I got my Race Number for the ABS-CBN Foundations’s Philippine International Marathon: Pasig River Marathon this morning at the Foundation’s Office in Quezon City. There was a long line of runners and most of them were angry that they were made to go to the Foundations’s office to retrieve their Race Packets after they were promised to get their packets from the place where they have registered.
As published by the ABS-CBN network, there are 21,000 registered runners for the 3K, 5K, 10K, 42K, 42K/20-man relay and 42K 40-man relay races. From the registered fee of P 250 per runner, the Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig earns an amount of P 5,250,000.
I don’t think I will wear the singlet that goes with the race packet. It is colored aqua blue and it is “heavy”!
We’ll see if the ABS-CBN “Kapamilya” Stars will be there to run with us, even for the short 3K Run.
2009 PIM Race Number
The race strategy is to run comfortably and enjoy the company of other runners and be a part of this noble project to clean the Pasig River. I will give the honor to my Elite Team Bald Runner to race for me as they will compete in the 20-man relay in the 42K Race.
2009 ADIDAS “King of the Road” Half-Marathon Race; 5:30 AM 25 October 2009
In last year’s edition of the ADIDAS “KOTR” Half-Marathon, I had a 13+K running workout on the day before the race. I was able to finish the race with a time of 1:48:55 hours. It was a fast time for me at that time and I was lucky to be wearing a Race Bib with the numbers “888”. Instead of wearing the nice blue singlet provided with the race kit, I was wearing my all-green Patagonia Trail Shorts & Shirt and started to wear my signature “Bandana” wrapped around my neck.
For this year, it was filled with more challenging feats in my running experience. On the day before the race, I joined my first early evening Marathon Race at the SMART 2nd Subic International Marathon along the SCTEX Highway. I was able to finish the race with a blistering pace at 3:58:09 hours. After having my dinner in Subic Freeport, I was on my way back to Manila, arriving in my place at almost 1:00 AM of Sunday.
With barely 3 hours of sleep, I was already prepraring for my next race which is the ADIDAS “King of the Road” Half-Marathon at The Fort. Thirty minutes before the start of the race, I was already inside the coral at the Starting Area. I was surprised to see runners who finished the Subic International Marathon who were raring to run the said race. Other runners from Subic had only 30 minutes of sleep as they went directly to the Starting Line at The Fort after coming from Subic. Hey, this is what I call “hardcore & crazy” runners like me!
I was undecided on what to do during the race. I thought that this race would be my recover run and try my best to finish the race. But on the other hand, I was thinking if I could do a multi-day stage run with barely 8-9 hours in between two runs. Running on the first day for 42 kilometers and then another 21 kilometers for the next and then another number of kilometers for the next day until I reach my destination. And that was what I did on this weekend of October. Who knows one of these days, I will start to run from Manila to Baguio City as my first personal multi-day stage run in my running experience & journey. And maybe after the 2nd BDM 102, I could run a farther distance with more days on the road.
In the true tradition of Mr Rudy Biscocho, after some problems and complaints with the claiming of Race Packets for the early registrants at the SM Megatrade and the announced Race Expo, the race started on time or I rather say earlier than the scheduled time! As the starting gun was fired, I immediately started to jog and then run at my comfortable pace. It could be the “rush of adrenaline” that I did not feel any soreness or pain on my legs during the first few kilometers of the race. I think I was fast on my first 10 kilometers that I was running with a pace of 5:30 minutes per kilometer!
However, on the second half of the race, my legs just went too heavy and I started to slow down. The feeling was like running the 1st BDM 102 on the last 10 kilometers before the Finish Line. I brought out all those “tricks” I could think of to maintain my pace and rythym. I even silently talked to my legs to keep on running and be able to finish the race. Then, I started to “shuffle” and swing my arms as fast as I could. I was thinking of finishing the race below 2 hours that I kept on looking on my GF 305 and trying to calculate my finish time. But my legs were not responding to what my brain was thinking of doing. I did not have any cramps or any “issues” during the race but it came to my mind that a half-marathon was a distance too far to be finished.
Many runners that I met and overtook me would greet me and it gave me some boost to increase my pace but my speed was not improving as I gleaned the data in my watch. When I reached the last 2 kilometers of the route, I was already on “cruise control” and kept my feet moving and pounding on the ground, one foot infront at a time. Finally, I reached the Finish Line in 2:01:30 hours with an average pace of 5:45+ minutes per kilometer which was almost the same pace that I had during the Subic International Marathon!
It was a slow finish time as compared with my past half-marathon finish times but I was able to prove that I could run and survive in a multi-day stage running event. It could be a solo 100-Mile run or a straight 4-5 days run with complete rest in between each day.
My Picture After Finishing The Race
There was nothing to complain in the conduct of the race. The basic needs of the runners were met and given by the Race Organizers. Lastly, the singlet was NICE. My congratulations to Mr Rudy Biscocho on the conduct of the race but he has to improve in the registration system/process for all the runners. Congratulations also to ADIDAS who is really consistent and dependable in conducting this famous race every year.
After a back to back road race in one weekend, I decided to have a 3-day rest & recovery period. The next run would be the Philippine International Marathon: Run For Pasig River.
This is the only Marathon Race that I endorsed and made an article in this blog because of its unique route, its advocacy, and my personal reasons. I cited a lot of reasons in my previous post about this marathon race.
Being a friend to the Race Event Manager, Adi De Los Reyes and the Race Director & Founder of the Subic International Marathon, Retired PNP Chief Superintendent Samuel Tucay, I admit that I was constantly consulted through personal meetings, telephone calls and SMS exchanges weeks before I posted my article endorsing the said Marathon Race. Mr Adi De Los Reyes and I had regular meetings where I made so many inputs on technical matters like the distance in between water aid station, the number of water aid stations, presence of kilometer markings, the availability of bite foods and sports drinks after the 20-Km mark, the serving of Draft Beer to the marathon finishers once they cross the finish line ( an idea that I suggested to Adi after witnessing the conduct of the 1st MASTERS 15K Run inside Camp Aguinaldo), and lastly, the availability of lights and illumination devices along the route where street lights are not available or installed as part of the highway. Plans and Powerpoint Presentations were sent to me through e-mails on the details on how the race will be implemented and I was impressed how Adi and his people prepared for the said race.
