Month: June 2008

Camp O’Donnel, Capas & HPA Jogging Lane

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

Having been invited to attend the assumption of command of my brother as the Commander of the Light Armor Division of the Philippine Army, I broke my vow not to travel on on the second day of June. My brother Samie assumed Command of the only Armor unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at 2:30 PM last Monday, 02 June 2008 and I was there as one his guests and I was able to represent the rest of the Narcise family. The venue of the activity was at Camp O’Donnel, Capas, Tarlac, at the Headquarters of the Light Armor Division. There was a brief parade of the men and the armor assets/tanks of the unit and simple program for the formal turn-over of the command followed. The activity was presided by no less than the Commanding General of the Philippine Army who is a classmate of my brother at the Philippine Military Academy and a close friend of the family.

It was already nighttime when I reached Manila. After travelling from Laoag City early in the morning of Monday by car, I was already dead-tired when I reached my quarters in Fort Bonifacio.

June 2 passed by without any untoward incident happened and I planned to have an early morning run the following day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. I wasn’t able to wake up early and just let my body rest till I woke up at 9:00 AM. After a drinking my ginseng coffee and eating my cereals with low-fat milk and banana for breakfast, I decided to prepare for my tempo run at the Libingan.

As I approached the road to the National Cemetery, I found out that a retired military officer was being buried on that moment where the coffin/hearse was about to be marched by soldiers from the Gate to the burial site. I decided not to proceed to the Libingan and instead walked along the Libingan Road going north towards the Philippine Army Gymnasium and I thought of running along the HPA Jogging Lane.

Since it was almost 10:00 AM, I opted to run on the shaded portion with trees of the jogging lane and along the Parade Grounds’ Mural. I was surprised to see that they really improved the jogging lane by making it wider and paved it with asphalt with the proper white paint line on both borders of the lane.

I slowly jogged and set my GF 305 to measure the straight section of the jogging lane from one end/curve to the next curve. My GF 305 measured the distance to be 335 meters.

For the next 30-40 minutes, I made my interval training along this part of the jogging lane with one fast repetition followed with a recovery jog with the same distance. I did five repetitions and the following were the data taken from my GF 305:

1st Lap–1:19 mins    Average Pace–3:26 mins/km

2nd Lap–1:13 mins   Average Pace–3:39 mins/km

3rd Lap–1:21 mins    Average Pace–3:59 mins/km

4th Lap–1:27 mins    Average Pace–4:24 mins/km

5th Lap–1:23 mins    Average Pace–4:14 mins/km

My Heart Rate Monitor registered a reading of 154-168 beats per minute during the activity.

The HPA Jogging Lane had greatly improved with the presence of two (2) drinking water stations; wider lanes; newly-asphalted; and light posts along the lane. As I said in my previous post, anybody could visit and try the HPA Grandstand Jogging Lane anytime of the day up to 10:00 PM

June 2: On The Brink Of Death & Coincidence

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Running13 Comments

7:00 AM June 2,  2001—I was barely 22 days as Brigade Commander in Basilan when the Dos Palmas Hostages were brought to Basilan after being kidnapped in Puerto Prinsesa. As I was about to approach the compound where the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members were holed-up together with their hostages, I was fired upon by their snipers who were prepositioned on higher grounds and bullets would be hitting infront of me and on my sides. My soldiers had to grab and push me to the ground and take cover in a small canal along the road. A brief firefight ensued between my soldiers and the ASG. The compound was surrounded by AFP armed elements which was then a combination of our Scout Rangers, 18IB soldiers and members of the CAFGU. There were civilian armed elements who were waving to us to approach the compound but every time we got nearer, the ASG’s snipers would fire at us. I got nearly killed in the Lamitan Hostage Crisis but in the end I became the “scapegoat” for the bungled rescue operations which was dictated/closely directed by people who were in their “air-con” offices in Camp Aguinaldo and who “countermanded” my direct orders to my men in the battlefield.  And the rest is history. The details of this incident will be in a book (hopefully) to be written by myself soon.

7:00 AM June 2, 2002—I was barely 52 days as the Brigade Commander in the areas covering the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Eastern Pangasinan, Bulacan, and Aurora when my convoy going to Aurora was ambushed by the NPA on the dirt road from Pantabangan to the boundary of Aurora Province. The V-150 “Commando” Vehicle at our tail end was “landmined” by a powerful “improvised explosive device” which made it to be thrown/overturned on its side. Two of my men, who rode inside the vehicle, died later in the hospital due to internal injuries brought about by the “shock & impact” of the explosion. Riding ahead of the convoy, I had to return to the site immediately and reinforced our troops who were trying to defend their lives from the sporadic fires of the insurgents positioned on the side of the mountain. The insurgents scampered to different directions and left the area after a brief firefight with my security/troops. No firearms were taken from the soldiers who were pinned down from the armored vehicle. The armored vehicle was later repaired and became operational after three months. After this incident, it became my “priority” to track down these insurgents through “guerrilla tactics” and “commando” operations which resulted to more raids and encounters (and casualties from the insurgents) in Nueva Ecija and in the mountains between Nueva Ecija and Aurora. My men were able to encounter the remnants of these insurgents as far as Casiguran and Dilasag, Aurora in the north and as far as Umiray, Aurora (between Aurora and Quezon Province) in the south. I hope I was able to give “justice” to my men who died in this incident, as these were the only casualties that I had within the two years & three months that I was the Brigade Commander in this area.

