Let's face it - we all run for different reasons. Some run for the obvious health benefits, some for the camaraderie, some for the er, girls (or boys). But for a certain competitive segment of the running community, the thrill of the sport has a lot to do with constantly outdoing your personal best.Oftentimes these runners are fast. Faster than you and me.In common running parlance, we often call them "monsters" or "halimaw" - non-elite yet highly competitive runners who take great satisfaction in continually redefining their limits each and every time they race.

This totally unofficial list aims to celebrate and recognize those who are engaged in this perpetual dalliance against time, and who put in the requisite blood, sweat, and tears en route to achieving their respective goals.The best part is - they're not dropping superhuman, Olympic-level times out there. They're ordinary folks like you and me, which means... it can be done!

So what do you get out of it? Nothing really. Pride? Honor? Bragging rights? Googability? And who knows, maybe a fun shirt down the line (hint) (wink) We'll be updating this as the data comes in, and I guess may provide you folks out there with something extra to shoot for.




As a purely-for-fun undertaking, there's one cardinal requirement aside from posting halimaw-like times - I need to have at least met you once in person, and a little sensible conversation never hurt :) Why? Well how will I get your time then with a certain measure of credibility if you're an, er, complete stranger? It's also in the spirit of fostering this fun community we have. I can't be posting sub-40 times from anonymous entries sent online, in the vernacular baka alamat lang ung PR diba :) If we've met, and your times qualify but you're not on the list leave a comment so I can update it, am not very good with numbers. I know several more who qualify, I just have no way to contact them. By the way, a ladies list is in the works as well so wait up for that as well.


P.S. - Ranking will not include elite runners, running legends or fun people :P Sorry Zorro.


5k Monsters :

1. Jon "under160" Trimble - 17:09
2. Graciano "Totoy" Santos - 17:20
3. Mari Javier - 18:xx
4. Edward "Conquer Corregidor" Kho - 19:xx
5. Chris Iblan - 20:00
6. Wilnar Iglesia - 20:36
7. Patrick Alcomendas - 20:58
8. Jixee Lagunda - 21:02
9. Mark "Mark's Vo2" Parco - 21:08
10. Junrox "Tigerboy" Roque - 21:42
11.Dennis "RunningPinoy" Ravanzo - 22:22
12.Natz "i2runner" Garcia - 22:30
13.Alfred "El Kyoshi" De los Reyes - 22:18
14. Jonel "Bugobugo"Mendoza - 22:xx
15.Mark "Running My Mouth" Hernandez - 23:04
16. Brando "Ace" Losaria - 23:33


10k Monsters

1. Jon "under1630" Trimble - 35:51
2. Graciano "Totoy" Santos - 38:14
3. Mari Javier - 38:xx
4. Wilnar Iglesia -42:04
5. Chris Iblan - 42:30
6. Alfred "El Kyoshi" De los Reyes - 42:47
7. Vener "Run Unlimited" Roldan - 42:xx
8. Edward "Conquer Corregidor" Kho - 43:16
9. Jonel "Bugobugo" Mendoza - 43:xx
10. Raymund "Reel Running" Bontol - 44:21
11. Jairuz Agang-ang - 44:25
12.Mark "Mark's Vo2" Parco - 44:43
13.Patrick Alcomendas - 46:53
14. Junrox "Tigerboy" Roque - 46:58
15. Natz "i2runner" Garcia - 47:33
16. Brando "Ace" Losaria - 47:34
17. Piolo "Idol" Pascual - 47:54
18. Dennis "RunningPinoy" Ravanzo - 48:38
19. Jixee Lagunda - 48:51
20. Mark "RunningmyMouth" Hernandez - 49:15
21. Elmer "Life Runner" Ching - 49:43
21. Mccoy Lontoc - 50:xx
22. Raymond de Pana - 50:xx
23. Jinoe "Manokan Runner" Gavan - 52:xx
24. Sam "The Running Ninja" Delena- 53:34
25. Rodel "Argonaut" Cuaton - 53:40
26. Bong "BZ" Zandueta - 54:30