My Elite Team Bald Runner and Support Staff left Manila before 11:00 AM and went directly to the Remy Field in Subic Freeport. As we were passing along the stretch of SCTEX, I briefed my Elite Runners on the general terrain of the route and what to expect along the route to include the estimated point along the route where darkness starts. I even told them to take extra careful on the uphill condition before the Tipo Tollway/Booth as the space reserved for the runners is very narrow and take precaution while running inside the tunnel. I even warned them on the steep downhill portion towards the streets of Subic Freeport and ultimately towards the Remy Field. We tried to estimate the Kilometer markings from the Tipo Tollway towards the Finish Line for the appreciation of the Elite Runners if in case they want to make some burst of speed towards the Finish Line in order to overtake the runners infront of them.
After checking on the Finish Line at Remy Field, we proceeded to Jollibee for our meals before the start of the race. It was already 2:00 PM when all the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner took their meals before the start of the race. After our meal, we left some of our athletes inside the Base and the rest of the athletes served as the support crew of our elites running the full marathon distance.
After some confusion along the SCTEX highway towards the Starting Area, we missed the Floridablanca Exit and we have to take the next exit which was another 15 kilometers away! However, we reached the Starting Area at 3:45 PM and we had enough time to greet and meet other runners from Metro Manila. It was a nice get-together marathon race with the 1st BDM 102 Finishers; members of the Team Hardcore; takbo.ph people; visitors & readers of this blog; the Executives of SMART & SMARTSPORTS; runner-bloggers; 1st time Marathoners; the Kenyan runners; Chief Supt Sam Tucay; Adi De Los Reyes; MASTERS runners; and other runners coming from the different provinces and regions of the country.
Instead of stretching and having warm-up jogs before the race, the spare time before the race was spent by talking to everybody, greeting other runners, getting to know other runners, and most of all, lots of time for photo-ops! After our Race Bibs were counter-checked, we were surprised that all the runners should also dip their right index finger to an indelible ink, similar to the ink being used by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as a sign that the runner really started at the Starting Line. Very interesting preventive measure to catch cheaters but I really don’t know if some of the runners took a ride in some of the vehicles allowed along the route, most especially when it was already totally dark along the route. Since I was warned beforehand that I will be leading the Oath of Sportsmanship among the Runners, I stayed near the the pick-up truck where the EMCEE was located. After the Invocation, Singing of the National Anthem, and Short Talk by the Race Organizer, I was called to lead the said Oath. The Oath was in English but I have to translate the whole long oath to its simplest terms, “Huwag Mandadaya” (Do Not Cheat In This Race!). After a few words from the Race Organizer, the starting gun was fired and we were off!
My personal objective in this race, being my 5th Marathon Race for the year, was to break my 33rd MILO Marathon FINALS finish time of 4:03:55 hours and have a time of sub-4 hours. However, at the back of my mind, my target time was to break my 32nd MILO Marathon FINALS time last year of 3:48:32 hours and shave some minutes from this time. The plan was to finish the 1st 10K in 52:50 minutes; half-marathon in 1:52:00 hours; and finish the race in 3:47+ hours or less. I was thinking positively about this very daring goal despite my marathon finish at MILO two weeks before this race; a slow Half-Marathon finish time at the 1st QCIM a week before this race; and I have only two tempo run sessions before this race. Well, who says that you need to taper before a Marathon Race when I am presently training for my 2nd BDM 102 or maybe my first 100-miler in the United States? Nice idea!
From the Starting Line, I immediately settled to my own running space and running pace as I saw the leading group of Kenyan runners blasting their pace at least 200 meters ahead from where I was located. After negotiating a long curve as we turned left towards the outbound lane from the SCETX, I was with a group of runners consisting of junrox aka tiger boy, runner ilustre from the Fairview Runners, and a group of PNP runners. I started to glance my GF 305 after running for about 2 minutes and I was glad that I was running within the pace of 5:33 minutes per kilometer. Junrox, Ilustre and I started to talk about the course, about the notion that the course is 85% downhill as posted by one of the runner-bloggers who made a recon of the route weeks before the race. After one kilometer of the race, it was downhill and my body tend to be pulled by the gravity and I took the advantage of making my pace faster. On the next two kilometers, I was already running at a pace below the 5-minute per kilometer pace. On our first gradual uphill, I was telling Junrox that there is an illusion on the actual terrain of the route if one is observing while riding inside a car as compared when you are actually walking or running on the said highway. Surprisingly, I was maintaining my pace on the 5:05-5:15 minute pace while running the first uphill climb of the route.
I finished the first 10K in 52: 39 minutes, a few seconds faster than the planned time. Junrox and I started to have a mini-race between the two of us where we alternately lead each one another from the Km-10 point and onwards. As we raced one another, we started to pass other runners and chase the runners infront of us. However, we increased our distance from the runners trying to keep up with our pace. My GF 305 started to register a pace of 5:25-5:35-minute per kilometer pace from Km 15 up to Km 20 and Junrox started to run a faster pace as he was ahead of me by 10 meters. My slower pace could be attributed to the dark environment and not being able to see a complete picture of what is on the ground and what is infron of me. I think my legs and mind hesitated and the fear of the unknown while running in the dark greatly contributed to my slow pace. Even if I brought my lightest handheld pin light to intermittently light the ground at least 1-2 meters ahead of me, this situation slowed me down. My legs were still strong and I felt no pain or soreness while running.
