On March 20, 2024, I attended the grand opening of Obstacle Central at Unit Anchor-03, The Portal, Greenfield District, Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1552, Philippines.
OBSTACLE CENTRAL is a new destination for Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training in Greenfield District, a strategic location with an eco-friendly environment landscape and innovative recreational facilities for ease of doing your daily activities for a healthy lifestyle in the community.
Obstacle Central is a playground or recreational place where an individual or group of persons, families, organizations and companies from different communities in the city or nearby cities are able to do an activity related to team building or may join the Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training for personal growth in mind, physical body and spirit as part of art, fashion, sport and healthy lifestyle in the society.
Dr. Marc Laurenze C. Celis, Managing Partner/General Manager of Spartan Race Philippines and Obstacle Course Camp, Inc. has launched the Grand Opening of Obstacle Central through Ribbon Cutting and Facility Blessing together with its management and guests from different companies and organizations in the community.
Obstacle Central is your newest playground, offering group classes, strength and conditioning facilities, as well as obstacle training. Located North of Metro Manila, it is near Maginhawa St. and is a 4-min drive from UP Diliman. Obstacle Central is the perfect place to train for your next obstacle course race or to achieve your fitness goals.
As part of the event, Coach Seannah shared an interesting topic about strength, training, endurance and speed dubbed as “Run Faster and Longer” to the attendees and participants in the Obstacle Central.
Another necessary activity during the event was the Obstacle Class by Coach Ken & Jaypee who shared the Obstacles (8Ft Wall, Multi-Rigs, Olympus Wall, Monkey Bar, Rope Climb & Atlas Carry) and Osbtacle Simulation.
With its strategic location, the participants and guests will be able to reach the Obstacle Central with ease and convenience to participate the Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training this day & beyond.
Who else was excited of the Grand Opening of OBSTACLE CENTRAL in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City?
Are you ready to visit the new destination for Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training in Greenfield District with an eco-friendly environment landscape, innovative recreational facilities and a convenient place for an ease of doing your daily activities as part of art of modern healthy lifestyle in the community this day & beyond?
The management, guests, and other persons involved was delighted of the OBSTACLE CENTRAL Grand Opening on March 20, 2024 held at Unit Anchor-03, The Portal, Greenfield District, Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City 1552, Philippines. Obstacle Central is a playground or recreational place where an individual or group of persons, families, organizations and companies from different communities in the city or nearby cities are able to do an activity related to team building or may join the Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training for personal growth in mind, physical body and spirit as part of art, fashion, sport and healthy lifestyle in the society.
Dr. Marc Laurenze C. Celis, Managing Partner/General Manager of Spartan Race Philippines and Obstacle Course Camp, Inc. launched the Grand Opening of Obstacle Central through Ribbon Cutting and Facility Blessing together with its management and guests from different companies and organizations in the community.
The event is filled with activities and programs that thrilled and captivated the guests of the Obstacle Center Grand Opening. It’s all about the art of Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training to achieve their goal of a healthy lifestyle in general.
A “Run Faster and Longer” is an interesting topic and activity about Strength Training, Endurance and Speed was shared by Coach Seannah to the participants of one of the activities in the Obstacle Central.
Another necessary activity during the event was the Obstacle Class by Coach Ken & Jaypee who shared the Obstacles (8Ft Wall, Multi-Rigs, Olympus Wall, Monkey Bar, Rope Climb & Atlas Carry) and Osbtacle Simulation.
Other activities are Pound Class with Coach Pach, Yoga Class and MetCon with Head Coach PX with Guest Coaches from Spartan SGX Kalabaw.
In general, all of the activities during the OBSTACLE CENTRAL Grand Opening are successful and necessary for the brand positioning of the Company, Obstacle Course Camp, Inc. in the community. With its strategic location, the participants and guests will be able to reach the Obstacle Central with ease and convenience to participate the Obstacle Course Race and Fitness Training this day & beyond.
Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million+ strong community. We create transformational experiences, products, and content to help people, companies and teams tear down boundaries and expand what they believe to be possible. Spartan combines large scale global events with a vibrant digital content and community platform. With 250 events across more than 40 countries on six continents, Spartan is the world’s leading wellness and endurance brand. Visit spartan.com for more information and registration.
