Postponed Indefinitely

The announced 7th rendition of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon scheduled on 17 February 2008 is postponed indefinitely.

I just got the information that the “AFP-PNP Olympics” is scheduled to be conducted on the third week of February 2008 as most of the AFP runners will be attending this event. However, the different Special Services and Sports representatives of the Major Services will meet on the early part of February 2008 to discuss the final schedule of the 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon.

Appropriate announcements will be made.

D-12 Day: 2008 Subic Half-Marathon Run

08 January 2008 (6:15 AM-7:20 AM) 

 I had my practice run at The Fort this morning. After running three times along the road infront of the International School, which is basically the road extension from Market! Market, I had the experience of running along the road that surrounds the Bonifacio High Street Mall. I followed the route being used by a group of cyclists doing some criterium along the said route. I was able to see male & female runners running the said route whose faces are very familiar in weekend races in Metro Manila. I think they knew me because they greeted me and smiled. I had to greet and smile at them, too!..I was not wearing my runner’s cap!

I was able to run three times along the said route before going towards MC Home Depot and turning left towards Jollibee and ran towards One McKinley. From The Infinity, I proceeded back to Fort Bonifacio.

I was able to run 7 miles or 11.2 kilometers with a time of 1:05:04 hours. I considered this workout as an easy run.

The following data were taken from my Zone Trainer Heart Rate Digital Monitor: 

Elapsed Time—1:05:04 hours

In Zone Time(145-165 HR)—1:03:44 hours

Average HR—153

Maximum HR—164

Minimum HR—109

Total Calories—892

D-6 Day: 2008 Clark Freeport 10K Run

07 January 2008 (5:25 AM-7:00 AM)

I was able to run a distance of 10 miles or 16 kilometers at The Fort; Market! Market Extension Road; and to the HPA Grandstand’s 2-mile course. I finished the run at 1:31:56 hours. This was an easy run.

The following data were taken from the Zone Trainer Digital Heart Monitor:

Elapsed Time—1:31:56 hours

Time In Zone (135-165 HR)—1:30:32 hours

Average HR—150

Maximum HR—163

Minimum HR—101

Total Calories—1,222

07 January 2008 (6:15 PM-7:05 PM)

After spending the whole day in an official function at Camp Aguinaldo, I made my early evening run from my quarters to the Fort Bonifacio Grandstand & Parade Ground along the extended 2-mile route, making at least four rounds and running along Bayani Road and Lawton Avenue towards Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio and back to my quarters. My run lasted for 46:34 minutes covering a distance of 5 miles or 8 kilometers. This run was a modified speed play with “fartleks” along the route.

The following were the data taken from the Zone Trainer Digital Heart Monitor:

Elapsed Time—46:34 minutes

Time In Zone (135-165 HR)—44:02 minutes

Average HR—145

Maximum HR—155

Minimum HR—96

Total Calories—583

This is my second time to run twice-a-day. I was able to run a total of 15 miles or 24 kilometers for today. It was a nice run. I am starting to feel comfortable and adjusted running twice-a-day.

Pictures: Running With My Son

These are pictures taken during my running workout with my son, John Paul, at the Ilocos Norte Sports Oval Track in Laoag City after running for almost one and half hours from Barangay Dibua to the crossing Gabu Road and Suba Road and back to the Poblacion of Laoag City.

It appears that my son has the runner’s form, body-built for a runner and has the speed for a marathoner. I must admit that he is faster, stronger, better in running form, better trained and more efficient in running than I am when I was at his age.

dsc04879.jpg  dsc04876.jpg  dsc04873.jpg

I told him to have ourselves registered to run the 2008 San Francisco City Marathon and apply for our names to be raffled or be part of the lottery to participate in the 2008 New York City Marathon as early this part of the year.

D-8 Day: 2008 Clark Freeport 10K Run

05 January 2008 (PM Run)

I was scheduled to attend a dinner/”get together” party hosted by a former Commanding General of the Philippine Army who designated me then as the Chief of Training and Education for the whole Philippine Army. Other Philippine Army Generals who served under him in other positions were also invited.

Before going to the dinner party, I had a running workout at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, taking the 2-mile course. It was an easy run and I was able to run 4 times along the course and cool-down run for almost a kilometer. I finished 8.5 miles or 13.6 kilometers. I finished the run at 6:15 PM.

