This is not a joke but it is nice to start something new. Starting on my fifth year, I will be featuring pictures of me in my running attire and who knows other runners will be featured in this blog in their favorite “running kits”, too!
ADIDAS Soccer Shorts (without panty-liner, no pockets and very light!)
Running Socks by Drymax
Shoes: ASICS Gel-LyteRacer (Japan)
Watches: TIMEX With HR Monitor & Garmin Forerunner 305
You have to excuse me for being an amateur in my picture as this was taken from the self-timer of my old Canon IXUS Digital Camera with the backyard of our house in Los Angeles. I hope things will improve on the quality of the pictures to be published in the future posts.
Yes, this is a copycat of the popular “The Sartorialist” which is now considered as a multi-million dollar worth fashion blog in the Internet. I am not saying that this blog will be after the concept of showing pictures of runners with the ultimate purpose of raising some money. But who knows? This could be another option where one can raise funds to support our elite runners for international exposure. There is only one way to find out but to start and take the first step, so to speak!
Next time, the published pictures will just be pictures without any description. And there will be NO make-up or “photoshop” refinement of each picture. The more you are messed up with your sweat, the better!
If you can not make it with speed, finish your race and flaunt your nice running apparel!
Who will be the next model? You can make a comment in this post if you are interested.
Good luck to those who will be joining the 2012 New York City Marathon this Sunday! Run Happy!
I started this blog on October 25, 2007 by publishing four (4) posts in one day! These were stories I could think of while I was a Commander in one of the Philippine Army Divisions in the Western Visayas and had initially inspired me to resume my running on a regular basis.
It was a time when there was a running event within one or two month’s time in the whole country!
It was the time when The Bull Runner was the only local regular running blog in the country. And she was ahead by 5 months! Why not a blog coming from an old, average and competitive male runner who could hardly remember his past marathon race accomplishments? Slowly but surely, Bald Runner started to be known.
And everything now is history.
Bald Runner
So, what will you expect in the years to come?
This blog will remain to be simple as it started in the beginning. Everything is purely on running. It will continuously inspire others to start to engage themselves in any kind of endurance or physical activity that will improve their health and well-being. It will promote adhering to healthy lifestyle for everybody. It would never dare to touch on political, social, and economic matters as this is the expertise of others out there who have job descriptions to implement as part of the mission of their respective organization.
Sharing one’s running workouts and training. In my early years of blogging and up to this time, I’ve shared to my readers my training and other information I’ve discovered from other sources. I’ve experimented on them and made my own conclusion on each of these, from training, form, nutrition, hydration and apparel. Since I have the time to browse on the Internet, I might as well share my “discoveries” to everybody. However, in the end, Dr. George Sheehan’s words that “running is an experiment of one” still holds true!
My personal opinion on observations on running will always be part of this blog but I will limit them to road and trail races that I participate. This will serve as my personal reference if ever I would join again in their future editions.
Reviews on running apparel and shoes will always be a part of this blog and I had been lagging behind on this aspect. In a sense, I believe that there is truth on what they say as “Sports Fashion” in Running. If you can’t make it in speed, do it in your fashion statement!
More ultra marathon and adventure runs. Yes, there will be more to come to challenge myself and for everybody, whether in roads and trails. Sufferings and pains are the things that ultra runners would love to experience and keep them from looking for more. Just ask your average ultra runner how it feels to finish one, he or she will tell you that will be their last one but after a week, he/she will be looking for the schedule of the next ultra event. Amazing people! Not only that, it is becoming apparent that joining an ultra will be cheaper than joining a marathon race!
Transparency? It is a standard practice for a runner-blogger to post a picture (in action) in his story if he/she relates his/her story and experience in finishing a race. It is a must! So that you are sending the message that you are a credible runner. Nothing more, nothing less. I really don’t mind the finish time, just show us that you are running.
Lately, there had been media releases about runners who are doing adventure runs throughout the country (Philippines) and other parts of the world and they are very commendable in terms of their respective advocacy they are promoting. Very nice indeed but I need to see their daily stories and I could not wait for their books or journals to be published months or years after they finished their respective feats. Is it hard for them to blog their daily runs? It still boggles my mind as these runners are good writers and professionals, too! In short, if I can do it in my local adventure runs, they can do it, too!
