True to its claim, the New Balance Power Race last weekend brought participants’ running experience to the next level at the Clark Airbase in Angeles, Pampanga.
From the starting line to the finish line, the New Balance Race: 2007: the Next Level gave a record 1,011 participants an entirely new running experience far different from the other races in the country.
For the first time, New Balance fitted the 25K runners with the RFID Timing Chip, which recorded their time as they passed through sensors/pads at the finish line. This provides a more efficient time monitoring and recording for a faster processing of results. It also eliminates cheating which has become rampant in local racing.
“That is also the reason New Balance Power Race Next Level prides itself as a technologically-advanced run – with its use of the RFID Timing Technology,” said New Balance marketing supervisor Mary Anne Oriondo.
The 475 runners in the 10km challenge were timed in the more traditional but automated time-keeping system.
“What also sets the New Balance Power Race: The Next Level apart from other races in the county is the beautiful and scenic course that treated runners to a smog-free, well-paved and even tree-lined roads in Clark,” said Anton Montinola, president of Planet Sports, exclusive distributor of New Balance shoes and apparel in the country.
Organizers and sponsors teamed up to provide all participants a safety and comfortable run from start to finish. With a hot and sunny day greeting the runners at the race course, aid stations were located strategically every 2 km, making available to runners medical assistance, an adequate supply of cold drinks (Viva Mineral Water and Powerade Sports Drink), as well as Dole bananas for extra energy boost.
At the finish line, all runners were treated to a finisher’s recovery bag, which contained Dole bananas, Viva Mineral Water, Powerade Sports Drink, Alaxan FR Gel and Capsule, Phiten Tapes, Johnson & Johnson Band-Aids and Alcohol, Fitness First towel, and Circulan.
The New Balance Power Race: Next Level is in cooperation with Clark Development Corporation, and in partnership with Planet Sports, The Athletes Foot, Coca-Cola, Powerade Viva Mineral Water, DOLE, Phiten Tapes and Accessories, Banco De Oro, Globe, Alaxan FR, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, San Mig Coffee, Fitness First, Finix Corp., Circulan.
The media partners are The Philippine STAR, Businessworld, Action & Fitness, Speed Magazine, Metro Active, Maxim Magazine, Menshealth and Jam 88.3.
Bernard Desamito reduced the 25K race to a one-man show, leading his closest pursuer by a good two minutes in ruling the centerpiece event.
Desamito, a veteran of the road races, clocked 1:25:03, two minutes in front of Jujet de Asis (1:27:03), in the 25K race participated in by a record 536 runners.
Ailene Tolentino also handily won the women’s side in 1:55:17, beating Anna Vargas (1:58:56).
The 10K winners were Robeno Javier in the men’s section in 34:25 and Liza Yambao in the women’s (43:19).
Among the celebrities who participated were environmentalist Senator Pia Cayetano, who finished second in her age group, entrepreneur Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who joined the 25K, and TV host Tricia Chiongbian.
The event ended with cooling-down aerobic exercises headed by Fitness First instructors.
The finish line also featured a recovery booth patterned after New Balance global. The first aid medical team, headed by race medical director Dr. Kit Navarro, includes sports medicine specialists and nutrition experts headed by Dr. Emil Tablante, an ortho surgeon who is also president of Philippine Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society. Dr. Randy Molo, sports medicine and arthroscopy orthopedic surgeon, also made himself available for free consultations.
Two treadmills from Finix Corporation, laptop computers and video cams were set up for foot analysis. New Balance’s foot analysis system determines a runner’s gait cycle from how his foot impacts the ground and takes off to his next stride. It also helps the runner to look out for possible injuries based on his running form and aids him in finding the right shoes for his feet.
Professors from the UP Human Kinetics, headed by Dean Herc Callanta, were also on hand.
Joining Montinola at the awarding were Planet Sports general manager Danilo dela Peña, CDC president Levi Laus, CDC tourism manager Noemi Garcia, New Balance brand manager Bing Buenaventura and Eric Imperio, Extreme Multi-Sports Race technical director.