Category: Runners’ Training

Reminder: Midnight To Sunrise Run

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Practice Runs, Runners' Training, Running1 Comment

To all the participants of the Bataan 102K Ultramarathon Race on 05 April 2009, you are encouraged to join Albert aka Run2D Moon on his invitation for a Midnight to Sunrise Run/6-Hour Run. This will be a group run where the pace will be “talking pace” or 70% Lactate Threshold (to those who are attending BR’s “speed” training).

Bring your own Hydration pack and money as we will be having “pit stops” along the route for food, sports drinks, coffee, and water. Final coordination and briefing will be made prior to the start of the run at the assembly area. Good luck and see you at the assembly area.

The following is the update from Run2DMoon:

Midnight to Sunrise Practice Run UPDATE

Meeting Point: Bluewave Macapagal (in front of Starbucks) Feb 7 (Saturday) 11:30PM

Start: Feb 8 (Sunday) 00:00AM
End: Feb 8 (Sunday) 06:00AM

Route: Macapagal-Seaside Blvd-CCP-Baywalk-Quirino Grandstand

Two or Three Days Rests

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running9 Comments

Last week, I had a 3-day rest (Monday to Wednesday) from running and resumed my running on the morning of Thursday at the ULTRA Oval Track. I did a 10K run at the oval within my 97% Lactate Threshold with an average pace of 5:03 minutes/kilometer. On the following day, Friday morning, my son and I ran the route of the Happy Run 15K with 79%-80% Lactate Threshold with an average pace of 6:10 minutes/kilometer. However, during our scheduled “speed” session on Friday night, Maj Espejo gave us the usual instruction to run 75% of the distance we are going to run for the Sunday’s race at our 100%-110& Lactate Threshold. So, for the members who were scheduled to run the Happy Run 15K, they ran 11 Kilometers at their race pace and I ran 7.5 kilometers at my race pace for the Resolution Challenge 10K Run and finished it with an average pace of  4:48 minutes/kilometer. On the early morning of Saturday, I was back at the ULTRA Oval Track for my 30-minute “active recovery” run with a 70% Lactate Threshold or with a slow pace of 6:30 minutes/kilometer. Well, last Sunday, I finished the Resolution Challenge 10K Run with an average pace of 4:32 minutes per kilometer, barely missing eight (8) seconds from my 110% Lactate Threshold.

This week, I had another 2-day (Monday & Tuesday) complete rest from running.  I went to the gym after lunch yesterday for a 0ne-hour workout for my upper body and “core” muscles. After a short shower and changing my attire for running, I was already on my way to the ULTRA Oval Track for the Wednesday scheduled training. During our training session, the coaches gave us more new “jumping & bouncing” drills and “new” speed drills we had never experienced before. Our coaches keep on surprising us with their “gimmicks and techniques” wherein they explain the importance of each drill for us to improve our finish time and running technique & form. The best part of such explations is that our coaches deliver their point in English! I can say that almost 100% of the members keep on improving their finish time because of the “message/voice” of Coach Salazar which keeps on repeating to our ears & brains during weekend road races! Here comes now the best part—our “main course” for the day! We were directed to do 5 X 400 meters with 1:30-minute rest in-between interval at our 110% Lactate Threshold. That is just the starter. After 3-minute rest after finishing the 5 X 400, we have to do 2 sets of 15-minute runs with 3-minute rest in-between the sets within our 110% Lactate Threshold, too! There was no need to complain as we knew our coaches were leading us to a new and higher level of running performance. As my GF 305 was not working because of spent battery power, I really did not know how fast or slow we were running on those laps and sets. However, what I knew was that I became stronger and faster after those two days rests and did not have any leg pains or soreness even if I had my gym workout before this speed training session yesterday.

