I completely rested from running after the Fat Ass Run and all the soreness and injury just disappeared after few days. However, after one sleepless night during the 1st BDM 50K “Test Run” last January 15, I was down with sore throat and eventually turned to a flu. The reasons could be the weather; low body resistance; Continue reading “Slowly”
Category: Places to Run
2011 BDM 102 Test Run Instructions
Some participants were confused when I made a link to my previous post last year about my guidelines on the conduct of the DBM 102 Test Run which was held last year. Except for the date, I was trying to inform this year’s runners that the guidelines I published last year will be the same instructions to be followed this coming Saturday except for some adjustments.
The following points/information should be considered by the runners during the conduct of the BDM 102 Test Run this coming Saturday, January 15, 2011. This is in addition to the guidelines published last year: Continue reading “2011 BDM 102 Test Run Instructions”
Run Report: 2011 FAT ASS
(I jokingly said to the other runners that this run for me is called FAT ABS Run while showing them my tummy which had grown in shape/size and expanded due to the absence of any running activity for the past one month.)
This is a classic example of a run with fun and a chance to enjoy the company of other runners in a very relaxed atmosphere. Continue reading “Run Report: 2011 FAT ASS”
8+8+8
That is a total of 24 Minutes of Jogging & Walking which I did early this morning!
Exactly a month ago, I had an injury on my left calf muscle that made me completely out from running. It was a “blessing in disguise” to force my body to take a break for a much-needed rest and recovery after 11 months of marathon and ultramarathon races. Continue reading “8+8+8”
2nd RIZAL Day Run Guidelines
2nd RIZAL Day 32K Run: 5:30 AM December 27, 2010
The 2nd RIZAL Day Run will be conducted on December 27, 2010 inside Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The Assembly time will be at 5:00 AM and the race will start at 5:30 AM in front of the GHQ Grandstand. Runners will have to run 4 & ¾ loops along the 7-Km route inside the camp. There will be 3-4 Aid Stations along the route that will serve water, sports drinks, cola drinks, and limited “bite” foods. The registration fee is P 650.00. Continue reading “2nd RIZAL Day Run Guidelines”
A Trip To Batanes: A Dream Come True
(Note: This is an entry to SEAIR’s Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour Contest)
A Trip To Batanes: A Dream Come True
Having been born and lived in Ilocos Norte and stayed for almost three years in Cagayan Province when I was in High School, I have heard already about the northern most province of the Philippine archipelago which is called the Batanes Group of Islands. I would hear stories about the place and its people from my father who was then a Principal in one of the Agricultural Schools in Cagayan and later as a Regional Supervisor of the Department of Education. He would always say nice things about the place and its people. With his stories, I would believe that he had been on those islands of Batanes in connection with his job then. Continue reading “A Trip To Batanes: A Dream Come True”
The Cost Of Running
The Cost Of Running…Outside The Country
- In my recollection, it was only Albert Salazar aka Run2DMoon who posted in his blog the expenses and cost that he has to spend in his training and sometimes, his expenses in participating to road races, to include his past BDM 102 editions. In summary, it showed that training and joining to road races entail a lot of money from one’s pocket. However, I have yet to read his story on his running costs if ever he had joined a race outside the country. This gives me to go to my next topic. Continue reading “The Cost Of Running”
Toilets
Whenever I visit my subordinate units/commands while I was a Division Commander of the Philippine Army, the first thing that I need to see as I enter their Headquarters or camp was their Toilet! Why? It is because the toilet serves as the reflection on the efficiency of the unit and its commander and my measurement on the administrative condition of the unit. Whether the camp is located in the forest or in the mountains or in the periphery of a city or a municipality or a barangay, the toilet should be clean, it has an available water (in pail or water containers), a dipper, a soap, and a small towel (if there is no toilet paper/tissue). Continue reading “Toilets”
“You Can’t Buy Speed…And Endurance”
In an ultramarathon race, your pricey “high-tech” apparel and equipment do not make you faster and stronger runner but they can make your run more enjoyable and with better looks on your photo album!
But looking at this picture, I’ve concluded that all the things that I was wearing on this run were bought outside the country!
Runner’s Cap by Under Armour
Oakley Sports Sunglass (Asian Fit) Bought & Ordered by my daughter, Jovelle
Neck Bandana by Buff
ASICS Technical Shirt bought in Jeju Island, South Korea
Race Ready Shorts From Zombie Runner
Hand-held Racing Bottle by Ultimate Direction from Zombie Runner
Running Socks by DryMax
ASICS Gel-Tarther Shoes bought in Jeju Island, South Korea.
In my estimate, the whole attire and stuff on me is worth $800.00! That’s a lot of money for looking “good” while running in a race. However, the pain, experience, feeling of successfully crossing the finish line, meeting friends, and being strong and healthy is PRICELESS!
