Running-Related Wishes For 2010 & Beyond


1. Organization of More Running Clubs/Groups—Every runner is encouraged to join a running club or group in order for him to be motivated to train and develop his/her full potentials in running and other related endurance sports.

2. More Corporate Sponsorship in Running Events and Training of Elite Athletes.

3. Declare a Week or Month as “National Sports Week” or “Sports Month”—If there are legislators or government executives who are involved in sports, they should legislate a law declaring a part of year as a period where we can hear or meet the people and institutions involved in sports. I know that most of us do not even know the difference between the PSC, POC, and the different national sports federations. It is in this period in the year when Expositions and other running-related activities are scheduled.

4. Winners in Corporate-Sponsored Marathon Races should be sent to International Marathon Races for “exposure”. It is a proven formula that our athletes are only known by our media and our national sports authorities/national leadership when they win in international competition. As winners in international marathon events, our athletes will inspire more of our populace, down to the “grassroots”, to be involved in running.

5. Develop more “volunteerism” during marathon events among the members of the running community—The volunteerism had been highly displayed by the group of Jinoe’s takbo.ph and Captain Amado’s Reinier Pacific during Marathon Races. Of course, Jonel aka Bugobugo85’s Team Hardcore; HINGS Running Club; Carrey-Isko-Eugene Group; and Tintin aka Timothy’s had been consistently the “volunteers” in my road races. I hope that more running clubs and runners will be involved in such acts of giving back their services & goods to the other runners.

6. Conduct of a Running Lecture/Forum/Symposium—How I wish one of the profitable corporate insitutions of the country sponsor the conduct of a Running Symposium where we could meet and hear the words of international runners like Dean Karnazes, Bart Yasso, Paul Tergat, Alberto Salazar, Grete Waitz, and other running Champions in the past. Or maybe, ask our past Project Gintong Alay athletes to share their stories to us. It would be nice to hear how Lydia De Vega trained for the Gold Medal in the past Asian Games.

7. A Wholesome Local Running Magazine—How I wish a Filipino Running Magazine ala Runners World or Running Times or Trail Runner or Trailrunning Magazine be available to the running community with a cheaper price than those published abroad. These pictures will confirm that this wish will become a reality in a matter of days:

Watchout, FR Is Coming!
A Wholesome Running Magazine By Hardcores

8. Oval Tracks at Makati University and International School (The Fort) be opened to the public.

9. BDM 102 will find its future Finish Line in 2011. It will be a 24-hour Road Race to this final destination. If you don’t reach this Finish Line in 24 hours, you will be considered as DNF. The following are the pictures of the future Finish Line.

Wide Finish Line Location
BDM Km Post #145

 10. Finally, A Runners Library & Museum—A place where runners could share their running “collections” and a place where runners would meet and make their research. A place where we could see the Hall of Fame in Athletics!

HD Pictures @ RIZAL Day Run


High Definition (HD) Pictures during the RIZAL Day Run can be browsed on the following links:

http://acebalasador.multiply.com/photos/album/124

http://acebalasador.multiply.com/photos/album/125

http://acebalasador.multiply.com/photos/album/126

http://acebalasador.multiply.com/photos/album/127

Thanks to PhotoBrando!

RIZAL DAY Run Pictures


370 Starters
Recovery Drinks After The Run
More Carbo Drinks
"Good" Fats & Protein Intake After The Race (Courtesy of HINGS Running Club)
"The Boodle Fight"
What Was Left After 5 Minutes...
Takbo.ph Peeps
And More Drinks Up To The Arrival of the Last Runner!

 

The “Merienda” Station
The Other "Merienda" Stations

 My sincerest thanks to the HINGS Running Club who have consistently provided the ICE, BEER, ICE CREAM/POPSICLE & LECHON in every Bald Runner’s Events. 

To Jonel aka Bugobugo85 for the ASSORTED BEER & LOTS OF BEER IN CANS. 

To my friend Tin F. aka Timothy for the Water Supply & Del Monte’s “Fit & Rite” Fresh Fruits. 

 To the group of Carrey, Isko & Eugene for the Free First 100 Finisher’s T-Shirts. 

To the Commanding General of GHQ & HSC, Brig Gen Felipe Tabas, Jr and his personnel & staff under his command. 

To Lt Col Fely Andaya & Major Rod Turno & the Post Chaplain of St Ignatius Cathedral. 

To Reinier Pacific, Jinoe, Quennie, Tere aka El Capitana and the takbo.ph peeps. 

To the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner and staff of BR’s Events. 

