Month: July 2008

Badwater Ultramarathon #1

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Races, Running, Ultramarathon4 Comments

Early tomorrow morning at 4:00AM, 14 July (8:00PM, Monday, Manila Time), I will be leaving Los Angeles by car to Badwater, California, located inside the Death Valley National Park. The distance from Los Angeles to Badwater is 290 miles or 460 kilometers which is the estimated distance from Manila to Paoay/Currimao, Ilocos Norte. In my estimate, it will take me 4 1/2 hours to reach the place without any traffic problem or being get lost along the way.

My son just prepared me a printed map which he downloaded from Google with the detailed directions from our house to Badwater. I will be missing the runners who will start at 6:00AM and 8:00AM. The elite runners will start at 10:00AM and hope to meet some of them and witness their start of this ultramarathon event. Hopefully, I will be able to take some pictures of these runners while they will be running along Highway 190.

The following news article was copied from Puhrump Valley Times.

Death Valley race pushes to the limit
BY CHRISSY OHLINGER
PVT

 

BADWATER, Calif. — Many people don’t savor the idea of crossing Death Valley in the summertime by car. Some actually prefer to go on foot. This July 14-16, Route 190 in Death Valley National Park will be littered with people who do just that during the 31st annual AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon. The extreme sport event will track participants on foot through 135 miles of the hottest, most treacherous and isolated country in the country and the world: from Badwater, Death Valley National Park, to the trailhead of Mt. Whitney in California. The race route yo-yos from a plunging 280 feet below sea level across three mountain ranges before rising to the chilling heights of Mt. Whitney. Some contestants will even choose to scale the tallest mountain in the Lower 48 as an unofficial finish to their journey. Continue reading “Badwater Ultramarathon #1” →

Bald Runner’s Team @ TNF 100

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Races, Runners' Training, Running1 Comment

I instructed Captain Ferdie Espejo to come up with a team to run/participate in The North Face 100 this coming 26 & 27 July 2008 in Nasugbo, Batangas. If not for my trip and plan to run the San Francisco Marathon this August 3, I could have registered to run in the Team Relay or the 100K solo run. Anyway, the other reason why I have to leave Manila earlier is to witness the start of the Badwater Ultramarathon in Badwater, Death Valley, California this Monday, 14 July 2008 and to adapt early on the weather of California and have more running workouts in Los Angeles.

The Bald Runner’s Team for the TNF 100 will consist of the following:

Rey Antoque and/or Rolando Piamonte for the 100K Solo Run

Cresenciano Sabal and Reynaldo De Los Reyes for the Team Relay 100K

Mamerto Corpuz for the 20K

Ferdinand Elpidio Espejo Jr for the 10K

Bald Runner’s Team will also be running in the TNF 100 Singapore on October 4, 2008.

Good luck to those who will be joining this running event.

“Fuerza Armada’s Story”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running2 Comments

The following is a comment from “Fuerza Armada” on my post regarding Mr Pompey Crisologo of North Star Run and owner of North Star Marketing, Inc. in Laoag City.

I’m a frequent visitor of your blogsite and this is my first time to post a comment. My memories travel back 20-25 years ago upon reading this artcile of Mr. Pompeo, considered as the Father of Local Running in Ilocandia. I have also joined once in the North Star 10K Fun Run when I was in Grade 5, that was in the early 80’s, and one Biathlon (Duathlon). Both events I DNFed. The races are usually held near the scenic Paoay Lake or Currimao Port Area near the beach and my father would usually win in the age category. Now, he’s in his early 60’s and can still run short distances.

When I begin working in the government here in Fort Bonifacio, I ballooned into 176lb frame with 5ft 4in height and would be diagnosed with mild hypertension. Until I started going back to life through running in 2005 and losing 54 lbs. My DNF events two decades ago in the North Star haunted me. Something in my life was lacking. And I am very much determined to experience finishing a 10K. After months and years of training, I did 5Ks, then 10Ks, 10-miler, half, then the ultimate full marathon which I already did 9 times (with 6 sub-4hrs).

Though dozens of race numbers and medals adorned in our living room in our home in Lapog, Ilocos Sur, my father never had a medal for 42K and his dream was only fulfilled through me. I cried when I crossed the finish line during my first 42K in the 3rd Manila Marathon since I devoted the race to my father.