On these two or three days rests, I went to the province, away from the polluted air of Metro Manila. I just enjoyed the fresh air and the nice cold weather in Laoag City last week and in Cagayan Valley last Monday & Tuesday. No running but just a short walk to have a glimpse of those vast fields newly-planted with rice. Just breathing the fresh air around; enjoying the fresh foods which were home-cooked and sometimes, served “raw”; and resting and relaxing for the rest of the day during these days made me recover my tired muscles and I know my body is ready again for more running “adventures” in the coming days.

To all the runners, I suggest you take also a 2 or 3-day rest and drive/fly away from the noise, crowd, traffic and polluted air of Metro Manila and re-charge yourself. Just relax, eat, and breath the fresh air around you.

Also, to most of the runners who want to improve on their speed and finish times in their future road races, you should know your Lactate Threshold and be able to use it in your training. You should know the answers of the “WHY” you are doing those repetitive interval runs of 100, 200, 400, or 800-meter or other speed runs on the track and your “fartleks” in your road runs. Not knowing the reason/s why you are doing something to improve your running is not good for your training.

(Note: For those runners who do not understand or don’t have any knowledge about Lactate Threshold, join or visit our “speed training” sessions at the ULTRA Oval Track, our coaches will be glad to explain it to you. If interested, our coaches will be glad also to test and find out your Lactate Threshold. For our schedules of training, please visit www.teambaldrunner.wordpress.com)

To: All Ultramarathon Runners; An Invitation

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Practice Runs, Runners' Training, Running, Ultramarathon4 Comments

To those runners who have reserved a slot or had registered for the 1st Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race, you are invited and highly encouraged to join Albert aka Run2Dmoon for an scheduled “long run” as he sent this invitation in the Comment page at www.bataan102.com.

Hi to all fellow runners joining this race!

Anyone up for a 6-hour run practice?
This is a midnight to sunrise gig.

Location: MOA Seaside Blvd. (C-loop – 6km/loop)
Time: 12am-6am
Date: Jan. 31 (Sat) and Feb. 7 (Sat)

Note: This is not an organized practice.
There are gas stations (Jetti or Shell) for water breaks. Mcdo and YellowCab if you get hungry.

Albert aka Run2Dmoon

www.run2dmoon.wordpress.com

The “Hardcore-Concerned” Runners would like to join this invitation but they have an scheduled “Runabout” on the early morning of February 1, thus, making them unavailable on the first scheduled invitation. However, we (Bald Runner & Staff) have initially made some arrangements already in joining the scheduled run on the Midnight of February 7 up to 6:00 AM of February 8. I am sure that the other “Hardcore-Concerned” Runners will be joining also in this running practice.
 
To all the “Hardcore-Concerned & Power Runners” and those interested future ultra marathon runners, let us join Albert in this “practice run”. 

Latest “1,000-Km Club” Finishers/Members

On By kingofpotsIn Pictures, Runners' Training, Running10 Comments

The following are the latest runner-bloggers who completed running 1,000 kilometers as they enrolled with the “1,000-Km Club”. Each of them was awarded with BR’s “1,000-Km Club” Finisher’s T-Shirt. Congratulations and welcome to the Club, guys!

Jinoe aka Manokan Express Receiving His Finisher's Shirt
Jinoe aka Manokan Express Receiving His Finisher's Shirt
Mark Parco aka Mark's VO2 With Tiffin Receiving The Finisher's T-Shirt
Mark Parco aka Mark's VO2 With Tiffin Receiving The Finisher's T-Shirt
Felipe Dumpit aka Lendendorf Leben Receiving Finisher's T-Shirt & Donating His "Used" Mizuno Running Shoes
Felipe Dumpit aka Kinderdorf Leben Receiving His Finisher's T-Shirt & Donating His "Used" Mizuno Running Shoes

1st Corporate Running Clinic (Part 2)

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Stretching3 Comments

A week after the Team Bald Runner speakers conducted a lecture on the “Whys” of running among the staff and personnel of Reinier Pacific last January 8, it was time for the practical exercises and demonstrations on the proper way to do warm-up and stretching exercises before the actual run, demonstrate and do running drills, and the actual demonstration of running form where each of the participants were to perform. The demonstration and actual practice were handled by Major Ferdie Espejo Jr, Coach Saturnino Salazar and the rest of the Elite members of the team Bald Runner. The exercises started at 3:30 PM last Thursday, 15 January at the ULTRA Oval Track.

