BDM 160: “King Of The Road”
Category: Races
History Of Running In Japan
I’ve witnessed how the Japanese run in the Jeju International 100K Ultra Marathon Race (South Korea) and in the Soochow University 24-Hour Endurance Run (Taiwan) in 2010. In the late 70s and whole of 80s, I’ve seen on TV and documentary films how the Japanese long distance/marathon runners dominated the world’s best and popular road races including the Olympic Games. Now, there are also emerging as one of the best in ultrarunning events in the world.
I have the belief that we could also emulate or learn something from them because we have the same built and the same attitude in life. Although long distance running training and competition had been with them for almost 90 years and took them 30+ years to come up with their first Olympic Gold Medal in the Marathon, I have the positive outlook that we can attain such goal in the coming generation of younger runners.
I have discovered an article that had been published in the Running Times Magazine and written by Brett Larner with the detailed description on the history of running in Japan.
Enjoy your day and be inspired by this article: Handing Off The Tasuki by Brett Larner.
“It’s the passion, not the money, stupid!”
Race Report: Trail Running 101 10K & 14K @ Dinalupihan, Bataan/January 21, 2012
To some (or most?), organizing a running event is a business affair. I will not tell you the indicators if you want to know if a running event is being organized for the purpose of raising some funds for a certain cause or charity but only to realize that it is simply to rake one’s money for profit. If you are a runner who had been in such races for the past years, you probably know or smart enough to find out what I am talking about.
The conduct of the 1st Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Trail Endurance Run last December 2012 brought me some observations and lessons to be learned. It gave me the opinion that our road runners are not yet fully skilled and exposed to trail running. It is for this reason that I came up with the idea of coming up with a “graduated” exposure of trail running of those who are interested to experience the “outdoors”, meaning, the mountains and other areas outside the city and urban environment.
I want my ideas done and implemented immediately as there is no need for a corporate entity to back me up. In the first place, corporate entities take a lot of time to decide, not unless you are talking to the owner of the company! Who needs them anyway? (They will always tell you to wait for the signing of the contract and keep you waiting even if they have given the contract to another event organizer without even giving the information that they “dumped” you!). Basically, the participation and interest of runners would be enough to support the implementation of my idea.
So, yesterday (Saturday), the Trail Running 101 Series was born! There were six (6) runners who registered for the 16K distance while two (2) runners in the 10K category. Out of the eight runners, one is a lady runner. All of them finished the run and I could see on their faces that they were happy to experience trail running along the vicinity of the “Brown Mountain”, my training “playground” in the mountains of Dinalupihan, Bataan. The following were the results:
14K Run
1. Freddie Mercado—1:43:47 Hours
2. Jael Wenceslao—1:53:15
3. Noel Miano—2:05:12
4. Reginald Tan Bueno—2:43:00
5. Maria Stephanie Atutubo Zamora Hefti—3:19:12
6. Benjh German—3:23:54
10K Run
1. Elmer Oropieza—1:14:45 Hours
2. Igne Pablito—1:15:06
3. Jael Wenceslao—1:33:12
*Jael Wenceslao ran the 10K event after he finished the 14K run.
The next event of the Trail Running 101 series will be on February 26, 2012 with two distances: 16K and 21K runs! The venue/location is still the same but will have the start time to be earlier at 5:30 AM. The registration details will be posted soon in this blog with limited slots for both runs.
Going back on the title of this post, we have proven once again that we simply have the passion to share to everybody the ideas we would like to be implemented for the benefit of the running community. We don’t think about the money we gain or lost, we simply want to share what it is like to run on the “outdoors” and enjoy the beauty of the mountains & be able to commune with nature!
Thanks to all the runners; BR’s Staff; Volunteers; and to John “Jepoy” Avellanosa for those nice pictures!
See you on the next edition of the Trail Running 101 Series!
Trail Running 101: 10K & 16K Runs
If you have been joining road races for the past months and years and had never tried running on mountain trails, then this is the time to start a new experience.
I have come up with short distance runs on where I had been doing my trail runs for the past years and it is about time that you have to try to experience what it feels to run on mountain trails.
These trail runs will be done every month where the distance will be stretched from 10K to a Marathon distance of 42K. So for the month of January, there will be two distances of trail runs to be conducted this coming Saturday. The shorter distance will be a 10K and the longer one is a 16K distance.