Maybe this is the perfect time to thank Mr. Pompeo. Thanks for being the ambassador of good health in the region. We have discovered and produced national class runners during the North Star’s grandeur. The North Star Run will forever be cherished. I know the baldrunner is the perfect figure who could continue the legacy. With the general’s love and passion of the sport, I am very sure he can handle it well. I can also encourage my father, his group and my running buddies in the City Government of Vigan to support your planned races.Then we can have more interesting stories to tell…

Thank you very much, “Fuerza Armada” for sharing to us about your passion in running. I hope more people will be inspired to run/join road races and that “failures” are just small part of our life that would challenge us to surpass our capability to do some more and be a better person.

“Running In The Rain”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running9 Comments

5:38 PM 09 July 2008 at The Fort

If I did not forget to bring my Ipod Nano in yesterday’s afternoon run, the title of this post could had been “Singing In The Rain”.

The thick rain clouds at The Fort area was an indication that it will rain that afternoon. However, after two days of complete rest from Sunday’s Manila Half-Marathon, I became uneasy and sluggish for not running. I felt that I was able to recover last Wednesday and I did not let the day pass by without sweating it out for a long easy run.

I started my run at 5:38PM at the corner of the IS Road and the main road going to the old Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio. After running about 500 meters, there were flashes of lightning on the horizon and the afternoon became darker because of the rain clouds. I managed to run at least 4 kilometers, back and forth, along IS Road before the shower became rain. I had to take refuge at the back of the Every Nation Building and kept on jogging in place and used the stairs to do my “up and down” stair drill. It took me almost 12-15 minutes to wait for the rain to stop. When I noticed that the rain became weaker, I resumed my run even if there was still rain. The IS Road was full of rushing water on its edge and I had to run along the elevated sidewalk. Continue reading ““Running In The Rain”” →

Mr Pompey Crisologo

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running5 Comments

This is my picture with Mr Pompey Crisologo of North Star Marketing in Laoag City taken two weeks ago. Mr Pompey Crisologo is now 72 years old and he is still wearing a running shoes while he is in his office.

He finished his first Marathon at the age of 52 with a time of 4:15 hours and improved his second Marathon with a time of 4:00 hours flat. He was the father of the North Star Run which started in 1979 and had its last rendition in 2002. He authored the North Star Run Sports Program where he conducted 5K runs in different municipalities of Ilocos Norte on a monthly basis with P 5.00 as registration fee.

In my last meeting with Mr Crisologo, he does not have any plan or intention of reviving the North Star Run. However, I told him that I am interested to revive the said 10K road race but with a different name. He approved of the idea and he is willing to help in the revival of the said race.

I told him also that I am going to revive the duathlon event during summer and he was happy to hear also such news from me. Also included will be a trail running event in Ilocos Norte.

These events are presently on the planning stage under the auspices of the Bald Runner’s Events.

Update: Project Donate A Shirt #1

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Running4 Comments

I missed to post this picture last week after the Rush To Mizuno 15K Run. Miake Acedilla, the lady on my right, donated her Finisher’s T-shirt of the Mizuno Run to the Project Donate A Shirt. The lady on my left is her running friend/buddy, Pam. Thanks, Miake!

Dean Karnazes: UltraMarathon Man

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running15 Comments

Dean Karnazes is the author of the book, “UltraMarathon Man: Confessions Of An All-Night Runner”. This book was published in 2005 but it was only when QuickSilver Runner mentioned his name in his blog last December 2007 that I knew and heard the name of this famous ultra runner. The second time that I read about this guy was in the book of Pam Reed entitled, “The Extra Mile” who was the strongest contender for the Champion Runner in the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2003, only to be defeated by Pam Reed in few minutes.

The book of Dean Karnazes is a very inspiring one for runners, most especially to those who would like to run farther than the marathon in order to test their endurance and accomplish more than running a marathon race. Through this book, I was able to appreciate and find out that there is a group of extraordinary endurance runners who are dedicated in their training, preparation, diet, health and other technical aspects for ultrarunning.

Dean Karnazes had finished so many ultra running events like: the annual Western States 100-Mile Runs, Badwater Ultramarathons, South Pole Marathon, and The Relay, a 199-mile footrace which is participated by teams with 12 member-runners but he ran the distance alone. He was a team of one in the said The Relay Ultra Running Event finishing the distance in 46 hours and 17 minutes! Since then Dean Karnazes had been a popular figure in endurance runs and his participation in such races were tied with charity works to help children who are in need of medical treatment.

