Month: August 2008

“Stuff White People Like”: The Book

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Running1 Comment

This is the first book published as a result of a blog taken from Wordpress. The blog appeared on WordPress sometime in February 2008 and in a few days it became the most visited site and I was one of the regular visitors of this site on its early days up to this time. It was surprising that in two weeks, the blog had 2 million + hits! Each post would register a minimum of 400 + comments from readers.

In May 2008, I read a post in one of the blogsites that the writer, Christian Lander, got a contract with the Random House Publishing to publish a book out of his posts in his blog. Thus, in the middle of July, copies of this book were available in the bookstores everywhere in the United States. Continue reading ““Stuff White People Like”: The Book” →

“Think Time, Not Distance”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running, Trail Running, UltramarathonLeave a comment

6:47 PM 11 August 2008 (Silverlake & Echo Parks)

The advise of elite runners in ultramarathon trail running is to think of the time of one’s duration to finish the distance but not the distance of the course. Since the terrain of the trail will be more challenging and the elevations will be higher, the pace from my ordinary road runs will be greatly reduced.

The duration of one’s time in trail running will include lots of brisk walking in steep uphill routes; slower pace on narrow trails good for one person; uneven road due to the presence of protruding roots and rocks along the way, the intense heat of the sun, and the time at stop-overs in food/drink & medical stations for replenishments. Continue reading ““Think Time, Not Distance”” →

Visit At Phidippides Running Center

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, RunningLeave a comment

I asked my daughter, Jovelle to bring me to the Phidippides Running Center in Encino, California without any plans of buying any running apparel or accessories. This store was where I bought my ASICS Gel-Cumulus 8 and my lumbar Nathan Water Belt last December 2006. This is the only running store in the Los Angeles area where you can buy everything or anything about running to include accessories.

There are ASICS running apparels but the store don’t have my size. I tried their Brooks running apparel but their sizes are big. There were at least five customers who were inside the store and constantly being attended by their staff. A lady staff approached me and offered to help me but I told her that I am still thinking what to buy in the said store. My daughter is a known customer in the said store and she had some conversation with one of the lady staff. A tall Singaporean guy was there also looking at the running apparels and I heard him telling to the sales staff that he is training for the Singapore Marathon this December. Continue reading “Visit At Phidippides Running Center” →

Conversation With My Son

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running10 Comments

After John Paul picked me up at the Malibu Creek State Park last Saturday noon, I started telling him about my early prediction for the 2008 Philippine Olympic Team of not being able to win or bring home our first Gold Olympic Medal. This was the details of the conversation:

John Paul: Dad, why does the Philippines give so much attention/importance and reward for the Filipino athletes to win and bring home a Gold Medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games?

Bald Runner: We don’t have any gold medal yet and it is for the country’s national pride. Continue reading “Conversation With My Son” →

Day #3: P90X (Shoulders & Arms; Ab Ripper X)

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

I prepared two 10-lb dumbbells, a chair and a mat for this session of exercises which is concentrated on the shoulders, arms and the abdominal muscles.

My workout started with the usual light cardio warm-up exercises and stretching exercises like marching in place, running in place, jumping jacks and arm raises. It was followed by stretching on the neck, shoulders, arms, and chest muscles.

I used a lighter weight to cope up with the tempo of the demonstrators but I had to do more repetitions in the process. The whole Shoulder & Arms workout consists of twelve (12) exercises but they are divided into four (4) segments with 3 exercises. Each segment is repeated twice. Basically, the exercises were concentrated on the lifting of the dumbbells above the head; from the sides of the body to the shoulders; dumbbell arms’ flexion/curls and extension exercises for the biceps and the triceps of the arms; and dumbbell flys (seated and standing). Continue reading “Day #3: P90X (Shoulders & Arms; Ab Ripper X)” →

“You Made It…Good Job”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running2 Comments

7:48 PM 09 August 2008 at Malibu Creek State Park (Bulldog Trail)

After we arrived in Los Angeles from San Francisco, I told my son that I will be running again the Bulldog Trail at Malibu Creek State Park next Saturday (09 August 2008) and will try to simulate the racing condition by starting earlier in the morning. I requested him to bring me to the said park and just drop me there to be fetched at lunch time.