As we got nearer to the Subic Freeport, the strong headwind meeting the runners was another factor that made this race a challenging one. The strong winds was coming from the sea! It might be a significant factor that affects the pace of a runner when running against the wind but I tend to force my body to bend forward from the waist and dock in order to lessen my body resistance against the wind. The headwind, the darkness, and the lack of water and water aid stations contributed for my slower pace after passing through the Halfway Mark.
After the halfway mark, I observed that there were at least two water stations which were not placed or positioned at all! As I was infront and ahead from most of the runners, I had no problems of getting at least two cups of water in every water station table. However, I have observed that the length of the tables/water station were too short!!! If 3-4 runners stopped at the same time infront of these water stations, there would be no more space for the other runners to squeeze in to grab a cup of water from the table. But what was a glaring sin or omission from the Race Organizer is the fact that, there were no water stations on a place where the runners needed most. This is the long uphill climb towards the Tipo Tollway.
While running alone in the dark from Km 25 up to Km 32, I was thinking of what happened to those “consultations” and “suggestions” I discussed with Adi De Los Reyes. I knew Adi was very responsive to my suggestion and a regular reader of this blog but I was not satisfied with what I saw during the race. At least 36 hours before the start of the race, I made a post in this blog warning my readers to bring their headlamps and handheld mini-mag light/flashlight as darkness will meet the runners after one-hour of running. I did not see long water tables and the Sports Drinks/Pocari Sweat drinks were mixed with the Water Aid Station that I made a mistake of pouring a whole cup of Pocari Sweat on my head! Where are those bite foods, more sports drinks, Cloud 9 Chocolate bites and FITA salted cookies that I suggested placed strategically on places after the Halfway Mark? How come it is only the place leading to the Tipo area and the tunnel where there are illumination and lights? There were no lined vehicles to light up the route and there were no enough light domes to privide lights to the route. Everything went wrong on the Support Services for the runners from the Halfway Mark up to the Finish Line. I just said to myself while running that there was nothing new to expect in this race. Instead of ranting and complaining silently, I shifted my concentration on making sure to finish this race in less than 4 hours without any issues and injuries.
Not that I don’t trust our Race Organizers, most especially in Marathon Races! As “road warriors” my team competes and is prepared for the battle at hand. Since I have competitive Elite Athletes with the sole and focused objective of winning the race, my team provides a Support Group that “leap-frog” every two kilometers ahead of our runners and the support given to my runners are very exclusive and specially prepared for them. My support team provides them with Sports Gel, Sports Drinks & cold water in ice-candy plastic bags and sometimes food at the halfway mark! Aside from GU Roctane Sports Gel that I take every 10 Kilometers, it is a must that I eat one serving of hot oatmeal and hard-boiled egg. And I did that at the halfway mark of this race! Eating while doing my “brisk walking” break which took me for less than a minute. My Support Team even served hot coffee for my elite runners during the race!
As I entered the Tipo Tollway, I was confident that I could make it in sub-4 hour marathon finish. My pin light helped me a lot on that downhill dark portion where I increased my pace at 5:30 minute per kilometer until I reached the streets of Subic Freeport. As I approached the Km 40 mark, my left calf muscle started to have cramps as I increased my pace! I started talking silently to my calf muscle to relax and don’t make my legs to stop running while making my pace slower. I still maintained my running form with my left foot hitting the ground lightly and not applying any force on it. My right leg did a lot of the hard work but after running a distance of 200 meters, my cramps just disappeared. The 200 meters gave me an average pace of 6:30 minutes per kilometer pace but after my recovery from the cramps, my succeeding pacing registered a 5:45 mpk pace on my next kilometer. My last 500 meters to the Finish Line registered a fast pace of 5:00 mpk!
I finished this race in 3:58:09 hours, a decent sub-4 hours finish (based from my GF 305) with an average pace of 5:45 minutes per kilometer which I consider the most challenging Marathon Race I’ve experienced for this year.
Still Smiling & Happy At The Finish Line.
After crossing the finish line, I was waiting for the race volunteers to serve me a cold Draft Beer, instead, I was greeted by runner-bloggers and runners who were at the Remy Field Oval Track. Being frustrated not seeing a Draft Beer Station, I just left the Area and proceeded to our support vehicle and prepared to leave for Manila.
I dedicate this Marathon Race to Mamang (my Mom) who died after I finished the 1st Subic International Half-Marathon last year. I am sure she must be proud of me with her “friends” in heaven!
(Note: I will be writing about my detailed observations and assessment on this race in my next blog post)
5:00 AM October 18 2009; Quezon City Circle @ 1st Quezon City International Marathon (1st QCIM)
Weeks before the conduct of this race, I was requested by the Race Organizers to have the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner as “Official Pacers” for beginners/”newbies” for the Marathon Race participants. Since almost all the members of my Elite Team will be running the said race and the Mt Mayon Trail Race, I could not provide any of my runners for the said task. Actually, I did not have any plans of joining this Marathon Race after my scheduled run with the 33rd MILO Marathon FINALS and my participation in the SMART Subic International Marathon (SIM). I really wanted to rest and recover after the MILO Race and plan to have a faster pace for the SMART SIM.
My plans changed completely when my daughter arrived from Los Angeles, California for an 11-day vacation in the country. She wanted to experience a road race in Metro Manila which is a longer race that her brother, John Paul, had experienced last January of this year. Knowing that her brother finished the Resolution 10K Run last January at MOA-PICC Grounds, she wanted to have a longer distance than what her bother experienced. So, I immediately registered her and myself for the QCIM Half-Marathon Race.
