OUT FOR A NIGHT TIME RUN: ENERGIZER NIGHT RACE FOR SAFE AND ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTS

Nowadays, running is more than run in itself. Runners are now attracted to the varieties that of life that this fitness sport offers.

Variety is the spice of life, and the same is true for runners, who also like to mix things up in regard to their routine and their training. This need for variation extends all the way to the events and competitions in which runners participate.

To satisfy different quirks and fancies, event organizers have explored a multitude of ways to keep the running community on their toes. This includes running competitions with added obstacles, on off-road tracks and, most recently, holding races at night.

Competitive racing in the dead of night certainly adds a different dimension to the running experience. Being enveloped by darkness requires runners to be more sensitive to the slightest conditions on the road, demanding complete focus and undivided attention. Preparations in the run-up to competition also vary. Training regimen, as well as prep time, tend to differ, too, which only adds to the challenge.

Local runners have already had the pleasure of trying out night races through different competitions already hosted here in the Philippines. This night race craze, however, started in 2011 with one event, the Energizer Night Race.

That race was part of Energizer’s bigger initiative called the “Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World”, a series of nighttime running events held around the world including countries in Africa, Europe, North and South America, and throughout Asia. Over 75,000 participants joined the more than 30 Energizer Night Races held in 20 countries across the globe.

The magnitude of the event’s success, transcended more than mere numbers. This global night race has served as an effective vehicle in raising awareness of the world’s need for safe, clean, and affordable solar lighting. “It’s hard to believe that in this day and age that there are still around 1.3 billion people deprived of electricity and clean lighting,” says Energizer’s Brand Manager, Joan Mendoza. “This event is just one way in which Energizer can bring this issue forth and be addressed for the benefit of less fortunate communities all over the world.”

Running at night guided only by Energizer LED Headlamps, runners get a sense of how important light is. Usually taken for granted in developed areas, light and clean energy are extremely valuable in off-the-grid communities. They dictate a child’s capacity to learn, an adult’s ability to work, and the community’s maximum functionality. They also help promote personal health and the environment by lessening carbon emissions made by alternative light sources such as candles, kerosene lamps, and firewood.

The need for efficient and eco-friendly lighting has led Energizer to partner with One Million Lights (OML), a nonprofit organization that shares the same goal of providing rural communities around the world with the gift of light. Since 2011, Energizer and OML have donated 23 million hours’ worth of light through Energizer Solar-Powered LED flashlights and lamps to different remote communities in Latin America, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Energizer’s efforts to put the issue of light and energy in perspective are part of their “That’s Positivenergy™” campaign that serves as the company’s platform to show its commitment to performance and responsibility. This means providing consumers with durable and energy efficient products for everyday needs.

Running has been an effective way of gathering the public’s support for worthy causes, from community health and fitness to environmental advocacies. By immersing runners in the kind of situations individuals in remote, off-the-grid communities go through, the company hopes participants look beyond the event and appreciate and support what it stands for.

To alleviate the lack of energy and light in far-flung communities, Energizer again strengthens its drive by calling out running and fitness enthusiasts to join in the cause by participating in this year’s Energizer Night Race Manila. The race will be held on May 4, 2013 at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig with the help of partners GMA Network and Schick.

Registration is on-going until April 30, 2013 at BROOKS SM North EDSA, RUNNR Bonifacio High Street, and Toby’s Sports EDSA Shangri-la, Glorietta, and SM Mall of Asia. For more information about the race, visit www.energizerglobalnightrace.com.

The Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp Challenge

After the holiday season, and with all those parties that happened wherein we loaded some calories.  Its time to shed out some pounds and be fit once again.

Fit, Fun and Fresh - an evening of work-out that will surely make you sweat and healthy. 

The Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp trial session was held at Medicard Lifestyle Center last February 16, 2013, in collaboration with APEX-Metafit coaches Jim Saret (Founder), Toni Dimaguila-Saret and Grace Siongco, together with Hazel Chua and Raffy Tan of Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition and spearheaded by Medicard president Dr. Nicky Montoya and Ms.Kate Cruz-Joaquin, Medicard Marketing Manager.

In the recent briefing event of MediCard-Metafit, the bloggers and some participants were already put to training what they’ll experience heavily at the boot camp which starts on February 25.

The workout techniques and methods - 10 jumping jacks, 10 squats, 10 pushups, 10 lounges per leg for a warm-up stint focuses more on lower body strength with over-all metabolic exercises. This was done the AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) within 4 minutes, pretty much the same as what you’d expect from a crossfit trial.After the warm-up comes the Enter the 50/10, participants were made to do as many repetitions as they can of a specific exercise within 50 seconds with a 10 seconds rest in between. For a beginner, the second part of the work-out composed of “Burpees”, crab-like lateral movements, High Knees and Plank can be quite tiresome. But as any other Metafit trainings, coaches were there not only to guide the participants physically but they were also very motivational and supportive. 
What the participants experienced that night was just a teaser of what to expect from the boot camp; the rest of the exciting drills and activities are yet to come, at the same venue which is the Medicard Lifestyle Center. 

We all make many compromises in our life. One of the biggest and the most compromised aspect of our lives today involve our own health and fitness. It may be because of the busy schedule and different priorities that we opt to neglect our body and its needs. We are unaware of the effects of these compromises we make, until it strikes us. Living a healthy and fitter life may be difficult but is not impossible. It is just a matter of self-discipline and solid commitment in taking care of your body and motivation. So why not give Metafit a try?

HARRIS “THE HITMAN SARMIENTO” SUBMITS ORTIZ; RETAINS PXC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Last February 16, PXC staged its eighth mixed martial arts event in the Philippines and 35th overall. This is a promise delivered by no less than Pacific X-Treme Combat general manager EJ Calvo. 

