Category: Insights

Limited Number Of Runners

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, RunningLeave a comment

17 February 2008

I am supposed to run in this morning’s 2008 DZMM’s “Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan” 10K Race but my application/registration form was not accepted as the number of runners for the said road race was limited. According to my staff who filed my registration form, the race organizers had stopped accepting participants for this race since Tuesday, 12 February 2008.

This is my first time to experience this kind of situation in the Philippine’s road racing or running events where an organizer limits the number of runners in a road race. The road race is supposed to raise funds and support for the benefit of the radio station’s (DZMM) projects on the conservation of the country’s natural resources. This effort to protect the environment and our natural resources should be the concern of each individual in the country, whether he is a runner/jogger or not. And  I believe that the more participants and runners, the better the road race is. I guess, they don’t need my registration fee or maybe wanted a limited number of supporters for their projects and social responsibility endeavors.

Lessons Learned: 2008 GIG 10K Run

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, RunningLeave a comment

1.  Be aware of “cheaters”—Runners should be aware and observant of “cheaters” and should have the courage to warn or tell them that they have done something which is not right. These “cheaters” should be reminded that they are not cheating the race but cheating to themselves.

2.  Talk to Foreign Runners—A small gesture of trying to start conversation with foreigners speaks well about us as friendly people.

3.  Analyze Sponsors of the Race—It was a wrong decision on my part to bring with me my Nathan Water Belt. This was my first road race to see bottled water/mineral water being offered in almost all the water stations along the route. I later found out that one of the main sponsors was one of the popular bottled water brands in the country plus the fact that the main supplier of water in Metro Manila was the principal sponsor of the race.

4.  Validate Race Course—I have the “gut feeling” and “experience” to suspect that the course was short. In my running practices in the oval track and in the mountains of Jamindan, my PR time of 46:48 minutes in 10K is consistently my time for my 6-mile distance runs. Which means that I still need to run at least 0.2 mile (equivalent to 320 meters). However, even if the GIG 10K Run was exact and accurate, I could had still got my PR best time with at least a minute or two minutes impovement from my previous PR time.

5.  Race to Improve—The goal in every road race I join is to validate if I am training properly and be able to improve my finish time without any kind of injury or illness after the race.

6.  Kilometer Markings—How I wish race organizers should not miss placing kilometer markings along the route of the race. This is very basic in road races. GIG Run did not have any kilometer markings along the route.

Etiquette In Running

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running4 Comments

1.  Do not cheat. Do not cheat on your registration form. Indicating one’s actual AGE is the most abused data on the registration form where cheating is done.

2.  Do not cheat. Do not make “shortcuts” on road races. Do not ride on vehicles in full marathon races.

3.  Do not cheat. Do not steal ones race number, finish time, or “leap frog” other runners after the finish line.

4.  In your practice runs, smile and greet runner/s you meet along the way. If you don’t want to smile or greet, a simple waving of the hand to a runner you meet is enough.

5.  In a road race, do not cut abruptly infront of the runner you are trying to overtake. Make some hand signals if you have any intention of overtaking or changing your running directions while on a road race.

6.  Look around before you spit while running. Better yet, do not spit while running.

7.  Do not push the runner infront of you once the starting gun had been fired.

8.  Say positive and encouraging words to fellow runners along the way.

9.  Look around before throwing your cups with some water in it. The water might spill on somebody’s shoes.

10. Do not overtake any runner once you are already inside the finish “chute” after passing the finish line.

11.  If you are not registered in the race, do not steal any runner’s number and timing “chip”.

12.  If you think you are an elite runner, position yourself nearest the starting line but if you think you are an average runner, position yourself at the middle of the pack. If you are a “first timer” in a road race and has the objective to finish the race, it would be better to position yourself at the back of the pack. If you are a “walker or slow jogger”, the farthest back of the pack is the best place for you to start the race.

13.  If possible, do not cross the starting line before the start of the race.

14.  If you are annoyed or disturbed with somebody trying to start a conversation with you while on a road race, be polite and make some “actions” that you are concentrated and focused to your goal.