21k Monsters

1. Graciano "Totoy" Santos - 1:21:32
2. Jon "under1630" Trimble - 1:23:41
3. Chris Iblan - 1:27:35
4. Mari Javier - 1:29:xx
5. Gian "Cartgian" Saquilon - 1:31:10
6. Edward "Conquer Corregidor" Kho - 1:32:49
7. Alfred "El Kyoshi" De Los Reyes - 1:39:25
8. Jerry "High Altitude" Karundeing - 1:39:29
9. Mark "Mark's Vo2" Parco - 1:39:38
10. Junrox "Tigerboy" Roque - 1:39:40
11. Jonel "Bugobugo" Mendoza - 1:40:xx
12. Wilnar Iglesia - 1:43:xx
13.Patrick Alcomendas - 1:44:xx
14. Natz "i2runner" Garcia - 1:45:04
15. Raymund "Reel Running" Bontol - 1:50:00
16. Jixee Lagunda - 1:50:23
17. Eric De Belen - 1:55 :xx
18. Bryan "Planet Trumania" Rivera - 1:56:35
19. Sam "The Running Ninja" Delena - 1:56:xx
20. Mark "Running my Mouth" Hernandez - 1:57:31
21. Dennis "Running Pinoy" Ravanzo - 1:58:40
22. Edu "Doods" Fabian - 1:59:xx


42k Monsters

1. Jon "under1630" Trimble - 3:09:39
2. Graciano "Totoy" Santos - 3:19:25
3. Mari Javier - 3:27:xx
4. Edward "Conquer Corregidor" Kho - 3:27:xx
5. Vener "Run Unlimited" Roldan - 3:36:41
6. Wilnar Iglesia - 3:38:16
7. Chris Iblan - 3:39:43
8. Junrox "Tigerboy" Roque - 3:45:06
9. Alfred "El Kyoshi" De los Reyes - 3:49:10
10. Jonel "Bugobugo" Mendoza - 3:53:xx
11. Gian "Cartigian" Saquilon - 3:53:13
12. Natz "i2runner" Garcia : 3:56:53
13. Mark "Mark's Vo2" Parco - 4:07: xx
14. Bryan "Planet Trumania" RIvera - 4:12:xx
15. Dennis "Running Pinoy" Ravanzo - 4:25:59
16. Patrick Alcomendas - 4:32:xx
17. Frederick "Gab" Gabriel - 4:44:xx
18. Dennis "RunningFatboy" Quepe - 4:52:xx
19. Raymund "Reel Running" Bontol - 4:55:57
20. Edu "Doods" Fabian - 4:58:xx
21. Rodel "Argonaut" Cuaton - 4:58:xx

As some of you may have read in Sir Rene aka the Jazzrunner's blog,during the presser for the Green Miles Run to be held at MOA this March 21st our favorite foil/celebrity speedster Piolo P. issued a 15k challenge to all his pseudo running critics out there - the most notable being um, your fun Gingerbread scribe. Apparently, 10k's are starting to bore to him, and he wanted to take it to the next level - a 15k! Oh boy! Here's the official Gingerbread response to that :


Dear Piolo,


How are you? How's it going? Before I begin, congratulations on a fine turn as both William and Phillip in "Manila". Although the premise of the country's most mainstream actor doing an indie film seemed absurd to me at the onset, the Brocka references and its "amplification through simplification" take on the stories really did the job for me. Congrats, any international awards are well deserved.





While the general betting public has more or less made me the underdog, I just realized that you had set a lofty 1:10 goal for this race. Coach Rio must have concocted a crazy regimen for you, because that sure is one heck of a crazy target. At 47:54, your net pace for your 10k was 4:47 min/km. A 1:10 15k would entail a 4:40 pace, which means that not only do you have to run a 46:40 10k, you need to somehow hold this pace with no dropoff for five more kilometers.




There is no doubt in my mind that you can do this though, given your propensity to shock us. My best 15k is a 1:15:17, and there is no way I'm running anything faster than that anytime soon. Anyway, in as much as I would like to give the public what they want, I have a list of demands to somehow even out the playing field.


1. Fresh Legs?


After running the Condura 42k this February 7th, I'll be going out on a limb and will be attempting to conquer the Bataan Death March 102k Ultramarathon his March 6th. To be honest, I don't even know how long it would take me to walk straight after that, much less run on pace. Most runners take months to regain their normal speed after an ultra. BDM 102 takes a maximum of 18 hours to complete. So for the sake of parity, I demand that you complete a straight 18-hour shoot on the set of your next movie, possibly the one in the works with Sarah Geronimo, immediately before the race. Movie passes for the premiere never hurt too, I always wanted to be one of those screaming in front of the camera.


2. Should you lose "The Challenge"...


First, you will agree to an exclusive interview with Front Runner Magazine,the first full-sized running magazine in the metropolis today done by runners for runners. Grab a copy now at a PowerBooks near you before they run out!

