After running 13+K yesterday morning, I treated this 21K run this morning as one of my weekend long runs and I did not expect much to get a better time and I kept into my mind to have fun and enjoy the run. There was no massage this time two days or one day before the race as I was busy with my running workouts and meeting people for the past days.
I woke up at 3:45 AM today after going to bed before 8:00 PM last night. I did the usual ritual before the race and I was out of my place at 4:35 AM with a plan to make some warm-up and stretching near the starting area. After 10 minutes, I was already near the assembly area as the starting line was totally different place from the previous races in the past. After stretching, I entered the “corral” for the 21 K runners at least 5 minutes before the start time. While waiting for the gun to fire, I met my visitors to this blog and the officers and men from the Philippine Army. We were at least 5 meters from the front runners and busy talking with my former officers and men. Suddenly, the gun was fired and we were off for the 21K race. Based from the data I got from my GF 305, the race started 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the race and it showed a good sign for an outstanding race.
The start of the race was a blast for the faster runners and I just kept my pace without looking at my watch and not being lured with the runners infront and those who were passing on my left and right sides. Some of these runners who passed me would greet me with my name/s, either Sir Jovie, BR or Mr Bald Runner and I would say to them, “Ok, sige lang” which I meant for them to go ahead and go for it and enjoy the race! Most runners made those “cutting corners” and running along the sidewalks along the streets of The Fort but I just maintained running along the streets and just smiled at these runners. Upon reaching the overpass towards Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), the runners for the 21K became a single file formation and some of those who made a dash at the starting line were starting to slow down. As I turned back along Gil Puyat Ave. and got my first “straw”, I started to hear runners shouting my name who are approaching the turn around point! Hmm, interesting and very surprising! The Bald Runner is becoming popular among the running community! I would wave my hand to acknowledge and recognize them and tried to maintain my pace. The shouting of my name was repeatedly heard once I met the bulk of the 10K runners while I was running along the Gil Puyat Ave. overpass back to The Fort area. All I could do was to wave my hand and say “Hi”. This brings me back what my son advised me of not wearing my earphone or Ipod while running a race. He is right! I have to feel, see, and hear what is going on around me while I am running. At least, I didn’t look like a “snub” while running this race. Thus, I encourage my visitors to shout my name when they see me running in races or during my running workouts.
As I approached Jollibee, I glanced my GF 305 for the 1st time and I saw that I had covered a distance of 11 kilometers but never had the desire to find out my average pace. My pace for the next 10K before the finish line was becoming slower but I tried my best to overtake some of the runners infront of me as they became slower when they were running towards slight hills along the way. Running along Lawton Avenue and Bayani Road was a breeze. I saw my friend, Lester, infront of the Headquarters Philippine Army doing some stretching as he had a pulled hamstring muscle and tried to run with me. I advised him to have a 2-day rest after the race and have a “swedish massage”, concentrating on the pulled muscle and have some rest after the massage. Lester allowed me to go on with my pace and tried to maintain my pace.
I was using my Patagonia Running Kit (for Trail Running); NIKE Lunarace Shoes; Nathan Hydration Belt; Maui Jim Sunglasses; and Bandana (my new signature running style). Note: For those who are preparing for the Bataan Ultramarathon this coming April 2009, please wear a Bandana on your neck while you are running on your training or at road races as a “symbol of support”. Guys, these are cheap at the market!
I was expecting that the turnaround at the Bayani Road was way beyond the Gates of the Heritage Park and near the C-5 Highway but I was surprised to see that the last turnaround was at least 200 meters from the Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio or from the Gate of the LIbingan ng mga Bayani. From the last turnaround, my pace was steady but I could feel that I felt slower than my pace for the first 10K. On my last 5K of the race, I saw Jay aka Prometheus, Bugobugo, Mesh aka My Iron Shoes, Harry aka Mukhang Guilty, Cecil aka Miracello, and Don Fernando and Mark FB. I was surprised to see Mark FB going towards Essensa while I was about to hit my last kilometer of the race. As I reached the last kilometer of the race, I could see the merging of the 10K & 5K runners with the 21K runners and I had to run at the middle of the road until a road marshal signaled me to take the left side of the road. Then I started to pick-up my pace on my last 200 meters to the finish line. As I got nearer to the finish line, I saw the digital clock with a time of 1:48:00 and as I passed the finish line, I saw the time as 1:48:40. However, my GF 305 registered a time of 1:48:55 hours with an average pace of 5:14 minutes per kilometer!