I knew that running with my daughter will entail some adjustments with my running style, plans & strategy. First, I accept that I will be the official Pacer and Support Crew for my daughter aside from being the “bodyguard” to her during the run. Second, from a race pace speed, my pace would be a 50% of my total effort as my daughter’s best time for the half-marathon is 2:11+ hours but I was ready that we will go slower than this time because of her lack of mileage training and her lack of adjustments with the weather and humidity here in Metro Manila.
A Pose At The Starting Line
My daughter arrived in Manila on the early morning of Tuesday, 5 days before the race, and I think we had only 2-3 occassions where we had a running workout together along the Bonifacio High Street Loop; Lawton Avenue to C-5 turn-around point and McKinley Hill Loop run before the Half-Marathon Race day. During our runs, I’ve observed that she was sweating heavily and running out of breath due to the temperature and humidity despite our slow and comfortable pace. We did some runs in the morning and in the late afternoon towards evening. However, in our last running workout, she was able to run a longer distance and she could maintain a steady pace despite the warm temperature. While we had our workouts, we talked about our plans & race strategy for the Half-Marathon, to include our hydration and nutrition plans for the race.
The Crowd & Runners of the Half-Marathon Race
At 4:50 AM of October 18, we were already one block away from the Starting Area as we decided to alight from our vehicle on the first road block towards the Quezon Circle. As we were walking, I saw Kim Ong asking us if we need a ride and we said that we just walk towards the assembly area as our warm-up for the race. Once we reached and entered the coral area for the runners, I was approached by Mr Disini, President of the RUNNEX & Councilor Doray Delarmente and I introduced my daughter to them. I met and greeted more runners while a group stretching session was being conducted to the runners. My daughter and I settled at the middle of the pack and waited for the starting gun to sound off. At exactly 5:30 AM, the starting gun went off and we started jogging.
It was still dark when we proceeded to the UP Academic Oval and I became the “tourist guide” to my daughter telling her about those weekly road races being held at the UP Diliman Campus. We had a slow and comfortable pace as I chat to my daughter trying to determine if she can cope up with the pace. I made sure that she was the one dictating the pace and sometimes prod her to increase her pace. As we approached the Commonwealth Avenue, the surroundings was becoming brighter and that we could see a lot of runners for the 10K & 5K running along the said avenue. After turning right to Commonwealth Avenue, I was surprised to see the vast expanse of the road entirely for the runners only. It was a different sight to behold while at the left side of the road was full of vehicles not to be moving at all.
Mark Parco Took This Picture Before The Halfway
I ran conservatively in terms of my pace and the way my foot strike the ground. I knew that the cemented road was hard to the feet and the legs and I tried to be light on my pace as much as possible. Many runners would overtake us along the way and I would greet them and smile at them. More of the faster runners who had reached the turn-around point on the road that goes to the Batasan Pambansa would greet me during the race. We just maintained a comfortable pace of 7:30-7:45 minutes per kilometer.
We did not have any problems with our hydration from the Water Stations. I am sorry to say that the tables were still small and that it could only accommodate a number of water cups eventhough the Race Organizers placed a lot of Water station tables along the way. I made it a point to increase my pace whenever I could see a water station way ahead of us and pick-up at least two cups for the two of us. This ritual had been repeated every time there was a Water Station that we passed.
While we were running, we had to briefly stop and take some pictures to my daughter as she was happy to see the students cheering the runners and those bands along the way. She was happy to have made some pose as her remembrance in joining this 1st QCIM Half-Marathon. I had observed that my daughter was enjoying the experience along the Commonwealth Avenue with all those cheering and bands but she became more silent and serious when we finally entered North Avenue and back towards the Finish Line. The heat and the humidity was taking its toil to us as we maintained our pace along this road. I was surprised to see illegal settlers on government lots near the Veterans Memorial Hospital with the SM North EDSA as the background. It had been years that I was able to pass along this road. I hope that something will be done to get rid of these illegal settlers in government lots reserved for government offices & institutions.
While running, it was my duty to carry the GU Roctane/Energy Gels for my daughter as I wore my Fuel Belt with Pouch. She was able to finish at least three pieces of GU Sports Gel. What was good was that we did not have any problems with the supply of water and water cups on the Water Stations along the way. I did not hear any complaints from my co-half-marathon finishers about the lack of water along the route as compared to the complaints I heard and read on the runners who finished the marathon race.
Passing The Finish Line After 2:42+ Hours
The presence of kilometer markings along the way made comfort to us runners most especially on the last 4 kilometers. The overcast sky made the slower runners like us to be covered by the intense heat of the sun and finished the race without any problems related to heat injuries.
My daughter and I finished the Half-Marathon race in 2:42:29 hours based from GF 305 with an average pace of 7:37 minutes per kilometer. The distance registered 21.35 kilometers. After passing the Finish Line, we got our respective Finisher’s Medal and Certificate. After some photo-ops inside the Quezon Circle, we started to proceed back to our vehicle and changed our wet running apparel. Although my daughter was too tired after finishing the race despite of lack of mileage, she managed to smile and happy that she was able to finish her 1st International Road Race which is a Half-Marathon. She told me that she ran the said race as a “bragging rights” to her brother, John and officemetes/clients & friends.
Walking Towards The Awarding Of Finisher's Medals
As an assessment on the conduct of the 1st QCIM, I firmly believe that we could bring back the glory and exposure of running during the late 70s and the whole of 80s when the national government and the local government entities were at the forefront and directly involved in the conduct of road races as big as an International Marathon Race. It can be done! The participation of the Kenyan runners was also a commendable effort on the part of the Race Event Management to make the event truly an international race.
There were so many complaints about the lack of water and water station along the marathon route but this could be improved in the next edition of the race with the hope that this event will be continued and sustained in the years to come. I just hope that the Race Organizer/s have the courage to explain and answer the concerns of the runners during the race through their websites and/or blogs of affected runners.
Congratulations to the City Government of Quezon City, Race Organizers, RUNNEX, and to all the Finishers of the Race who most of them came from the different cities of the country.
