Car prize for run finisher

Over 10,000 runners are expected to sign up for the five, 10 and 25 kilometer distances that comprise the Chevrolet-New Balance Power Run 2011 at the Bonifacio Global City on Nov. 6 with a lucky finisher taking home a brand-new Chevrolet Cruze, the 2010-11 Car of the Year chosen by the Car Awards Group.

Running guru Rio de la Cruz is behind the event and that’s a guarantee it will be a huge success. Nobody organizes a running event as efficiently and orderly as RunRio which boasts a directory of over 1.5 million enthusiasts. Planet Sports president Anton Gonzalez is pulling out all the stops to make sure the affair isn’t just enjoyable but also memorable. 

Planet Sports, the New Balance distributor in the Philippines, started its annual marathon in 2002 with De la Cruz a 20-year-old upstart. Three years later, Gonzalez sent De la Cruz to compete in the 21-kilometer race as the lone Filipino entry in Queenstown, New Zealand, and it opened the doors for the Camarines Sur native to an iconic athletic career. Today, De la Cruz is known as the country’s foremost exponent of running.

Through the years, Planet Sports has brought its flagship event to various locations, including Clark Air Field in Angeles City. This year, the Power Run returns to the Global City with the unique attraction of a car raffle. The combination of New Balance and Chevrolet is a can’t miss proposition and only Planet Sports could get it done.

“Chevrolet is proud to be a partner of the Chevrolet-New Balance Power Run 2011,” said Chevrolet Philippines managing director and chief operating officer Atty. Albert Arcilla. “The running sport in the Philippines resonates to the active and modern Filipino, recreational runners and elite competitors alike. The event will enable us to highlight the unique brand attributes of Chevrolet while we promote good health and a lot of good fun through running.”

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For over 10,000 runners, the opportunity to participate in the annual Power Run and in a RunRio event is enough motivation to sign up. But the added attraction of winning a car is a bonus that has to be a clincher. Anyone who registers and finishes the Power Run is eligible for the raffle to win a brand-new Chevy Cruze, the Car Awards Group awardee for Car of the Year. The Group, by the way, is a non-profit organization consisting of over 50 motoring experts and journalists from various automotive outfits.

In celebration of its 100 years of automotive heritage, Chevrolet will also give out special prizes to the 100th finisher of the Power Run.

Registration for the five kilometre race comes with a fee of P850, the 10 kilometer race P950 and the 25 kilometer race P1,150. Participants will receive a race kit composed of a New Balance technical shirt, race bib and timing chip. The 25 kilometer runners will be given a souvenir medallion. On-line registration began last Aug. 24 and in-store registration starts tomorrow. The deadline for registration is Oct. 16.

In a press information kit, the Chevy Cruze was described as a sedan that raises the bar for design appeal, built quality and running refinement in Europe’s compact value segment. A multi-national design team based in Korea with inputs from experts in Germany, the US and Australia created the compact, notchback sedan touted to energize the Chevrolet brand. 

“The event aims to showcase Chevrolet and New Balance’s leadership and heritage in their respective fields and demonstrate each brand’s product superiority and innovation while it challenges customers to achieve new levels of performance,” the press kit noted. “Chevrolet in the Philippines has become more and more endeared to the modern Filipino through value-laden product offerings and aftersales services. However, apart from great cars and worry-free aftersales service, Chevrolet Philippines – the Covenant Car Company, Inc. also supports the important values of healthy living which paved the way for its partnership with leading athletic brand New Balance to create an event that will inspire people to take on the challenge of running.”

In-store registration is from 12 noon to 8 p.m. from tomorrow to Oct. 16. Stores to go to are New Balance on the fifth floor of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Planet Sports on the second floor of the Power Plant Mall and second floor of the Trinoma Mall, The Athlete’s Foot on the third floor of Robinson’s Galleria EDSA, second floor of Robinson’s Place Manila and second floor of Twin Cinema Arcade, Alabang Town Center and ROX at Bonifacio High Street.

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Gonzalez said in line with New Balance’s motto of “Let’s Make Excellent Happen,” Planet Sports is introducing a collection of barefoot-inspired footwear called NB Minimus. It’s a lightweight, versatile, minimalist footwear designed to provide a “better than barefoot” experience. The collection covers road running, trail running and wellness styles. The price range for the three shoes is P4,495 to P4,995. 

“Key to the NB Minimus collection is a new anatomically correct last designed with significantly less drop from heel to forefoot,” explained Gonzalez. “This gradual drop positions the foot into a more neutral stance and promotes a more natural stride by moving the wearer off their heel and encouraging a mid-foot landing. Each shoe uses stretch materials and minimal constructions that reduce weight with each style in men’s size 9.5 weighing less than 8.5 ounces.”

Another New Balance shoe that Planet Sports is breaking out is the 890 which retails for P5,195. It’s a lightweight trainer shoe designed for everyday use and suited to the needs of both the technical and novice runner. 

“What’s happened is that neutral shoes, meaning a shoe without any kind of built-in stability device, are growing in popularity because running specialty stores and people in general, are fitting runners a lot better,” said Gonzalez. “This comes as the industry has begun to concentrate on a shoe’s entire geometry, not just a component that creates stability.”

Gonzalez said the coming Power Run is the perfect event to cap every runner’s year with that extra push to finish for a chance to win a brand-new car, regardless of what distance you cover. 

Assembly time for the runners is 4 a.m. on Nov. 6. You can’t pass up this chance of a lifetime to enjoy a run, finish and get a chance to win a car. Planet Sports is making it happen with RunRio, Chevrolet and New Balance backed up by hydration partner 100 Plus, Summit Mineral Water, The Athlete’s Foot, Pioneer Insurance, California Pizza Kitchen, Devant, Multisport and The Philippine Star.

For details, call Planet Sports Rockwell at 703-1736 or email [email protected] and/or [email protected].