Not bad finish time for a 21K race (although my GF 305 registered a distance of 20.8 kilometers) and a long run for the weekend.
After passing the Finish Line…
Ivan, a blogger-runner from Los Banos, Laguna, approached me and introduced himself after crossing the finish line. Good run, Ivan!
Runners from the Philippine Army posed with the Bald Runner
Bald Runner 
Hi Mr. Baldrunner. I am one of those who greeted you 🙂 and mentioned that you look you more handsome in person after commenting that you look taller on your pictures 😦 I will be joining your Bataan Death March. You’re quickly becoming the ‘GodFather’ of running! More power to you and happy running.
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bilis ng takbo mo! considering you ran the previous day pa. hmmm di ka na ata namin masabayan during the bataan run 😀 see you in future races!
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Hi Sir!
It was kind of you to greet back to me while you were taking a drink at Starbucks! I am new reader of your blog and it’s very nice of you to acknowledge your readers and give them a friendly smile or wave. Nice race number and hope to keep running into you at the races!
God bless!
Johnny
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run2dmoon, nice meeting you on the road. you are really a fast runner and i encourage you to keep on running. thanks for your plan to run the bataan ultramarathon. i know you will make good in this run. good luck with your training.
loony, i am slowly bringing back my speed to my running but there are more “homework” to be done. there are 23 weeks more to go before the bataan ultra and i know you will be stronger and faster by then. good luck on your training.
johnny, i am glad you had a chance to read this blog. actually, i made a lot of posts already since day-1 where novice runners could learn from and i suggest my readers to take patience in their improvements. yup! i am a friendly person despite my background as a retired general from the phil army. that is the least that i can do–smile and wave to people and sometimes have pictures with my readers–for me to be sincere in sharing my experiences in running. keep on reading this blog! thanks & enjoy your runs!
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Fast run BR! I called “Sir Jovie” when I saw you. My 21km was the slowest I ever did, even comparing it to regular long runs. With Laryngitis and colds, I shouldn’t have ran in the first place. But it was my 1st year anniv. : ) The course tested my will several times and I never felt so weak. Eventually I picked up and that was during the last 5kms.
Seeing you run like that reminded me of the possibilities of what men can do and age is again, just a number. I saw Mr. Ayala much later after you . It means… nauna na kayo this time. ” )
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Hi Sir Jovie.
Congrats on a good run. I enjoyed the route as well until my hamstrings and quads gave up on me. With 2.5km to go, my quads locked up and i couldn’t even walk anymore. good thing there was an ambulance going in the opposite direction and i flagged it down to help me with it. I was going to ask for some first-aid and try to walk back to the finish line. At first they iced both legs but that dint work, they were kind enough to go to 7-11 to buy me Gatorade and the moment i drank it, i felt my muscles loosened up. Then i knew that i had dehydrated myself. At this point, i knew there was no way i could finish the race without their help.
They drove me back to the Start/Finish area and moved me into the First-aid tent. I have to commend the people who were stationed there. Great Job. I have a few things that i liked to point out to the organizers though. The space they had was so small that it could only fit 2 people lying down. They had no tables, no chairs, nothing. Just the stretchers that they bought with them. i think the organizers should have provided them with tables and chairs so that it would have made their work easier and more efficient. i was the second person there at that time but they did brought in another 3 or 4 people who were in worse shape than i am. Can you imagine how cramped we were? I had to find my own space after a while since they guys needed more medical attention than i did. I just kept on asking for the Plus100 drink to hydrate myself, which they had a hard time getting for me since there was no instruction from the organizers or higher-ups that they could indeed get from the Plus100 booth. Even the personnel in the said booth were reluctant to give them to the first-aid volunteers as well.
i felt cramps in my stomach, my neck, side of my ribs, quads, toes. I was able to leave the tent after an hour or so, 4 bottles of Plus100, 2 bananas and still i would feel my muscles twitching and cramping as i took every step to the car. I had breakfast as soon as we got home and more fluids. I eventually normalized around 2pm. Note to self: time to look for a hydration kit and look into the Powerbar gels.