15.  If you finished the race and submitted your race number tag, do not wander around the area before the finish line or within the route. Better yet, to have yourself away from the finish line. 

16.  Running should be fun. Think of yourself and route as your “opponents” in every race.

17.  Train for excellence and improvement. Be patient in training and think positive.

18.  Running is a “social sports”. Be friendly with other runners. If there are “guest runners” from other countries, try to talk with them and praise/commend them for visiting our country.

Travel Time To Laoag City

On By kingofpotsIn Insights4 Comments

One of my visitors had been asking the travel time to Laoag City by land and here is my answer. 

There is no exact travel time by land from Manila to Laoag City. There is a big difference travelling by bus or by personal car/vehicle; or travelling during daytime or nighttime.

Travelling by bus or personal vehicle during daytime will take 10-12 hours depending on the traffic along the road. During nighttime, buses and personal vehicles could reach Laoag City in 7-8 hours.

By plane, Philippine Air Lines has a daily flight from Manila which takes 50 minutes to reach Laoag City.

Day Trip to Manila & Blah..Blah

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, RunningLeave a comment

I left Laoag City at 5:00 AM today on board a car to Manila. It was a slow ride due to heavy traffic in almost all the towns and cities we had to pass through along the way. My son enjoyed the scenery of the rice fields and mountains on the east and the sea shore on the west and most of all, the food we had to eat along the way. In a few days, my son will be going back to Los Angeles.

The trip took us almost 13 hours to reach Manila. We were delayed by a “flat tire” which was brought about by a 4-inch nail that punctured one of the car’s rear tires. We were fortunate to bring the car with air to spare up to Tarlac City. The one who fixed/vulcanized the tire said that the nail came from one of the temporary wooden bridges somewhere between San Fernando, La Union and Tarlac City.

On my way to Manila, I was planning to have an evening run at The Fort but the long trip from Laoag City made me tired and undecided. However, after arriving in my quarters, I noticed that I have more things to do to prepare for my “official” duties and activities for tomorrow. So, I finally decided not to run this evening and I have to go to bed early and prepare for longer runs tomorrow.

Do I Need To Run Twice A Day?

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Practice Runs, Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

When I prepared for my first marathon in the early ’80s, I’ve been running twice a day, running early in the morning and later in the afternoon. I usually start my run in the morning as early as 5:00 AM and finish before 7:00 AM, running a minimum of 10 kilometers. In the afternoon, I start my run at 5:00 PM and finish before 7:00 PM running almost the same distance as what I had covered in the morning.

I was able to do all these runs because I was still young at that time and could easily recover from muscle pains and aches due to running after few hours of sleep and rest. I was glad I did not have any major injuries except for leg cramps, shin splints, and stomach cramps. These pains and aches became my “body signals” when to stop running or reduce my mileage. While I was building my endurance capability, I did not focus on speed for longer distances or tempo play but more on “fartlek” of lesser distances up to 200 meters.

It appears in my readings that there were elite runners who started to introduce lesser mileage and more speed works/tempo runs in their running workouts plus more days to recover in order to improve one’s time to finish the marathon. But this approach to training is only good to elite runners who had reached their peak or best PR and starting to get older. Lesser mileages and more speed/tempo runs as training workout for new/younger runners  is not advisable. This will lead to injuries, frustrations and inconsistencies.

I am reminded of the comment of our postman in Los Angeles who is also a marathoner/runner. After knowing that I ‘ve stopped running for so many years and trying to return to marathon training, he said, “It will be a hard and painful one for you to go back”. I guess, he is telling the truth!

After browsing some runner’s websites, I came upon this website (www.letsrun.com) and these two articles were able to convince me to go “back to basics” on runner’s training.

Starting on New Year’s Day, I will be running twice-a-day on my easy runs to build-up my endurance and slowly get serious with “tempo” runs/speed plays. This will be a very slow process but I am sure this is the right direction to be back as a competitive runner at my age. I know it will take months and years but this is a commitment I should start doing for the year 2008.