Personnel Formed as a "Platoon" of Trainees (Picture Courtesy of Reinier6666)
Personnel Formed as a "Platoon" of Trainees (Picture Courtesy of Reinier6666)

Almost 25+ participants went through the warm-up by jogging along the oval track, then stretching on each muscle of the body involved in running, runnng drills were demonstrated and performed in order to show the correct running form and the correct contact of the foot to the ground. These drills made the participants to sweat and catch their breaths but it was shown in their faces that they were enjoying and having fun with the corrections they were getting from their coaches.

Proper Way to Land the Midfoot To The Ground as Demonstrated by Coach Salazar (Picture Courtesy of Reinier6666)
Proper Way to Land the Midfoot To The Ground as Demonstrated by Coach Salazar (Picture Courtesy of Reinier6666)

After the drills, the coaches divided the participants into three (3) groups for them to do a “team building” exercise through a relay running where the fastest to finish a certain distance will win. To make the competition more interesting, the President of the company, Mr Amado Castro, Jr offered P 1,000 pesos for the team who will win. In the end, the group with the best renditon of a cheer and the fastest to run a distance in a relay among its members won the said prize.

Stretching of Muscles Were Properly Sone To Avoid Injuries
Stretching of Muscles Were Properly Done To Avoid Injuries
Team Relay Competition Among The Employees
Team Relay Competition Among The Employees
Clinic Ended With A Group Picture With Team Bald Runner
Clinic Ended With A Group Picture With Team Bald Runner

The 1st Corporate Running Clinic was a success and the Team Bald Runner have again contributed in its objective and advocacy to motivate and influence more people to run and engage themselves in an active physical activity to improve their health and well-being. Few days after the practical exercises, four of the employees of Reinier Pacific enrolled in the Team Bald Runner’s “speed training” for formal and progressive training on running.

To, Mr Amado Castro, Jr aka Reinier6666, thank you very much for allowing my team to spread our advocacy  of running through your staff and employees.

Once again, for those who are interested to invite us to your offices to lecture to your staff and employees on the proper way to run and train to join road races, the Team Bald Runner is offering its services for free! Please leave a comment to this post or send an e-mail to jovie75@hotmail.com for the details of the running clinic.

Latest Updates: 1st Bataan Ultramarathon Race

On By kingofpotsIn Runners' Training, Ultramarathon9 Comments

To: All Interested Runners

1. This race will definitely be open to 100 runners/participants only. Each participant should have finished at least one (1) marathon race within one year prior to the scheduled ultramarathon event.
2. Leaving your intention to participate in this race event through our Comment & Feedback at www.bataan102.com and by stating your name, age, e-mail address and contacting number/s will entitle you a reserved slot among the 100 runners.
3. Registration Forms will be available on this site soon. However, registration will be accepted at the Project Donate A Shoe booth during the PSE Bull Run Race on 18 January 2009 on January 18, 2009. Henceforth, Project Donate A Shoe booth in every weekend road race will be the registration booth for this ultra run event.
4. Last day of registration will be on 15 March 2009. No late registrants will be accepted.
5. All registered participants are encourage to join a “test run” and at the same time. This “test run” will serve as an ultramarathon clinic on 22 February 2009 in order to have a group run from Balanga, Bataan to the Finish Line (San Fernando, Pampanga) covering a distance of 52 kilometers. Details will be posted at this site and at http://www.baldrunner.com.
6. Other details of this race event will be posted as soon as necessary.
7. For your training program reference(s), please visit http://www.baldultrarunner.wordpress.com.