All these trail runs will be an “out and back” runs. In the 10K distance, one has to run 5 kilometers up to the mountain and then back to the point where one started. The same goes to the 16K distance, 8 kilometers up to the mountain and then back to the starting line. Very simple!
The two distance runs will start at the same time at 6:00 AM of Saturday, January 21, 2012. It will start at the “Basilica” Church of Barangay Sacrifice Valley in Dinalupihan, Bataan and ends at the same place. There is no cut-off time for the event. This will encourage the “newbies” to enjoy the scenery and to experience the simplicity of trail running. It is simply running with nature without so much “distractions”.
There will be Aid/Hydration Stations every 2.5 Kilometers. Runners are advised to bring their hydration bottles so that we will adhere to lesser use of plastic cups in trail running events. In addition to the aid stations, there is flowing stream/spring along the route where one could drink the fresh cool water of the mountain.
If you are joining the Subic International Marathon on Sunday, you can drop by for a 10K easy trail run on Saturday morning and then proceed to Subic Freeport after the trail run. Barangay Sacrifice Valley is 15 kilometers away from Olongapo City and the Subic Freeport.
Registration fee/s for the 10K event is P 500.00 and the 16K is P 600.00. ARC Store is presently accepting registration for this event. Registered runners will be given Commemorative T-Shirt for the event and a post-race meal at the Finish Line. Whatever proceeds we get from these trail running events will be used for the support of Elite Bald Runner Team in their participation to international running events. Two of my elite athletes will be participating in the Hongkong 100K Trail Endurance Run in the middle of next month with the objective of qualifying for the Western States 100-Mile Endurance in the coming years. It is unfortunate that we have yet to receive favourable approval of support from corporate entities whom we asked for assistance.
There will be registration On Site, provided that runners will arrive earlier than the announced starting time. The run will start promptly at 6:00 AM.
As in my past events, we will start the race even with 2-3 registered runners!
See you at the Starting Line!
(Note: It is advisable for all the participants to read the “rules of the game” (protocols/etiquette/rules and regulations) in trail running which I published in my previous post)
Result: 2012 BDM 50K “Test Run”
2012 Bataan Death March 50K “Test Run”/Mariveles To Abucay, Bataan/10:15 PM January 14, 2012 To 7:15 AM January 15, 2012.
| PLACE | BIB # | NAME | TIME |
| 1 | 652 | Henry Laron | 5:27:19 |
| 2 | 777 | Simon Pavel Miranda | 5:33:05 |
| 3 | 878 | Jerome Bautista | 5:53:45 |
| 4 | 693 | Almar Danguilan | 6:00:29 |
| 5 | 881 | Carlito Buenaventura | 6:04:54 |
| 6 | 747 | Fernando Dellomos, Jr | 6:11:14 |
| 7 | 663 | Alvin Adriano | 6:14:06 |
| 8 | 874 | Bob Castilla | 6:24:07 |
| 9 | 877 | Ernesto Badong | 6:28:46 |
| 10 | 696 | Ric Adrian Salay | 6:36:32 |
| 11 | 695 | Miguel De Alba | 6:36:33 |
| 12 | 896 | Jessie Llarena | 6:38:14 |
| 13 | 591 | Teodulo Alferez, Jr | 6:44:20 |
| 14 | 745 | Allan Palomares | 6:44:21 |
| 15 | 889 | Allan Martos | 6:51:04 |
| 16 | 882 | Kharl Ocampo | 6:59:36 |
| 17 | 686 | Alain Cuchas Ilaguno | 6:59:37 |
| 18 | 879 | Jason Sison | 7:05:48 |
| 19 | 698 | Frederick Quitiquit | 7:08:17 |
| 20 | 887 | Wesley Orana | 7:09:14 |
| 21 | 890 | Carl Balagot | 7:09:15 |
| 22 | 654 | Chips Dayrit | 7:10:58 |
| 23 | 653 | Darryl Panado | 7:11:01 |
| 24 | 778 | Angelo Anillo | 7:11:02 |
| 25 | 661 | Jorell Paringit | 7:13:19 |
| 26 | 694 | Dennis Carcamo | 7:13:20 |
| 27 | 657 | Emmanuel Chavez | 7:18:41 |
| 28 | 692 | Candy Balaba (Female) | 7:19:40 |
| 29 | 894 | Mark Anthony Delumen | 7:25:41 |
| 30 | 872 | Benedict Muriel | 7:25:45 |
| 31 | 873 | Harold Ramirez | 7:25:46 |
| 32 | 892 | Ofelia Lorete (Female) | 7:27:53 |
| 33 | 665 | Mary Jane Villamor (Female) | 7:32:08 |
| 34 | 664 | Jerome Aragones | 7:32:09 |
| 35 | 883 | Nap Ocampo | 7:36:52 |
| 36 | 669 | Don Armand Gutierrez | 7:43:16 |
| 37 | 885 | Choy Zaguirre | 7:43:35 |
| 38 | 689 | Jojo Paguia | 7:44:11 |
| 39 | 880 | Carmeli Ortega (Female) | 7:45:11 |
| 40 | 884 | Alex Jones | 7:45:30 |
| 41 | 697 | Maria Stephanie Hefti (Female) | 7:55:33 |
| 42 | 875 | Vic Delima II | 7:56:02 |
| 43 | 876 | Ruben Fajardo, Jr | 7:56:03 |
| 44 | 662 | Jonah Rivera | 7:59:59 |
| 45 | 886 | Jericho De Jesus | 8:06:44 |
| 46 | 667 | Jinky Yray | 8:07:37 |
| 47 | 748 | Perkins Briones | 8:09:17 |
| 48 | 871 | Russell Sanchez | 8:12:06 |
| 49 | 893 | Harold Lorete | 8:42:59 |
| 50 | 891 | Jinkee Guerrero | 8:43:27 |
| 51 | 895 | Joseph Ligot | 8:43:29 |
See you on the next BDM 52K “Test Run” on February 11, 2012. Assembly Time is 6:00 AM @ BDM Kilometer Post #50 in Abucay, Bataan.
Keep on training!
