Category: Marathon Race

2008 Boston Marathon Experience

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Running6 Comments

Last night while reading on WordPress’ Tag Surfer’s posted articles related to Running, I came across a personal account of a blogger, Heather Daniel, participating in the most prestigious Boston Marathon which was held last 21 April 2008. It was my first time to visit her blog and I am greatly impressed on her account of her experiences before, during , and after her participation in the 2008 Boston Marathon.

I seldom post in my blog stories and experiences of other runners/bloggers in the Internet because I wanted my blog to be about my training, preparation, my personal observations on the road races I joined, and my personal experiences on running and sometimes about my work. But because of my great admiration of the Boston Marathon’s stories in the 1980s and its prestige it brought to all runners worldwide which I consider as the “Holy Grail” of running, I might as well share the story of Heather to my visitors and friends.

I hope most of you will be inspired after reading her story and who knows, you can make it, too, in the Boston Marathon in the future. This is her story.

Thanks Heather for allowing me to share your blog and story. Happy running!

 

2008 Bataan Memorial Death March

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, Races, Running2 Comments

The 2008 Bataan Memorial Death March was held on 30 March 2008.

In the later months of 1999, I’ve been fascinated and surprised that a sports event among the US military and civilians is being held yearly to commemorate a very important part in the history of World War II that happened in the Philippines in a place called White Sands, New Mex.ico, USA.

As the Chief of Training for the Philippine Army, I conducted this kind of sports event on the second Sunday of April 2000 with the same rules & regulations & format but with a distance of 25 kilometers along the actual route of the Bataan Death March. The sports event was a success but that was the first and the last of it.

Since then, I’ve been browsing on the Internet on the yearly results of this event and even interviewed some of our soldiers who attended military schooling near New Mexico who were required to join in the event.

This is one of my plans after retirement from the active service to experience running a marathon on this special event. Maybe, I’ll give it a try on next year’s event (2009).

However, if there are any interested individual/s who would like to join me and experience this marathon event, we could form into a TEAM to represent our country. Maybe, this TEAM will be the first one to represent our country.

Please leave a comment if you are interested and we will talk about the details of our planning, preparation, training, and support system.

The following were the results of the 2008 Bataan Memorial Death March in every Division/Category Continue reading “2008 Bataan Memorial Death March” →

Are These Guys Crazy?

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Marathon Race, Races, Running14 Comments

Last Monday evening, while reading the newspapers, I found an advertisement entitled “94K Weekend: Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Event” to be held on April 18-20. And some of the events to be held on those days are–94K UltraMarathon event; 42K Marathon event; and 10K Run event–all devoted to running. The other events were about cycling, motor biking, and others not related to running. I did not mind about this ads and I just said to my mind that this something new.

When I visited The Bull Runner’s blog, I found out that in one of the comments where I asked “where is the next race ?”, Atty Jon answered my question with a recommendation to run the 94K Marathon on April 20 and he linked the 94K Weekend website in his comment. I checked on the The Bull Runner’s schedule of running events and I found out that she posted it already with the other running events for the month of April.

Checking on the 94K Weekend website, I found out that the events are really scheduled as advertised. Well, my reaction on this was that the guys who thought of including running events on this 94K weekend event were crazy! These Guys Are Really Crazy! Are these guys had experienced running in road races?

Runners are not “super humans” to prepare and join in a 94K UltraMarathon or 42K Marathon event in 19 days!!! They even stated in their brochure on line that the water stations in the marathon event will be positioned every five (5) kilometers!!! What? These people will kill their runners! The registration fee is very cheap to entice runners to join the event but I think this is also a “cheap” running event even if they posted big amount of cash awards for the winners.

Another sign that the marathon is not well-planned is the fact that the marathon event will start at 5:00 AM. The planners/organizers do not know that it is already summer time and the sun rises at 5:45 AM. If they start at 5:00 AM, the runners will be fighting the heat of the sun after running 8 kilometers which is barely 1/5 of the distance. A combination of the heat of the sun and the far distance in between water stations will give serious problems to the runners. Running along an elevated highway/expressway without any trees on the sides or any shade from the sun and with the heat of the sun and the pavement during summer is something “crazy & unbelievable” to think about.