And most of all, thanks to all the runners who joined us to commemorate the 113th Death Anniversary of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Pathetic!


Yesterday morning, I had a chance to talk to sports executives working in a multinational company which is a major sponsor in Sports Events in the country and even in Asia. It was a casual meeting and we had a brief conversation about running in the country, the Standard Charter’s Singapore Marathon and other running related activities.

Our conversation led to our present standing in the 25th SEA Games of which two of the executives openly told me that they just arrived from Vientiane, Laos to observe the preparation, opening ceremony, and initial conduct of the Games. I asked if it is true that our National Athletes arrived in two groups, in two separate “chartered” planes—one group of athletes was supported by POC and the other group of athletes was supported by PSC. POC is the Philippinje Olympic Committee which is headed by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco while the PSC is the Philippine Sports Commission which is headed by Harry Angping.

If you have been reading the Sports Pages of our national dailies for the past months, you would know that there is an animosity between these two sports institutions in the country. The PSC is a government entity which is responsible for our national sports excellence by providing the necessary funds to the Sports Federations and to our elite athletes; while the POC is the country’s representative organization of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which is responsible in sending our National Athletes to International Games under the auspices of the IOC. SEA Games and ASIAN Games are the only International Games under the auspices of the IOC. In short, funding for training & incentives for medalists is the responsibilities of PSC; while the expenses for the travel of athletes to IOC’s International Games is the responsibility of the POC. I might be wrong but this is my impression about their arrangements when sending our National Athletes to such IOC meets/games.

Anyway, it is true that our athletes arrived in Laos in two separate “chartered” flights direct from Manila. My source of information could not determine if it is really true that one plane was boarded by PSC-supported athletes while the other plane was boarded by additional athletes recommended by POC and POC Officials. I also confirmed that there were no officials from the PSC who joined the delegation & party. However, by knowing that the delegation of our country nearly reached 400, there is a need for two planes to ferry our athletes and officials.

You might be wondering why our delegation was able to get a chartered flight from the Philippine Air Lines. It is because the release of the funds to buy for the tickets for our athletes and officials were delayed and in turn it would be expensive to buy them with few days before the scheduled departure. The other reason for the chartered flight is that, there is no direct flight from Manila to Laos and our delagation has to change plane from Bangkok/Saigon/Hongkong and this will entail additional expenses and more hours for the trip.

And now this is the worst part, the executives who were present during the 25th SEA Games Opening Ceremonies almost cried when they saw our Philippine Delegation marching at the Oval Track in “Athletic Attire” (Athletic Jacket; jogging pants & rubber shoes) while the other Country Delegations were wearing Suits & Leather Shoes. I was told that the Vietnam delegation wore a Barong Tagalog- look alike with “crumpled” look (“Gusot Mayaman Barong”). And the best part among the worst news is that, the uniform that our delegation wore during the Opening Ceremony was given on the day before the delegation left Manila. (Note: If you want to see a picture of our delegation during the Opening Ceremony, browse at www.laoseagames2009.com and click at the Photo Gallery on the left side of the site. Look for picture #38 and click it).

I am not making a post showing a “crab mentality” attitude in our sports excellence program but I am trying to show the prevailing situation in our sports, moreso, with the “message” we are showing to our neighboring countries and to our people. We always talk and read about “unity in purpose” and “unity among us” but for us, as a nation competitng with other nations in an international sports meet, we should show our best.

The good news is that Ed “Vertek” Buenavista and Jo-An Banayag won the Gold Medals in the Men’s & Ladies’ Marathon Race in this morning’s 25th SEA Games Athletics events. Their finish times at 2:21+ and 2:46+ hours, respectively are good enough to win the gold medal with a cash incentive of P 300,000 each, but it is still far from the ASIAN and OLYMPIC Games’ standards. Nevertheless, what is important is that we got the GOLD in the most important running event for us who are long distance runners!

Whatever will be the final results of the 25th SEA Games, I hope there will be no “finger pointing” as to who should be blamed for our dismal performance and lowest output in the history of the SEA Games. However, I am still sure of the following assessment: (1) that “politics” and “sports” do not mix, and (2) for the government and the private sector to help in the funding and support to our athletes.

Let us see what will happen to our National Team in the next ASIAN Games which will be held in 2010, next year!

“1,000-Km Club” Finishers


The following runners are the latest finishers/awardees of the Bald Runner’s “1,000-Km Club”. Congratulations!!! 