2012 BDM 160 Participants
| Number | N A M E |
| 1 | Gilbert Gray (USA) |
| 2 | Paolo Osmena |
| 3 | Ronnel Go |
| 4 | Julius Cervantes |
| 5 | Dindo Diaz |
| 6 | Muhammad Sallehan (Singapore) |
| 7 | Lemuel Narcise |
| 8 | Albert Salazar |
| 9 | Caloy Nobleza |
| 10 | Carlos Napoleon Ocampo |
| 11 | Alfred Delos Reyes |
| 12 | Roberto Delos Santos |
| 13 | Carlito Buenaventura |
| 14 | Arman Fernando |
| 15 | Nelson Mallillin |
| 16 | Jose Arturo Virata |
| 17 | Leo Tugade |
| 18 | Kelly Lim (Female, Singapore) |
| 19 | Reginald Santos |
| 20 | Bong Bernadez |
| 21 | Marcos Lontoc |
| 22 | Earl Warren Navor |
| 23 | Keshia Fule (Female) |
| 24 | Mark Anthony Rodica |
| 25 | Christian Oting |
| 26 | Kenneth Alonte |
| 27 | Ferdie Cabiling |
| 28 | Heide Acuna (Female) |
| 29 | Wilfredo Parcon, Jr |
| 30 | Francis Andrew Santiago |
| 31 | Rosgar Apolinario |
| 32 | Anthony Mark Alindada |
| 33 | Bob Castilla |
| 34 | Bert Camangonan |
| 35 | Chito Vegim |
| 36 | Larry Daliwag |
| 37 | Jose Duenas |
| 38 | Jimmy Ong |
| 39 | Cesar Abarientos |
| 40 | Jemuel Bayot |
| 41 | Carlo Bacalla |
| 42 | Christopher Montaos |
| 43 | Victor Ting |
| 44 | Marlo Guloy |
| 45 | Mark Hernandez |
| 47 | Junar Layug |
| 48 | Emerson Go Tian |
| 49 | Rhia Go Tian (Female) |
| 50 | Graciano Santos |
| 51 | Randy Rubio |
| 52 | Terence Chen (Singapore) |
| 53 | Samuel Narcise |
| 54 | Jonel Mendoza |
| 55 | Benjamin Gaetos (USA) |
| 56 | Jonnifer Lacanlale |
| 57 | John Radich (USA) |
| 58 | Benedict Meneses |
| 59 | Jose Lorenzo Mina |
| 60 | David Buban |
| 61 | Noel Hernandez |
| 62 | Ellen Abigail Castillo (Female) |
| 63 | Mar Marilag |
64. Blas Ople Tiangco
65: Ed Yonzon
66. Frederick Gabriel
67. Manuel Dela Serna
68. Melvin Pangan
69. Jag Irasga
70. Rain Ordonez
71. Cenen Milan Jr.
72. Sandy Alentajan
73. Michael Angelo Fabian
74. Vans Cammanong
75. Sherwin Tommy Botabara
76. Paul Pajo
77. Tom Moreno
78. Barry Red
(Note: If ever your name is not included in the list, please resend the scanned copy of your deposit slip as soon as possible to this e-mail address: jovie75@hotmail.com. Please bring your deposit slip to the Briefing & Carboloading Party (CLP) on or about 6:30 PM of January 26, 2012, Thursday at the AFP Officers’ Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City).
TD 100 @ Ultra Signup
Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Trail Endurance Run (TD 100) is already one of the Ultra Races being administered by Mark Gilligan of Ultra Signup.
If you are used and familiar in registering to International Marathons, most probably you have experienced registering your participation through www.active.com. For Ultra Trail Races in the United States and other countries, registration of participants are done through Ultra Signup.
TD 100 is the FIRST Ultra Race in the Philippines and Southeast Asia to be under the processing of Ultra Signup.
Lately, I registered for the 2012 Cobra Half-Ironman Triathlon and I was charged with a registration fee of $ 225.00 (US Dollars) plus $ 16.00+ (US Dollars) as Processing Fee, a total of $ 241.00+ for my participation in the event. In comparison with Ultra Signup, it does not charge additional processing fee for the registration fee. So, if you are interested to join this event, you will be charged with the stated registration fee ONLY.