Spartan started in the Philippines in 2017 with the inaugural Spartan Sprint in Timberland, Rizal. This 2021, Spartan Philippines partnered with Batangas Lakelands to deliver an out of the ordinary race course by building a semi-permanent structure at the facility to cater to racing in the new normal.
Aside from this we will also be launching new races for 2022 in the Philippines:
The first ever Asian-based qualifying race for La Ruta, the hardest mountain bike race in the world, traversing Costa Rica from coast to coast, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, over a grueling three-day period.
Spartan Stadion is a 5 km, 20 obstacle race through the world’s most famous pro sports stadiums. In this modern twist on an ancient Greek tradition, competitors will race through every inch of a landmark stadium in the Philippines.
DEKA™, the decathlon of functional fitness designed for all levels. This event emphasize training with a purpose, exercise gamification, and plenty of opportunities to celebrate personal fitness, combining ten functional training zones each proceeded by 500 meters of running (5k total).
The Spartan Ambassador Program
Spartan ambassadors are athletes who inspire others to get off their couches and race. Beyond that they are representative of the ideals and attitude of a Spartan, not only are they successful in sports and fitness but they also embody the Spartan spirit of community, commitment, and never giving up. Over the years Spartan Race Philippines has been fortunate to have a strong and solid roster of ambassadors and this year is no different:
Just when you thought winning the sought-after All American Athlete award was tough enough, Filipino-German Steve flies across the world to bag more gold medals across various sports. From being a track athlete, to basketball, American football, to being one of the few chosen athletes to represent the country on the National Rugby Team; he has taken professional athleticism to an all-time high. Steve continues his curiosity for athleticism by stepping into more intricate challenges like Spartan Race, where he placed 1st on his age group, and the American Ninja Warrior Philippine Qualifiers, where he came out as a finalist.
Actor, model and certified Spartan, Lharby is one of the most bankable social media influencers in the country. At first he never planned to be big on Instagram. But eventually, it became a way for him to reach his audience at a more personal level and inspire people to take care of their body and live a healthy lifestyle.
One of the movers and shakers of the Health and Fitness Industry in the Philippines, JP is an entrepreneur, certified nutritionist and acclaimed bodybuilder that have brought a lot of pride to the country.
A national athlete for Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation for both Ninja and Parkour. Kaizen is the youngest gold medalist last 2019 at SEA Games – Obstacle Sports. She recently clinched 15th at UNAA World Ninja Championship. Kaizen was also featured in Fearless Filipinas as one of the 12 Women Who Dared to be Different.
A Certified Spartan Mom haling all the way from Cebu, Brigitte is the Vice President of Topline Group of Companies. Brigitte keeps an active lifestyle with array of sports from Rock Climbing, Scuba Diving, and of course, Obstacle Course Racing.
Kitch is a dog mom, a full-time employee, a vegetarian, and devotes her free time to community coaching. She has joined 19 Spartan Races and 5 Spartan Endurance Events since 2017. Coming from a zero sports background, Kitch ran her first race with a 5-km Sprint which she proudly finished in more than three hours. One year forward, her fitness journey brought her to having multiple podium finishes, including the Southeast Asian Championship for her age group which allowed her to win 2nd place in the Asia Pacific Championship.
Before she captivated the world in her debut during the 2019 World Para Dance Sport Championships in Bonn, Germany, Lairca or Rei to her friends pushed herself by joining Spartan Race Events along with her team. Juggling not only her love for sports and being a working student, Rei has also been active in Youtube, sharing beauty, lifestyle and travel videos that promotes self-efficacy and empowerment among people with disabilities.
For Aga, being virtually impaired does not get in the way of running Spartan Events. With just a year of doing OCR, Aga has finished a Spartan Beast and has even joined Hurricane Heats. He asserts that running has become his outlet to feel alive again, proving that regardless of his condition he will be able to make his every run an adventure in life.
In 2019, Rkin joined his first Spartan Race and instantly got hooked and fell in love with the sport. His enthusiastic and charming personality aids the advocacy of Spartan Kids to inspire youngsters to get out, be active, and most of all, enjoy themselves. Rkin aims to influence his generation to achieve goals, conquer obstacles, and celebrate accomplishments – all that while having tons of fun and always having a great time.