Congratulations again on a good run. Hopefully i will get to talk to you at the finish line this time! =)
Lester
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>>The shouting of my name was repeatedly heard once I met the bulk of the 10K runners while I was running along the Gil Puyat Ave. overpass back to The Fort area. All I could do was to wave my hand and say “Hi”.<<
One of those hollering your name during that stretch was probably me, blinded by the speed which you blazed on your way back to the fort! You were just on top of your game that i didn’t even notice you breathing…
it was a fast paced long run if you ask me and very good speed work.
Keep it up, Manong!
rene v
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Hi baldrunner…You’re indeed an excellent athlete! I saw you and greeted you somewhere at kilometer 12 I think and you’re superb fast. I definitely will join you in Bataan Death march. Congrats!
Run fast, live light!
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Hey BR congratulations on a good run! All your training is paying off as your 21K was a breeze for you. Parang di ka pinawisan. Hope the effects of the drink have gone and you are feeling better. See you at the races!
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Wow sir that was fast! 😀
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Congrats sir jovie for a great run! God bless!
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Sir,
Congrats on your run! I was the runner from Los Banos that introduced myself to you after the 21k. My officemates (Johnnydu, Moloki and others) and I are avid readers of your Blog. We got into running seriously this year and your posts have been a wealth of information as well as a source of inspiration for our little EGG Runners Club. I actually saw you on the Libingan ng Mga Bayani turnaround several minutes ahead of me. I am very happy that I finished the 21k at 1:53:13 (unofficial based on finish timer – would you know if the official results are out?). I actually beat my Milo San Pablo 21k by 6 mins! Thanks for graciously posing with fans like me and for the inspiration.
All the best,
Ivan F.
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going faster and going great guns sir jovie,don’t leave us at the ultra!
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markfb, i was surprised to see you when i was about to hit my last kilometer and i thought you were at my back. i am glad you finished the race with your present condition. you have to remember the principle of “consistency” on your running workouts. i think running consistently for almost one year is slowly bringing me back to my old form in the 80s. hope to see you again! keep on running.
lester, i’ve observed you were running so fast on the 1st half of the race and the your speed could not match on the endurance preparations you had for this race. yup! it’s time to have a hydration belt for 15K and longer distances and bring with you protein bars or GUs along the way. i am glad you were able to recover after the run. anyway, find time to have a “swedish massage” soon and have some rest. slowly, resume your running after two days from your massage. don’t forget to stretch and warm-up before your run. good luck and see you soon!
rene v, thanks! i heard you and your shouts made me ran faster! “consistency” is the key in running. good luck on your training. next time, approach me after the run.
runnerforchrist, thanks for those shouting and greetings along the way. it made me ran faster. thanks for supporting the bataan ultramarathon. you have to prepare and do you homework for this. good luck!
prom, the truth was..i was sweating heavily, as always. yup! all those training and running and full time rests/sleep are paying off slowly. i am running better and faster this time.
witchkitty, thanks! “patience and consistency” are my investments for having an enjoyable road races. see you son!
broj, thanks and keep on running. good luck on your next race.
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ivan, i am glad you are learning from my posts. most of my stories are taken from my experiences during the 80s and the things I read in books and in the Internet. the most important principles in running are “consistency & patience” for you not to be injured—-endurance first before speed. i am glad you are improving your time. if you are in los banos, take advantage of the mountains near you as hills and trail running will make you a lot stronger and injury-free runner. you will know when they will post the official time results of the race.
bugo2x, i know you will get faster soon, too! i really admire your passion in running. you are really a “hardcore”. “walang iwanan sa bataan!”
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Hello BR!
What can I say? You ran a great race! Great color combination (outfit), too!
I hope I can be a part of the Bataan Ultra Marathon.
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Nice run sir.. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to run this one.. Instead, I ran 25kms Sunday (the day after).. It’s glad to know more & more are learning about Baldrunner.. ^^
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