesterday, Thursday, as I attended two separate meetings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with government offices in Metro Manila. I was not able to have my early morning running workout because of these meetings. Even if I decided to have my afternoon run after my meeting, I could not squeeze in enough time because I had to meet my staff and talk to some people in my office. So, I was in my long-sleeved Banana Republic polo shirt & Club Monaco pants with matching Salvatore Ferragamo belt and shoes when I attended, for the first time, the third session of Running Aid Clinic/Lectures by Neville Manaois and the Pinoy Ultra Runners.

I was accompanied by Capt Ferdie Espejo and we arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule. As we browsed the outdoor apparel and equipment at R.O.X., we met Colonel Noel Miano from the Philippine Army who was also attending the said clinic. Later, Dr Joe aka Loony Runner entered the store coming directly from his running workout as he ran 11 kilometers from the old Manila. Dr Joe was sweating a lot and he was equipped with his Camelbak Hydration. I was worried that he might catch some colds for entering an air-conditioned facility while he was still wet with his sweat. I was glad he immediately went out of the store to change his wet running kit.

As I approached the registration area, Philip aka Foreign Runner approached me and we had a conversation as he told me about his new passion for the triathlon and his TI/Swimming training. I wish him good luck on his incoming Sprint Triathlon this Sunday. There were other guests and participants of this clinic who approached me and told me that they are regular visitors of this blog. How I wished I could mention their names here but I completely forgot their names. Neville Manaois approached me as I got my seat infront of the lecture area. After some e-mail exchanges, I was excited to meet this guy whom I consider as the number 1 promoter of endurance or ultramarathon running in the country being the Head of the Pinoy Ultra Runners. I had visited and read their group’s website/blog since I started my own blog and I was impressed on their ultra running events in the country plus the fact that they are presently and continously supporting charitable causes to people who are in need, most especially to children who are inflicted with some rare kind of diseases. It is for this reason that I am supporting their events and charitable causes/activities. Lately, I was able to read a post of The Bull Runner about the sale of lanyards for the support of a team going to participate in an ultramarathon event outside the country and I made a comment to such post where I ordered 50 pieces of the said lanyard. After e-mail exchanges, Neville and I made the Running Aid Clinic as a chance to meet and at the same time give my support to their ultramarathon activities. Neville, in return, gave his full support for my effort to promote ultramarathon as a competitive sports starting with the conduct of the Inaugural Bataan Death March Tribute 102K Ultramarathon Race on 05 April 2009.

The lecture/clinic started on time at 7:30 PM and I was surprised to see a lot of runners and participants in last night’s activity. I could estimate that there were almost 100 attendants. The first lecture was delivered by Dr Paolo Punzalan MD, a member of the Pinoy Ultra Runner, on Injury-Free Running: “Running Form & Technique”. He discussed the different running teaching methods; different kinds of footstrike; stages of a running step/gait; factors to focus for a faster run; and the “dont’s in the running form”. His lecture was clearly described and understood with the presence of demonstrators running on two Treadmill Machines courtesy of Chris Sports. Some volunteers from the audience had their running form checked and studied by Dr Punzalan to include The Bull Runner and Foreign Runner. The second part of the clinic was a lecture of Neville Manaois regarding the “First Aid to Common Problems While Running” like Leg Cramps, Side Stiches/Stomach Cramps, The Need and Suggested Belt-Hydration System, “Runner’s Trot” or Bowel Movement, Proper Hand/Arm Movement, and How To Deal With The Hills. There was an Open Forum after the lectures and questions from the audience were answered well by the lecturers. The clinic terminated at 9:00 PM.

This kind of running clinic is highly appreciated and encouraged. Congratulations to Neville Manaois and the Pinoy Ultra Runners for a worthy program of promoting running in the country. Good job!