Since then, I reserved such date (June 2) to be with myself (alone!), go to the church, and stay in my quarters or in my camp not to be disturbed, thinking of the incidents that happened on these successive years. It was a coincidence, of course, and I am glad I passed these trials in my life…to become later as the “Bald Runner”! 

“Donate Your Finisher’s T-Shirts”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running9 Comments

8:00 AM 31 May 2008 In Laoag City

I’ve been supporting the Gawad Kalinga Project here in Laoag City through my sister Rosie and husband/brother-in-law Roger since its start/implementation. They are the “prime movers” of Couples For Christ in the area. There are two Gawad Kalinga communities in the city–GK @ Barangay Talinga-an and GK @ Barangay Bacsil South. For the past years I’ve been supporting the GK @ Brgy Talinga-an where the Project Director is my brother-in-law and I’ve been a constant visitor to this place whenever I am in Laoag City.

Additionally, when I was assigned in Western Visayas, I also supported a Gawad Kalinga community in Jaro District of Iloilo City through Bishop Angelo Lagdameo by providing financial assistance. I also supported the “Feeding Program for The Poor Children” of Iloilo City through the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Jaro District. I also supported a school for the deaf and blind children in Kalibo, Aklan through Bishop Lazo and I’ve been receiving hand-written letters and pictures from these kids.

Upon my arrival in Laoag City early this week, I told my sister of my plan to donate the Finisher’s T-shirts that I’ve collected for the past months as a result of participating in road races in Metro Manila. I told her that most of the T-shirts are big enough for me and if I finally decide to use them for my sleeping attire or “house clothes”, they will finally be stored in my closet after being used for the first time and not knowing when to use them again. She knows that I have enough clothes to use and I sometimes give my slightly used clothes to my nephews. I told her that it will be better for the “less-fortunate” families in the GK communities in Laoag City to have my Finisher’s T-shirts and other athletic uniforms/attires that I used when I was still in the active military service. My sister and brother-in-law liked and appreciated my idea/plan.

Since I’ve been a constant visitor and supporter of the GK @ Brgy Talinga-an, I requested my brother-in-law to have my project be dedicated for the benefit of the residents and families of GK @ Brgy Bacsil South which I haven’t seen and visited. With a brief coordination with the Project Director of the GK community in Barangay Bacsil South, we were able to visit, talk and donate the finisher’s T-shirts to the residents.

Barangay Bacsil South is one of the “depressed” barangays in the city which is located at the boundaries with the municipalities of Sarrat and Vintar, adjacent towns northeast & directly east of Laoag City. It is located near the foot of the mountains that separate Sarrat, Vintar and Laoag City. In the early 80s, it was a “transit point” of the insurgents/NPA from Vintar and Sarrat and this was where one of my best police intelligence operatives was killed in a raid perpetrated by the NPA when I was assigned with the National Intelligence & Security Authority. The GK in this barangay was one of the original six (6) pilot GK Projects that the Couples For Christ established in the entire country. This GK community represented their project for the entire Northern Luzon. Most of the residents here were the beggars, blind, deaf and their families/relatives that we saw on the streets and corners of Poblacion Laoag City during the 90s. I am glad that they have their own houses and are now involved in the cultivation of vegetables, making of our popular sugar wine, “basi”, vinegar making, and small-scale poultry raising.

Here are some of the pictures taken during during the said activity.

This is the entry gate of the Gawad Kalinga Timpuyog located at Barangay Bacsil South which consists of 26 families.

This is the “On Your Mark” Run Finisher’s T-shirt  which I donated to this guy. Maybe his wife, standing beside him, will be the one who will use it.

This was the Large size 4th Global City/Anta Run Finisher’s T-shirt that I received which I donated to this resident of the GK Bacsil South.

The recipient of my Army Running Uniform is a deaf person residing in the said GK community. He looks happy receiving said items (singlet & shorts).

 Another resident received my Phil Army cotton athletic uniform (T-shirt & shorts) which I used when I was assigned as the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army.

This is the Mizuno Infinity 15K Run Finisher’s T-shirt which is too big for me. I hope the recipient and other members of his family will be able to use it. Well, it will be a nice advertisement item for Mizuno in this part of the country whom most of the people are not aware what Mizuno is.

