6:00-7:00 AM 25 May 2008 @ UP Diliman Campus
I usually wake up at 4:30 AM when a road race starts at 6:00 AM. It takes me at least 30 minutes to shave my head and face; force myself on the toilet bowl; take a bath; drink my hot coffee; eat at least 5 tablespoonful of oatmeal; drink 250 ml can of Ensure; apply Petroleum Jelly on my inner upper legs/crotch & inner parts of my upper arms; brush my teeth, and finally wear my running kit & shoes. At 5:00 AM, I should had left my quarters and proceeding to the venue of the road race.
My staff and I arrived at UP Campus at 5:30 AM and I immediately had my stretching exercises and slow jogging/warm-up run. After 15 minutes, I was already on my way to the Assembly area. I first met “the loonyrunner” who was having his warm-up run infront of the starting line and I told him about my latest trip to Baguio City and my observations on the proliferation of illegal settlers on areas adjacent to Camp John Hay. I had my initial impression on the loony runner, who was wearing an all-black running kit, that he was well-prepared for the road race as he is familiar with the route plus the fact that I was able to see in his eyes his determination to make good in this race.
A pose with MarkFB, my No. 1 visitor & commentator, five minutes before the start of the race.
After talking to the loony runner and as I was about to enter the Assembly Area, I met Mark and told him that I just bought the Sennheiser MPX 70 Sport Headphone which he recommended. I suddenly felt that I needed to take a “leak” before I enter the starting area and I excused myself from Mark. Mark & I entered the area and I immediately saw the “friends & visitors of Bald Runner”–runmd, nolan, passion runner, and officers and men from the Philippine Army. At this time, I saw at the digital clock that we still have two minutes to spare before the start of the race. I positioned myself at the middle of the pack together with the runners from the Philippine Army.
Then suddenly Coach Rio made the countdown and we started the race. The runners from the Philippine Army dashed away from me at a very fast pace while I maintained my slow pace for the first kilometer. The sky was cloudy and there was not much light from the sun and the weather was conducive to a good road race. I still used my sunglasses while running but I did not bother to glance the readings on my GF 305 from the start up to the finish line. The problem with me with the GF 305 when I am running is that I could hardly see the data on my watch while I am running! I need a “reading glass” to have a clear look on the time elapsed on the dial of the watch!
My running form at vicinity Km. 3, infront of the Oblation.
I depended much on “listening to my body” with regards to my pace and speed for this particular road race. My race pace was an even pace as seen from my time splits in every kilometer:
Km 1—5:21 mins Km 6—5:09 mins
Km 2—5:00 mins Km 7—4:54 mins
Km 3—4:47 mins Km 8—5:12 mins
Km 4—5:00 mins Km 9—5:10 mins
Km 5—5:02 mins Km 10–4:55 mins
I know that I was having a slow pace and finish time as compared from the previous races I had at the UP Campus but I did not force my body to the extreme. However, I noticed that my heart beat reached up to 179 beats per minutes on my last kilometer without any feeling of hard breathing or dizziness or feeling that I was too tired and spent after the race. I could feel that my regular supplementary weight training and long runs had contributed this feeling of being stronger for endurance running.
My usual “raised arms” pose/picture few meters from the Finish Line.
I consider this race as part of my preparation for the longer distance road races in the future.
To my fellow runners, I hope to see you on June 15th DND-AFP Half-Marathon Race at Camp Aguinaldo.
Bald Runner 
hi sir br!
I have been frequenting your blog since i started running this year. I must say that I get tips. Thanks for sharing. Anyway, I was there too this morning’s 10K race (and other races before…) but I wasn’t able to approach you (chickened out) hehe. Anyway, I just want to say that there’s another BR..
Boldrunner.. hehehe (the man behind you sir) hehehe.. There’s the baldrunner, and the boldrunner. haha.. nice run sir. Next race, i’ll introduce myself. 🙂
Regards,
Omar
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hehehe yeah, wanted to have a PR time for this race, and I’m proud to say I was able to attain it! It was great chatting with you before the race. yup, see you on the 15th! I’ve already registered during the Marikina Run, haven’t gotten my bib and other race stuff though. Plan to better my half time from the previous DND half 🙂
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hey nice to finally meet you! 🙂 haha naging confederation pa ng mga military brats ang photo op natin!
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omar, thanks for the visits to this blog. next time, please approach me, whether it is before or after the race. you look cool during the race as it was my first time to see a runner without any singlet in a road race here in manila..hey, you should maintain your name as the “boldrunner”! good luck & happy running. hope to see you at the DND-AFP Half-Marathon on 15 June.
loony, i knew it before the race that you have the “warrior” spirit to do something different that day and i am glad you were able to improve your time. keep the fighting spirit and i am sure you will improve again in the next half-marathon. see you soon & happy running!
marga, yup! i am glad we’ve seen each other in person. regards to your dad and the rest of your family. see you at the next race. i’ll be posting our pics today. hey, you have a nice blog, too! happy running!
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Sir BR! sorry I caused a confusion over my post. Actually, I am not the guy behind you. It’s just I couldn’t contain myself of the thought of having a bullrunner, baldrunner, and a boldrunner.
Upon seeing the “boldrunner” yesterday, it put a smile on me.. so again, I am not the boldrunner. heheh
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Hello Baldrunner
Hi Poh, ako ci the orinteal guy behind ikaw towards the finish. Yes I was a visitor to the area. I’m so use to racing and training without a shirt, I was like oh my gosh everyone has a singlet LOL I was able to greet ikaw before I left the area. The course and the run was great other than being obvious that Iw asn’t from there. I’m hoping to make future trips to Manila for more races. Salamat po for the paceing, good luck and keep running
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omar, i thought you were the “boldrunner” but i suspect that the guy is from another country. anyway, thanks for the clarification. i just got a comment from the said guy. thanks for the visits. continue reading & posting your comments.
hi, ci, thanks for the visit and posting your comment. from where are you? i am glad you were able to visit our country and join one of our weekend road races. yup! you were distinct and different from the other runners. actually, i noticed you already at the first u-turn and you were at least 50-60 meters ahead of me. seldom you could see “boldrunners” here in our country except maybe in triathlon events. anyway, please feel free to make your comments in this blog and looking forward for your next visit here. good luck & have a good day!
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Hello Poh
Actually I’m from Guam a US territory a 3hr flight from Manila to the east, I frequently travel to Manila but always miss the runs, so I got lucky this time, I’m trying to make it out again in July, I started my own word press page as well. I do hope to stay in contact with everyone and make new running friends. I do hope to read more of your running adventures as I will post most of my running adventures on my page as well. Salamat po, have a nice day
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rayyoshi, thanks for the immediate response. i’ll be glad to visit your blog, too! just inform me of your wordpress address so that i could include you in my blogroll. good luck & happy running!
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rayyoshi a.k.a boldrunner , visit http://www.pinoyrunner.com (look for race schedules) so you can check all the incoming races to be held here in manila.that way you would be able to schedule your visits to manila in such a way that you will be able to run as well.normally,the road races are held sundays.good luck.
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