To the planners/organizers of the 94K Weekend, I suggest you do your “homework” properly and plan at least one year ahead.

As for me, I will not join this inaugural rendition of this 94K Weekend running events. 

Top 20 Male: 2008 Los Angeles Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, Running2 Comments

50 Laban Moiben Marietta GA KEN 24 M 02:13:50 02:13:50 1
21 Christopher Kiprotich     KEN 26 M 02:14:19 02:14:19 2
14 Khalid Kamal Yaseen Pittsburgh PA BHR 25 M 02:15:23 02:15:24 3
10 Augustus Kavuta Tampa FL KEN 31 M 02:16:01 02:16:01 4
7 Franklin Tonorio Tampa FL KEN 38 M 02:16:29 02:16:29 5
12 Odilion Cuahutle     MEX 37 M 02:16:42 02:16:42 6
11 Benson Mbithi Clusane Di Iseo   KEN 29 M 02:17:00 02:17:01 7
23 Lamech Mokono Santa Fe NM KEN 28 M 02:18:40 02:18:41 8
27 Edward Kiptum     KEN 29 M 02:19:21 02:19:21 10
51 Dmitry Safronov Los Angeles CA USA 27 M 02:19:41 02:19:41 11
29 Mark Batres     USA 23 M 02:20:18 02:20:18 12
33 Cristian Villavicencio     NIC 31 M 02:27:55 02:27:56 13
12150 Roy Vargas Heredia   CRI 28 M 02:29:10 02:29:14 15
30 Erwin Eulogio Oroxom Racancoji     GTM 30 M 02:30:30 02:30:31 16
500 Timothy Scarpinato Champaign IL   24 M 02:33:21 02:33:23 17
24275 Sabino Beltran North Hills CA   31 M 02:34:27 02:35:16 19
917 Fermin Sequen Guatemalteco   GTM 40 M 02:34:33 02:34:34 20

Laban Moiben from Kenya received $ 20,000 and a brand-new Honda Car as his prize as the Men’s Champion.

Top nine runners (there is no # 9, # 14, # 18) were all foreigners—7 are Kenyans; 1 from Bahrain; and 1 from Mexico. US runners were at # 11 & # 12.

Out of the top 17 runners, 10 runners belong to the 20-29 years old category; 6 are from 30-39 years old category; and 1 from the 40-49 years old category.

For more information on the XXIII Los Angeles Marathon last 02 March 2008, click here.

Top 20 Female: 2008 Los Angeles Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

F7 Tatiana Aryasova     RUS 28 F 02:29:09 02:29:09 14 1
F50 Yuliya Gromova New York   RUS 33 F 02:34:12 02:34:12 18 2
F3 Jacqueline Nytipei     KEN 24 F 02:37:47 02:37:47 23 3
F12 Albina Gallyamova     RUS 24 F 02:37:50 02:37:50 24 4
F8 Mary Ptikany     KEN 30 F 02:40:12 02:40:12 27 5
F4 Claudia Camargo     ARG 36 F 02:45:17 02:45:17 34 6
F25 Jennifer De Rego     USA 29 F 02:46:24 02:46:24 36 7
F11 Tatiana Titova     RUS 42 F 02:51:32 02:51:32 50 8
12304 Katie Layman Martinez CA   25 F 02:53:44 02:55:02 59 9
24270 Tereso Yanez Los Angeles CA   40 F 02:59:13 02:59:54 89 11
F27 Dina Cruz     GTM 34 F 03:00:04 03:00:04 95 12
23802 Jenn Shelton Bend OR   24 F 03:00:34 03:00:34 96 13
14742 Bari Ramberg Beverly Hills CA   41 F 03:00:49 03:01:05 99 14
23825 Angie Radosevich Eugene OR   32 F 03:03:57 03:04:08 117 15
11041 Corinne Roberts San Francisco CA   22 F 03:07:59 03:09:25 141 16
8245 Teresa Rider Boulder CO   49 F 03:08:27 03:08:34 149 17
561 Linda Rosenthal La Canada CA   42 F 03:10:08 03:10:42 162 18
824 Rossana Robinson Westlake Village CA   45 F 03:10:42 03:10:54 173 19
17869 Jennifer Balentine Lake Tapps WA   33 F 03:12:10 03:12:23 187 20