8. We will try our best to have this event sanctioned by PATAFA (even if PATAFA have not created a dedicated committee for ultra running events in the country). We sent e-mails to the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), an entity under the IAAF, for them to include this event in their race calendar for 2009 last month but we received no reply from them yet.
9. During the actual race event, we encourage each participant to have their support crew and pacer after Km Post #7. It could be the whole family in a car or van or friends on bicycles or motorcycles.
10. We will not remind you about “honesty” of running on the said ultra event. Please remember that you will not be cheating the race organizers but you will be cheating yourself. I firmly believe that ultramarathon runners are matured and decent breed of serious runners.
11. Since you have decided to join and participate in this historic event , I want you to be proud to be a part of  this ultramarathon race event that depicts an important part in the history of the country and the entire world.

12. This is an ultramarathon race event (solo event) and not a relay run.

13. The cut-off time for this ultramarathon event is further adjusted to eighteen (18) hours.

14. Participants will be responsible for their respective transportation to the Starting Line and from the Finish Line to Metro Manila.

94 Days: Last Run For 2008

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Places to Run, Runners' Training, Running2 Comments

8:30 AM 31 Dec 2008 @ Rizal High School (Pasig) Oval Track

There were three other joggers/walkers when I started my warm-up run at the Rizal High School Oval Track. After four laps, I had my stretching and speed drills. I decided to have my speed/interval runs in order to correct the defect that Captain Espejo had noticed on my strides and footstrike during my previous run.

I did 10 X 400-meter runs with one-minute recovery in between repetition within my 110% effort. On my 1st to 5th laps, I clocked in 1:35 minutes; 6th & 7th laps at 1:40 mins; 8th lap in 1:38 mins; 9th lap in 1:36 mins; and 10th lap in 1:40 mins. During these repetition runs, I experimented even-pace throughout one lap and slow first half and increasing my pace on the last half of the lap. I found the second mode of running, slow & then fast pace, to be the most comfortable way to undertake such speed runs.

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The stage and the 100-meter dash run portion of the Rizal High School (Pasig) Oval Track

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The left side of the Oval Track as I was standing from the stage.

After the 10 reps, I had my cool-down with two laps of slow jogging and another two laps of walking. I ended my workout with stretching exercises. I was supposed to run another 45 minutes at my 80%-85% effort after the speed runs but I really felt tired already and I opted to call it a day. I was able to run a total distance of 7.5 kilometers.

After assessing the results of my speed runs, I found out that my time for every lap was faster than the time for my 110% target goal which is 1:45-1:46 minutes. However, I really don’t know how I fare with my time if I try to reach the maximum 20 reps for a typical/normal speed run workout. With this speed run workout, I was able to correct the defect that Coach Espejo had observed from my previous run at the oval track.

“It Seems I am Running Slower”

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Practice Runs, Runners' Training, Running8 Comments

I am on my third week of my “speed” training with the Team Bald Runner and it seems that I feel that I am running slower but after uploading the data from my GF 305, I am surprised that I am getting faster every time I have my running workout!

I have received some comments from the readers of this blog that what I am writing are very “technical” in nature. Well, for a runner to improve his finish time, he or she has to be aware of his time down to the last seconds and also on the precision of distances being run during training as well as in road races. Running is a very technical sport and that is the reason why we compare ourselves with other runners through our finish times within a certain road race distance. The finish time is the “bottomline” in road racing. It is not how much pain you feel during and after the race; it is not the amount of water, bottles of sports drinks and packets of GUs and sports bars you consumed; it is not the number of pounds or kilos you shed off from your weight after running a race; it is not about your running kit and shoes; it is not how many runners you passed by/overtaken during the race or vice-versa; it is not who and how many runner-bloggers you saw before, during, and after the race; it is not about your injuries; it is not about knowing other runners during races; it is not about meeting your running friends;  it is not the number of miles/kilometers you run to prepare a road race, and lastly, it is not about those food you ate along the way and those “breakfast” after the race. Remember, a competitive runner is being  judged and evaluated by his finish time in a certain road race distance. 