I DO!!! I listen to RUN Radio regularly since it started airing on the last Friday of July this year. I heard about this project/program at least a month before it was launched from no less than its Executive Producer, Ms Marga Deona.
The RUN RADIO is being hosted by Jaymie Pizarro aka The Bull Runner & publisher of TBR Magazine and Jay Nacino aka Prometheus Cometh. The program is regularly aired at FM Radio NU107 every 9:00PM to 10:00PM on Fridays.
It was funny that I had to look for my National/Panasonic transistor radio (battery-operated only) which I bought in 1995 before I was designated as the Battalion Commander of the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Ilocos Norte and later transfered to Ilocos Sur and then to Abra. I missed the first 10 minutes of the initial airing because I found out that the batteries were not working and had to buy a new set.
Well, the first airing was not perfect as expected but it was a learning experience for the announcers, producer/director, and guests. But in the later editions, the program had improved and it had served its purpose as the radio program for runners. But I never encountered or read any post from any of the running blogs discussing on their observations about RUN RADIO, other than the presence of a dedicated website for the said program where anybody could browse and hear its past editions.
However, I have the following observations and/or questions to be answered. Let these questions serve as “guides” for the people behind this program.
1) Who are the target audience? Having a Radio Program on the FM Radio limits the projection or signal reception to a limited area. I really do not know if FM NU107’s signal is being transmitted nationwide. When I was on my way back from Calamba, Laguna after a Running Clinic in one Friday evening, I tried to get the reception of the said radio station while we were on traffic but I was not able to get any signal. I missed the said program where Senator Pia Cayetano was the guest. If the target audience is for the people of Metro Manila, then fine! How I wish the runners in the provinces would also benefit from this running program. How about looking for an AM radio station with Nationawide Coverage that could air such program so that more people would listen to it? I am sure the runners in Cebu City, Laoag City, Baguio City, Davao City and other runners in key cities in the country would be happy to interact in the said program. With the presence of a dedicated website, anybody who has an access to the Internet would listen to the past editions of the radio program.
2) Why Do the Announcers Have to Speak In English? I believe that running is a “mass-based” sports and for us to promote running to everybody, the running program’s messages/information should be delivered in a dialect/language that could be understood by everybody or majority of the people. Why not speak in Tagalog or “Taglish”? This is the reason why popular & famous TV and Radio news programs and other informative programs are delivered in Tagalog, in order to reach more audience to the “grassroots” level. If we want to encourage more runners, then we have to communicate easily to them through the local dialect. With the presence of technical and scientific terms in running like, “fartlek”; glucose; calories; stride frequency; footstrike; names of running-related injuries; pronation; supination; parts and types of running shoes, and others, I think there is no need to look for translations for these terms in the Tagalog dialect. Speaking in “Taglish” with these terms is acceptable.
3) Is there anybody trying to find out the History of Running in the country? Research, research, and research. How I wish that somebody should be doing the research about the history of running in the country and reminding the younger audience about how running was conducted during those days. My blog would be a good source for such information and I really don’t have the intention of being a guest or resource person in this program as I would like to give way to more popular and authorities/experts in running as guests like the President of PATAFA, our Race Organizers, our past athletes/runners who gave glory & pride to the country (the likes of Lydia De Vega, Elma Murros, Isidro Del Prado, Roy Vence, Rey Antoque, and other past Champions of prestigious Marathon Races) in past International Games. It would be nice to invite Mr Rudy Biscocho for him to share to us the history of running in the country, too. (Note: After saying “No” or looking for alibis for me to be excused as guest for the radio program, Marga had consistently talked to me and invited me whenever I met her in my workouts and during races. Finally, I was out of reasons not to visit the station. Thus, I was the guest on last week’s 10th edition of the program).
4) Why don’t they try to invite the Running Clubs in the 70’s and 80’s who have survived through the years? The RUNNEX, CAMANAVA, Sta Rosa (Laguna) Runners and RUNCPI Running Clubs or maybe, the HING’s Running Club are the “old ones” whose experiences in the past years in running are good source of running information due to their experiences and exposures in road races in the past.
5) Why is it that this program does not give any critique to previous road race/s for the week? There should be a way to give feedback on previous road races for the weekend, whether positive or negative, so that Road Organizers or Events Managers would be able to improve the way they conduct their road races. It is in this forum that runners would be able to expose “problems/concerns” during the said race and for the Race Organizer to have also an air time to explain his/her side. Writing a post on blogs in order to criticize or give feedback is not enough as the Race Organizer do not have a chance or opportunity to explain his/her side. At this point, it would be a nice suggestion for Ian Alacar, the takbo.ph people, and the Rotary group to be the next guests for them to explain to the runner-listeners about their side on the last race’s problems/concerns ( like the short distances, limited parking areas, thefts in parking areas, etc.).
6) Did you know that the MILO Marathon Finals in the 90’s were broadcasted “LIVE” on DZFM SPORTS RADIO 738 AM BAND? How I wish the RUN RADIO could have this capability in the future.
7) How much do the sponsors pay for the one-hour air time on the said FM Station? I observed that the announcers kept on repeating Advertisements of this and that running store and business facility during the program.
8) Why is RUNRadio selective in promoting road races? I hope that all road races published at takbo.ph and/or at philrunners.com would be advertised or announced during the airing of the radio program. It would be good if the Race Organizer of each running event would be invited to talk about their race in the said program. Whether it is MILO Marathon or Pasig River Marathon, everybody must be equally treated to announce their Road Race.
9) Invite Sports Editors of our daily newspapers and appeal to them to reserve a space for a Running News & Photo Section in their Sports Section. We should not be reading about the conduct of a road race in the Lifestyle Section of the newspapers. Sports writers/reporters who cover running events & road races should also be invited to this program. At least, these newspapers are widely distributed throughout the country.