Nicolette lives and breathes Spartan. At her young age, she joins Spartan community workouts prior to her first race in Spartan Kids Vermosa back in 2019. Even the lockdown could not stop her from doing what she likes best, she continued her training and did not miss the Virtual Spartan Kids.
SGX Coach Marc is the head coach of Spartan SGX Kalabaw, together with his team of coaches and training team they go around teaching and are available virtually to get people back to fitness.
SGX Coach Xenos is an engineer by profession and a spartan coach at heart, the first ever Pinoy SGX coach has been busy along with Team Bato making sure Philippines does not ran out of capable athletes to represent the country all over the world.
Coach Frida is a resident SGX Coach at Fitness First Philippines, Spartan’s Fitness Partner. Together with other SGX coaches, they make sure members are race ready any given day.
SGX Coach Iris is with Team Titan , she first started in the fitness community as a runner and have been one of the most trusted coach when it comes to leveling up an athlete’s training.
Spartan Pro Team
The Spartan Pro Team was made to showcase that there are serious athletes who travel to compete all over the world nearly every weekend, chasing not just fire jumps but podium finishes as well. It furthers our dream to see “OCR in the Olympics” in the coming years. In fact, with the collaboration Spartan Philippines has with Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation through its president Atty. Al Agra, the pro team will be able to represent the country both for the Spartan Trifecta World Championships in Greece and the Spartan World Championship in Abu Dhabi this year.
Gabb Rosario (Team Captain)
Athlete, father, trainer, and a leader. Gabb is one of the best in the field of pushing his limits to the test especially when diving into a new sport like OCR. Gabb has competed in all Spartan Races in the Philippines and competed on a global scale aiming to continue his feat representing the Philippines this December in Abu Dhabi for the 2021 Spartan World Championship. Currently, he is part of the 2021 POSF National Developmental pool for OCR Long distances.
Jeff Reginio
Training never stops. A full time employee gives so little time for training to the extreme but Jeff defies the odds and proves otherwise. Jeff consistently strikes down the course with speed and finesse giving us a reason why he is a top class athlete. He is currently part of the 2021 POSF National team for OCR Short distances and bagged the 2019 SEA games gold medalist for the OCR Team Relay category.
Loud and proud from Cebu, Sherwin Managil is a professional Triathlete and coach that has trifled the OCR community ever since he made his winning debut race in Cebu last 2019. He has since then become part of the 2021 POSF National team for OCR Short distances and a 2019 SEA games silver medalist for the 5KM OCR category.
A serviceman for the country and athlete, Mervin is a powerhouse on the field and always pushing his limits to the test. He is former Philippine Athletics athlete from 2011-2015 before he made his debut into OCR He is currently part of the 2021POSF National team for OCR Short distances and bagged the 2019 SEA games gold medalist for the 5KM OCR category.
With OCR as his first sport ever, Beef embodies the transformation of going from OPEN races to AGE group to ELITE finishes harnessing a mentality to keep pushing a better performance than his last. The passion for the sport & brand did not stop him there as he joins Spartan Race Philippines blazing on and off the course continuing to make Spartan the leading Obstacle Course Race brand in the Philippines. Currently he is part of the 2021 POSF National Developmental pool for OCR Short distances.
Consistency and persistence are key, and no other words can describe how Diana puts it on the course. Diana has completed numerous Spartan Races globally making her a fierce competitor especially when you know she’s on a roll cause you know she’s a fighter and won’t back down that easily. She bagged the 2019 SEA games gold medalist for the OCR Team relay OCR category.
The sky is the limit for this athlete. Known to be the top ultramarathoner and trail runner in the country, Sandi has been hitting the Spartan Race sport with ease. She is currently part of the 2021 POSF National team for OCR Short and the 2019 SEA games gold medalist for the 5KM OCR category.
Pinay Chun li as most of you are familiar with. Glorien has been killing it on the course on a global scale, always bringing her “A” game, setting her eyes on the prize making her presence known as one of the toughest Spartans out there. She is currently part of the 2021 POSF National team for OCR Short distances and bagged 2019 SEA games silver medalist for the 5KM OCR category.