Registration for this event is NOW OPEN.
“The 160 Km Journey” By Candy Balaba
The 160 Km Journey
by Candy Pastor- Balaba on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 3:53pm
Last Saturday, the first 100-mile Trail Run in the country dubbed as TAKLANG DAMULAG 100mile ENDURANCE RUN, was staged. Taklang Damulag is a landmark inside the army division in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. In recent years, it was used as an impact area for live fire training for canons/artillery guns, and currently being used as a training ground for the Special Forces Regiment.
Race Director, Gen Jovie Narcise (Ret) a.k.a. The Bald Runner is the brains behind the Taklang Damulag 100mile Endurance Event. We learned that this would be the 1st 100mile Ultra Trail Run Event in Southeast Asia. Being a retired soldier, he is familiar with the place and thought that this would be a challenging route for ultra runners who seek for the toughest course. The route has a total ascent of 17,000 feet and a total descent of 18,000 feet. The course will take them to climb Taklang Damulag 4 times which would total 52kms, and twice on a 54 kms outer loop, hence given a total distance of 160kms
Even when the event was only on its planning stage early this year, hubby was already telling me that he wanted to try out this race. He has signed up for the 2012 BDM160 which will be on January, and thought that Taklang Damulag race will be a good training for his BDM 160 (Bataan Death March). I didn’t think he would be too serious about it, because he has never been too keen on Trail runs.
Fast forward to Dec 17, my son JB and I found ourselves in Ft Magsaysay doing what is most expected from us… to be his support crew.
19 BRAVE WARRIORS
Ultra runs are usually the “no- frills” races. There are no grand pre and post race activities. No prizes, no loot bags. Its usually just a small group of happy and fun hard core ultra runners that gather on this races. For this event, only 19 brave warriors signed up. Two foreigners, a German and Malaysian guy who came all the way from Hongkong and China, respectively. The rest in the pack were Filipinos from all walks of life, a doctor, 2 lawyers, a grandson of an ex-president, a writer, entrepreneurs, professors and 2 military officers. It’s a nice mix of interesting people who share the same passion for ultra running.
DNS AFTER COURSE ORIENTATION
The race briefing and carbo loading Friday night was time for runners to get to know more of each other. Everyone was happy, excited and maybe jittery too on the challenge that was coming their way, especially when The Bald Runner started to brief them on the route (it was not disclosed until Friday night). However, for some unknown reason, one runner backed off immediately after the briefing. So 1 down, 18 to go.
NO CREW
As I was unable to leave work that Friday, and Benedict needing to attend the course briefing and carbo loading that day, he had to go ahead without us. I packed all the necessary stuff he would need, gave him clear instructions on all that has been loaded, and promised that I would be there Saturday before noon.
0 KMS
I called up Benedict an hour before gun start. He said he was all geared up and just ready to go. I gently reminded him to take it slow and to just enjoy the race.