Ultrarunner George aka The Talkative Runner
Ultrarunner Ralph
Ultrarunner Luis aka The Gingerbread Running
Nolan Llanora
Supt. Gregorio Torres PNP
Macky Chamorro aka Gleeman
Carly Dizon
Rodel Cuaton aka Argonaut
Jet Paiso
Paul Paranal

Running Books For Sale!!!


I am selling two (2) copies of the book “Born To Run” in Hardbound for P 1,000.00 each.

Born To Run

I have one (1) copy of Dean Karnazes’ latest book “50/50” for sale for P 850.00 (Hardbound).

50/50

The proceeds will go to the training and support of the Elite Team Bald Runner Distance Project.

First come, first serve! You can leave your comment if you are interested.

Thanks for your support!

(Note: These books are highly recommended to ultrarunners!)

Of Running Clinics; Meetings; & Visit


1. We no longer offer FREE Running Lectures/Clinics. We are now asking a honorarium for the conduct of our Running Lecture/Clinic. The fee will be used to support our Elite Team Bald Runner Distance Project and logistical needs for the 2nd BDM 102.

2. I was invited for the Send-Off Party this week for our athletes in Athletics (Track & Field) who will represent the country in the 2009 ASEAN Games to be held in Laos. The Track & Field athletes consist of 20 athletes; 6 Coaches; and 1 Head of the Party. The PATAFA Team will be leaving on December 6 for Laos. The 25th ASEAN Games will start on December 9. The TEAM Philippines “HOPES” to get at least 45-50 Gold Medals in the Games.

3.  I made a “surprise” visit to my Elite Team’s “training camp” in the Sierra Madre Mountains and we had some pictorials with them with their new Team Bald Runner uniform courtesy of MILO/Nestle, Phil. Altitude, Hill workouts, trail running, and clean air are the keys for better performance.

Elite Team Bald Runner Distance Project Members
Looking For A Brighter Future In Running

4. A Leadership Training/Speaking Engagement Module had been offered to me by a Private Company engaged in the conduct of training to corporate offices. I think this is a good job while I am on “rest & recovery” period.

5. “Brainstorming” session was conducted among the members of Team Hardcore and other ultrarunners about the creation of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) at the Board Room of Reinier Pacific which was hosted by Capt Amado Castro Jr aka Reinier6666. The meeting was very productive and I was able to gather positive insights about its creation and its availability for membership.

PAU's "Trailblazers" & "Pathfinders"

6. There are already 147 runner-applicants for the 2nd BDM 102. There are 40 slots reserved for the AFP/PNP runners.  If the slots for the AFP/PNP will be filled up, there are already 186 runner-applicants. However, I still encourage runners to apply in my Bataan 102 Events Page. There are 96 Days to go before D-Day!

7. More suggested logos for PAU had been received. Thanks for your interest to come up with PAU’s Logo. Deadline of submission is December 31, 2009.

(Note: Latest Awardees/Finishers of the 1,000-Km Club will be posted next!!!)

Philippines’ 1st Olympic Games Medalist Was An Ilocano!!!


While reading the book, “The Olympic Movement in the Philippines” by Celso Limjuco Dayrit, I was surprised to know that the first Filipino to win a medal in the Summer Olympic Games was an Ilocano.

In the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, which was the second time that the Philippines participated in the O;ympic Games, we won our first Olympic Medal, a Bronze Medal, through swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso who was a native from the Province of Ilocos Norte. He was qualified for the Finals in the 200-meter Breaststroke after registering the fastest time among the third placers in the swimming trials. In the finals, he finished third to give the Philippines its first ever Olympic Medal. Yoshiyuki Tsuruta of Japan and Erich Rudemacher of Germany, got the 1st and 2nd places, respectively.

After four years, in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Teofilo Yldefonso repeated his third place performance in the 200-meter Breaststroke, swimming event, winning his 2nd Olympic Bronze Medal.

PSC Plans For Sports Excellence


I am posting the following media releases of the Philippine Sports Commissions (PSC) in order to improve our Sports Excellence Program and ultimately, to motivate our National Pool of Athletes to win in the incoming ASEAN Games to be held on the 2nd week of December of this year.

How I wish the plans to fund the training of the athletes will push through; that there will be no more additional “sports officials” for the delegation as “free-loaders”; that there will be no more “midnight appointed athletes”; and that their promises for the cash rewards for the “medalists” will be realized.

I hope also that the different National Sports Federation will be accountable and transparent on how their financial support will be spent to our athletes.