Dean K ran the famous 50 marathons in 50 States in 50 days finishing this feat at the New York Marathon last November 2006. Last March of this year, he won the Atacama Crossing in Chile which is a 250-kilometer race in 6 stages at Atacama Desert. Last month, he finished the Gobi March in 4th place held at the Gobi Desert, China which is also a 250-kilometer footrace in 6 stages. Next Monday, he is expected to join the 82 runners who will participate in the 2008 Badwater Ultramarathon.

Here are some tips from Dean in preparing for Ultra running events:

1) When preparing for an ultra running event, he runs at least 70-100 miles per week. Wakes up at 4:00AM and run 3 hours before bringing the kids to school and going to his office. He takes another 45 minutes to one hour quick run after office work. On Saturday mornings, he runs 30-40 miles.

2) For a 50K or 50-mile event, he suggests doing at least one eight-hour training run. For 100-miler, he recommends doing an all-night run to simulate race condition without sleeping.

3) An ultrarunner should be properly hydrated with water and energy drinks with electrolytes. In his early ultra running events in the 90s, he was using Oral Pedialyte for his electrolyte replacements.

4) His daily diet consists of 40% Carbohydrates; 30% of Protein & 30% of Fats. He eats salmon 4-5 days a week and lots of organic salads.

5) He trains half and half for the roads and trails. But he prefers more time running on the roads.

6) He goes to the gym for muscle strengthening workouts. If he can not make it to the gym, he does 4 sets of 50 push-ups and 4 sets of 90 push-ups—once in the morning and once in the evening.

In 2004, Dean Karnazes won the Badwater Ultramarathon covering 135 miles in 120-degree Fahrenheit temperature in 27 hours and 22 minutes of non-stop running.

He is a columnist for “Men’s Health Magazine” and the President of Good Health Natural Foods. He lives with his wife and their two children in San Francisco. To know more about him and his schedule of ultramarathon races, visit www.ultramarathonman.com.

I hope I will be able to watch his movie, “The Ultramarathon Man”, on 31 July 2008 (in the USA) and buy a copy of his new book, “50/50”.

I recommend this book (“Ultra Marathon Man”) to every runner. Happy reading!

More Pics @ Manila Half

On By kingofpotsIn Half-Marathon, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running18 Comments

The following pictures were taken at the Bald Runner’s Donate A Shoe Booth at the Finish Line (Luneta Park/Quirino Grandstand Area) of the Araw ng Maynila Half-Marathon Race on 06 July 2008:

From left side, Charlie (running & rowing mate of Mark FB); DelQ (runner from Los Angeles who had a brief vacation in Laoag City & Manila & he was scheduled to leave for LAX last night); Bald Runner; The Loony Runner; Mark FB; and IbanRunner.

We had this second take as the first pose was taken against the light/sun. Charlie and Mark FB were late for the Half-Marathon start and opted to run the 10K race. DelQ is a member of a running club in Los Angeles and he promised to donate some running shoes from his club members.

A pose with Joms of Happy Feet Runners (far left) and Patrick Concepcion aka Running Shield (on my right) ; the famous Doknoy (#305) & Don Ubaldo (#398) on my left side. Hey, I am surrounded with the fast and famous runners of Happy Feet!

As I was walking towards my parked vehicle, Sherwyn, the runner on my left, called my attention as the Bald Runner and I asked them for a pose. These runners are members of the Tutuban Running Club. They told me that my name was announced few minutes before the Half-Marathon started.

As promised in one of my comments, I distributed a Bald Runner’s sticker to each of the runner-blogger who visited/dropped by the booth. My booth had become the official meeting place of the runner-bloggers after road races in Metro Manila.

I was informed by Captain Espejo that some runners donated finisher’s t-shirts after the race. To those who donated these t-shirts, thank you very much!

Road Marshalls Were Great!

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running11 Comments

Araw ng Maynila Half-Marathon on 06 July 2008 at Luneta Park, Manila

I was late for the start of the Half-Marathon Race due to traffic at EDSA and due to my pre-race activities (warm-up & looking for a place to pee) after I arrived at the parking area at the Luneta Park. I thought the Half-Marathon Race would start at 5:30AM after arriving at the starting area at 5:25AM only to realize that there were fewer runners who were waiting at the Starting Area. Once I arrived at the Starting Area, I realized that the runners who were waiting were the runners for the 10K race and some members of the Fort Striders Running Club told me that the Half-Marathon runners had left at about 5:10AM. More than fifteen (15) minutes had elapsed after the start of the race!