53 KMS
Arrived Fort Magsaysay with my older son JB just before noon, my father-in-law with my daughter Icee – who was on their way to Baguio, drove us there. Shortly after arriving at Fernandez Hill where an aid station was set up, the first 2 runners – Andre Bloomberg and Jones Mortega arrived. Both had their lunch of noodles, boiled sweet potato, boiled eggs and some crackers. They also took time to reload their hydration packs. After more or less 35 mins of doing all these tasks, the runners were back on the trail to proceed with 2 loops in Taklang Damulag.
Benedict together with 4 other runners came 15 min after Andre and Jones left. He told us how he got lost with Malaysian guy – Seow Kung Ng in kilometer 9, which meant an added 6 kilometers to find their way back to the route. Benedict had his lunch, we reloaded his hydration packs, rested for a few minutes and then left again with the 4 runners.
The rest of the runners started arriving 30min after. They all took time to rest, eat, change clothes, tape their feet, prick those blisters (ouuuuch!!), someone even decided to take a short nap. Everyone seemed to be holding on strong except for 1 runner who looked very wasted, he couldn’t even eat and just took sips from the recovery drinks offered to him. After a short nap, he got up removed his race bib and raised the white flag.
TAKLANG DAMULAG LOOP
The Taklang Damulag loop has an elevation of 409 meters. To quote Bald Runner, “it is a short course and a very low mountain, but if you think of going up to this mountain for 4 times in a single event, then you have a very high mountain”. The runners thought of it as an easy trek, and clearly no one expected that it would take them 3 hours to complete 1 loop which was only 13kms. It must have been a tough climb because after Andre’s first loop, I overheard him confirming from Bald Runner if they needed to do another loop and that he hoped he heard it wrong during the briefing to do 2 loops.
83KMS
The 83km- SOCOM AREA is also the Starting and Finish marks. An aid station was set up so runners can have their dinner, reload their hydration packs, change clothes etc.
Jones came in a few minutes ahead of Andre, but he decided to quit after a bad fall that left him with a sprained ankle. As for Andre, he seemed to be holding on strong. He left immediately after a quick dinner and after reloading his hydration packs.
Benedict came in 45min after Andre left, he said he got lost again on the 81km mark when he missed a turn which eventually led him to a longer route back to SOCOM area.
After having dinner, a quick wardrobe change (his rubber shoes was soaked, torn and beaten up), he was off to cover the next 83kms. It was already 8:30pm, dark, cold and drizzly. I began to worry now about how he would be able to get through the next 83kms alone. A pacer is already allowed for every runner from this point, unfortunately no one can pace him, I am not prepared to run an 80km distance, neither can our son JB. So, there was no other choice but for him to go alone and run in the DARK, COLD, DRIZZLY, CREEPY TRAIL.
The cut off time for the first loop (83kms) was 15hours. Only 7 runners were able to make it before the cut off. Bald Runner decided to allow those who didn’t make it to cutoff to continue if they still wanted to.
MORE DNF’s
As runners started to arrive at the 83 km mark, the DNF list also started to rise. A swollen knee, sprained ankle, bouts of chills and dizziness, or just totally wasted to continue, were the reasons that 6 runners decided to seal the nail in their DNF coffin.
So from the 83km mark, where the second loop will start, only 7 runners have decided to continue.
110 KMS
Our son JB was supposed to pace his Dad from this point, unfortunately Benedict wasn’t able to spot the car which was parked on the side of the road, so he decided to run and continue to go alone. We also eventually left the place after staying there for 3 hours, we decided to move to the next aid station which was the Fernandez Hill.
A few kilometers before reaching Fernandez Hill, we finally spot him running in that long dark road. He was glad to see us as he was running out with energy drinks. JB was all geared up and ready to go, so after reloading their hydration packs, the boys were off to cover the last 45kms.
130KMS
I arrived Fernandez Hill around 5:40am after I got back from the early morning mass that I attended in the nearby church. I was surprised to see JB resting on a makeshift hammock. He told me that Benedict did not allow him anymore to trek Taklang Damulag as it was still too early and the path was dark. Benedict left for his first loop to Taklang Damulag at 4:30AM. I got a bit worried, because it was raining and the trail was pitch- dark, wet and slippery.