I will keep the following “media releases” in my blog as future references in our overall results and standing in the 2009 ASEAN Games:

PSC plans P900M fund to sharpen up athletes 

By June Navarro, Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:36:00 10/12/2009

Filed Under: Sports Organisations

QUALITY TRAINING and more foreign exposures for deserving national athletes and coaches.

These benefits were guaranteed by Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping Sunday as he announced a windfall of almost P1 billion for the national sports development fund (NSDF) starting next year.

Angping said about P900 million for the training and international competitions of athletes will go to the NSDF. The cash will come from the monthly take of the PSC from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Racing Commission.

With its P180 million debt to Pagcor expected to be fully paid by December, Angping said Pagcor’s monthly NSDF contribution will increase from P30 million to P53 million.

Apart from the Pagcor subsidy, the PSC will get 15 percent from the gross sales of the PCSO’s Lotto Scratch It! Instant Tama! game cards following a deal between Angping and PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte.

“The bottom line is still performance,’’ said Angping. “If our athletes can prove that they deserve to be in the national pool, the PSC will give everything they need to perform well.”

The PSC had earlier announced that the national pool will be disbanded at the end of the year and a new pool will be formed through a series of competitions and tryouts to be conducted by the national sports associations.

Angping said the projected NSDF of P900 million would be spent mostly on the country’s preparation for the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. The amount is separate from the P250 million the PSC gets from the General Act Appropriations.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian Games chief of mission Mario Tanchanco yesterday said his committee has managed to prune down the number of national athletes from 250 to 160.

Tanchangco, also the sepak takraw president, said the list comes close to the maximum number the Philippine Sports Commission plans to bankroll.

“Our duty is to make sure we come up with a delegation to Laos and also make sure they are trained and well prepared,” said Tanchangco, adding that the list has been turned over to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. for approval.

Last Friday, Angping said the PSC will only fund about 130 athletes, who have the potential to win gold medals in the Dec. 9 to 18 Games.

PSC funding no more than 200 nat’l bets

By June Navarro, Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:38:00 10/16/2009

Filed Under: Sports Organisations

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Commission will stick to the original list of 153 athletes and 47 officials approved by the Southeast Asian Games selection committee and will reject efforts by the Philippine Olympic Committee to add more members to the roster.

“There will be no changes in the number already approved,” said PSC chair Harry Angping yesterday, adding that any last-minute additions to the RP contingent will be ignored by the government agency.

Set to compete in 21 events, the Filipino medalists during the Dec. 9 to 18 competition in Vientiane will be rewarded with another set of bonuses after Angping promised to match the original incentives of P100,000, P50,000 and P10,000 for the gold, silver and bronze winners.

“They are going to war, they should be properly equipped,” said Angping. “I will give them food every day and make sure they won’t worry about anything. There will be no reason for them not to succeed.”

Laos SEA Games chef de mission Mario Tanchangco said the RP roster needs the final approval of the POC board, adding he merely acted as observer during a meeting with Angping and PSC commissioner Joey Mundo that approved the size of the national delegation.

“So he (Tanchangco) went to the meeting not as a representative of the POC? Is that what they are saying?” said Angping.

“The list that we reviewed and approved was a product of the work of Tanchangco and commissioner Mundo. And that list came from the national sport associations.”

Tanchangco, the POC second vice president, has been at the helm of the negotiations, together with Mundo, in preparing the list of the RP delegation based on recommendations from the NSAs.

POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. had earlier announced that the Olympic body would look for sponsors to shoulder the participation of athletes who would not be supported by the PSC.

“Including athletes who failed to make the criteria will affect the morale of the team,” Angping said.

He said the agency saved P10 million by cutting the roster of athletes to the Games.

The decision to double the incentives for medalists came a day after Angping announced an extra training allowance of P7,500 for the Nationals on top of an extra $100 pocket money while they are in Laos.

SEAG champs to get more bonuses–Angping

By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:23:00 10/18/2009
Sport

Filed Under:

MANILA, Philippines–There appears to be more bonuses coming for gold medalists in the Laos Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping hinted at providing more incentives, apart from earlier increases, to the 153 athletes slated to compete in Vientiane on Dec. 9 to 18.

“I tell you, I will really take good care of these athletes,” said Angping Friday after a pep rally with national coaches at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Last week, he shared lunch in a boodle fight with the RP national pool.

“I will shower them with love and affection, and financial assistance they have never seen and tasted before,” said the PSC chief. “Look, they are also human beings, you have to show them your concern, because we keep on pushing them to train so we must give proper consideration.”