The Spartan Philippines National Series. After the hiatus of the Spartan races in 2020, Spartan Race Philippines plans to go back in full swing this September to November 2021 at Batangas Lakelands in Balete, Batangas.
Venue: Batangas Lakelands, Balete, Batangas
Batangas Lakelands is an active lifestyle destination south of Metro Manila, teeming with natural resources and rich cultural heritage, this nature enclave composed of 8 active-lifestyle parks that features sports, leisure, and entertainment is offered to weekend warriors from Manila in a safe and secured area.
Dates:
Four Alternating Weekends of September and October:
September 25 and 26, 2021
October 9 and 10, 2021
October 23 and 24, 2021
November 6 and 7, 2021
Set-Up:
Spartan SPRINT Product, 5KM 20 Obstacles
Only Two Categories: Elite and Open
National Series Rules:
Best 3 out of 4 races for the Elite Athletes will be counted towards their series ranking.
All race levels are scored the same. Regardless of how many races you join, the total point will be considered for your series ranking.
There are no separate Age Group divisions or Master’s divisions within the Elite category.
Only the First Heat of the Saturday Race will count towards the series ranking, other races held that weekend do not count towards the series.
Due to the COVID-19 protocol, racers will be assigned to run in sets with a 5-second gap in between. Note that the first athlete to cross the finish line may not be the fastest due to the gap in start time and the final result will be based on the official timing chips.
For Runners:
Runners will be asked to present either one of the following before entry to venue:
Vaccine Card (Athletes will be grouped together on race heats depending on their vaccination status)
A negative RT-PCR Test or Laboratory Generated Antigen Test not more than 72 Hours before the race
Even with a negative result, racers must undergo triage prior to entering and must fill up the mandatory health declaration form and contact tracing.
Masks are mandatory during the registration, festival/awarding spot, start and finish line.
Spartan Race Philippines in the Now Normal
While people anxiously await the steady return of competitive racing amid the pandemic, its role and meaning continues to change during these trying times and moving forward. Racing is more than just an entertainment. It is more than just an escape from reality. Spartan Race, like most other races, is a platform for change. A platform to further the conversation. A platform to help, inspire, educate, and guide. With the help of our new roster of Ambassadors and Pro Team, we would like to be ready to open races in the Now Normal. The mentality to wait and expect things to go back to as it was before is over.
We need to switch our gears and prepare a plan to bring back races and galvanize people, to give hope, and to continuously train to become better humans.
Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge to encourage a healthier lifestyle.
Last February 19, 2020, Medicard, a leading health and maintenance organization in the country, enjoins the public to live a healthier and active lifestyle through the Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This first and one-of-a kind activity will gather both beginners and fitness enthusiasts who want to start their way to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
The Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge will kick-off with a conditioning program for the first two weeks beginning March 16 and end on May 31 at the Glorietta Activity Center. The activity is open to all individuals who want to start living a healthier and fitter lifestyle by conquering a series of obstacle course challenges.
Before participants can join the culminating event, they must first pass a two-week conditioning program from March 16 to 27 at Eton Centris in Quezon City, from April 20 to May 1 at Festival Mall in Alabang, and from May 5 to May 15 at Ayala Triangle in Makati. The conditioning program will run every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm. Participants who complete the two-week conditioning program will qualify for the Supremo Obstacle Challenge culminating event on May 31.
The top three male and top three female participants from both the beginners and advanced categories will compete in the culminating event. Only 36 participants will be selected for this.
“We are excited to launch the first ever Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This is part of our advocacy to enjoin Filipinos to live a healthier and fitter lifestyle,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, MediCard President. “This activity brings together as well, coaches from Affiliate Alliance. Their expertise will ensure that those who participate will push themselves to be the best that they could physically be.”
Unlike other aerobic and exercise activities, Supremo Obstacle Challenge combines several workout routines that are meant to test the agility, flexibility, balance, cardiology, dexterity, endurance of each participant through a combination of cardio, running and rope exercises, Crossfit workouts through the use of dumbbells, and short but high intensity exercises.
Moreover, professional coaches closely monitor and supervise the progress of the participants and make an evaluation of their readiness before they are profiles either as a beginner or an advanced athlete. The coaches also develop workout programs that are suited to the participants of both categories.