After a few minutes, Andre arrived. I was surprised he came in after Benedict. He told us that he got lost on his way to Fernandez hill, and wasted 2 hours finding his way back to the route. He didn’t look good. I could read disappointment in his face. He didn’t talk much and just sat quite in one corner. After 30 minutes, I saw them pack their bags and asked me if I could give them a lift back to SOCOM. He has decided to quit too. Paper, her girlfriend, and I tried to persuade him to continue. There was still enough time for him to cover the 2 loops.. He said that after getting lost on his way back to Fernandez Hill, and a bad fall that caused him much pain, he is now unable to think clearly and feels too wasted to continue.
I felt so bad that he had to quit after already covering 130kms. He was really a good and strong runner. Although, he said that this is his first 100 miler, he has also done quite a number of TNF ultra runs around the globe. I wonder what went wrong for him to decide to DNF.
Eventually, I learned that 4 more runners have DNF’ed on the 110km mark, including Malaysian guy- Seow Kung. Seow Kung is an equally seasoned ULTRA RUNNER, having done Les Sable in Africa, Amazon Ultra Run, Comrades Marathon.
145KMS – 4TH LOOP TAKLANG DAMULAG
Benedict was back in Fernandez Hill after 3 hours of trekking Taklang Damulag . He looked fine and was not complaining of anything other than hunger. He was surprised to know that Andre has already quit the race. As of 9AM, we had confirmation that only 5 runners continue to be on the race, with Benedict leading the pack.
Cut off time is 32hours. It was 9AM and Benedict had 4 more hours to cover the last 18kms. A whole loop to Taklang Damulag is 13kms plus 5 kms to the Finish Line. I was completely in awe with his grit and sheer determination to move on and continue. Everyone was telling him that he could be the only one to finish the race within the cut off time. With all that being said to him, he was all the more determined to GO FOR THE WIN!!!
Benedict also finally allowed JB to pace him on his last loop to Taklang Damulag. JB acted like a giddy 7 year old who immediately jump up to join his Dad again.
ONTO THE FINISH LINE
I was back at SOCOM- Finish Line to wait for the 2 boys. I was surprised to see that the runners who DNF’ed were eagerly waiting for any finisher to make it before cut off time. It was almost 12noon, cut off was just an hour away. The waiting seemed endless, I was getting so worried. Will the boys make it?
Then at about 12:05, 2 guys were seen moving towards the finish line. Everyone started jumping, screaming, clapping and cheering. Finally someone is going to make it before the cut off time. It was raining outside yet everyone got up, forgot about all the pain in their legs, ran outside and started to cheer on Benedict and JB who was coming towards the finish line. Everyone was asking who he was running along with, I proudly told them, he was our 15yr old son. That gave them even more reason to cheer. My heart melted and tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of our son- JB pacing his Dad onto his glorious triumph. THIS IS ONE MEMORABLE MOMENT THAT WILL FOREVER BE IMPRINTED ON MY MIND’S EYE AND ETCHED ON MY MIND’S HEART.
Benedict raised his tired arms like a “V”. JB slowed down a bit to let his Papa cross the finish line alone. But even before Benedict could cross the finish line, he was swarmed by the other runners, gave him high fives, shook his hand and embraced him. IT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME SIGHT!! I WAS ALL BEAMING AND FILLED WITH SO MUCH PRIDE!!!
After 31 hours 11 minutes and 26 seconds …HE MADE IT!!!
As of this writing, Dick and I continue to share stories about last weekend. He is overwhelmed and humbled by all the congratulatory messages he receives everyday, and all the nice words being posted on his FB.
The very daunting feat has earned him blisters, sore muscles, chafed seams, 10 dead toenails, that will last for days, but it has also tattoed his pride with a memory of a great finish that will last him forever.
YOU DID IT POP!! YOU GOT IT!!! YOU FINALLY NAILED THAT SILVER BUCKLE!!!
PS: Benedict was the lone finisher who made it before cut off, making him the only one to earn the Silver Buckle for the 1st 100miler Endurance Event in the country. 4 other runners were able to cross the finish line with a time of 41hrs. The Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Trail Endurance Run was organized by the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners and was participated in by local and international ultrarunners and is officially considered as the first and only 100-Mile Trail Endurance Run in Southeast Asia.
Running Is Patience
This is the most important virtue that a runner must have, whether he/she is a beginner, average, or competitive one.