Second, you will agree to a live, in-studio interview on Run Radio, which airs every Friday 9-10 pm at NU107. It is without a doubt the most amazing radio show on running here in the Philippines... and you have to listen in :)

Soon!



3. I need a celebrity coach


Let's face it. Coach Rio is one of the best in the business, and he probably has you do all these fancy drills and exercises along with quirky motivational sorties while adoring females snapping away at every opportunity. As for myself, I have no fancy coaching. A buddy concocted a masochistic program for me though, which I use while getting heckled ( Nagmamadali ka Phogi? Ayos ah Jagging na Jagging, tagay muna baka madapa ka!) traversing the "depressed" side of Gold Loop Ortigas. So I demand that your camp hook me up with a fancy celebrity coach. Or at least prod Coach Rio to give me a discount (@,@).



4. Olympic Style Drug Testing


Not that in any way I am accusing you of using performance-enhancing drugs, but in the spirit of transparency to the general public, I believe they have a right to know that we are running on the merits of our own blood, sweat, and tears. We will be subjected to unlimited, random urine and blood tests up to 14 days before the start of the race by a licensed PATAFA official. This is crucial, if only to erase any doubts the pundits may have. It's only a teaspoon of blood, and I reckon you don't have any "superstitions" like what that, what's his name oh Pacquiao dude has.
If you fail to agree to this, I will be prevailed upon to come up with a press statement much akin to this, and this more or less torpedoes the race :


I understand Piolo not liking having his blood taken because, frankly, I don't know anyone who really does. But in a race of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same. It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing on the road that day.





So with all of these things in consideration, I am awaiting your official response not more than 10 days after the publication of this article, and I am hopeful that you will agree to all of the aforementioned conditions. Be ready to bring it on March 21st!


Your Loyal Fan,

GBM

Hey everyone, how's it going? Been gone for awhile after that indomitable foe who goes by the name of "work" knocked me out for a couple of weeks. In an effort to curb the holiday malaise known as You-gained-ten-pounds-over-the-holidays-you-fat-pig, I subjected myself to 70 km workweeks, including the fun Baldie 32k which served as my year-ender.

As for meeting the new decade with a bang, my first race of the new season was the immensely enjoyable Cebu City Marathon, which was held in er,um, Cebu! Some have said that the wonderfully organized race is the new standard for road races, and I am hard-pressed to say otherwise. But if you're planning to travel more than 500k just to race, then you're missing the entire point. As good as the race is, it's the entire experience that would make it worth your while.

So without further ado, here are the top 5 things I enjoyed the most about my Cebu City Marathon weekend :P



4. Meeting the celebrities

Being a tourist here, it was fun to see how vibrant the local running scene was. It was even more fun to meet some of the personalities who fan the flame over there, specially those who I've met through the general blogosphere. For one, it was a real treat to meet Haide Acuna, the comely lawyer/broadcaster/marathoner behind the popular Marathon Foodie blog.


In related news,while hanging around at the finish line waiting for Takbo.ph head honcho Jinoe to complete his maiden marathon.....



There was a lady who created quite a stir by crossing the finish line in a Wonder Woman suit while holding a Sto.Nino statuette....



And faster than one could say "Marian Rivera", I was informed that the lady's name was Twinkle Ignacio, a local personality who continues to rivet weekend race crowds with outlandish costumes that she makes herself. None too shabby in throwing down a 6:06 full marathon as well! She promptly sobbed at the finish line while receiving a bouquet of flowers. Now that's something you don't see everyday.



We also got to meet 72-year old "Mang" Reming Ylaya, a true-blue Cebu running legend who routinely beats runners who are as old as his grandchildren. Got to chat with him a bit, real nice guy. Was no surprise that he topped his age group during the race, if my memory serves me right he ran a 25 minute 5k. Woaaah!



Of course, hanging with our Manila-based celebrities outside of their natural habitat was a fun treat as well.....




We got the most awesome deal of all time. For P1,000 we got these two rides, a 4D movie like what they have in Enchanted Kingdom and a buffet dinner! You absolutely have to try it :)

2. The Girls!

You how they say that there are so many pretty girls in Cebu? Well they weren't kidding! It seems like every corner you look there's a "distraction" somewhere. Lots of times, you feel like you're in the SMB "Binibini" commercial. And the hot-blooded takbo.ph boys sure didn't let it pass....


So while Jet was trying to score some points with the ladies with his smooth bass playing .....


Carlo and Joseph could barely make up their minds ....