Almost one week after finishing the San Francisco Marathon, I was back at the Bulldog Trail. After preparing for my things (water, electrolytes, GUs, and protein bars) and eating a light breakfast, we left the house at 7:00 AM and due to the traffic at Highway 10 West and at the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), we reached the park at 7:45 AM. I started my run immediately after getting out of the car.

I could see that there were hikers and runners about to start and preparing their gears at the vast parking area. The temperature was already at high 60s and the sky was clear without any clouds and I could feel that the temperature is about to get higher.

As I started my run, I planned to start slowly as I was using a 2.1-liter CamelBak Hydration (additional 5-6 pounds of weight) and thought of  running the 25K loop twice if I still have time before my son’s schedule to pick me up at the entrance of the park. Continue reading ““You Made It…Good Job”” →

The High Price Of Raising An Olympian

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running6 Comments

Money, Money, Money is the number One problem of our Philippine Sports in developing or raising an Olympian which is absolutely true to other athletes of other countries. Funding is translated for the payment of the Coaches, Clothing/Athletic Apparel, Housing or Accommodation, Food & Nutrition, Travel & Exposures to International Games, Insurance & Medical Needs, Family Support (if the athlete has a wife & kids), Sport Facility Fees and Membership to Fitness Clubs/Gyms, and Sports Biomechanics and Sports Psychology Support.

I have yet to find out a news article that says how much did the PSC or POC or the National Sports Associations spent for each of the 15 Filipino Olympians to the 2008 Beijing Olympics during their training and preparation for the 2008 Bejing Olympics. If not, maybe, asking how much our swimmer Miguel Molina spent for his training for the 2008 Olympics out of his family financial resources. Continue reading “The High Price Of Raising An Olympian” →

Lessons Learned: 2008 The San Francisco Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Marathon Race, Races, Runners' Training, Running4 Comments

Evaluation of my Running After The 2008 San Francisco Marathon

After I finished the 2008 Pasig River Heritage Marathon last 24 February, barely four months of slowly building my base, I continued my running workouts without any plan of running a full marathon in the future but I saw to it that I have to improve my race times in the 10K to half-marathon race distances which were held almost every weekend in Metro Manila.

With my retirement from the service and plan to visit my family in the US after retirement in May of this year, I thought of running the San Francisco Marathon which was scheduled at least 10 weeks after my retirement. After sending an e-mail to my son of my decision to run the SFO Marathon on the 1st week of May, my training became more focused to experience my 2nd International marathon after my Fort Benning’s First Infantry Marathon in 1984. My registration to the said marathon encouraged my son and daughter to run also with me and they started preparing for the race. Continue reading “Lessons Learned: 2008 The San Francisco Marathon” →

Day #2: P90X (Plyometrics)

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

Plyometrics are drills designed to connect strength with speed to produce power. It is also known as the “jump training”, this technique emerged in the Eastern Europe in the early 1970s. The word was coined by an American track coach, Fred Wilt, where the word derives from the Latin plyo + metrics, or “measurable increases”. Plyometric training relates to any activity that requires speed and strength, as it improves your ability to run faster, jump higher, and manuever in multidirectional sports. If your game involves a court, field, track, mat, pool, ring, rink, or mountain, Plyometrics can help.

The key to avoiding injury during any plyometric exercise is to ensure proper take-off and landing. This technique can best be achieved by leaping off the toes and landing softly and quietly on the balls of the feet. Wear a good shock absorbing rubber shoes and workout on a surface that provides plenty of cushion. However, if one has a chronic knee problems, this workout is not recommended. Continue reading “Day #2: P90X (Plyometrics)” →

Day # 1: P90X & 10K Run

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

Day # 1: P90X—Chest & Back (06 August 2008)

After preparing for the tools (push-up grips; elastic band; 20-lb dumbbells; water; & towel) needed for my first day of exercises, I played the DVD that goes with the program on my laptop and followed the exercises being done by the demonstrators. The first day schedule is devoted to the CHEST AND BACK muscles. I started at 10:00 AM and supposed to finish the exercises in one (1) hour if I strictly follow the tempo of the demonstrators.

After almost 5 minutes of warm-up exercises and stretching of the shoulders, neck, and the arms, the following exercises were followed with the following number of repetitions I performed: Continue reading “Day # 1: P90X & 10K Run” →