Keep on sending elite athletes to international ultra races in the years to come will be one of the major tasks and primary advocacy of this blog. Surprisingly, I have received only two of my readers in this blog who e-mailed me to support such endeavor. And in my Facebook status about my post on “Good Samaritan”, my ultra friends who are based abroad were the ones who responded to my call. Thanks for your support. I know that majority of those who kept their silence on my post will be willing to give their share once I will send them my “letter of request” and I might as well thank them for their support in advance.
Simplicity, Transparency, Sharing, Persistence, Credibility, Compassion, and Challenge are the words to live by in this blog.
The following are the results of the 3rd BR’s Barefoot & Minimalist 6K Run held at the Philippine Army Grandstand & Parade Ground’s Jogging Lane o/a 4:30 PM October 8, 2011 (Saturday):
BAREFOOT
Rank
Bib #
Name
Time
1
222
Andrico Mahilum
22:28
2
223
John Quinones
22:53
3
205
Johndiel Bastatas
22:56
4
218
Enrique Sundiang
23:50
5
202
Randy Rubio
25:08
6
204
Erik Talagtag
26:08
7
228
Elmer Toledo
27:56
8
214
RJ Gavina
30:28
9
226
JohnCuestas
31:32
10
210
Edsel Enriquez
32:19
11
209
Mike Logico
32:48
12
221
Harold Lorete
33:04
13
217
Raymond Alcantara
37:07
14
225
Gerda Summerian Cuestas (F)
39:10
15
215
David Drilon
40:02
16
219
Loreta Llamado (F)
41:50
17
203
Michael Galas
41:52
MINIMALIST
Rank
Bib #
Name
Time
1
212
Fernan Recopuerto
22:23
2
224
Michael Mendoza
23:38
3
211
Archie Salmone
25:06
4
206
Robert Alvarez
25:12
5
208
Noel Dimabuyu
25:14
6
229
Ben Silva
26:55
7
220
Jessie Llarena
29:57
8
207
Carl Balagot
30:59
9
230
Mark Arroyo
32:43
10
213
Takumi Reyes
40:07
11
216
Rexie Saldivar (F)
44:26
Podium Finishers (1, 2 & 3) for the Men’s and Ladies Categories for each Barefoot and Minimalist Events may now claim their respective VFF Prize/VFF Shoes from Cherry Ermita at cellphone #0917-807-0330 or send an e-mail at cherryermita@gmail.com. Please use these results as your reference.
Whether we have 10 or less runners for this event (and rain or shine), we will continue the effort to sustain this endeavor in order to promote barefoot/minimalist running.
Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation and thanks for the continued support of Carlos Abad & Cherry Ermita of VFF (Vibram Five Fingers) Philippines; A Runners Circle Philippines Specialty Store; FrontRunner Magazine; Mike Logico and the Barefoot Running Philippines; and the Philippine Army.
Start Of The 6K RunMike Logico of BFR Philippines. Nice Shirt!!!Vibram Five Fingers' Runner!Champion: Barefoot Runner
Guidelines For 2011 T2N (Tagaytay to Nasugbu) 50K Run: Second Edition
1. This is a solo race. The race will start at 5:00 AM of Saturday, September 17 in front of the Picnic Grove (near the Development Academy of the Philippines) in Tagaytay City. The Finish Line of the race is INSIDE Plaza De Roxas in Nasugbu, Bataan. Plaza De Roxas is the Municipal Public Park located in front of the Nasugbu Municipal Hall. (Note: Runners have to pass in front of the Jollibee and then turn right at the next street and then enter at the Gate of Plaza De Roxas.)
2. Runners are allowed to have their support vehicle & crew but they are not allowed to have pacers. (Note: Pacers should be registered runners). Support Vehicle should “leap-frog” from their runner/s and “shadowing” the runner is strictly not allowed. There is no prescribed number of runners to be supported for each support vehicle.
3. Runners’ Bib should be pinned and displayed in front of the runner’s apparel. Bandits will not be tolerated during the run.
