For finishing my first ultramarathon race (50K), I ordered my new Newton Running Shoes as my reward and it arrived after 6 days.
Instead of buying the new NIKE Lunar Trainer Shoes, I chose this!
We’ll see what this “Lamborghini” would do to my running…
From the time I started running in the early ’80s, my running shoes were limited to only two brands, New Balance & ASICS. However, a few months back, I donated my remaining New Balance shoes (NB 902 & NB Trail Shoes) through my “Project Donate A Shoe” to other runners who are in need of better and more reliable running shoes. Since then, all my running shoes are from the ASICS brand.
I came across this news article from the International Herald Tribune about the new technology and advancement in the running shoe industry as revealed by research & development people of ASICS shoes. The man behind this new technology is Hitoshi Mimura, 59 years old, a former marathon runner who became a master craftsman for ASICS, the Japanese sporting goods manufacturer.
Hereunder is the news article. For the elite athletes, anything that could make them faster and have a better finish time is the way of the future.
Happy reading! Continue reading “ASICS & Olympic Games 2008 Marathon”
Buying this pair of running shoes is a result of “impulsive shopping” on my part. After donating all my old running shoes which are not ASICS, only one remained which is the ASICS Gel-Cumulus 8. I needed another alternate running shoes which I can bring with me to Jamindan and my other shoes to stay in my quarters in Fort Bonifacio.
While browsing some of the running shoes at the Royal Sports Store, I found this particular shoes as the lightest and better cushioned among the other ASICS model available in the store. It was marked down to 20% less its original price and I was enticed to buy the said item.
After using it in the mountains of Jamindan, I found it to be light, very stable, and very comfortable to my heels. My heels are well-snugged with the heel counter area and I don’t feel any instability with my heels while running uphill and downhill. I tend to strike the ground with my forefoot but I had observed that the shoes has the tendency to roll more towards the outside motion, instead of being flat or neutral. I could feel that the thickness of the heel and sole is thicker on the inner side of the shoes by a few millimeters.
After 3 months of using it, I could feel that my footstrike is becoming more towards the outside/farther or outward portion of the shoes. The shoes have semi-curved last, the only shoes that I have with such construction. I thought of making a research about the shoes with ASICS website and I found out that shoes is made for pronators, runners who have the tendency to roll their feet towards the inner part of the shoes resulting to the inner portions of the heel to be consumed first due to wear and tear. Since I am not a pronator but a supinator, I could feel that my footstrike towards the outside portion of my shoes is more exaggerated making my run uneven with the ground. Although, I feel that my supination is more exaggerated, I did not feel any pain or uneasiness with my leg muscles with this running shoes.
The shoes is light and comfortable but the cushioning is very basic as you could “feel the ground” with your feet. The shoes is not noisy when it hits the ground and it has nice traction and you could feel immediate response from the shoes when you try to increase your pace. This is a responsive shoes, whether you are forefoot or heel striker.
This shoes is well-recommended to pronators. This is one of the mid-priced running shoes of ASICS between P 4,500 to P 5, 500.00. This shoes could be used for longer distances like half-marathon and marathon races.
This is my ASICS Gel-1120 which appeared in the RW Magazine’s Shoe Review on the later part of 2006. I suggest you don’t buy your ASICS shoes at the Royal Sports Store or at Toby’s because they are selling the older models. Try getting/buying later models of ASICS at The Athlete’s Foot Store at Glorietta.
The following pictures were taken by Captain Ferdie Espejo, one of my staff/officers with the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Running Club, Inc., who is supervising the Project “Donate A Shoe”, together with Major Rod Turno of Camp Aguinaldo.
Major Rod Turno turning-over a donated shoe to one of the lucky recipients.
The gentleman on the right donated his running shoes. The lady elite runner on the middle was the recipient of my Nike Air Max trail running shoes.
Bards aka “Banana Running” giving one of her shoes to Major Rod Turno. Mesh Villanueva, on her right, also gave her running shoes to the project. Thanks, Bards and Mesh for the support.
