The Runners’ Runner Story

Runners’ Runner Origin Story

An Origin Story is a narrative explaining the roots of a service. It helps the reader understand where the service is coming from, how the service entered into this kind of niche. The Origin story gives a sense of history.

This is the Origin Story of Runners’ Runner.

Start: Search for Business Opportunities

I remember distinctly one evening in February 2010. I was out on a date with a very good friend and business partner, Loreen. We had finished reviewing a couple of entrepreneur magazines, books, audio books and podcasts and were comparing notes on what kind of business we could put up.

In one of the audio books that I listened to, the business coach espoused that entrepreneurs choose to serve a market that they themselves are already part of. This shortens the start-up time of getting to know the market because the entrepreneur already knows a lot about market he is part of.

Here I was with my friend at a café in Rockwell, putting together a list of markets that we were part of. The list included: mall-goers, movie-goers, we like eating out, personal development, blogger, foodstall owner, plays Café World, plays badminton (or at least wants to), walking, running …

Hmmmm… running. There’s something there.

Now, the question was: what does the runner’s market need? Flashback a few scenarios I had experienced first hand.

The inconvenient truth: registering for a run

Case 1: How to run a marathon against all odds

In October 2007, I set a personal goal to finish a full-marathon by January 6, 2008. I searched for a full-marathon in the Philippines. But the only one that was upcoming was the Milo Marathon and it was after the January 6 deadline that I set for myself. What’s the next earlier marathon I had access to? Lo and behold, it was the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon on Dec 2, 2007. Could I do it? Was I crazy enough to train for 2 months, fly to Singapore and run a full marathon?

Indeed, I was crazy enough. I logged-on to Singapore Marathon website to register. But didn’t complete my transaction the first time around. A few days later when I was ready to complete the online transaction, I was petrified to find out that registration was CLOSED! Hu-wat?!!! It was just a few days ago when it was available and now it’s closed?

I searched the web for any runners who were giving up their race aspirations. I tried everything, including posting on local running community Happy Feet but I could to get a race kit.

Well, that wasn’t going to stop me from reaching my goal of running my full marathon. I booked my flights to Singapore and I trained religiously. I ran in our company’s compound, I ran in our subdivision, I ran at UP for my long runs. One time it rained, I trained indoors going up and down the stairs of the Development Academy of the Philippines building in Ortigas. I was so determined to finish that marathon. Even a knee injury couldn’t stop me from running. I consulted a doctor, he gave me some meds and told me to rest a bit. And when I was back running! Nothing’s going to stop me!

And I was at the Singapore Marathon on race day, Dec 2, 2007. I had my cheering team with me: Loreen, Jorey (my bestfriend) and Noee.

It was such an exciting feeling being there at the starting line with a sea of blue white and green singlets. There were marshalls guarding the starting line, preventing “bandits” (un-registered runners, “colorum” runners) from entering the cordoned area of the starting line.

God forgive me, but I was a bandit for this one race. I wanted to finish this marathon so badly. There were a few Singaporean bandits who passed by the marshalls without being stopped. I heaved a deep breath, found someone to follow closely, ran behind him and penetrated the cordon of marshalls.

And boy, it was pure bliss!!!! From the moment I stepped in, I was rejoicing in my triumph! Just being there running and against all odds – that was a huge win for me in itself. I continued running, appreciating every step I took, observing and enjoying the local scenery, acknowledging other runners in our journey. I enjoyed every moment of it!

My first 21 kms were great. I was running at a pace that could put me at a finish time of 5.5 hrs. But halfway through, close to the U-turn, I had agreed via cellphone to meetup with my cheering team. I was there early and they were nowhere in sight.

I took a pee at the portalet. I must have stopped running for around 1 minute. And when I attempted to restart, I just couldn’t pick up my previous pace. My legs had locked as if there were clamps on my knees. I couldn’t bend my knees like I had in the first half of the marathon. I tried so many times, trying to stretch or bend away the pain, but I just couldn’t restart. It was frustrating, but it was a lesson learned.

My last 21 kms were grueling. They were painful. With each step I took, it felt like my knees would give-way with the pain. But I persisted. I refused to walk. I had a stride that was close to a trot, not quite a full run, but not a walk either. What was funny was that some of the taller runners were walking faster than I was trotting! Hahaha!

I persisted and persisted. My second half or the run took me almost 4 hours to complete (1^st half around 2hrs 45 mins). And slowly but surely, I was reeling in the finish line. It was noontime, the heat of the sun was draining everybody’s energy. But I focused on my goal and I enjoyed my run. I would thank the marshalls at the water stations, I would wave at the local school brass bands who were playing cheerful music along the route, I would cheer on other runners. I was just enjoying myself despite the pain.

And finally I reached the stadium. There were more marshalls up there and I just had to reroute myself away from the stadium to complete my last 500 meters. And then I fell on the ground and rejoiced together with my cheering team. I even got a chance to have a photo with spiderman – he’s an 80 year old local, less than 5 ft in height, and he always runs marathons in Singapore and Malaysia an d nearby events. Inspiring.

All in all, the whole process of preparing for the run was not smooth sailing at all. But the bliss of of finishing my first marathon was pure awesome! At last, Triumph!!!!!

Two other cases of inconvenient race registration

Condura Run for the dolphins. I wanted to register for a run at Bonifacio High Street. Wanting to make the most out of the weekend, I slipped in a trip to BHS on a Sunday morning before my other appointments of the day. I parked the car, walk to the nearby RUNNR store, only to find out that the shop opens much later in the day. I didn’t have time to wait for the opening of the shop, so I left BHS without getting the registration that I wanted. Cost: parking P40, time wasted: priceless!