4. Runners are highly encouraged to bring and wear with them their respective hydration system/belt during the race. There will be No Aid Station along the route.
5. Cut-off time is nine (9) hours.
6. Runners are encouraged to stay on the left side of the road, facing the incoming traffic. Some parts of the route are narrow and runners should always be attentive and vigilant of vehicles, in front and at their back.
7. Runners are also encouraged to run in single file as the road will be busy with the traffic of vehicles.
8. Ipods, MP3s, and “wires” are allowed. However, users should be attentive with their surroundings.
9. As in the past PAU races, every finisher will receive PAU Finisher’s Medal and Finisher’s T-Shirt. Finishers/Runners will be served with pack lunch at the Finish Area. Results of this race will be included in the rating/ranking among PAU runners for 2011.
Finisher's Shirt
10. Integrity of the Race shall be upheld and respected.
11. Corporate Logos will not be allowed to be displayed on support vehicles. However, tarpaulins of running teams/groups are allowed WITHOUT corporate logos.
12. The spirit of ultra running is highly encouraged. Finish the race, encourage/help one another, develop friendship before, during & after the race, and have an ULTRA FUN during the run!
Good luck and See You at the Starting Line!
(Note: The race will start before the scheduled time. Runners who deposited their registration fee through Landbank should bring their deposit slip. There will be NO onsite registration.)
Click on the link below on the article by Dr Phil Maffetone on his Maximum Aerobic Function (MAF) which is a detailed explanation on his training philosophy following one’s Heart Rate and the use of a Heart Rate Monitor.
Lately, one of my “friends” from Facebook who had been a triathlete for 17 years had called my attention when he read one of my posts that I am presently training using the Heart Rate Monitor. After his retirement from triathlon, he is pursuing his first ultra marathon run this coming December as he thinks that ultra running is “deeper” and more challenging than his past triathlon feats. I am sure this guy is a “purist” IRONMAN and one of the bests in the 90s or in his younger years. He even predicted that if I continued my plans to get into triathlon in the mid-80s, I could be a sure podium winner in my age category. (Note: I could be fighting it out with my brother Retired General Samuel and Retired Colonel Brigilio Balaba of the Philippine Constabulary for the top honors for our age group).
In one of his e-mails, he shared to me the following updated version of the MAF’s 180 Formula.
Here is the formula:
1. Take 180
2. Subtract your age
3. Take this number and correct it by the following:
-If you do not workout, subtract another 5 beats.
-If you workout only 1-2 days a week, only subtract 2 or 3 beats.
-If you workout 3-4 times a week keep the number where it is.
-If you workout 5-6 times a week keep the number where it is.
-If you workout 7 or more times a week and have done so for over a year, add 5 beats to the number.
-If you are over about 55 years old or younger than about 25 years old, add another 5 beats to whatever number you now have.
-If you are about 60 years old or older OR if you are about 20 years old or younger, add an additional 5 beats to the corrected number you now have.
You now have your maximum aerobic heart rate, which again is the maximum heart rate that you can workout at and still burn mostly fat for fuel. Now go out and do ALL of your cardiovascular training at or below this heart rate and see how your pace improves. After just a few weeks you should start to see a dramatic improvement in the speed you can go at these lower heart rates.
The details of his e-mail is properly explained in the link below:
Based from the updated version, my Maximum Aerobic Function’s Heart Rate is supposed to be 126 beats per minute (180-59 = 121 + 5 for being above 55 years old). However, since I’ve started with my first MAF Test with a Maximum Aerobic Heart Rate of 121 beats per minute, I will maintain 121 bpm as my training’s MAF heart rate.
Good luck to my ultra running “friends” and BDM “veterans” who will be competing on this weekend’s CAMSUR Cobra Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Competition. Take it “easy” on the swimming event. Make sure to get a “spot” for the KONA IRONMAN this coming October in Hawaii, USA!!! Have fun and be the best to yourself!
For those who have started to train for the 1st Taklang Damulag 100-Mile Endurance Run and for the yearly BDM Races, I highly recommend you to try the Maffetone’s Training on the use of Heart Rate Monitor/MAF Test.
I am not a fan and practitioner of Barefoot Running. And I am not a member of any group or asssociation that promotes barefoot running in the country.