The LA Marathon organizers introduced the “women challenge format” where the elite women runners were released 20 minutes ahead of the elite men runners and the rest of the runners/particpants. Tatiana Aryasova won a “bonus” prize of $ 100,000 for winning the said race format as nobody from the elite men runners had overtaken her up to the finish line. Tatiana Aryasova from Russia also received $ 20,000 and a brand-new Honda Car as her prize as the Lady Champion.

It should be noted that out of the 19 (there is no # 10 on the list) top female runners, 7 are within the age category of 20-29 years old; 6 are within the 30-39 years old category; and 6 are within the 40-49 years old.

LA Marathon XXIII

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, RunningLeave a comment

02 March 2008

My son, John Paul, just finished the Honda Los Angeles Marathon. He finished in 4:55:14 hours, which is a great improvement from his time last year of more than five hours! As seen from the results, he placed # 5,553 out of 17,011 finishers and he was ranked # 4,219 out of 10,491 males who finished the 42K run. This is his fourth time to run and finish the said race. Despite running 14 miles (22.4 kilometers) as his longest running workout three weeks before the race, he was able to comfortably finish the race with a better time. Unfortunately, my daughter, Jovelle, did not join him in this race this time.

Congratulations, John!

Top 20 Female: 2008 Pasig River Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

             Name                                    Time

1.   Jho-Ann Banayag                      3:02:26

2.  Christabel Martes                      3:o6:50

3.   Jeruto Kigen Caroline               3:10:26

4.   Joanne Manangat                      3:37:33

5.   Flor Donos                                  3:42:46

6.   Katie Fischer                              3:46:09

7.   Anna Vargas                               3:48:16

8.   Enate Sayrol                               3:54:56

9.   Jenny Kinsella                           3:55:01

10. Geraldine Sealsa                       3:58:31

11. Ailyn Morillo                              4:04:55

12. Genevieve De la Pena              4:05:51

13. Mila Paje                                    4:08:43

14. Annie Agoncillo                         4:09:35

15. Joan Pallones                            4:09:36

16. Olive Cortez                              4:11:18

17. Debbie Marie Bautista             4:14:52

18. Daisy Castillon                          4:15:11

19. Reva Magno                              4:20:10

20. Monique Nimo                         4:22:45

Top 20 Men: 2008 Pasig River Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

           Name                                        Time

1.   Kiprotich Birgen Geoffry           2:20:12  

2.   Eduardo Buenavista                   2:25:33

3.   Robert Kosgei                             2:29:06

4.   Allan Ballester                            2:31:05

5.   Bernardo Desamito, Jr.            2:32:41

6.   Juniel Languido                         2:32:52

7.   Cresenciano Sabal                     2:33:34

8.   Julius Kimuge                            2:35:44

9.   Rogelio Sarmiento                    2:38:56

10. Rolando Piamonte                   2:43:08

11. Raul Lamprea                          2:43:39

12. Ruben Samuya                        2:44:36

13. Jessie Ano                                2:44:57

14. Angelo Sibayan                       2:45:27

15. Rodolfo Tacadino                   2:45:36

16. Joel Bengtay                          2:46:00

17. Ramie Lacson                        2:46:30

18. Rabin Dalog                           2:46:51

19. Jerry Lindawan                    2:46:54

20. Marson Tarcelo                   2:47:08

My Official Time @ 2008 Pasig River Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

From the complete results of the 42K-Men of the 2008 Pasig River Marathon (International Philippine Marathon 2008), my Official Time is 4:49:03 hours.