When I went back to BHS a few days later, I made sure it was in the afternoon. Loreen was with me, so I double-parked behind RUNNR and just stormed the shop quickly – I didn’t want to waste another P40 on parking.

When I reached the registration booth, I clapped my fingers and flashed a smile in delight of finding the registration booth open. One girl told me with a morbid look: “Sorry sir, ubos na ang singlets.” My smiling face turned sour in a split-second. Then she told me: “Joke lang, sir!” Hahahaha! Buti nalang masarap ang gising ko. Imagine my disappointment if she wasn’t joking. It was indeed something that happens to many runners – getting run-out of singlets (no pun intended).

In another race, I had successfully registered, but the distribution of the race kits was on a Thursday to Saturday, in time for the Sunday run. But the thing was, I was in a conference in Cebu from Wednesday until Saturday. Distribution of the singlets was until 7pm and my flight was arriving at 7pm. I wouldn’t make it back on time to get my singlet.

My recourse was to ask an officemate friend to please get my racekit for me.

On Sunday morning, we were texting each other because I had to meetup with him before the race just to get my race kit. He passed off the kit to me and excused himself quickly to prepare for the run: “Dito muna ako, ha. May mga seremonyas pa ako, eh”. Diyahe naman ako, it was such a hassle for me to have to ask that kind of favor from my officemate.

Runners’ Runner is born

Thus was born the idea to help runners with the logistics of registering for a run. Loreen thought of the name: “Runners’ Runner”. It meant that we would be the “go to guy” for runners who need registration logistics support.

Runners’ Runner provides online registration and payment for a wide selection of upcoming runs. We deliver race kits to the runner’s doorstep. Now that’s convenience! We even give the runners a Runners’ Runner lootbag (fondly called an “ampouch” – ampaw pouch from RR) gift certificates, product samples, flyers or other information that is useful for our runners.

We started out with a simple run, The DFIT fun run of Dusit Hotel in February 2010, just 2 weeks after we conceptualized the business. We put together a website overnight and started to invite friends to avail of our service with the promise of a L’Occitale gift pack. That first gig, and all other runs that followed, helped us understand our business and what the market needs from us.

We’ve invested a whole lot in our e-commerce site that is fully-integrated with PayPal. We will be integrating more payment options as well for the convenience of our thousands of users. The website aims to make all transactions as easy as 1-2-3.

Runners’ Runner photos

I happen to be a photographer as well. I enjoy taking portraits of people, capturing their moments of happiness, excitement, determination and triumph. I’ve hence been capturing what I call “Victory Photos” for any runner who wants their picture taken after a run.

When Runners’ Runner takes victory photos, it is an awesome way to interact with my market in the flesh. It gives me a chance to listen to their needs, their success stories. I love it when people are delighted to find their photos online. Runners are happy people and I’m more than happy to capture the moment through photos.

Runners’ Runner today

Since our simple beginnings in February 2010, Runners’ Runner has made its presence felt in many races through online registration & payment, through race kit delivery, through victory photos and through our Runners’ Runner booth with FREE online Runners’ Runner registration, FREE massages (c/o Shui Hilot and Healing Spa) and FREE Positivity Stickers (c/o spread the positivity).

Our team is composed of Edwin (biz development, mascot), Ivy (operations, siga), Cindie (sales and marketing, in-house supplier) and many friends of Runners’ Runner who help out with booth operations and online work.

We have been helping out with the following runs:

• DFit Run – Dusit Hotel
• Takbo Para sa PGH
• St. Lukes’ Run
• K for K: Run a Kilometer for Kerygma
• Run Run for Children’s Fun – PTAA
• Ace Hardware & Davies Paint Eco-friendly Run
• 34^th Milo Marathon (Manila Elims)
• OCAI Run
• One Run, One Family, One La Salle (OROFOLS) – La Salle
• PBA Run for a Cause
• UP Law Dean’s Cup
• The Rexona Run 2010
• Run to Read
• Miles for Smiles: Run for Cleft Care

Where to, Runners’ Runner?

Everywhere! Runners’ Runner will be extending its services to key cities in the Philippines. Watch out for Runners’ Runner in your city in an upcoming run.

Runners’ Runner is the one and only race registration website catering to a wide set of races.

We aim to provide as many valuable services for runners and race organizers including:

• One-stop race registration for the big runs in key cities around the Philippines and beyond
• Runner on-site support through members’ baggage counter
• Runners’ Runner membership cards providing discounts and freebies from Runners’ Runner and affiliated partners and sponsors.
• Advertising opportunities via our Runners’ Runner loot bag, dubbed “Runners’ Rewards”, website ads, photowall, banners and streamers at races.
• Affiliate content and advertising with partner bloggers.
• Running content through instructional videos, articles, product reviews, race reviews.
• A forum where coaches and newbie runners can discuss many important concerns in running.
• Building a positive community of runners who share the passion of running.
• Support for race organizers such as: race organizing, supplier support, 100% online registration and more.
• And many more upcoming services! ….

Runners’ Runner is here for you, our runners and race organizers. Tell us what you need and we’ll support you in whatever way we can.

Send us an email for any race related inquiries: bhoy@runnersrunner.com . For partnerships, drop us a note at partnerships@runnersrunner.com .

Follow Runners’ Runner at www.RunnersRunner.com and www.facebook.com/RunnersRunner , www.facebook.com/BhoyRunnersRunner www.twitter.com/RunnersRunner .