In his talk with the national coaches, Angping also promised them the same training incentive he gave the athletes, amounting to P7,500 plus $100 additional allowances in the SEA Games.

He also doubled the reward for gold medal winner to P200,000 and promised to give P50,000 more to silver and P20,000 to bronze medalists. Under the law, gold medals win P100,000, silver P50,000 and bronze P10,000.

Angping also appealed for a “ceasefire” among national sports associations hounded by infighting, as well as the spat between the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“I pity them (athletes) they become victims in this struggle when they don’t have anything to do with it,” added Angping.

“We can continue to disagree with each other after the SEA Games, but I hope during the duration of the Games, let’s just be fighting under one team, Team Philippines.”

He said the athletes must be spared of the intramurals, and instead be pampered.

“We can’t afford for them to compete in highest standard when the mother is sick, or if there’s problem with family,” he said. “All of these should disappear, at least in the next two months.”

(Note: All the abovementioned news reports were copied from www.inquirer.net)

Who Listens to RUN RADIO?


Run Radio Logo (Courtesy of www.runradio.wordpress.com)
Run Radio Logo (Courtesy of http://www.runradio.wordpress.com)

I DO!!! I listen to RUN Radio regularly since it started airing on the last Friday of July this year. I heard about this project/program at least a month before it was launched from no less than its Executive Producer, Ms Marga Deona.

The RUN RADIO is being hosted by Jaymie Pizarro aka The Bull Runner & publisher of TBR Magazine and Jay Nacino aka Prometheus Cometh. The program is regularly aired at FM Radio NU107 every 9:00PM to 10:00PM on Fridays.

It was funny that I had to look for my National/Panasonic transistor radio (battery-operated only) which I bought in 1995 before I was designated as the Battalion Commander of the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Ilocos Norte and later transfered to Ilocos Sur and then to Abra. I missed the first 10 minutes of the initial airing because I found out that the batteries were not working and had to buy a new set.

Well, the first airing was not perfect as expected but it was a learning experience for the announcers, producer/director, and guests. But in the later editions, the program had improved and it had served its purpose as the radio program for runners. But I never encountered or read any post from any of the running blogs discussing on their observations about RUN RADIO, other than the presence of a dedicated website for the said program where anybody could browse and hear its past editions.

However, I have the following observations and/or questions to be answered. Let these questions serve as “guides” for the people behind this program.

1) Who are the target audience? Having a Radio Program on the FM Radio limits the projection or signal reception to a limited area. I really do not know if FM NU107’s signal is being transmitted nationwide. When I was on my way back from Calamba, Laguna after a Running Clinic in one Friday evening, I tried to get the reception of the said radio station while we were on traffic but I was not able to get any signal. I missed the said program where Senator Pia Cayetano was the guest. If the target audience is for the people of Metro Manila, then fine! How I wish the runners in the provinces would also benefit from this running program. How about looking for an AM radio station with Nationawide Coverage that could air such program so that more people would listen to it? I am sure the runners in Cebu City, Laoag City, Baguio City, Davao City and other runners in key cities in the country would be happy to interact in the said program. With the presence of a dedicated website, anybody who has an access to the Internet would listen to the past editions of the radio program.

2) Why Do the Announcers Have to Speak In English? I believe that running is a “mass-based” sports and for us to promote running to everybody, the running program’s messages/information should be delivered in a dialect/language that could be understood by everybody or majority of the people. Why not speak in Tagalog or “Taglish”? This is the reason why popular & famous TV and Radio news programs and other informative programs are delivered in Tagalog, in order to reach more audience to the “grassroots” level. If we want to encourage more runners, then we have to communicate easily to them through the local dialect. With the presence of technical and scientific terms in running like, “fartlek”; glucose; calories; stride frequency; footstrike; names of running-related injuries; pronation; supination; parts and types of running shoes, and others, I think there is no need to look for translations for these terms in the Tagalog dialect. Speaking in “Taglish” with these terms is acceptable.

3) Is there anybody trying to find out the History of Running in the country? Research, research, and research. How I wish that somebody should be doing the research about the history of running in the country and reminding the younger audience about how running was conducted during those days. My blog would be a good source for such information and I really don’t have the intention of being a guest or resource person in this program as I would like to give way to more popular and authorities/experts in running as guests like the President of PATAFA, our Race Organizers, our past athletes/runners who gave glory & pride to the country (the likes of Lydia De Vega, Elma Murros, Isidro Del Prado, Roy Vence, Rey Antoque, and other past Champions of prestigious Marathon Races) in past International Games.  It would be nice to invite Mr Rudy Biscocho for him to share to us the history of running in the country, too. (Note: After saying “No” or looking for alibis for me to be excused as guest for the radio program, Marga had consistently talked to me and invited me whenever I met her in my workouts and during races. Finally, I was out of reasons not to visit the station. Thus, I was the guest on last week’s 10th edition of the program).