Eric aka “Passion Runner” giving one of his running shoes to the Project Donate A Shoe through Major Rod Turno. Thanks, Eric!
One of the lady runners who donated her old shoes signing the Deed of Donation while Don Fernando Zobel looking and holding his Deed of Donation for donating his running shoes he used in the 15K run. Don Fernando, thanks for the donation and for proudly wearing the “One” Wristband.
One of the donors of running shoes with the “One” Wristband.
This concept or project of donating my old running but still reliable running shoes and encouraging others runners to donate their old shoes was born out from my observations of seeing young and senior runners participating in weekend road races, most especially in the 2008 Pasig River International Marathon last February 2008, who were seen with tattered and worn-out running shoes, walking and limping on the side of the road. So, I decided to post the pictures of my old running shoes to let the other runners know if they are in need of my old shoes or share the information to other runners and maybe, ultimately, make my offer reach to the needy ones. The comments of The Bull Runner, Banana Running, Quick Silver Runner, Mark, Cecil/Miraclecello, Benov, Datc, and others from that post inspired me to push through with this project through the help of my Officers & Staff of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Running Club, Inc. And I am glad that this project was later endorsed by these bloggers in their respective posts.
As promised in my succeeding post (Collection Point), my staff was able to set-up a “Collection/Distribution” Booth for this project at the Mizuno Infinity Run. Initially, I donated four running shoes and the following “good-hearted runners” shared their old shoes, too:
1) Don Fernando Zobel—He removed his running shoes, ASICS GT-2110, and donated them to the project
2) Bards Bathan aka Banana Running—Gave her Mizuno Wave Inspire 3.0
3) Mesh Villanueva—Gave an Adidas Adizero
4) Duane Santos and Eric Pasion–NIKE Max-Air
5) Jenny and Ninoy Leyran—Two (2) New Balance Shoes: NB 614 & Abzorb 900
6) Mark Bata—Three pairs of running shoes: Nike Air; Adidas Torsion; and Adidas CC Cushion
In total, my staff was able to collect thirteen (13) pairs of running shoes! Six (6) of these were given to the following recipients:
1) John Cervantes
2) Nonito Ubay
3) Genevieve De La Pena
4) Claudio Enero Jr.
5) Eduardo Medina
6) Vicente Polinan
Three (3) of my old shoes were taken by three among the recipients. The remaining shoes (7 shoes) will be brought to the next road race next weekend for display/distribution to qualified recipients.
Genevieve De La Pena got my Nike Air Max.
This is how a “tattered and worn-out” running shoes looks like which the owner exchanged with a better one after using it in the Mizuno 10K Run.
This might be the lightest and most ventilated running shoe in the world whose owner does not even know the importance of support, stability, torsion control, and comfort that the latest running shoes provide to the legs and body.
These are some of the donated shoes. The ASICS GT-2110 at the right was the running shoes of Don Fernando Zobel.
One of the recipients of the donated running shoes trying his size with his “new” running shoes.
This project will continue as long as there are road races and we will make that our “Collection/Distribution” Booth will be a permanent fixture in all of the future road races in Metro Manila.
To all the donors and “future” donors to this project, thank you very much! We wish you more blessings and successes in your life!
30 March 2008 (6:00 AM-7:16 AM)
I arrived at the Parking Area near the Assembly Area of the Mizuno Infinity Run at 5:10 AM and immediately had my stretching exercises and warm-up jogging. I saw to it that I had to drink water and force my urine to get out from my urinary tract system before going inside the check-in area. It took me about thirty minutes to warm-up while making sure that my officers from the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap had arrived and put up their booth for the BaldRunner’s “Donate A Running Shoe” Project. I was glad that my staff had arrived on time and I gave them four of my old shoes for donation.
Before the start and as soon as I entered the starting area, many runners had greeted me, most of whom are my visitors/readers of my blog. Guys, thanks for your comments and visits!