Patience is having more time to wait for things to unfold, as a result of your training program, before being reckless and do things the wrong way. As a result, you will regret for the things you have done. Your actions in running should be deliberate as there are NO “magic bullets” or “quick fix” in the sports we love.
In training, you need patience for you to develop your aerobic endurance and overall, improve on all the aspects of running. It does not take days or weeks to happen, but it would take months and years to develop your maximum potentials in the said sports. There are “ladders and steps” to overcome from one level to another level. Patience means you don’t have to go through a marathon (42K) training without experiencing what it takes to finish a simple 3K run. If you think you are good in 3K distance, you can go to the next step of trying a 5K run and so forth. However, there are training programs that you must follow in order to get the full potentials of your body’s capabilities if you want to excel in the distance you want. If you want to finish a marathon race, you need patience. Believe me if I tell you that I prepared for one year to experience what it takes to finish my first marathon. More patience is needed, if you desire to finish your first ultra marathon race.
Not adhering to patience by trying to do so much too soon in one’s mileage have always been the number one problem among runners. Not following the time-tested 10% rule of increasing one’s mileage on a weekly basis always brings runners to being injured and stale in their improvement. As a result, patience will always be the solution of this problem—patience to let the injury heals itself.
In races, runners would always forget what it takes to be patient. The tendency of most runners is to go out too fast once the gun is fired only to realize that mistake had been done when he/she is “crawling” to reach and cross the finish line. We always don’t have the patience to remember and stick to our race strategy and the training we have done in preparation for the race.
We need also patience in choosing our first running shoes and running attire. We have the tendency to look like the elite runners who are featured in “glossy” international runner’s magazine with the thought that we look “cool” and better runners than others. We have also the tendency to buy what we see for the first time not knowing that there are better fitting shoes with less cost if we waited and had time to look around. It is not the brand, color-combination, and the weight of the shoes that count most, but the proper fit to our feet. As for the running attire, you need patience to find out what is more comfortable for you considering our weather and humidity.
We need also patience in trying to find out what food and drinks that are good and work best for our performance. Depending on the distance you want to race or run, you can experiment on what nutritional needs for your training, pre-race, during race, and recovery period.
We need patience to find out what races we want to join in the future and patience to prepare for these races.
We need patience to finish what we have started. Because finishing a race is what matters most!
Like life itself, we need patience. There are lots of options but we need to have smart choices and decisions.
In running and in the race called “Life”, always think and remember…PATIENCE.
See you at the Starting Line!
2012 Schedule Of BR’s & PAU Events
2012 BALD RUNNER’S EVENTS/PAU EVENTS
January 14, 2012—BDM 50K “Test Run” (Mariveles to Abucay, Bataan)
January 21, 2012—MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING 101 (10K & 16K)
January 28-29, 2012—2nd BDM 160K Ultra Marathon Race
February 11, 2012—BDM 52K “Test Run” (Abucay, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga)
February 26, 2012—MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING 101 (16K & 21K)
March 3-4, 2012—4th BDM 102K Ultra Marathon Race
March 18, 2012—MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING 101 (21K & 32K)
April 15, 2012—MOUNTAIN & TRAIL RUNNING 101 Marathon (42K)
April 21, 2012—2nd MAYON 360 50-Mile Ultra Marathon Race
May 20, 2012—3rd T2N (Tagaytay To Nasugbu) 50K Ultra Marathon Run
June 2, 2012—Taklang Damulag 50-Mile Mountain/Trail Run & 50K Run
July 7, 2012—2nd Tanay 50K Ultra Marathon Run
August 11, 2012—24-Hour Endurance Run (By Invitation)
August 25, 2012—2nd ILOCOS NORTE (Burgos To Pagudpud) 60K Ultra Marathon Run
September 15, 2012—PAU NATIONALS/Championship 50K & 100K
October 13, 2012—3rd Mt Pinatubo 50K Ultra Trail Run/Zambales Trail Traverse 100K Run
November 1-4, 2012—WEST COAST 200K RUN (3-Day Multi-Stage Run)
December 2, 2012—4th T2N (Tagaytay To Nasugbo) 50K Ultra Marathon Run
December 15-16, 2012—2nd Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Endurance Run & Half-Marathon
December 30, 2012—4th RIZAL DAY 32K Run
(Note: Details of these Events will posted on this Blog and/or on Facebook’s Event Page)
Bald Runner
You must be logged in to post a comment.