I had no choice but to start running and to push the start button of my GF 305. After running for one kilometer, I could hardly see any of the last runner and Roxas Boulevard (going to Pasay City) was free from traffic..and I was the only one running with a race number! I thought of going back to the finish line and declare myself as DNF (Did Not Finish) for being late and later join the 10K runners. But when I was about to reach the area before the Manila Yacht Club & Philippie Navy Headquarters, I could see the blinking lights of the Road Marshall’s car at the corner of Vito Cruz and Roxas Boulevard and I saw a lady runner with a senior runner running together. The sight of the road marshalls and the last runners made me decide to push through with the race. Aside from that, I consider myself as a “road warrior” who never surrender to any fight!

After I passed by the last two runners, I had to depend on the road marshalls which were positioned in every traffic light and street crossing/intersection to ask for the direction and route of the race. I was alone at the busy street of Harrison Road and I tried to maintain my pace. However, when I turned right at Quirino Avenue, I could see some runners staggered along the stretch of Quirino Avenue towards Nagtahan Bridge which were at least one kilometer away.

Road Marshalls were all around the crossings/intersections and along the route and some were on their motorcycles. Some of the road marshalls riding on mortorcycle would escort me after I turned right at Quirino Avenue and after I crossed Taft Avenue. They were really there to help the runners and maintain traffic, holding off the vehicles and giving priority for the runners to pass on busy intersections. These road marshalls really inspired me to continue with the race. They were great!

I thought I was the last runner who started from the Finish Line. But later, at Km #7-#8, Joms of Happy Feet Runners called my attention as he passed by. He started the race way much later after I left the starting area. He is really a strong runner!

Slowly, I had to overtake most of the runners along the way and was comfortable going through those bridges at Santa Mesa and Nagtahan. I was maintaining a sub-6-minute pace per kilometer up to kilometer # 12, but for the rest of the way up to the finish line, I started to reduce my pace due to the heat of the sun and it also made my body asked for more hydration. I was glad I had my Nathan Water Belt with me and had, from time to time, my staff giving me additional Propel Drinks along the way. Some of the runners complained of lack of water stations from the Nagtahan bridge up to the Finish Line and my staff was able to share some of my prepared water supply to some of the runners.

These runners on my back were some of the runners I passed by along the way. I was wearing an orange The North Face (TNF) shirt and my first time to use my ASICS Gel-Kayano 13 running shoes to a road race. The shoes is very comfortable and stable. I intend to use it for my San Francisco Marathon and Bulldog 50K Trail Run in Calabasas, California next month.

At this point, my pace became slower because of the heat of the sun but I ried my best to overtake and leave these runners!

I overtook the lady runner at the back when we were about to reach the Intramuros area. I was trying to catch up with a younger runner at this point but he was too fast.

I tried to smile at the Finish Line but my mind was pre-occupied with the thought of drinking a bottle of ice-cold bottled water once I get out from the chute. I was glad I finished the race.

I was able to overtake more runners on the last two kilometers before the finish line and my time on the last kilometer slowed down because of the heavy volume of traffic infront of Manila Hotel. I finished the race in 1:53:39 hours but my GF 305 registered a distance of 19.5 kilometers. I knew I would be able to improve my finish time from the 8th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon if only the race organizers were able to measure the route properly.

These were the data I gathered from my GF 305:

Distance—19.5 kilometers       Time—1:53:39 hours

Average Pace—5:51 mins/km           Average Speed—10.3 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—15.2 kms/hr        Total Calories—1,445 cal

Average HR—160 bpm                      Maximum HR—168 bpm

Total Ascent—918 meters                Total Descent—909 meters

My pictures with the “Friends of the Bald Runner” will posted tomorrow.

Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Running, Sports Program9 Comments

The Project Donate A Shoe is now under the auspices of the “Bald Runner’s Events” which is now a duly registered entity which has a license to operate from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Capt Ferdie Espejo came up with a new tarpaulin background of our booth, which you see in the background on all the pictures taken. Captain Espejo will be my frontman and associate in this understaking.

Last Sunday, we have launced also our Project Donate A Shirt, which will become as a repository of all donated old, used, and new Finisher’s T-shirts, from runners which in turn to be donated to families residing on Gawad Kalinga (GK) communities in Metro Manila and to other victims of disasters and calamities in the country. 

Hereunder are some of the pictures of our good donors and recipients of these projects. Continue reading “Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)” →