To all the Runners, Happy New Year, More Miles To Run & Injury-Free In 2008!!!

Back In Iloilo & Blah de Blah

On By kingofpotsIn InsightsLeave a comment

I bought the most expensive plane ticket from the Philippine Air Lines on Christmas Day for my trip back to Panay Island. For a one-way plane fare (Economy) to Iloilo City on the 27th of December, yesterday, I paid the price for a round-trip ticket. I have no choice as the trips to Roxas City and Kalibo were all full due to influx of passengers and tourists due to the holiday season/vacation.

I got the first trip to Iloilo City departing from Manila at 5:10 AM. I had to wake-up as early as 3:00 AM to prepare my things and for the ride from Fort Bonifacio to the Centennial Airport.

While on the airport, I was able to meet a former classmate in the Academy who just retired from the AFP as a Major General who now manages a financial institution of the AFP. I also met one of the Brigade Commanders in Mindanao who happens to be my undersclass and a friend. He was travelling with his wife. After having some conversations and pleasantries over a cup of coffee, they left ahead of me because their trip was scheduled earlier.

While inside the plane enroute to my destination, one of the stewards happened to be an acquiantance. JR, his name, happens to be a cousin of one of my friends. It is his 4th month as a PAL stewar

After one hour of trip, I finally landed at the new Iloilo City Airport thinking that this was the most expensive plane trip that I had for the past 9 months. I am sure PAL credited me the miles I’ve travelled for this trip in my Mabuhay Miles.

The Day I Became The Bald Runner

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Marathon Race, Running1 Comment

Another title: The day I completely became bald. 

In 1989 while I was in Los Angeles spending a vacation with my family, I noticed an advertisement in one of the magazines I’ve been reading regarding an establishment in North Hollywood that caters wigs and toupees to “Hollywood Stars”. I jokingly suggested to my wife to visit this establishment. Well, she approved of my suggestion and we visited this place. To make the story short, from the day we visited the “wig store”, I was already wearing my first wig!

However, with the popularity of Michael Jordan, being “bald”/shaved head, it started a fashion trend among men. So, my daughter, in June 1997 while visiting in LA, suggested me to remove my wig and sport a complete bald look and she honestly said that I look better with a bald head!

The day before the PAL-Manila International Marathon in 1997, I completely had my head shaved by my official barber in Camp Aguinaldo.

At the starting line of the marathon at the PICC Complex/Cultural Center of the Philippines, I was wearing a runner’s cap and a sports sunglasses that was clipped on my cap. I was running then with Colonel Alan Cabalquinto and we were both sporting a runner’s cap. We wished each other’s “good luck” and vowed to finish the race.

Col Cabalquinto was ahead of me from the starting line and I just maintained my slow pace for the 1st half of the marathon. When I was at the Shangrila Mall area, the sun was already shining and I removed my cap and put on my Oakley sunglasses. From there, I was already the Bald Runner! Infront of the SM Megamall, on my way to Greenhills (the turn-around point), I saw Col Cabalquinto walking and complaining of a pain on his heel for using a wrong running shoes. When I greeted him as I was about to pass him, he was surprised to see me! He was not surprised why I was still on his back after running for 15 kilometers already, but he was surprised with my new look! He was the first one who appreciated and approved of my being bald!!!

I finished the race comfortably in less than four and half hours. I was “powered” by GO Energy Gels/Pastes and PowerBars which were new food supplements for endurance athletes at that time. At one time while I was running along with a male runner at Gil Puyat Ave on my way back to Roxas Blvd in this marathon, I offered one of my GO packets to him. I became a “salesman” first, explaining to him what I am trying to offer, before he tasted it. We finished together at the same time and he thanked me for the food supplement. I guess, the power “gels” gave him the additional strength to finish the race. 

I will never forget the 1997 Manila International Marathon, it was the day The Bald Runner was born! It’s the day I completely shaved my head & started sporting the “bald-look”, shaving my my head every three days since then. It was the day my friends and other people started calling me “Yul Bryner”; “Kojak” (Telly Savalas); “Mikee Jordan” (small MJ); “Kalbo”; and “Bokal”.