After last Sunday’s 25th RUNNEX Executive Classic 10K Run at the UP Campus, I had my “active recovery” run at the ULTRA Oval Track last Monday morning for 30 minutes with 70% effort where I should be running a pace of at least 6:56 mins/km, almost 7:00 mins/km pace. Instead, I was running comfortably within my 80%-85% effort (5:42 mins/km) and I thought I was running slow!

On Tuesday morning, I arrived very early at the ULTRA for my easy endurance run but I was warned by the Security Guards that the Oval Track was closed for the whole morning because of an official activity in the area. I guess, the President was scheduled to speak to a group of government officials on Anti-Corruption. From the ULTRA Oval Track, I had to go to the Bonifacio High Street/The Fort for my workout. From the BHS loop, I went running along the streets of Global City until I reached McKinley Hill up to the C-5 Highway entrance and went around the roads of the said area before going back to the BHS. I was able to cover a distance of 12 kilometers. I thought I would have an average pace of 6:30 mins/km for the said run considering the terrain of Global City and McKinley Hill. But I was surprised to see the data from my GF 305 that I ran an average pace of 5:54 mins/km which is within my 80-85% effort.

On Tuesday evening during our “speed” session at the ULTRA, my “speed-group” was directd by Coach Ferdie Espejo to run a “pyramid” interval run consisting of running 3K-2K-1K-2K-3K, with a recovery jog/walk of 1 -1:30 minutes in between distances. We were asked to run within our 80-85% effort. The result was that our group had an average pace within our 90% effort and higher for the whole “pyramid” workout and we were still smiling after the workout!

Last Wednesday evening during our “speed” session again at the ULTRA, my “speed-group” was directed to run 5 X 400 meters within our 100% effort with 1:30 minutes as recovery jog/walk but it turned out to be enough time for us for our “water breaks” and brief runs to the CR. The average pace of our group was faster than our pegged “speed limit” and went beyond and faster than our 110% effort. We were running an average time of 1:40 minutes  per lap! After finishing such interval run and resting for 5 minutes, we had to do another 30-minute run within our 80-85% effort but we finished with an average effort of 90-95%.

I really appreciate what the coaches of Team Bald Runner are doing to the participants of this “speed” training. The coaches are exposing us to our lactate threshold through our interval runs and at the same time improving our endurance capability with those endurance runs with our 80-85% effort. As a result, all of us are improving in our finish times and our bodies are slowly adapting to our endurance limits in every speed session. I told Coach Ferdie Espejo about my “feeling” of running slower but such feeling is contrary to what the numbers say—a faster time results on my GF 305. He was laughing as he asked me and my “speed-group” to have another “diagnostic test” by next week.

My classmates at the “speed” sessions are just silent but they are smiling and happy from the results they are getting from their speed workouts. I know from their smiling faces and remarks that running, afterall, is fun!

Yes, running as a competitive sports is very technical…and it is fun!

Open For Membership #2

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Runners' Training, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

After I have opened the membership of Team Bald Runner to everybody, I received positive feedback and application for membership from runners in the team’s blogsite at www.teambaldrunner.wordpress.com. My staff was able to make a list of the applicants and their respective e-mail address.

As I met and talked to some members of the Hardcore Group and friends for the past days, I got good comments and possibilities for new “ideas” and “services to offer” by Team Bald Runner.

As response to such feedbacks, I have added “Pages” to the site and for us to answer some of the concerns of the applicants. Please find time to check them and leave your comment/s.