In the first of possibly four events this year in the country, the PXC treated Filipino MMA junkies to nine equally electrifying fights highlighted by the successful title defense of lightweight champion Harris ‘The Hitman’ Sarmiento.

“PXC 35 only solidifies the reign of PXC as the premiere MMA company in Asia Pacific,” Calvo said. “The nine fights we had so far gave MMA fans here in the Philippines something to remember and will definitely make them come back for more PXC events.” 

Coming off a disappointing first-round loss to PXC featherweight superstar Mark Striegl last November, Sarmiento moved back to his natural weight class and retained his 155-pound title belt at the expense of Isaiah Ordiz.

The victory was expected from the veteran Sarmiento, who marked his 60th professional bout with his 36th win, but how he did it was surprising. 

Expected to go toe to toe with Ordiz, Sarmeinto instead opted to take the fight to the ground and emerged successful as he forced his San Pedro, Laguna-born challenger to tap out with a kimura submission move late in the first round. 

“I just wanted to play it smart,” Sarmiento said of his surprising ploy. “I just took advantage of an opening and once I brought him to the ground, I knew I could finish the fight right away.” 

In the main undercard between flyweight contenders, Louis Smolka survived an early beating to defeat Alvin Cacdac via submission and earn a title shot against champion Ale Cali of Davao. 

After suffering a right eyebrow cut that turned his face into a bloody mess in the first round, Smolka suddenly turned the tables in the next two rounds as the Hawaiian turned to his ground and pound game before finishing the game with a rear-naked choke. 

“I’m kind of used to that because I get beat up all the time in training,” said Smolka, who stretched his winning streak to three fights. 

Meanwhile, Troy Bantiag caught Tony Reyes with a solid right punch then finished off his Guamanian opponent with continuous blows to score a referee-stoppage win late in the first round. 

Likewise impressive were the rest of the fights in the event, presented by San Mig Strong Ice and Sports 5, and backed by E-Games, Fitness First, FHM Philippines,FHM.com.ph, Premiere Condoms, Healthway Agility Phil, Beer Below Zero, Eden NightClub, Real Sports Radio, and Loqal.ph. 

Dario Banario scored a unanimous-decision victory over Joseph Mercado in an all-Filipino battle, Japan’s Chuji Kato forced Egons Racz into submission, Zebastian Kadestam registered a referee-stoppage win against Ron Jhun, while Ernesto Montilla Jr. Miguel Mosqura, and Glen Ranillo all scored a submission wins over Ruel Catalan, Steve Grandeza, and Mark Billena, respectively. 

“Our fight cards are one of the best in the industry, matching some of the most skilled fighters against each other as they climb the rankings,” Calvo said. 

"We are confident that our upcoming shows here in the Philippines will continue to draw bigger crowds. Fans will enjoy watching their favorite PXC fighters and get a chance to see new stars from across the globe.”

The Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp

Medicard Philippines,one of the leading health maintenance organizations, represented by Dr. Nicky Montoya, officially signed and joined hands with METAfit founder and famous Sports and Fitness Science Specialist, Coach Jim Saret to create the Medicard-Metafit Fitness Boot Camp. Present in the contract signing last February 7, 2013  were Ms. Kate Cruz-Joaquin, Medicard Philippines Marketing Manager; and Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition finalists and METAfit coaches, Raffy Tan and Hazel Chua.

“We (at Medicard Philippines) are trying to be pro-active in promoting health…” shares Dr. Montoya, President of Medicard Phillipines. “Here’s a real program where we ask our members to join; that should promote a more active and healthy lifestyle.”

“If you have the nutrition, the exercise and the psychological motivation, putting that together, it fits into what we are trying to promote.” Dr. Montoya further expounds.

In fact, Coach Jim Saret believes that the Medicard-METAfit Fitness Boot Camp is the first of its kind when it comes to fitness programs. “It’s a really good match to have the physical with the medical side, for any fitness and wellness program of any person… METAfit together with Medicard is the first one to offer all components of a total health and wellness.”

METAfit and Medicard Philippines are known in the country to help Filipinos reach their health goals, whether to lose weight or to be medically healthy. Before the partnership, these two industry movers are doing great works on their own, but they felt there was something lacking. Coach Jim couldn’t agree more, “It’s a perfect combination for a METAfit program because we are providing the physical, the motivational and the nutritional program but what’s missing basically is the medical side of this.”

The 12-session program is designed to cater to all types of individuals and fitness backgrounds. The idea of the program is to acquaint participants with basic work-outs; and depending on their capacity and determination, they will progress to more advanced routines until they graduate. Fitness goals will also be laid down, however, as Coach Jim states, participants should not be worried as he, and his team will support them every step of the way, under the medical care of Medicard. Coach Jim guarantees that at the end of the course, many would be surprised by their own bodies’ capabilities.

Joining the METAfit team are Raffy Tan and Hazel Chua. They will work as motivators and facilitators of the boot camp with Coach Jim’s lead.

The sold-out Medicard-METAfit Fitness Boot Camp will start on February 25, 2013 at the Medicard Lifestyle Center in Paseo De Roxas corner Buendia, Makati City. Medicard members, as well as non-members who signed up for the boot camp couldn’t wait any longer; they are very excited and looking forward to maximizing their body’s potentials.

Not even on its first session yet, many are already inquiring about the next boot camp. With that, the team behind the Medicard-METAfit Boot Camp couldn’t wait to get started… for sure; people can expect many more boot camps in the near future!

For inquiries and added information, please visit the Medicard Philippines website at http://www.medicardphils.com.