“I need the money…I need to buy vitamins”

On October 13, 2009October 13, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Marathon Race, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program26 Comments

“Yes, I’m a candidate for ejection from the Philippine team,” said the four-time champion Martes, the youngest Milo winner at 21 years old in 1999. “I’ll just talk to them and explain. I need the money. I’m having laser therapy for my old injuries and I need to buy vitamins.” (Note: Copied from news report at www.inquirer.net)

These were the exact words from the mouth of Christabel Martes, Lady Champion of the 33rd MILO Marathon FINALS held last Sunday, for her reason why she ran and finished the race despite an strict memorandum from PATAFA (Philippine Amateur Track & Field Assosiation) that National Pool Athletes are restricted from running more than a distance of 10K competitive Road Races at least 3 months before an International Games/Competition Meet. The reason for this memo is to make sure that our National Athletes do not divert themselves to their training program in order for them to “peak” during the competition period/date and at the same time, prevent them from becoming injured.

In the reaction of the PATAFA officials, as published in the news, Martes will be definitely removed from the list of National Athletes slated to be included in this coming Southeast Asian Games which will be held on the first week of December 2009 in Laos. For winning a cash prize of Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos (P 75,000) or equivalent to $ 1,595.00 in the MILO Marathon FINALS, her chance of winning the Gold Medal in Marathon in the ASEAN Games is gone!

Money versus Pride For the Country? Present Reality of our Athletes versus Present Situation of our Sports Excellence Program?

Now, let us try to discuss the present condition of our National Athletes basing from the title of this post/comments from Christabel Martes.

It appears that our National Athletes are not properly or adequately supported by our Sports Federation or the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). As per PSC’s guidance, for an Athlete who won Medal/s (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) in the previous ASEAN Games and other International Competition Events and presently training to compete in an International Games, he/she receives a monthly support of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P 15,000) or $ 320.00 inclusive of food, vitamins, training needs, and stipend. While on training, with the guidance of their coach, they are left on their own and stay/live in Sports Facilities being managed by PSC. It is also concluded that the athletes had to deal with their own injuries and have to get the services of professionals to cure them for a considerable fee. Which means that our Sports Support Services (Sports Medicine, Nutrition, Sports Psychology, etc) are lacking! In short, 15K Pesos is nothing if we want our athletes to be “world-class”. The same amount of money is equivalent to a ONE-DAY MEAL for Michael Phelps, I guess!

For a potential medal placer and a “newbie” in the National Pool of Athletes, he/she receives a monthly stipend of Six Thousand Pesos (P 6,000) or $ 128.00. This is translated to P 200.00 per day meal for the athlete and he/she could not even buy vitamins and sports drinks for his hydration & electrolyte resplenishment needs during his training. And if he/she wants to compete in weekend road races, he/she is selective as to where he/she will compete because the registration fee will be deducted from this amount of money. But our athletes are “brave warriors” because they have to risk in investing their training money to weekend road races that have Cash as Major Prizes for the Top Finishers! If they loss and don’t get any cash prize, the more that they will train harder but their training money is now draining and they are forced to spend their money to their barest needs. In essence, our athletes are on “survival” mode!

This situation is not only applicable to our runners but to all our athletes in other sports!

Now, you know already why our runners in our National Pool of Athletes are only good for our local Road Races with Cash Prizes, not for the ASEAN Games, not for the ASIAN Games, and never for the OLYMPIC Games!

Masters In Marathon (M.I.M)

On October 6, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program5 Comments

While reading the back issue of the magazine “Running Times” dated November 2003, I came upon an article entitled “A Master’s in Marathoning: Choosing the Education of Running” by Mike Tymn. The article stated that running a marathon race is in itself a post-graduate education degree that has a curriculum and subjects to be attended to. For a student who enrolls in this Graduate Studies on Marathon Running, it would take years before he/she could complete or graduate depending on the goal/objective to be attained—to simply finish or finish within a desired time or improve one’s PR or qualify for the Boston Marathon! The following is some of the excerpts from the said article:

The marathon curriculum begins with courses in anotomy, physiology, and medicine. We learn about cardiovascular endurance, anaerobic threshold, oxygen debt, target heart rate, maximal oxygen uptake, running injuries, pronation, supination, to name just a few. The curriculum continues with courses in Physical Education as we are schooled in the principles of adaptation, overload, progression, specificity of training, recovery and rest. We are exposed to interval training, fartlek, LSD, circuit training, stretching, tapering, pacing, peaking and overtraining. We learn about diet and nutrition, finding out what to eat and what not to eat. We are introduced to carbohydrate loading, electrolyte replacement, and proper hydration.

The marathon curriculum includes lessons in psychology, as we must better understand how to deal with problems in goal setting, self-motivation, mood swings, errors in anticipation, regression under stress, and fear of failure. We learn about such things as mental rehearsal, visualization, and self-reward reinforcement.

There are also lessons in planning, time management, and conflict resolution, especially for the runner who is attempting to balance family and occupational responsibilities with the demands of training.