The following were the data taken from the Zone Trainer Digital Heart Rate Monitor:

Total Time—1:16:56 hours

In Zone (135-165 HR) Time—1:14:48 hours

Maximum HR—159

Minimum HR—112

Average HR—147

Total Calories—988

In the said dinner party, I was able to eat a lot for the replenishment of the energy I lost during the running practice. The rest of my companion in the party was surprised to see me drinking a lot of beer, knowing me then as somebody who does not drink any liquor. I told them that I am training for a Marathon next month and I just had a 1 1/2 hour run before joining the party. I finished at least five cans of San Miguel Light Beer while the rest finished at least two bottles of Martell’s Cordon Blue. The party served me as my carbo-loading station for my whole week’s running workout!

TIMEX Watch Data

The following were the data taken from my TIMEX Watch Zone Trainer Digital Heart Monitor in yesterday’s “twice-a-day” run:

AM Run:

Total Time—-1:44:14 hours

In Zone (145-165) Time—-1:42:22 hours

Maximum HR—-166

Minimum HR—-104

Average HR—-147

Total Calories—-1,299

PM Run:

Total Time—-1:40:26 hours

In Zone Time—-1:33:18 hours

Maximum HR—-158

Minimum HR—-98

Average HR—-143

Total Calories—-1,225

Jokes For The Day!

While taking a break after my “twice-a-day” run yesterday, I had the time to browse the Playboy Magazines my cousin brought home from California when he had his vacation last October 2007.

Runners need to take a break in order to laugh and smile and don’t be totally serious in their training. So, I am posting some of the jokes that could somehow make us laugh.

The following jokes were taken from the November 2007 issue of Playboy Magazine:

1) A man and his wife were watching a boxing match on television. The husband sighed and said, “Man, what a rip-off! It was all over in four minutes.”

The wife replied, “Now you know how I feel.”

2) Worried about her marriage, a woman visited a psychic.

     “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt,” the seers said. “Prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year.”  

      Shaken, the wife gasped, “Will I be acquitted?”

3) A urologist asked a patient, “How would you describe your love life?”

     The patient responded, “Infrequently.”

     The urologist asked, “Is that one word or two?”

4)  After examining a woman, a doctor took her husband aside and said, “I really don’t like the way your wife looks.”

    “Me neither,” the husband said, “but she’s a good cook and gives great head.”

5)  Why don’t you play golf with your boss anymore?’ a woman asked her husband.

      “Would you like to golf with a guy who moved the ball behind your back?’ the husband asked.

      “Well, no,” admitted the wife.

      “Neither does my boss,” he replied

To my fellow runners, go back to work & keep on running!

1st “Twice-A-Day” Run

04 January 2008 (AM & PM Runs)

AM Run (5:10 AM-6:50 AM)

Today, I had my “twice-a-day” run. This morning, I woke up at 4:45 AM and I was on the road at 5:10 AM. I started my morning run from my quarters at Fort Bonifacio and proceeded to Market! Market! From Market! Market, I ran through the road infront of the International School up to the road going to the former Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio. I made my turn-around point at the road going to the former/old St. Michael Chapel and proceeded back to Market! Market!, turning right towards the street fronting the MC Home Depot. I made a left turn at Jollibee and proceeded towards McDonald’s.

Passing infront of One McKinley, I proceeded back to Lawton Avenue, left turn at Bayani Road and entered the Philippine Army Golf Course. I made a 2-mile run at the HPA Grandstand 2-mile course with a time of 16:50 minutes. I had more rounds at the 2-mile course before proceeding back to my quarters. I was able to run for 1:44:14 hours. I was able to run 12.5 miles or 20 kilometers. My average pace was 8:20 mins per mile or 5:12 minutes per kilometer.

PM Run (6:10 PM-7:50 PM)

I had an evening run from my quarters at Fort Bonifacio to the Libingan ng mga Bayani, running along the 2-mile route once, and proceeded to the Bayani Road going towards Lawton Avenue. From Lawton Avenue, I proceeded to The Fort towards Market! Market! and going all the way to the road fronting the International School. I was able to reach the road that goes to the old St. Michael Chapel and back to the crossing at Market! Market! and going right towards MC Home Depot. Upon reaching the Jollibee, I was on my way back to Lawton Avenue and eventually entering Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio. From there, I had my cool-down run/jogging towards my quarters.

I continuously ran for 1:40:26 hours. I was running at a slower pace after running inside the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The road condition at the Bayani Road was not good and uneven, however, once I reached the portion fronting the Army Golf Course, I was running on the elevated side walk. I was able to run a distance of 11 miles or 17.6 kilometers. My pace was 9:00 minutes per mile or 5:40 minutes per kilometer.

For today, I was able to run a total distance of 23.5 miles or 37.6 kilometers with a total time of 3:24:40 hours.

So far, so good. I hope I can sustain my build-up/strengthening phase and have more long runs before the Marathon D-Day.