I read the book “Born To Run” by Christopher McDougall upon its release to the public when I was in the United States almost 3 years ago but it was just a part of my reading activities. I was amused by the dedication and passion of Caballo Blanco to live with the Tarahumara tribe in North Central Mexico’s Copper Canyon Mountains by coming up with a yearly ultra trail race within the community and at the same time being able to help on the welfare of the said tribe.
However, I was surprised that because of this book, it created a “niche” of minimalist shoes production from popular brands and influenced a lot of runners to shift to “minimalist” running or barefoot running. I am not yet into this but I was already using road racing shoes which technically considered as “minimalist” running shoes.
After experiencing injuries which most often occur on my calf muscles/lower leg, I slowly included barefoot running as part of my recovery process with the hope to strengthen my lower legs’ muscles and ligaments, most especially for those ones which are not reached by “cross-friction” manipulations through massage/therapy. After a 25-lap run on an oval track, I usually run/jog/walk on barefoot for four laps as my cool-down workout. In some instances, I would simply walk on the ground for about 15 minutes every day. These simple “after workout/cool-down” barefoot “stuff” could be the reason why my recovery from my lower leg injury was faster than what I’ve expected. But I never tried running barefoot on asphalt or cemented road.
So, what made me think of coming up with this running event called, “1st BR’s Barefoot 3.2K (2-Mile) Run” to the running community of the Philippines? The answer is very simple…Because NOBODY is doing anything about it.
I thought of this event while I was starting to adopt to my new training workout based on my heart rate during the last days of my stay in the US. While waiting for my connecting flight in San Francisco International Airport back to the Manila on July 9, I created an Event Page on my Facebook Wall and turned off my laptop computer. As soon as I arrived in Manila, I was surprised to see a very positive response from the runners as soon as I saw the update on my Event Page and the rest is history!
However, for the past weeks and days, I don’t see any positive response from the so-called “minimalist” shoe brand “corporates” who are promoting this kind of running. I simply asked them for me to meet their “Big Boss” in person! “Big Boss” would mean their CEO, President, or Regional Brand Manager. I don’t need to meet their mid-level/department heads due to unfavorable experiences in the past. (I don’t want to recall and post in this blog how these people would transact some arrangements with me on matters about running)
With or without corporate sponsorship, the event will go on. Fortunately, a group called “Barefoot Running Philippines” came forward to support and help in the conduct of this event. Lt Col Mike Logico of the Philippine Army, one of the Administrators of the Barefoot Running Philippines and a “hardcore” barefoot runner, volunteered to assist me in the administrative and logistics needs as the event will be conducted at the Philippine Army’s Grandstand and Parade Ground on August 6 at 4:00 PM.
The registration is on site until 30 minutes before the start of the 3.2K run. The registration fee is Fifty Pesos Only (P 50.00). Runners will run 3 times along the 1-K loop on the said facility/area which has a mixture of asphalted and cemented road. Top 3 in the Overall (Open) Category and Top 3 in the Ladies Category will receive the BR’s Medallion.
This event will be done on a monthly basis with the next event to be conducted inside Camp Aguinaldo. We hope to come up with a 5K Barefoot Run/Walk.
In making this event as part in the history of running in the Philippines, I would like to thank and express my gratitude to Lt Col Mike Logico; the Philippine Army’s Headquarters & Headquarters Service Group and ASCOM’s Special Service Unit; and to the Barefoot Running Philippines.
See you this coming Saturday afternoon. Have fun! Kick off your running shoes and let us “tickle and burn” our feet on the paved ground! Walking barefoot is allowed, too!
BR's Barefoot 3.2K (2-Mile) Run Route (Courtesy of Lt Col Mike Logico)
This was the elapsed time it took me to reach the peak of Mt Taklang Damulag as I started from the Fernandez Hill of the Special Forces Regiment’s Camp and Training Area inside Fort Magsaysay. The place is also popularly known as “Molave Complex”.
