Fun Run: Apocalypse Run 2014
Apocalypse Run 2014
5K All-in-one Run
Circuit, Makati | February 8, 2014
The ad was so inviting since it claims to be an "all-in-one run", including:
(1) Water Splash Run
(2) Color Run
(3) Obstacle Run
(4) Zombie Run
It also includes a singlet, race bib, a loot bag "FILLED" with freebies and goodies from sponsors, and admittance to the "Power Party" with one free drink.
Who wouldn't be enticed to buy and experience all of these for only 550.00?
And so, we bought vouchers and anticipated for the event.
We claimed our race kits at Phoenix Gas Station in Guadalupe. It was such a hassle because of the heat, and their booth was just placed outside the convenience store.
We presented our vouchers and waited for it to be validated. Another hassle - their list of registered runners was not in alphabetical order. The one who assisted me had to run through her list twice before finding my name!
After numerous flips of the unorganized list, we proceeded to claim our race kit/loot bag "FILLED" with freebies.
Turns out that loot bag was ONE brown paper bag, filled with our "bare" singlet and race bib, a small unknown energy drink and a cup noodle.
They literally packed one small paper bag with all of our stuff, 4 runners for one bag. Talk about cost cutting! It wasn't even presentable to begin with. The singlets didn't have any plastic, they just folded it stuffed in the bag.
We just hoped that the race was organized enough to be enjoyable.
And the day of the race came.
At the "entrance" we saw a booth full of people claiming their race kits. We found out that not everyone had their kit 'cause the organizers ran out of stock!
We went on walking to find the "baggage counter". It was just a tent, with no partition. So our bags were on top of each other, placed with the number same as our bib.
I wondered how will I claim my bag after the race since I know for a fact that it'll be hard to find 'cause it was unorganized, and there was no light source. The race was at 5pm, and for sure, it'll be dark when I finish the race.
6pm, the race started, there was no gun shot, they just counted down on the microphone.
First "theme", the water splash run. I was expecting to be wet throughout the run. I was even worried 'cause I brought my phone with me with no waterproof case. While running, we saw a firetruck, that was the water source. I wasn't even soaking wet after passing by the truck. I was expecting another water splash, but there was none.
Then the road was blocked and the only way to pass through is by crawling. That was the second "theme", the color run. They sprinkled colored dust on the floor, so that your hands would be stained. Mine was clean 'cause I didn't crawl. I was expecting to be thrown by bags with colors throughout the race. But that was their take on the "color run" - small amount of colors sprinkled on concrete.
The road was blocked again with garters. This was their "obstacle run". What I had in mind for this theme were hurdles, tires, walls, and those you see on "military camps". Oh well, effort on making those gartered road block.
Last theme, and I said to myself, "Kahit ito lang, sana naman worth it na" - the "zombie run". I gave the run a chance to redeem itself, but still, I was disappointed. "Zombies" were not that "aggressive" in chasing the runners. This was supposed to be an apocalypse run, to run for your life because zombies are chasing you and wanna eat your brains out!
The zombie zone became a photo op zone. Zombies were posing with the runners, while other runners were just walking pass by them, not even running!
Since we weren't among the ones who were running, we took photos with the zombies instead.
Captured the view while WALKING back to the finish line.
After our "5k" run, (it didn't even felt like 5k), we hurriedly went to the baggage counter to claim our things since we know it'll be hard to find them.
Then we went on and claimed our free drink. We stayed for a while and listened to the bands playing.
Overall, the event was a total disappointment. Good thing I was with my cousins, which made it bearable.