Running is the cheapest sports but if you want to look good in your pictures, then by all means, you can buy stuffs that you can see in “glossy” sports magazines and feel that you are an elite athlete also. But in the end, you can’t buy speed, endurance, and “mental toughness” (from Dr Chester Puno) as they are developed and acquired with years & years of patience, commitment, discipline, determination, and passion for the sports.
See you at the Starting Line!
(Note: Photo Courtesy of Sydney delos Reyes at the 1st Cebu 50K Ultramarathon Run)
1st Cebu Ultramarathon Race
1. Six weeks before I retired from the military service, I visited the exact place where former President Ramon Magsaysay’s plane crashed on the early morning of March 17, 1957. If you don’t know your history, you can search “Mt Manunggal” in my blog and read my story about this visit to the said place.
2. Being the Bald Runner after retirement from the service, I had plans of visiting again to this place and thought of coming up with road/trail race to commemorate the death of our former President Magsaysay as I wanted my runs to be connected with the history of our country. In one of our conversations with my friend Jonel Mendoza, he asked me a place where a good ultra run route in Cebu which can be used in the future and I answered him that Mt Manunggal Crash Site would be highly recommended because of its significance in our history. And the rest is history.
3. Since I don’t announce in my blog where my next race is, the Race Organizers were surprised to see me in Cebu/Ayala Center on the night before the race. I was given the opportunity by Jonel aka FrontRunner Magazine to speak before the runners on their magazine’s running clinic. It was a nice experience seeing a lot of runners from Cebu City during the said clinic. It really shows that the running community in cities outside Metro Manila is growing in numbers by “leaps and bounds”.
4. Most of the runners in the 1st Cebu Ultramarathon Race were already at the assembly area at 4:00 AM as most of them “camped” in the area. I could see different moods on the faces of the runners which is very common among runners who are about to experience their first ultramarathon run. I was able to see some of the “usual suspects” in ultra runs in Luzon and I had a brief chat with them. I know, most of them came here to challenge the route. However, I came here to test and evaluate my training.
5. After a short program and photo-ops at the “bust monument” of President Magsaysay, the race started at 5:52 AM with 180+ starters. The faster and “excited” runners went ahead from the rest of the group as they forced themselves to attack the uphill climbs and downhill parts of the route that goes to the National Highway. I think I was on the last half of the whole group of starters on the first 3 kilometers of the run.
6. In a very challenging route which has steep uphills and fast downhills, the race strategy in an ultra run (50K and above) is to be able to apply “brisk walking” on the uphills, fast recovery run on the downhills, and steady run on the plain parts of the route. So, in most parts of the route, I consistently applied this strategy making sure that I hydrate myself regularly (every 2-3K) and eat solid foods every 5 -7 kilometers. My solid foods consisted of Nature Valley Sports Bar, fresh banana, fresh apple, Cloud 9 Chocolate Bites, and boiled sweet corn (bought along the way). I think most of the runners that I passed on the uphills were able to see me with my “brisk walking” form! I am highly recommending that “form” as I learned it from my experience at the Marin Headlands 50-Mile Trail Run.
7. The last 20K of the race was a “battle of will and determination” as the heat of the sun was upon us and I’ve been running and brisk walking for almost 4 hours. The more that I have to bring out those “tips” and lessons learned that I gathered in my past ultraruns. At this point, everything was a “mind game” and consistency of doing what I planned for during my training was the focus in this race. I did not veered away from my race strategy most especially on my hydration/nutrition. On my last 15K, I started to take “salt tablets” and drowned them in my throat with ice cold Mountain Dew or Classic Coke. This gave me more strength and consistency with my pacing in my runs and brisk walking!
8. I finally reached the Finish Line, in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol Building, with a time of 6:42:20 hours (Official Time). I finished with a ranking of #38 out of the 162 finishers. Based from my GF 305 data, the total distance is 50.23K; an average pace was 8:00 minutes per kilometer; a total ascent of 1,860 meters and a total descent of 2,695 meters.
9. I consider this race as a mountain trail run because of the profile/elevation of the whole course. I am satisfied with the result of my training since I finished the 1st CAMSUR Marathon wherein I started to incorporate more intensity to my training runs and making my selected weekend races as my performance evaluation/test runs. In conclusion, I was able to attain what I have aimed for in this ultra run.
10. And talking about going “hardcore” and going up to a higher level of ultrarunning, I advise that for those who have future plans in joining ultra trail runs in the “WEST”, I highly recommend you to follow and train for the following finishing times in the following ultra distances races:
50K—-sub-7 hours
50 miles/80K—-sub-11 hours
100K—–sub-14 hours
100 miles/160K—-sub-30 hours
11. Thanks, Jonel, FrontRunner Magazine, CERC & Cebu Runners, Volunteers, and the CENTCOM, AFP Officers & Staff for the experience and hospitality. Congratulations to all the Finishers and Race Organizers for a job well done!
(Note: Thanks for those who posted the above pictures at Facebook)
Bald Runner 
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