A Comment From RunDmoon

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runner's Fashion/Attire, Runners Accessories, Runners' Training, Running, Ultramarathon4 Comments

RunDmoon is one of the regular readers and “commentor” in this blog and I met him during the Adidas KOTR Run somewhere at Km-11 post during the race. He greeted me and we exchanged a brief conversation. While running, he told me that “I look so tall in my pictures but I look more handsome in person”. I just laughed and said “Thanks”. I tried keep in pace with him and two other runners but they were on a blistering pace and I just simply maintained my pace. However, he made a parting words of joining the Bataan Death March 102K next year.

He made the following comment on my post where I PRed last Sunday’s Milo National Finals Marathon: 

Hi BR. Can i request a post? I always notice from your posted pics that you are wearing a rolled scarf on you neck. Is that your anting-anting (amulet)? Also, you are wearing cycling shorts in most of your runs. Are there benefits of wearing a tight shorts? Are you trying to make a running fashion statement?

BTW, i’ve reached 999km today. I started Sep 29, 2008. Thanks for the inspiring people to run.

I will answer the first question about the rolled scarf or “bandana” on my neck. When I witnessed the start among the elite runners of the 2008 Badwater Ultramarathon Race last July, I observed that most of the ultramarathoners were wearing such scarfs on their neck. These scarfs are special scarf where a runner would roll into them pieces of “dry ice” that would keep him/her cool during the run/race with 110-125 degrees Farenheit heat along the desert. This was the “secret” of the early ultramarathoners in the early edition of the said ultramarathon race. Some of the ultra runners would simply tie the bandana on their necks to protect their nape from the heat of the sun. Others would simply tie around their head or forehead to catch the sweat dripping from their head. As for me, the rolled bandana/scarf is used as a “catcher” and “absorber” of my sweat from head, making the whole scarf as my “neck cooler” during road races. However, in my past posts, I suggested that those runners intending to run the Bataan Death March 102K would also use such bandana in their runs (training or races) to show support for the said ultramarathon event.

On your question about my running shorts. I am having a “chafing” problem when I use the regular running shorts (with side slits & at least 2 inches inseam) and lately, I only use this kind of running shorts during my training workouts. However, when I use this kind of shorts, I saw to it to apply petroleum jelly or Body Glide on my groin area or inner side of my upper legs. When I run on trails, I use the trail shorts (with pockets and longer inseams with at least 5 inches long). However, I usually use a BIKE compression shorts as my underwear. While I was in the US running those trails in Bulldog and Mt Wilson, I observed that there was a pain (not severe) on my left hamstrings and I tried to look for the famous CW-X compression shorts which has some positive testimonials from runners and triathletes with problems on their hamstrings. Not been able to buy one which is fitted to my size and for my needs while I was in the US, I tried to look for my old BIKE compression shorts which I bought in the early 90s and I was able to locate them and presently using them with my trail shorts. Since my arrival from the US last September, I prefer to use the biking/compression shorts rather than the regular running shorts because of the “chafing” problem; I feel like an “elite” athlete when I am wearing such during races where I can lift my knees higher and thinks that I am “aerodynamically” efficient when wearing it; the compression shorts absorbs more of my sweat rather than my sweat going down to my socks and shoes; it can keep a bottled water or Propel tucked in on my back; the tight feeling the shorts gives to my butt and upper leg muscles gives me the confidence of not having any problems of pain or cramps; and lastly, I wear a compression shorts if I feel I could break a PR for the said race. 

Fashion statement? Following one of Machiavelli’s Laws of Power, “Court Attention At All Cost”, I am a believer/follower of this law. Dress up properly and approriately to gain respect and attention…and let your appearance do the talking.

Congratulations for being one of the finishers of the “1,000-Km Club”. You will be the 7th runner to be awarded the Finisher’s T-shirt from the Bald Runner. That was an incredible feat on your part to finish the distance in two months! I am sure you are truly preparing for the Bataan 102K Ultramarathon! Just leave a comment where I could possibly award your prize with the proper photo-ops. 

The Bald Runner is always here to be of service to the running community and to everybody. Keep on running and run faster!