The 15K Run started at exactly 6:00 AM with the other runners in the 10K and 5K races to start after 15 minutes. The 5K was scheduled to start at 6:30 AM. As expected my 1st kilometer was a slow one, finishing in 5:44 minutes. But my time was a very slow pace from my planned time to finish every kilometer. I had to pick-up the pace when I was already at the Bayani Road. After almost two-kilometer run inside the Heritage Park, the hills before the Bayani Road, at Lawton Avenue, and at the McKinley Hill areas slowed down all the runners. The worst was, once the runners reached Lawton Avenue after coming from Bayani Road, they were already facing the heat of the sun.
Running at 3-Km point along the Bayani Road before I threw water to the driver of a black Nissan Patrol who was about to cut us from an intersection. I met Mark at this point after the said incident.
It is fun to run when there are lots of runners around you, the more you have to increase your pace!
At this point, going to Km. 8, I just left the Heritage Park and about to run uphill towards Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio.
At the uphill portion going to Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio and Bayani Road
I started to pick up again my pace after successfully ascending from the McKinley Hill area and reached back to Lawton Avenue. At this point, I had only 2 kilometers to go before the finish line. I joined the pace of a lady runner in pink and a soldier from Camp Aguinaldo. At the last turn before the Finish Line, I saw the digital clock registered 1:16:00 hours. I just maintained a quick pace and was able to cross the finish line in 1:16:27 hours, my unofficial finish time for the 15K race.
I picked-up my pace after leaving McKinley Hill area. The motorbike rider who escorted me from Heritage Park to the Finish Line was one of my personal drivers & member of my security detail when I was then the Camp Commander of Fort Bonifacio.
A picture with the lady runner in pink who set the pace along Lawton Avenue and a soldier from GHQ, Camp Aguinaldo following us. This was the first time I saw this lady in a weekend race. She is strong and I am sure she placed one of the top five among the ladies.
At the finish line with a time of 1:16:27 hours as I read from the digital timer/clock, my unofficial finish time.
After finishing the race, I immediately went to the booth where my staff established my Project “Donate A Shoe”. I found out that three of my old running shoes were already given to the less fortunate runners. Later, Don Fernando Zobel of Ayala Land Inc. approached the booth and asked where he can donate his shoes. And I and my staff answered, “Here, sir!”. He immediately removed the running shoes he was wearing, an ASICS GT-2110, and donated them to us. We let him signed some forms and took some pictures of him and myself. He left our booth walking with only his socks on. Thanks, Don Fernando! We salute you!
Runners looking at the array of donated shoes infront of Bald Runner’s Project “Donate A Shoe” booth being supervised by Major Rod Turno and Capt Ferdie Espejo of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Running Club, Inc.
Don Fernando Zobel signing the Deed of Donation for his running shoes he was wearing that he donated. I gave him a “ONE” Wristband which he accepted.
Many of my officers/enlisted personnel and dependents in the Philippine Army, my brother, members of the Happy Feet Runners Club, Fairview Running Club, Takie, Mark, Jomes, the BullRunner, jhun & wife, rene & doc from Gold’s Gym and others whom I forgot their names approached our “booth” and had good words about our project. We had some picture-taking, too!
A pose with the members of the Happy Feet Running Club. Guys, you look great!
A pose with my brother & wife who joined the 5K run. At far right is Colonel Oscar Lopez of the Philippine Army who is also a passionate long distance runner & joined/finished the 15K run in sub-1:30:00 hours.
A pose with Takie and the most popular The Bull Runner among the Running Bloggers!
One of the senior runners who received my New Balance 902 Performance Running Shoes showing his old shoes which he used in the 15K run!
This is with regards with my program to accept and donate “old and used but still reliable running shoes” to other runners who are using dilapidated and tattered shoes running shoes.
Initially, the office of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Running Club, Inc with address at Fire Station, AFP General Headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City will be the repository of all donated shoes.
The following officers with their respective cellphone numbers will be the contact persons of this program and feel free to send them SMS or call them for the details of the program or for personal appointments:
Major Rodrigo Turno PA—0905-900-3658
Captain Ferdie Espejo PA—0917-623-2611
Approriate papers will be prepared as Acceptance Form from the donors as well as Acceptance Form duly signed by the recipient. A formal letter will be sent to the donor as to who received the running shoes he/she donated. This will promote transparency in the inventory and distribution of these items, and in the overall implementation of this program.