I know this post will raise “eyebrows” again and hope to receive comments from my readers who have different views from what I’ve written. But at the end of the day, we are all runners who would like to spread the benefits of running and be able to enjoy and have fun in this sports that we love.
I’ve written the abovementioned post a few days after the conduct of the ROTARun last month but I did not publish it due to other stories.
Well, I finally had a chance to be the guest in last Friday’s edition (October 9, 2009) with the condition that the interaction will be in Tagalog or Taglish and the “script”/guide questions be given to me thru my e-mail at least two days before the day of interview. And so, Marga did a wonderful job of sending me the list of questions in Tagalog and I immediately answered them with sentence outline as my “guide” during the interview.
Minutes before my interview started, Marga, the Executive Producer of the Program and I had a serious conversation about my suggestions & feedbacks about the program. I mentioned to her the items that I discussed in this post plus my “honest-to-goodness” impression about the program. I emphasized to her that running is a “mass-based” sports that even the “poorest” class of our society should be able to do and this is where the future elite runners come from. I have the impression that “Run Radio” is a running program for the elite class of the society and this is the reason why I suggested to Marga to invite runners in the past and ordinary people and persons who run as part of their daily lives.
For the details of my interview with the Run Radio, please visit the blogsite at www.runradio.wordpress.com.
Overall, this is a commendable project/program where our running community could interact and share information with one another. My congratulations to Marga, Vimz, Jaymie, Jay, and Bards for their unselfish acts of promoting running in the country. Keep up the good work!
(Note: Please provide a chair for the older runner-guests in this program. Runners have strong legs but they could not withstand their legs standing for a long period of time. If you invite Mr Amado Castro, Jr, Kim Ong, Rudy Biscocho, Victor Ting or Norio Tanaka, I think they need a chair)
BR, Jay & Bards During the ProgramRun Radio & QCIM Guest (Ron)These Guys (Jay, Bards, & Marga) Are Great!!!
Thanks to Ben Chan of Photovendo for the following pictures:
Up to Km 30 Point
Instead of my usual bandana, I was using a “Buff” bandana on my head to absorb my sweat from my head and keep my eyes & face from the dripping sweat. As I passed the Water Stations, I usually grab two cups of water—one cup for drinking and another cup for dousing water on my head. The wet/damp “Buff” bandana also served as my head “coolant” most especially when the sun’s heat brought higher temperature during the race.
The race bib’s size was too big that I had to fold it on both ends to make it better looking with the MILO singlet. I had been consistently pinning my race bib on my breast and never been using some “race belts” and either pinning my race bib on my running shorts. Why? That’s is the proper way I know that even world elite athletes in international competitions would do to display their race numbers.
The MILO singlet was nice and I did not experience any “chafing” on my arms, nipples, or any part of my upper torso. You must have noticed the “ice candy” plastic bag filled with water on the side pocket of my running shorts! These are my “hydration containers” in marathon races! Yes, my running shorts from The North Face is now my favorite running shorts for the marathon distance because it has side and back pockets. One side pocket can accommodate two pieces of Sports Gel packets. I usually carry 4 Sports Gel packets during marathon races and this running shorts fits well with my needs. As for the back pockets, I used them as my “thrash bag”. Each side pocket could also accommodate at least two “ice candy” bags filled with water. I started using this TNF running shorts during the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon and I used it again during the MILO Marathon Eliminations.
On My Last Turn Before The Finish Line
I was using ASICS-Gel Hyper Speed 3 Racing Flat shoes with Drymax Socks and I found comfort and blister-free with the shoes and socks!
Last 20 Meters To The Finish Line
On my last 8K as the sun’s heat was too much to bear, I adjusted the way I wore the “Buff” bandana in order to cover my head and at the same time my nape. I usually tie around my wrist the blue-colored string given in one of the turn-around points instead of wearing it as a necklace! Lastly, the “ONE” White Wrist Band is always there on my right wrist as my “symbol” for my part or contribution in the worldwide advocacy to “make poverty a history”.
Thanks to the Finish Line of Coach Rio De La Cruz & Vince Mendoza for the Timing Chip & for the fast publication of the following RunPix Results:
Gun Time: 4:03:55 hours
Net Time: 4:03:43 hours
Finisher #92 out of 125 Finishers. I wonder what happened to the other 112 runner-qualifiers for the Final Race! They must have DNFed!
Finisher #82 out of 112 Finishers in the Male Category.
Average Pace: 5:47 minutes per kilometer or 9:18 minutes per mile.
Time of Finish & Average Pace:
From 0K to 9.8K—-57:32 minutes @ 5:52 minutes per kilometer
From 9.8K to 25K—-1:30:08 hours @ 5:56 minutes per kilometer
From 25K to 35K—-54:51 minutes @ 5:29 minutes per kilometer
From 35K to Finish—41:12 minutes @ 5:44 minutes per kilometer
So far, so good, this was my 4th Marathon Race for the year. Not bad for a 57-year old Bald Runner!
In last year’s MILO Marathon Finals, I was able to peak for my marathon training and I was able to register a finish time of 3:48:32 hours. I was not able to join the Marathon elimination run last year but I was able to make some arrangements with the Race Director for me to join the Finals, hence, I was able to participate in the said race.
This year, I was able to participate in the MILO Marathon Eliminations but I was not able to qualify because I finished the race in 4:20:45 hours. This was due to the fact that I participated in the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon five weeks in between two marathon races. However, with the popularity of this running blog, I was able to make some arrangements (again!) to run the FINALS as a “guest runner”. But I have to “pay back” for such request as I was requested by the Race Organizer, my friend, Mr Rudy Biscocho to deliver an inspirational message to the Finalists of the Marathon Race during its Carbo-loading Party last Thursday evening at North Greenhills Clubhouse. The gist of my Inspirational Message speaks well of the title of this post.
