Amway Philippines helps you kick-off the year in a healthy way as it brings, through its vitamins and supplements brand, the Nutrilite Health Run, now on its fourth edition.
Nutrilite Health Run is a regional initiative that aims to promote the company’s optimal health philosophy and advocate healthy living among Amway Business Owners (ABOs) and non-ABOs.
“Amway advocates a holistic healthy, active lifestyle. We are hosting this annual event to encourage more people to put a premium on their personal wellness. We want more people to eat right, take in the right supplements, and be active,” remarks Amway Philippines country manager Leni Olmedo.
This year, the run is happening in three key cities in the country: the first one is scheduled on January 24 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City, in Cagayan de Oro on February 14, and in Davao on February 21.
The fourth edition of Nutrilite Health Run marks the return of the 1k distance category, which was not included in last year’s run.
“This year we are bringing back 1k, where we first started,” shares Olmedo. Amway’s annual running event started in 2012, and it was previously called “1k with Amway.”
She furthers, “This [decision to bring back the 1k category] is to encourage more people who may not have the running experience to join.”
Completing the three distance categories are the 5k and 10k runs.
According to officials, the diversity of this year’s running categories is expected to attract about 20,000 runners in the three venues – 10,000 of which are seen to come from the Manila leg – and therefore could exceed last year’s participants record.
To provide the participants the complete fun run experience, Amway Philippines taps Chris Everingham of the Philippine Volcanoes, the country’s official rugby team, to lead the pre-run warm-up session.
Before the first leg at the SM MOA grounds, Everingham shares his tried and tested tips on how to prepare for and survive the Nutrilite Health Run or any other running event.
Get enough sleep the night before
Since most runs start early in the morning – for instance, Nutrilite Health Run’s 10k category’s gun time is at 5:30 a.m.; 5k is at 5:45 a.m.; and 1k at 6:00 a.m. – Everingham stresses the importance of clocking in at least six hours of shut eye.
For those who struggle with sleeping at night, the rugby player advises against drinking coffee after 12 p.m. He adds, “Follow your body’s natural rhythm, turn off the lights and keep your mobile devices away from bed so you can sleep early and get up early for the run.”
Eat two hours before you run
Don’t skip meals. Everingham recommends eating bananas, oatmeal, rice, or bread for breakfast, and avoid meat. It’s also important to give your body at least 90 minutes or one and a half hour to digest the food, hence he suggests eating two hours before your gun time.
Drink water with sea salt
As with other physical activities, it’s important to stay hydrated. Everingham suggests drinking water before you run. Up the ante by adding a pinch of sea salt to the water to avoid muscle cramps, as the sodium is said to regulate the body’s fluid balance and supports muscle function.
Stretch for at least 10 minutes
Before running, make sure to do warm-up exercises and stretch for at least 10 to 15 minutes to loosen tight muscles and avoid cramps.
For those interested to join, the registration is still open until February 21. The P350 fee comes with one Nutrilite Health Run shirt, race bib and car sticker. Proceeds of the run will go to the Amway One By One Campaign for Children, which builds libraries in public schools across the country.