I see the marathon as a microcosmic lesson in life. We learn to commit ourselves to a goal, to discipline ourselves to the demands of that goal, to develop, adapt and evolve, to pace ourselves for both the short and the long haul, to cruise, to struggle, to overcome, to struggle again, to push on, to slowly “die”, (as oxygen is depleted), then to be “reborn” (as we cross the finish line).

There are so many lessons.

We learn that we can work a lot harder than we had ever realized possible, but we also learn that we can work too hard and set ourselves back.

We learn that we can start too fast and never finish, and we can go out slow and never catch up.

We learn that winning or achieving our goals can be fun and fulfilling, but we also learn that winning can bring unwanted pressures and harmful stresses.

We learn that being a poor loser is better than being a poor winner.

We learn that our fiercest rivals can be our best friends.

We learn that success can instill pride, but it can also bring an abundance of humility.

We learn that we can get slower with age but faster with adaptation and experience.

We learn that there are a lot of contradictions in running, just as there are in life, and the key is a balance mixed with just the right amount of patience, persistence and perseverance.

More than anything, marathon running is a course in philosophy, an attempt to answer the essential questions of life. To what end? At what price? The questions and answers are endless.

Whether you are an elite athlete who makes running as your source of income or a competitor who finds challenge in trying to find your body limits or a runner who wants to engage in an active healthy lifestyle, running in itself is a way of life.

So, if you want to graduate in this course of Masters in Marathon, you have to “pay your dues/fees”, study your lessons, do your assignments/homeworks, and above all, pass your quizzes and comprehensive examinations!

(Source: A Master’s in Marathoning: Choosing the Education of Running by Mike Tymn. Running Times Magazine. November 2003. pp. 29-30)

ST Microelectronics’ Running Clinic

On September 12, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program2 Comments

Maia Lazo is an avid runner from the ST Microelectronics. Her office is located in Calamba City and started to send me e-mail messages if I could conduct a Running Clinic in their office in time for the General Assembly of a running club in their office/plant which was created few months ago. We agreed on a schedule where the running lecture and the demonstration/practical portion will be done in one meeting/session.

The running clinic was scheduled on 28 August, Friday, at 5:30 PM as part of the General Assembly of the said running club. This was our 10th edition of our Running Clinic to a corporate company ever since we started this program.

I brought my two Coaches and top runners of the Elite Team Bald Runner as part of the running clinic team as we left Manila at 3:30 PM. A two-hour travel time was enough to anticipate the bad weather prevailing at that time and the traffic along the SLEX and we arrived at the premises of the plant on time. Another 30 minutes were devoted to security protocols imposed on us by the Security Guards/personnel of the establishment ranging from AN1H1 medical check , photo scan, ID check, and camera inspection. The security personnel did not allow to bring with us our digital cameras to the venue of the running clinic. That’s how strict and tight the security protocol of this place.

We understand such protocols most especially to such plants/offices which have high standards in cleanliness and the sensitivity of the operations involved in the place. We did not expect that the running club members almost filled the big room which served as our venue. In my estimate, there were almost 60 runner-employees in the audience. It was really a big audience as compared to our past running clinics.

Maia Lazo acted as the Moderator & Emcee of the General Assembly and the activity started with a slideshow presentation of the pictures taken during the club’s daily runs and participation in weekend road races in Metro Manila. The highlight of the presentation was the pictures of its members who joined the Kenny Roger’s Urbanite Run at The Fort. One of the members talked to the audience about his experience during the said race. In short, these runners had fun and enjoyed the experience of joining the said race.

Due to the limited time, I was immediately introduced and I was able to deliver my brief lecture without the aid of a Powerpoint presentation with emphasis on the Basics; “Tips”; and Principles involved in training for Running. It was followed by demonstration on the technical aspects of running with the members of the Elite Team Bald Runners as the demonstrators. Stretching Exercises; Running Drills; Running Form; Forefoot/Midfoot Strike; and Training “tips” were presented and delivered by Coaches Titus Salazar and Rey Antoque. More information were imparted to the audience during the Open Forum where we answered their written questions and concerns. Other topics discussed were about running injuries, sports nutrition, selection of running shoes; and running/training programs for the marathon and lesser distance runs.

STREAK (ST Running Club) & Elite Team Bald Runner

The picture above only showed one-half of the audience during the running clinic as most of them left after they finished their dinner.

The running clinic and demonstration/practical exercises will surely give better training and preparation for these runners and for sure, most of them will be competitive in the races they will join in the future. For a company located outside Metro Manila to organize a running club is a good sign that running has been slowly spreading as a form of adhering to a healthy and active lifestyle. I always emphasize to my audience that the human body needs to exercise and bring out the sweat so that we can develop a stronger body that could resist diseases and illness.

To Maia Lazo and to the members of the STREAK, thank you very much for supporting my advocacies. Despite the 3-hour traffic along the SLEX on our way back to Metro Manila, our experience and sharing you our knowledge on running gave us the opportunity to know more of the active running clubs outside Metro Manila.