Inspirational Talk @ MILO Carbo-Loading Party
I arrived at the Luneta Park at 4:00 AM and I immediately set my GF 305 and made a slow jog in order to warm-up. After a few minutes, I joined the members Team Hardcore and Finishers of 1st BDM 102. We had “photo-ops” and brief chat with one another. From there, we proceeded to the Starting Line. At the Starting Line, I was able to meet the other runners and Executives of NESTLE/MILO who are joining the 42K Race.
Group Picture With Team Hardcore & 1st BDM 102 Finishers
At exactly 4:29 AM, the starting gun went off and I placed myself at the back of the runners. I planned to run with an easy even pace for the whole race and I was hoping to have an extra strength at the last 10 kilometers to have a finish time of less than 4 hours.
After running through this course for so many times, I was already confident to finish the race right from the very start and did not mind about the terrain of the route. The thing that kept me worried was at what point or distance where I will encounter my first “muscle cramps”? Three weeks before this race, I did a 40K long steady run as part of my preparation for this race and I never had any cramps during this workout. As compared during the last Elimination Race, I had my muscle cramps at Km #16 and it affected my finish time.
@ Bayani Road
I finished the 1st 10K in 56:15 minutes and I was confident that I could meet my objective for this race. After running 20K, I was still within my planned finish time but I started to slow down while I was on my way back to the Finish Line. The heat of the sun and the humidity made me slower but I was able to maintain a sub-6-minute per kilometer pace on the last 10K. It was only at Km # 36 that I checked on my GF 305 and my time registered at 3:22+ hours. I started to panick and tried to increase my pace. At this point, I knew I could make it but every time I increased my pace, my legs would act otherwise and they became heavier. I did not feel any cramps but I could not simply lift my knees higher and drive my arms faster.
@Lawton Avenue-Essensa Area ( See the Background!)
@ Roxas Boulevard/2K to the Finish Line
Along the last 3K before the Finish Line, I was distracted by a number of cyclists who were going on counter-flow right where the exact direction of my run. I could not understand why these cyclists would meet head-on with the runners while the road is too wide for them on my right side. I had to shout at these cyclists and told them to clear the path for the runners. I even dared one of them to collide with me! But, on the last few feet, they had to avoid me. It was a better option for them to avoid me rather than the cyclist falling to the ground.
@The Luneta Near The Finish Line
Except for this negative observation/experience during the race, the MILO Marathon Finals have improved a lot. At last, I was able to see long tables filled with lots of water cups up to the last water station before the Finish Line. There were lots of route marshals and Traffic Enforcers of each City were properly briefed on what they have to do in order to give way for the runners and at the same time decongest the traffic brought about by the Marathon Race. The presence of Reinier Pacific & Takbo.ph Volunteers and Aid Station at Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) was very helpful to all the runners which offered chopped fresh fruits (apples & oranges) and efficascent oil spray for the muscles. My sincerest thanks to Mr Amado Castro, Jr for having the initiative to bring to the country what he had observed and experienced when he “racewalked” the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon last May. How I wish that those “more influential” runners who have experienced running Marathon Races in other countries would also take the initiative to offer support to runners in Marathon Races. “Mayayabang kayong sabihin sa mga “media releases” ninyo na natapos ninyong tumakbo ng Marathon Races sa Europe at America, pero wala naman kayong ginagawa para tulungan kaming mga mahihirap na mananakbo para pagandahin natin ang Marathon Races dito sa Pilipinas”.
Not only the presence of abundant water stations, MILO’s Race Organizer made good in making it standard to have “Gatorade Stations” along the route which were located in between the Water Stations. I also appreciate the presence of a Fruit Stand/Station at the corner of Lawton Avenue and Bayani Road.
Gone are those Maynilad Water Lorry Trucks that we always see parked beside the Water Stations! Instead, I was able to see lots of Nestle Bottled Water containers and I assumed that we were drinking bottled water during the race as briefed by the Executives of MILO during the Carbo-Loading Party. This was a nice improvement!
So far, the most commendable innovation in this edition of MILO Marathon Finals is the RFID Timing Chip! I was happy to see the “sad faces” of identified consistent cheaters of this marathon race as I met them near the turn-around points along the route. However, I got an information that one of the top 15 finishers in the 42K race was “caught” cheating (by making the race as a relay run of two runners).
I finished the race in 4:03:54 hours (based from my GF 305), a few minutes from my target finish time of sub-4 hours! I did not encounter any muscle cramps during the run and I was fully satisfied with my performance. My average pace was 5:44 minutes per kilometer with an average HR of 152 bpm. However, I don’t complain this time that my GF 305 registered a distance of 42.46 kilometers.
Congratulations to Mr Rudy Biscocho, to the NESTLE, Philippines and to the Volunteers for a “world-class” marathon race in the country. MILO Marathon Race proved it once again that it is the most prestigious and well-represented marathon race in the country today. I just hope that NESTLE/MILO would bring back those times when the Champion/s of the Marathon Finals were sent to Marathon Races in key cities in the United States/Europe. Who knows another Manny Pacquiao or Efren “Bata” Reyes would emerge as Marathon Champion in one of these International Marathon Races. This is a dream but it could be done!
See you at the Starting Line in the next Marathon Race for this month of October!
Last Sunday was the 5th edition of the Octoberun which is a yearly road racing event organized/managed by the members of the Fort Striders Running Club. My high respect goes to this running group as it had been consistently holding their running practices and workouts with their members at The Fort for the past years since the place started to have wider streets and vertical constructions.
Few days before the staging of the race, I asked Felsie from the Fort Striders if the race will push through because of the threat that Typhoon “Pepeng” would hit Central Luzon and she answered positively. I had predicted that this race will push through because I know the people who are behind this running group—they are dedicated & “hardcore” runners who are serious and know what & how it takes to manage a good road race.
