VENUE : The Fort
WHEN : Aug 30, 2k9 (Sunday) Gunstart 6AM
Events : 5k/10k
A race organized by GMA, well advertised in TV, limited slots, a race for election awareness. Since it was a race organized by a very popular TV station I had high hopes that the race was gonna be well facilitated and might also be my special chance to meet some celebrities and Political candidates for 2010 up close and personal. But at the end of the race event ALL my expectations were not met at all.
- Race did not start on time because they had to interview several people live on TV before before the gunstart. As a result the bright minded race administrators figured since its late anyway they might as well just let the gunstart of 5k and 10k runners start at the same time.
- The First Water Aid station definitely got raped, the 1st station was only giving out VITWATER energy drink and because majority of the race participants seem be to new comers, nobody really cared about proper race courtesy. Everyone was just grabbing 2 to 4 Vitwater in their arms like there was no tomorrow.
- Race route was not very difficult but quite enjoyable because it gave me the chance to see some unexplored areas in the Fort.
- Upon crossing the finish line i wasnt really sure if the facilitators even bothered getting everyones official finish time, but somehow they were pulling the stabs from our bib #s so Im still hoping they could still come up with our race results.
- There were lots of Freebies from different food and drink sponsors, but as usual , just like any other not well organized races mostly early finishers and 5k runner’s family members enjoyed the freebies. I even tried waiting in the long line of free ZAGU, waited there for almost 20 minutes and the line did not move at all ! I figured it might be faster to find a 7-11 store where I can buy a cold drink instead of waiting in that long line.
- The 10k route was really very short it only measured 9.33km from my GPS watch.
- You also dont get a chance to see the GMA celebrities and Political candidates up close and personal because they were all seggregated in a 50 meter bordered area where only press and special people were allowed to enter. Its actually more convenient to see them if you just watched the TV telecast.
- Overall, the race facilitation and experience from this event was a really big disappointment.