I promised to these residents that I will be coming back for more T-shirts to be distributed once I will be able to fix/inventory my things which I transfered from Fort Bonifacio to Laoag City. The Project Coordinator of GK Bacsil South, Mr Robert De Los Santos, was very happy about my pronouncements. Moreso, with the people of Gawad Kalinga Bacsil South.

Hey, how about you? If you have Finisher’s T-shirts which are just there in your closets/lockers and forgotten that you had received one, why don’t you also donate them to the residents of Gawad Kalinga villages/communities in your respective cities or provinces?

Always remember, share your blessings! Happy running! 

Towards South China Sea

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

5:30 PM 30 May 2008 In Laoag City

I started my run at my sister’s place at Barangay Dibua South and planned to have another tempo run. After stretching, I started with a 3.2-km (2-mile) run, running towards the populated area of Barangay Dibua (going north from where I started) until I reached the said distance. After a slow jog of one minute, I started my second lap of another 3.2-km distance run and decided to go westward by following a wide-cemented road going to the westernmost barangay of Laoag City. I finished the distance up to the seashore with the sight of the South China Sea. The barangay is called Caaoacan. I took another one-minute slow jog to look around the people on the streets and the concrete houses that “sprouted” along the beach fronting the South China Sea.

I was surprised to see more houses that were constructed along the beach, a considerable distance from the sea line, which I think a “safe distance” from the sea during high tide and inclement weather. I was informed by my sister that the lots along the beach were given free by the local government and anybody could construct their houses on the said place. Well, you have to prove that you belong to the less-privileged people in the community before you can declare a part of the beach as your private property. And the houses that were built here are “bungalow-type” and with “rough” concrete finish. The people on the streets and in their homes were surprised to see me running in their place and just stared at me which is a sign that these people look at running as something “unfamiliar” to them. At one point, I saw some kids playing cards and some teen-agers playing basketball. 

From the beach-community, I started again my 3.2km run going back from the route I’ve taken in going to the beach. Finally, I finished my 4th lap exactly few meters from my sister’s house and it was getting dark already. It was a nice run where the wind was too strong hitting me against my direction. As a result, I did not perspire much.

The following data were taken from my GF 305:

Lap #1

Distance—3.20 kms               Time—17:05 mins

Average Pace—5:20 mins/km         Average Speed—11.2 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—12.9 kms/hr       Total Calories—233 cal

Average HR—147 bpm                     Maximum HR—157 bpm

Total Ascent—112 meters               Total Descent—126 meters

Splits: Km 1–5:25 mins      Km 2–5:16 mins      Km 3–5:16 mins

Lap #2

Distance—3.20 kms                Time—16:30 mins

Average Pace—5:09 mins/km          Average Speed—11.6 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—14.7 kms/hr       Total Calories—235 cal

Average HR—159 bpm                    Maximum HR—161 bpm

Total Ascent—70 meters                Total Descent—67 meters

Splits: Km 1—4:57 mins     Km 2—5:09 mins     Km 3—5:21 mins

Lap #3

Distance—3.20 kms               Time—17:53 mins

Average Pace—5:34 mins/km         Average Speed—10.8 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—12.7 kms/hr      Total Calories—235 cal

Average HR—153 bpm                   Maximum HR—156 bpm

Total Ascent—62 meters               Total Descent—62 meters

Splits: Km 1—5:26 mins     Km 2—5:30 mins     Km 3—5:39 mins

Lap #4

Distance—3.23 kms              Time—18:39 mins

Average Pace—5:46 mins/km        Average Speed—10.4 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—13.8 kms/hr     Total Calories—235 cal

Average HR—148 bpm                   Maximum HR—157 bpm

Total Ascent—59 meters               Total Descent—59 meters

Splits: Km 1—5:49 mins     Km 2—5:39 mins     Km 3—5:52 mins

Runner’s Kit—Adidas Shorts & Hanes Cotton Sando

Running Shoes—ASICS Gel-1120

Music—Laura Fygi; Bob Marley

Analyzing my elapsed times for the 3.2-mile laps, I am still too slow within the ideal pace of 4:37-minute to 4:55-minute per kilometer in order to improve my time for the 10K/half-marathon/marathon. But for the mean time, a steady pace of 5:00-minute would be doable.

I need more speed and more hardwork!

Shoe Review: ASICS Gel-1120

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running, Running Shoes4 Comments

Buying this pair of running shoes is a result of “impulsive shopping” on my part. After donating all my old running shoes which are not ASICS, only one remained which is the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 8. I needed another alternate running shoes which I can bring with me to Jamindan and my other shoes to stay in my quarters in Fort Bonifacio.