Monday: Rest & Recovery Day

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, RunningLeave a comment

After running for 33 kilometers yesterday, I had the whole day of Monday as my rest day. It is a time to recover my energy, by sleeping more hours during the day and eating a lot of food from breakfast to dinner with—broiled fresh “dalag”; crispy “chicharon/bagnet” mixed with bagoong & fresh tomatoes; “dinengdeng” na malunggay leaves with banana mushrooms; salad “caturay” flowers; kilawen na kambing, kalderetang kambing & pinapaitan na kambing; seafoods from roxas city (shrimps & crabs); kilawen na beef “lumo” meat with papait; and lots of fruits.

These foods were coupled with some bottles (at least, one bottle per meal) of San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer and Gatorade.

For snacks, I ate freshly-cooked “pan de coco”, “monay”, “pan de peanut butter” from Town Bakery and the famous “soft” Biscocho from Pasuquin. Fresh Buko juice was my drinks.

Monday, Christmas eve, was a marathon day for eating and sleeping!!!

Running will be resumed tomorrow morning!

North Star 10K Run

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Races, Running2 Comments

This is considered as the Pride of the North in terms of Running Events. It was usually held on the last Sunday of December every year since 1979. Unfortunately, the last North Star 10K Run was held in 2002 and it was never revived up to this day due to lack of sponsors and resources.

Mr. Pompey Crisologo and his brother, Danny Crisologo (sports columnist and sportsman who passed away) were the owners and race directors of this event. The Crisologos in Laoag City are the owners of the North Star Marketing, Inc which is the sole distributor of Petron Gasul in Ilocos Norte.

The race event started as a final test for the year-long running workouts to those who practiced running regularly among the youths, professionals and residents in Laoag and Ilocos Norte which was done on the last Sunday of the year. Cadets, Officers & Enlisted Personnel from the Philippine Military Academy would join this race regularly. Even runners from Manila would join as “free rides” were provided by the Farinas Bus Company, being one of the sponsors of the race.

The 10K route starts from the old Suba, Paoay Sports Complex/at the vicinity of the old Golf Driving Range of the Fort Ilocandia Golf Course. From that point, the runners go south along the Paoay Road where the finish line is at the point on the road directly beside the bellfry/tower of the famous Paoay Church at Poblacion, Paoay.

The first kilometer is the only hard part of the course as it is going uphill. After passing the 1st kilometer mark, the course is relatively a smooth downhill and flat terrain up to the finish line. The route is very near to the seashore as sand dunes are seen on your right while the Paoay Lake is seen at your left for the first 2 kilometers of the route. The rest of the route are bounded by rice fields/garlic fields on both sides of the road.

Mr Pompey Crisologo was my “informal coach” in running when I started training for the marathon. As an observer, he would make a critique on my running form and give tips on running training techniques and strategy. He reads a lot and he was way ahead of me in knowing the best and the latest technology in running, to include accessories in running and latest running news at that time.

This morning, I had a chance to see him in his office/commercial establishment and he is still very active and youthful at his age of 72!!! He is still wearing a running shoes with his jeans. Little did I know that he was 52 years old when he finished his first marathon in 1981 with an average pace of 6:00 minutes per kilometer. He said that he is still helping the sports development in the province with a  sports (running) project spearheaded by his business company and the Office of the Governor where they conduct 5K races in the different municipalities in Ilocos Norte and later have a 10K race for the top finishers/qualifiers in the 5K races. The top runners in this 10K race are “spotted” as future athletes of the province and given proper training as well as scholarships for high school and college degrees. He is proud to say that the province of Ilocos Norte had been a consistent winner/champion in Athletics/Track & Field in the Regional Athletic Meets for the past six years.

How I wish this running event would be revived soon with the help of Governor Michael Keon of Ilocos Norte and former Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, Director of the “Gintong Alay” and a former athlete/runner.