4) Why don’t they try to  invite the Running Clubs in the 70’s and 80’s who have survived through the years? The RUNNEX, CAMANAVA, Sta Rosa (Laguna) Runners and RUNCPI Running Clubs or maybe, the HING’s Running Club are the “old ones” whose experiences in the past years in running are good source of running information due to their experiences and exposures in road races in the past.

5) Why is it that this program does not give any critique to previous road race/s for the week? There should be a way to give feedback on previous road races for the weekend, whether positive or negative, so that Road Organizers or Events Managers would be able to improve the way they conduct their road races. It is in this forum that runners would be able to expose “problems/concerns” during the said race and for the Race Organizer to have also an air time to explain his/her side. Writing a post on blogs in order to criticize or give feedback is not enough as the Race Organizer do not have a chance or opportunity to explain his/her side. At this point, it would be a nice suggestion for Ian Alacar, the takbo.ph people, and the Rotary group to be the next guests for them to explain to the runner-listeners about their side on the last race’s problems/concerns ( like the short distances, limited parking areas, thefts in parking areas, etc.).

6) Did you know that the MILO Marathon Finals in the 90’s were broadcasted “LIVE” on DZFM SPORTS RADIO 738 AM BAND? How I wish the RUN RADIO could have this capability in the future.

7) How much do the sponsors pay for the one-hour air time on the said FM Station? I observed that the announcers kept on repeating Advertisements of this and that running store and business facility during the program.

8) Why is RUNRadio selective in promoting road races? I hope that all road races published at takbo.ph and/or at philrunners.com would be advertised or announced during the airing of the radio program. It would be good if the Race Organizer of each running event would be invited to talk about their race in the said program. Whether it is MILO Marathon or Pasig River Marathon, everybody must be equally treated to announce their Road Race.

9) Invite Sports Editors of our daily newspapers and appeal to them to reserve a space for a Running News & Photo Section in their Sports Section. We should not be reading about the conduct of a road race in the Lifestyle Section of the newspapers. Sports writers/reporters who cover running events & road races should also be invited to this program. At least, these newspapers are widely distributed throughout the country.

I know this post will raise “eyebrows” again and hope to receive comments from my readers who have different views from what I’ve written. But at the end of the day, we are all runners who would like to spread the benefits of running and be able to enjoy and have fun in this sports that we love.

I’ve written the abovementioned post a few days after the conduct of the ROTARun last month but I did not publish it due to other stories.

Well, I finally had a chance to be the guest in last Friday’s edition (October 9, 2009) with the condition that the interaction will be in Tagalog or Taglish and the “script”/guide questions be given to me thru my e-mail at least two days before the day of interview. And so, Marga did a wonderful job of sending me the list of questions in Tagalog and I immediately answered them with sentence outline as my “guide” during the interview.

Minutes before my interview started, Marga, the Executive Producer of the Program and I had a serious conversation about my suggestions & feedbacks about the program. I mentioned to her the items that I discussed in this post plus my “honest-to-goodness” impression about the program. I emphasized to her that running is a “mass-based” sports that even the “poorest” class of our society should be able to do and this is where the future elite runners come from. I have the impression that “Run Radio” is a running program for the elite class of the society and this is the reason why I suggested to Marga to invite runners in the past and ordinary people and persons who run as part of their daily lives. 

For the details of my interview with the Run Radio, please visit the blogsite at www.runradio.wordpress.com.

Overall, this is a commendable project/program where our running community could interact and share information with one another. My congratulations to Marga, Vimz, Jaymie, Jay, and Bards for their unselfish acts of promoting running in the country. Keep up the good work!

(Note: Please provide a chair for the older runner-guests in this program. Runners have strong legs but they could not withstand their legs standing for a long period of time. If you invite Mr Amado Castro, Jr, Kim Ong, Rudy Biscocho, Victor Ting or Norio Tanaka, I think they need a chair)

BR, Jay & Bards During the Program
BR, Jay & Bards During the Program
Run Radio & QCIM Guest (Ron)
Run Radio & QCIM Guest (Ron)
These Guys (Jay, Bards, & Marga) Are Great!!!
These Guys (Jay, Bards, & Marga) Are Great!!!