Join the 2012 Run United 2

Hey, Mom! Bring your family to 2012 Run United 2!

Unilab ActiveHealth invites moms and their families to take part in advocating an active and healthy lifestyle by joining the second leg of the 2012 Run United on June 17, 2012 at Mall of Asia.


Choose from any of the race categories and challenge each other to see how fast you can go.

 

You can register your kids, aged 5 to 12 years old, in the Ceelin 500-meter dash, a perfect way to jumpstart their journey to fitness. You, your husband and older children can join the other race categories: 3km, 5km, 10km and 21km.

 

Registered participants of 500-meter dash, 3km, 5km, and 10km will receive their singlet upon registration. The Active Health race belt bag, bib with timing chip, and Riovana 10% discount stub can be claimed during the 1st ever Run United race expo scheduled on June 13-16, 2012 at BGC Grounds near Mercato from 12nn to 8pm.


The participants of the 21k category will have a different singlet color design which makes the runners extra special, aside from the freebies that they will get during the race expo in BGC and the 2nd piece of the collectible medal and finisher shirt. A personalized RunRio Timing Card will be exclusively given to them they just need to present their old IPICO timing chip during the registration to get the replacement.

 

21km runners will also get to enjoy running the Bonifacio Global City to Mall of Asia race route, giving them a chance to improve their PR for Run United 1. Shuttle service will be provided from MOA as pick-up point for 21km runners.


“Active Health delivers Unilab’s vision of providing active health solutions for Filipino families,” Unilab Active Health Head Alex Panlilio said. “We encourage families to start or continue leading active lives through our events like Run United.


Active Health Sport Events Executive Lester Castillo said, “As we have always done in the past, we continuously improve Run United series to give runners a better experience and encourage them to keep running. Through our partnership with Coach Rio dela Cruz, Run United has become one, if not the best, running event in the country.”


As a testament to the level of commitment that Active Health brings to the runners, it has brought in the Team Bike Boutique, the official merchandise partner of Ironman races worldwide, to organize the Run United Race Expo happening on June 13-16, 2012 at the BGC Grounds near Mercato. 


The race expo completes the active health experience by gathering runners, sports enthusiasts and their families in this four-day event. Runners can hang out with their friends while checking out the coolest and latest sports apparel. Fitness and athletic brands also present their latest products and services, including gadgets, running gear, among others. 


Coach Rio dela Cruz said the race expo brings Run United to a whole new level. “Major international marathons like the ING New York Marathon and Chicago Marathon hold their own expos days before the event. Together with UNILAB Active Health, we look at some of the best practices from international races, and apply them to the Run United Series to further enhance the race experience of the Filipino running community.”

 

Registration for 2012 Run United 2 is ongoing at the following stores

• Riovana at Bonifacio Global City and Katipunan, Quezon City
• Toby’s at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City and SM North The Block, Quezon City

For online registration, check details at www.unilabactivehealth.com or www.runrio.com. Registration is until June 3, 2012 on a first come first serve basis.

2012 Run United 2 is for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga and Children’s Hour. For more inquiries, check out www.unilabactivehealth.com and www.facebook.com/unilabactivehealth.

PNR TRAIN NOW RUNNING FROM MANILA TO ALBAY

Five years after a supertyphoon battered the Bicol region and damaged vital bridges and stretches of railroad leading to Albay province.  Finally, the Bicol Express train has returned to the land of Mayon Volcano!

Located 480 km south of Manila, Albay offers road travelers a clear view of the volcano, the province’s crown jewel said to rival Japan’s Mt. Fuji for its near-perfect cone. 

 The train clocked a total travel time of 12 and a half hours from Tutuban Central station in Manila to Ligao City in Albay province.  The explorer run began at 10:05 p.m. on Wednesday and ended at 10:30 a.m. the following day, Thursday. 


The initial ride to Albay took longer than advertised: The supposedly 10-hour trip at 110 kph was delayed due to a minor landslide along the route.

It was also slowed down by the other users of the railroad, mainly wooden pushcarts we call "skates" in Bicol. The skates have automotive ball bearings for wheels. Some skates are motorized. This is the makeshift transport for people and goods in most  parts in Bicol. Passengers were rewarded with a breathtaking view of majestic Mayon.

 

The refurbished coaches offer comfort to passengers with first class, sleeper and economy coaches, as well as coaches for dining and cargo. The fleet of trains were donated by Japan East Railway Co. PNR spent about a billion pesos to repair some 400 kilometers of track.

 The train service reaching Albay would retain its old name from the 1960s -Mayon Limited Express. It would start its regular daily trips to Albay province in January 2012 with the completion of a PNR bridge in Guinobatan town. The bridge would stretch the train’s reach to the towns of Camalig, Daraga and Legazpi City.

PNR expects its passenger base to increase from the 400,000 a month to 600,000. If current trends continue, the company said it would schedule more train departures per day and reduce waiting time from 30 minutes to 15 minutes to cope with rising demand.

PNR FARE FROM MANILA TO NAGA

photo by wowee dollente

photos by vic nierva

PNR Bicol Express train fares are as follows: 

P    548 for the tourist section

P    950 for family-style cabins 

P 1,000 for executive cabins

PHOTOS BY VIC NIERVA

The tourist section of the train features reclining chairs and more space for passengers. Meanwhile, family coaches provide double-deck beds that can accommodate up to 4 people and the executive coach has private cabins.

PHOTOS FROM RIHSPI

Travel time to Naga via the Bicol Express trains is expected to be 10 hours, all in the comfort of new air-conditioned coaches that the Philippine National Railways recently acquired. 

photo from RIHSPI

Soon, more features will be added to the Bicol travel such as television sets and free Wifi access.

PNR NOW RUNNING

Photo by Wowee Dollente

The fully-rehabilitated PNR Bicol Express  have 3 kinds of coaches : tourist class with reclining seats and in-coach movie and sound systems

photo from vic nierva

Sleeping cars for families and for the executives

photos from RIHSPI

The family sleepers (FS) car is one where the passenger can lie down on a full-body bed-like seat with a curtain which can be drawn close to provide privacy. There are four of these "beds"- two on each side of the open-cabin, one above the other. 

The family sleeper car is big enough for four adults. Children may be able to share one bunk bed. Going up the elevated bunk-bed though was a little challenge . Look for this metal bar which could assist you in climbing up the upper level bunk.

Photos from Chito

Dining car with first class amenities.

The dining car (DC) is a semi-full service dining facility, i.e. with waiter but no kitchen at the moment which can seat 50 people at any one time.

The projected journey of less than ten hours will put the Bicol Express at a competitive advantage with buses which take a full ten hours to make the trip, while offering travelers a superior riding experience at attractive fares.

Full service at 4 round trips a day (with a six-coach, 400-passenger capacity) is expected in September in time for the pilgrimages to the Festival of the Virgin of Peñafrancia.

An additional 16 round trips will start next year.