While browsing some of the running shoes at the Royal Sports Store, I found this particular shoes as the lightest and better cushioned among the other ASICS model available in the store. It was marked down to 20% less its original price and I was enticed to buy the said item.

 

After using it in the mountains of Jamindan, I found it to be light, very stable, and very comfortable to my heels. My heels are well-snugged with the heel counter area and I don’t feel any instability with my heels while running uphill and downhill. I tend to strike the ground with my forefoot but I had observed that the shoes has the tendency to roll more towards the outside motion, instead of being flat or neutral. I could feel that the thickness of the heel and sole is thicker on the inner side of the shoes by a few millimeters.

After 3 months of using it, I could feel that my footstrike is becoming more towards the outside/farther or outward portion of the shoes. The shoes have semi-curved last, the only shoes that I have with such construction. I thought of making a research about the shoes with ASICS website and I found out that shoes is made for pronators, runners who have the tendency to roll their feet towards the inner part of the shoes resulting to the inner portions of the heel to be consumed first due to wear and tear. Since I am not a pronator but a supinator, I could feel that my footstrike towards the outside portion of my shoes is more exaggerated making my run uneven with the ground. Although, I feel that my supination is more exaggerated, I did not feel any pain or uneasiness with my leg muscles with this running shoes.

The shoes is light and comfortable but the cushioning is very basic as you could “feel the ground” with your feet. The shoes is not noisy when it hits the ground and it has nice traction and you could feel immediate response from the shoes when you try to increase your pace. This is a responsive shoes, whether you are forefoot or heel striker.  

This shoes is well-recommended to pronators. This is one of the mid-priced running shoes of ASICS between P 4,500 to P 5, 500.00. This shoes could be used for longer distances like half-marathon and marathon races.

This is my ASICS Gel-1120 which appeared in the RW Magazine’s Shoe Review on the later part of 2006. I suggest you don’t buy your ASICS shoes at the Royal Sports Store or at Toby’s because they are selling the older models. Try getting/buying later models of ASICS at The Athlete’s Foot Store at Glorietta.

Typical Ilocano Foods

On By kingofpotsIn Food & Dishes, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running7 Comments

My typical lunch menu/dishes while I am in Laoag City:

On the upper right portion is fresh avocado in low-fat milk with small amount of sugar and ice for dessert.

This a variety of seaweeds which is only available in Ilocos Norte. It is called “Pukpuklo”. It is eaten raw mixed with chopped tomatoes and ginger only!

This is the native snails, we call them “Bisokol” (“Kuhol” in Tagalog), taken from fresh water and rice fields. It is cooked with salt/bagoong with chopped tomatoes and ginger. The end portion of the shell must be cracked or broken before they are cooked. Instead of using toothpick or needles to prick the flesh out of the shell, we prefer to suck the meat from the shell by using our lips.

This is the flower of a tree we call “Katuray”. Be sure to remove the “pistil” portion of the flower before you blanch it with hot water. Mix it with salt/patis (fish sauce) or bagoong & chopped tomatoes.

 

 This is the popular “adobong pusit”.

Hmmm…Yummy…Bon Apetit!

An Invitation; Dasma; & Forbes Park

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running1 Comment

I received an e-mail invation from Kim early this week as her guest to run in the 1st Forbes Park-Dasmarinas Village Run this morning but I had made my schedule already to fly to Laoag City on the morning of last Tuesday. I had to beg off and made a “pass” on the said invitation telling her that I am in Laoag City undertaking some repair jobs of my future residential place in the city. I promised Kim to call her once I return to Manila.

It would had been a nice experience to be running inside the village of the “rich and famous”; “foreign dignitaries” and “big bosses” of multinational companies assigned in the country. Joining this race would had been an opportunity to run with Kim and to my good friend, US Ambassador Kristie A Kenney of the United States, whom I ‘ve known to be a good hiker & runner.

In the early 90s, the cycling/biking group that I organized among my officers and men assigned at Fort Bonifacio was a constant visitor inside these two villages as part of our daily 25-km cycling route. It was nice to see clean & wide roads and tall trees along the sides of the roads where the roads are named after popular local trees. If the road is named Acacia, you expect that the road is lined up with acacia trees on the sides. The Tamarind Road (where tamarind trees are planted along the sides of the road) is the most distinct road that we had to traverse in going back to Fort Bonifacio after coming from Dasmarinas Vilage. The trees provided shade to most of us during our cycling workouts. I could also remember meeting Congressman Jack Enrile on an expensive bike along Tamarind Road with a SUV as his back-up/security and Bowling Champion Paeng Nepomuceno with his nice & colorful cycling jersey and of course, expensive racing bicycle. 

How I wished I could have joined this inaugural road race and recall the days when I was allowed to jog and bike on the roads of these two known villages.

Kim, I hope to see you soon!