Overall, I finished No. 417 out of 824 finishers.

Lessons Learned: 2008 Pasig River Marathon

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Marathon Race, Running4 Comments

1. Don’t be “mayabang”(boastful)—This was the exact words from my wife when I told her that I was coughing the day before the marathon. Travelling by land for two straight days in the island of Negros just to fulfill my mission to visit my troops and give them their specific mission in the island in person, made a “heavy price” on my health status barely few days before the D-Day. I should had rested when I reached Iloilo City and should had cancelled my oval track run where rains poured on me while running. Sometimes, I forget that I am almost 56 years old and my mind would tell me that I still have the body and strength when I was in my 30s whenever I have my daily runs. This is the most significant lesson I’ve learned in preparing for a marathon race—there is no way I could reach and attain my previous PR time when I was in my 30s! However, breaking sub-four hours in a Marathon Race will be a nice goal after my retirement from the service.

2. Taper and Rest—I guess, my 14 weeks of training for the Marathon Race were not enough to improve my time but just enough to finish the marathon without any injuries or illness after so many years of not training for road races. I should had made my last long run two weeks before D-Day and slowly tapered and rested in the next few days.

3.  From “low-tech to high-tech”—I thought my GF 305 does not have any backlight. It was my fault, I usually do not read the manuals of “high-tech” items, as long as they work, it is fine with me. My thanks to my blog-friends for telling me more about my GF 305.

4.  More mileage & “speed” runs—This is obvious! After retirement, I will try the Lydiard Method of Training. I guess, I have more time to run with no more pressing responsibilities to attend to. Having my grandchildren to “babysit” will be another story! Ha! Ha! Ha!

5.  Sports Gel & Enery Drinks—I have 100% belief that Sports Gel (Gu) and Energy Drinks (Gatorade/Red Bull) give a runner more resistance and strength in marathon races. I consumed at least 8 pieces of Sports GU (Vanilla & Chocolate flavors), a dozen of plastic-bottled Gatorade drinks (from 30 Km mark to the finish line), a dozen of bottled water, and one bottle of Red Bull!

6.  ASICS Running Shoes Forever!—This will be my running shoes, for training & road races, from now on. I have ordered an ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 from my wife as my “gift” to myself for finishing the 2008 Pasig River Marathon.

7.  Start Getting a Running Partner—Since I am alone in my training for the past four months, I didn’t have any training partner except when my son was visiting the country. However, in marathon races, I randomly look for runners whom I think would be a “companion” while running. Sad to say, they have a faster pace and compete with me and sometimes, other runners could not cope up with my pace. I tried picking up a 19-year old boy (with a nice running form) as my running partner at JP Rizal, Makati but after giving him a bottle of water, he just slowed down. At the Pandacan Bridge, I tried to run with a guy who is older than me but ultimately, he walked later along the way. I guess, I need to join one of the Running Clubs at The Fort in order to look for a running partner in marathon races.

8.  Going Back to the Gym—Definitely, I am going back to the gym again to strengthen my calves, thighs, and hamstring muscles. For the past 3 months, I avoided the gym and wanted to reduce my weight by 3-5 pounds and put more time to running. I found out that running is not enough to make your legs more responsive but I need light and high repetition workouts for my leg muscles.

9.  Always “be positive”—Even if I knew I was not 100% healthy & fit a day before the marathon, I knew I could finish the race based from my past experiences and training/preparations. On the last 10 kilometers or 6 miles of the marathon race, everything is about “positive attitude”. You should be able to bring out your “warrior” spirit from your body and pray harder that you will finish the Marathon.

10.  Support Team—You have an “edge” and positive outlook if you have a support team to give you the much-needed assistance along the way. You need a photographer to document the event. I really appreciate the wife and children of a runner, aboard a van, taking his still pictures and video along the route. Of course, if you are a blogger, having your pictures posted on your blog while you are running a Marathon  give/provide more credibility and fun to your readers.