A “booth” will be established by the abovementioned officers in every weekend race starting with the Mizuno Infinity Run at The Fort on 30 March 2008 to accept donations and at the same time distribute these shoes to runners sporting old, dilapidated, worn-out, and tattered running shoes.
I will be bringing with me to this “booth” my old running shoes which were shown in my previous post, and additional Merrell rubber shoes, Size 9 & a brand-new Reebok Rubber Shoes, Size 9.
Hope to see you at the Mizuno Infinity Run Assembly Area on 30 March 2008 at The Fort.
One of the things that I do during road races is to see what the person is wearing as his/her running shoes. Sometimes, I mentally make some judgment or opinion about a runner by the running shoes he/she is wearing. However, my post now will not deal about my opinion on these people whom I always see in road races.
Instead, I’ll be relating my observation to most of the road races I’ve joined for the past months. I had observed that there are young runners and old runners (masters/seniors) who are wearing old, tattered, dilapidated, and worn-out sole running shoes. I know these runners are more comfortable running with their old shoes in 10K and longer distance races but I saw most of them walking & limping on the side of the road because they are wearing old running shoes.
During the awarding of trophies and medals in Sunday morning’s 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon at Villamor Air Base Grandstand, I saw young, as well as, old runners wearing old and tattered shoes who received their medals and I hope to meet them again and maybe give them my old, but still reliable, running shoes.
As of now, I have 1 New Balance 716; my newly-bought New Balance 902 four months ago; and 1 Nike runing shoes which I am not using. I intend to donote these old shoes to the younger runners and to the senior runners who could not afford to buy a better or more serviceable running shoes. But priority goes to those runners who are using old and tattered running shoes.
If you happen to know somebody who runs with an old & tattered running shoe, please refer them to me and I’ll make arrangements to meet them during weekend road races and give them my old or shoes that I am not using.
How about you, do you have any old or shoes that you are not using but still serviceable to donate to the less fortunate runners?
Let us share our blessings.
New Balance 716; Made in USA; Size: 8 1/2 (US); Width: D; Bought in the USA
Nike Air Max (Trail Running Shoes); Made in Vietnam; Size: 9 (US); Width: D; Bought in the USA
New Balance 902; Made in China; Size: 9 (US); Width: EE; Bought at “Athlete’s Foot” Store, Glorietta
I bought this shoes last 22 November 2007 at the Glorietta’s “Athlete’s Foot” Store with 20% discount. This shoes was voted by as the Runner’s World Magazine Editor’s Choice and considered as the “lightest performance training” shoe of New Balance. It weighs 10 ounces and it has laces called “Sure Lace” shoestrings.
The shoes is nice and light and I’ve been using it in Jamindan and Iloilo City Oval Track for my “speed play” runs but for the past months, the shoes had been giving me some pain on my right Achilles tendon. Since last month, I started using my ASICS Gel-Cumulus shoes regularly in my road races and training workout runs. The pain on my right Achilles tendon disappeared while using the ASICS shoes. However, to validate and prove that my NB 902 is the cause of the pain, I used it last week for a short run and the pain on my foot came back and I had to slowly stop my running workout.
For now, I am officially “dumping” my NB 902 as my “performance training” running shoes!
These pictures were taken during my oval track run at the Iloilo City’s Athletic Grounds in the afternoon of 23 Nov 2007. I completed 32 laps at an average pace of 2:10-2:20 mins per lap. I finished my run with a time of 1 hour & 15 minutes. It was my first time to use my New Balance 902 running shoes.
My new running shoes is very light and I need to make some adjustments with the way I run with it. It is comfortable but it has minimal arch support. It has thinner sole than my old New Balance 716. I started to feel some slight pain on my lower leg muscles after 20 laps but it disappeared after slowing my pace. The New Balance 902 will be my trainer shoes from now on.
Bald Runner 
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