Runners who decided to join the race were surprised to see that the weather was perfect for a road race. The atmosphere at the starting line was very personal and casual as runners would flock with their respective running club members and involve themselves with conversation about running, the typhoon/flooding, and the incoming races.
After a short prayer, singing of the National Anthem, and brief instructions from the Race Organizer, the 16K race started and we were off. Feeling from the way I lifted my knees and saw how my feet hit the ground, I knew I was starting with a fast pace. I tried to maintain my pace all the way along the streets of The Fort until I started to run uphill towards Essensa. Knowing the course, I tried my best to maintain a pace below 5:00 minutes per kilometer along the Lawton Avenue and towards to the turn-around point at C-5.
While running along the route, I’ve observed that the race was well-managed—long tables for the water stations, presence of route marshals, and the traffic of vehicles was not bad at all when the race is done as scheduled. It was good also to see the faster runners on the other side of the road for two times because the route has two turn-around points. I had the pleasure to see the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner battling it out on the lead pack. It was my chance to assess how these athletes/runners carry themselves and maintain their running forms and their ranking as compared with the other fast runners. By looking at their running forms and facial expressions, I could already assess if they are running with confidence or not.
Stronger and younger runners would overtake me along the route but I just maintained my pace as I knew where I could speed up and recover on the road. I would consider this race as tune-up race for the longer road races in the coming weeks and maintained a “tempo run” pace for this race. After all those positive thinking, counting of pace/strides, and mental “mantras”, I was already nearing the finish line and I found out that I still have extra energy to propel myself to the Finish Line.
I finish the race in 1:14:20 hours with an average pace of 4:52 minutes per kilometer (or 7:50 minutes per mile) but my GF 305 registered a distance of 15.3 kilometers instead of 16 kilometers. Being dismayed about the lack of distance, I did not mind or thought of comparing my finish time with my past races. After a few days, I realized that I was able to improve my time after comparing it with my past races in the 15K and 16K (10-mile Race) distance races. In fact, I was able to improve my time by 2 minutes for the 15K or 16K distance. I would attribute my improvement with my longer distance speed runs at the Oval Track ( 3 X 2,000 meters up to 3 X 5,000 meters) and my weekend long runs.
Team BR & Team Hardcore @ The StartPicking Up My Pace Towards The Finish LinePodium Finish For Elite Team Bald Runner (5K)Podium Finish For the 16K Runners & Elite Team Bald Runner
After the race, I took some time to chat with Jonel aka Bugobugo and the members of Team Hardcore at the TKO 250 booth. I was able to meet also the Jinoe, Quennie, and the rest of the takbo.ph people who are also involved in the TKO 250 project for the victims of Project Ondoy. I promised to myself that I will be putting in Ten Pesos (P 10.00) for each kilometer that I will run in road races starting with the 5th Octoberun 16K for the said project. So, on this road race, I was able to donate Two Hundred Pesos (P 200.00).
Before the team left at the venue of the road race, I was able to award the “1,000-Km Club” Finisher’s T-shirt to Junrox aka Tiger Boy. Congratulations, Jun! I hope this program was able to make you a stronger and faster runner!
@TKO250 With Team HC, Takbo.ph, & Team BRJunrox aka Tiger Boy Receiving his 1,000-Km Club Finisher's Shirt
I was doubly surprised when Carrey, my favorite supporter/sponsor of Elite Team Bald Runner handed to me bags of groceries for my runners. Thanks for supporting my elite runners! Yes, we are also victims of Typhoon Ondoy!
You might wonder why ultra trail runners would run for one to two days to finish a 100-mile mountain trail run within the prescribed cut-off time and receive a Finisher’s Belt Buckle at the Finish Line and the “bragging rights” to have finished such endurance running event. My ultratrail runner-friends Ben Gaetos, Rick Gaston, Eric Lumba, Carmela Layson and Jose San Gabriel would know the answer!
I am posting the following Finisher’s Belt Buckle as an “inspiration” to finish one of these popular 100-Mile Mountain Trail Runs.
San Diego 100-Mile Run Finisher's Buckle
Javelina Jundred 100-Mile Finisher's Buckle
HURT 100-Mile Run Finisher's Buckle
Western States 100-Mile Run Buckle Award
If there is somebody among my readers who knows a company/business outfit in the country who can make or produce these “big” belt buckles, please leave a comment.
It is my plan and vision to extend the BDM 102 into a 100-Mile run from Mariveles, Bataan (Km 00) up to Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac and a Finisher’s Buckle will be awarded in addition to the Finisher’s Individual Trophy and Medal. Not for the next edition (next year) but it could be in its future editions.
Runners will have the option to finish BDM 102 or go all the way to BDM 160.
After 6 days since the rains of Typhoon Ondoy flooded the entire Metro Manila, I finally thought of bringing out my camera and took some pictures this morning around and within the premises of our “training camp” in Pasig City. Here are the pictures I took.
Water On The Streets After 6 DaysAnother View of The Flooded StreetElite Team Members On Their Way To Relief CenterGetting In Line At The Relief Distribution Center"Amphibian Transport Vehicle" (ATV)"Personnel Amphibian Vehicle" (PAV)Waiting For A Passenger
Thrash Everywhere, Collected Everyday But More Still Clogged The Creeks
Contents of One Bag of Relief Goods
Another Set of Goods In Another Relief Bag
Out of the four members of my Elite athletes who lined up for the distribution of relief goods, only two of them were able to receive bags and the pictures above indicate the contents of each bag given. There is still a lack of relief goods for the people affected with the floods.
With the rains brought by the incoming Typhoon Pepeng since last night, the water on the streets had gone higher by few inches. But what is good is that, electricity had been restored in our “training camp” a few hours ago! My Internet connection is back!
Bald Runner 
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