The Affiliate Alliance is a network of CrossFit-affiliated boxes all over the country. It was established just last 2015 with the goal of promoting CrossFit as well as promoting overall fitness. Coach Jason Monteverde is the head coach of Affiliate Alliance.
Aside from Coach Monteverde, the group counts in its ranks several of the country’s recognized fitness experts such as Andrea Arcega, former head coach of Spartan Race Philippines, Mark Lamson, one of the elite athletes in the country, Cilyn Abella, a four-year coach at the Complete Fitness in Ortigas and Asian Development Bank’s corporate coach, Nolan Collado, a physical therapist, CrossFit coach and former trainer at Planet Infinity Gym, Raymond Manual, another CrossFit trainer with a background in calisthenics and gymnastics, and Vlad Salum, also a CrossFit trainer and weightlifter.
“We would like to enjoin the public start living a healthier, more active and fitter lifestyle by signing up for the MediCard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones.” Montoya added.
Medicard is the first health and maintenance organization founded and managed by doctors. Over the years, it has provided the most comprehensive and innovative health care programs and fitness activities that help people achieve a healthier life.
For more information on how to join, please visit www.medicardlifestyle.com.
Medicard, a leading health and maintenance organization in the country, enjoins the public to live a healthier and active lifestyle through the Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This first and one-of-a kind activity will gather both beginners and fitness enthusiasts who want to start their way to a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
The Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge will kick-off with a conditioning program for the first two weeks beginning March 16 and end on May 31 at the Glorietta Activity Center. The activity is open to all individuals who want to start living a healthier and fitter lifestyle by conquering a series of obstacle course challenges.
Before participants can join the culminating event, they must first pass a two-week conditioning program from March 16 to 27 at Centris in Quezon City, from April 20 to May 1 at Filinvest in Alabang, and from May 5 to May 15 at Ayala Triangle in Makati. The conditioning program will run every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6pm to 8pm. Participants who complete the two-week conditioning program will qualify for the Supremo Obstacle Challenge culminating event on May 31.
The top three male and top three female participants from both the beginners and advanced categories will compete in the culminating event. Only 36 participants will be selected for this.
“We are excited to launch the first ever Medicard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. This is part of our advocacy to enjoin Filipinos to live a healthier and fitter lifestyle,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya, MediCard President. “This activity brings together as well, coaches from Affiliate Alliance. Their expertise will ensure that those who participate will push themselves to be the best that they could physically be.”
Unlike other aerobic and exercise activities, Supremo Obstacle Challenge combines several workout routines that are meant to test the agility, flexibility, balance, cardiology, dexterity, endurance of each participant through a combination of cardio, running and rope exercises, Crossfit workouts through the use of dumbbells, and short but high intensity exercises.
Moreover, professional coaches closely monitor and supervise the progress of the participants and make an evaluation of their readiness before they are profiles either as a beginner or an advanced athlete. The coaches also develop workout programs that are suited to the participants of both categories.
The Affiliate Alliance is a network of CrossFit-affiliated boxes all over the country. It was established just last 2015 with the goal of promoting CrossFit as well as promoting overall fitness. Coach Jason Monteverde is the head coach of Affiliate Alliance.
Aside from Coach Monteverde, the group counts in its ranks several of the country’s recognized fitness experts such as Andrea Arcega, former head coach of Spartan Race Philippines, Mark Lamson, one of the elite athletes in the country, Cilyn Abella, a four-year coach at the Complete Fitness in Ortigas and Asian Development Bank’s corporate coach, Nolan Collado, a physical therapist, CrossFit coach and former trainer at Planet Infinity Gym, Raymond Manual, another CrossFit trainer with a background in calisthenics and gymnastics, and Vlad Salum, also a CrossFit trainer and weightlifter.
“We would like to enjoin the public start living a healthier, more active and fitter lifestyle by signing up for the MediCard Supremo Obstacle Challenge. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones.” Montoya added.
Medicard is the first health and maintenance organization founded and managed by doctors. Over the years, it has provided the most comprehensive and innovative health care programs and fitness activities that help people achieve a healthier life.