The plan was to recon and hike a segment of the 100-mile endurance run route that includes the Fernandez Hill-Taklang Damulag- Cordero Dam-Special Forces Training Area and back to Fernandez Hill. This a trail loop which has a distance of 13 kilometers. However, at the back of my mind, I was thinking of coming up with a first attempt with a record time for a trek to the famous Mt Taklang Damulag’s peak with the Fernandez Hill as the starting area.
Fernandez Hill Marker Serves As My Starting Line/AreaMt Taklang Damulag On The Background
I was accompanied by Lt Col Dennis Pacis, the Chief Operations Officer of the 7th Infantry Division who is a triathlete and an ultrarunner; Captain Jason Que who is the Chief of the Training Department of the Special Forces School; Jack, a member of the Elite Team Bald Runner; two NCOs of the Special Forces who are both runners in the PA Battalion Run Team where I was the Commander; and nine (9) soldiers who are presently on training to become members of the Special Forces Regiment. I personally named this group as the “Ultra Recon Team Six” (based from the famous and popular US Navy Seal’s Team Six).
We started at 10:45 AM with overcast sky from the Fernandez Hill in line formation with at least 6 soldiers in front of me. As I was strictly following my HR training to include this trek, I maintained an HR of 135 about 100 meters from the start with LtCol Pacis and Capt Que behind me. However, our hiking started to increase its pace as we started to climb the mountain.
The trail leading to the peak of the mountain was a combination of crossing at least 3 streams where our feet/shoes have to thread on the water current; sticky, slippery and muddy soil; rocks; and single-track trail covered with grasses. My TNF trail shoes were no match to the combat boots of the soldiers in crossing the streams and walking along sticky and slippery mud along the route. My advantage to these soldiers was that my shoes were lighter than their combat boots.
As we started to climb the mountain, I started to think of coming up with a record time for a Military General, retired at that, to ever climb and reach the peak of the said mountain. Although I am not sure if the past Commanders of the Special Forces and Special Operations Command had undergone this record timing process, I thought that I might as well start coming up with a “trivia” as to who and what is the fastest time for a General (retired or active) to reach the peak of Mt Taklang Damulag.
In less than 400 meters from the start line, my HR started to spike to 145 bpm from my training max of 135 as a result of my excitement to reach the peak with a record time. And my HR steadily increased as I got higher towards the peak of the mountain.
I was wearing my GF 305 on my left wrist (to measure the distance and elevation) and my TIMEX HR Watch on my right wrist. From time to time as I moved upwards, I had to glance of these two watches for the distance covered and my prevailing HR.
From 145 bpm, my HR spiked to 165 and later to a maximum of 183 bpm when I reached the 2.4K mark on the uphill climb to the mountain. I decided to take a rest/breather for about 2 minutes just to be able to adjust to my breathing and to be able to look around on the lower plains of Nueva Ecija. I felt like I was going on a “blackout” or pass out as I started to feel dazed and exhausted but the scenery and the beauty below made me happy and satisfied. A lot of “deep breathing” repetitions made me recover and kept on glancing my HR watch as my bpm was decreasing. As soon as my HR watch reached and indicated 155 bpm, I continued my hike on the last 400 meters to the peak of the said mountain.
I simply tapped the white cross at the peak of the mountain with my right palm to signify that I reached and conquered the very peak of the mountain. My time was 52:37 minutes and I asked Capt Que to make a record/journal of it as part of the trivia of the Special Forces Regiment.
BR With the Special Forces' "Ultra Recon Team Six" On Top of Mt Taklang Damulag
The two Special Forces NCOs were surprised and gave me two “thumbs-up” for being the fastest hiker (whether in my age category or being a General of the Philippine Army, retired or active) to reach the peak. I just smiled to them while I was gasping for air! I wanted to tell them that I was not yet running and it was all hiking. In due time, I will try to run it and improve my time on my next trek to the mountain.
Resting and Looking Around the Scenery On Top of Mt Taklang Damulag
As per gathered by my GF 305, the highest peak has an elevation of 409 meters with a route distance of 2.7 kilometers from Fernandez Hill. It is a short course and a very low mountain but if you think of going up to this mountain for four times in a single event, then you have a very high mountain!
Now, I am thinking of a short trail running event which is dubbed as “Mt Taklang Damulag 5.4K Challenge” !
Bald Runner 
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