2nd Running Clinic @ HP

On September 10, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program4 Comments

This was the 2nd time that Hewlett-Packard requested me to conduct a lecture to its employees on the basics and principle of training in running. This was the 9th occassion that the Team Bald Runner conducted a running clinic. This time, the lecture was conducted at the HP Branch at the San Miguel Corporation Properties Building in Mandaluyong last 25 August 2009 after office hours through the invitation of Celyn Trinidad of HP.

Lecture at HP, San Miguel Properties Branch

The lecture was attended by 6-7 personnel of HP and the lecture lasted for 1 1/2 hours which was followed by an Open Forum. The questions of the participants were answered by Coach Titus Salazar and myself.

My personal thanks to Celyn for taking the extra effort and time in allowing us to spread our advocacy in running through our lectures/clinics.

Team BR @ BOTAK & LEVI’s Runs

On August 24, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running, Sports Program1 Comment

The Elite Team Bald Runner joined two road races yesterday, Sunday, 23 August 2009. The following were the results where the members were able to get “podium” finish places:

BOTAK Paa-bilisan 10-Mile/5-Mile/1-Mile Street Runs @ UP Diliman Campus

10-MILE Run:

Rene Desuyo—1st Runner-Up (2nd Place) Overall in the 10-Mile Run with a time of 54:26 minutes.

Frankreader Indapan—2nd Runner-Up (3rd Place) Overall in the 10-Mile Run with a time of 54:30 minutes

Milbert Nabuab—2nd Place in the Age Category (18-25 yrs old) & 6th Place Overall in the 10-Mile Run with a time of 1:00:46 hours

Christian Dalida—3rd Place in the Age Category (18-25 yrs old) in the 10-Mile Run with a time of 1:07:00 hours

Anna Vargas—2nd Place in the Age Category for Women’s (26-39 yrs old) in the 10-Mile Run

Frankreader Indapan Before The Finish Line

5-MILE Run:

Marecil Maquilan—Champion, Women’s Overall Category in the 5-Mile Run with a time of 32:15 minutes

Raul Lamprea—Champion, Men’s Age Category of 26-39 yrs old in the 5-Mile Run with a time of 25:40 minutes

Gerald Sabal—2nd Runner-Up (3rd Place Overall) in the 5-Mile Run with a time of 27:11 minutes.

Rey Antoque—1st Runner-Up (2nd Overall) in the Age Category of 40 yrs old & above with a time of 31:40 minutes.

Marecil Maquilan Winning The 5-Mile Run, Women's Category

1-MILE Street Run:

Alquin Bolivar—1st Runner-Up (2nd Overall) in the 1-MILE Street Run with a time of 3:56 minutes.

Rey Antoque—6th Overall Place in the Age Category of 40 yrs old & above with a time of 5:05 minutes

Running Coach Rey Antoque at the 1-MILE Street Run

The "Flying" Alquin Bolivar @ the 1-MILE Street Run

LEVI’s 1.5K/3K/5K RUN @ The Fort

Alquin Bolivar—Champion, 5K Run

BR’s Visit & Meeting @ NESTLE, Phils.

On August 17, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program9 Comments

In the early morning of July 16, 2009, I was invited for a meeting with the leadership of NESTLE, Philippines in the presence of his staff and Mr Jim Lafferty of P & G Philippines. The discussion was centered about my Elite Running Team Program which I had organized 14 months ago. Being the most consistent corporate entity in the country which had been supportive to running events, I was also informed that NESTLE has been closely looking for “ways and means” to contribute in the country’s quest for our first Olympic Gold Medal in any of the Sports events. Since my Elite Running Team Program was also in conjunction with NESTLE’s objective, the meeting resulted to positive efforts to enhance the training and exposure of the Elite Team Bald Runner in running events within the country and the possibility of exposure to road running events outside of the country.

As Mr Nandu Nandkishore, Chairman & CEO of NESTLE, Phils., had said during the meeting, “We have to start “walking” together towards our destination”. For almost one month since our first meeting, NESTLE, Phils and the Elite Team Bald Runner had been “walking” together.

To Mr Nandu, his staff, and Mr Jim Lafferty, thank you very much!

Let the following pictures describe the said visit & meeting at NESTLE Philippines.

Mr Lafferty, Mr Nandu, BR & Coach Salazar

Details of the Meeting Were Discussed With Mr Dennis Austriaco, Sr VP of NESTLE

Mr Pat Goc-Ong & Mr Lester Castillo of NESTLE Were Also Included In The Discussions

Team BR Performance (15-16 Aug 09)

On August 16, 2009August 16, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Race Results, Running, Sports ProgramLeave a comment

8:15 PM 15 August 2009/KR Urbanite 15K/10K/5K Run @ The Fort

Elmer Sabal—Champion in the Kenny Roger’s Urbanite 15K Run with a Finish Time of 51:00+ minutes (Unofficial Time)

Rene Desuyo–2nd Runner-Up in the KR Urbanite 15K Run with a Finish Time of 52:00+ minutes (Unofficial Time)

Marecil Maquilan—Champion in the KR Urbanite 10K Run with a Finish Time of 41:00+ minutes (Unofficial Time)

Frankreader Indapan—4th Place Overall in the 5K Run with a Finish Time of 16:00+ minutes (Unofficial Time)

6:00 AM 16 August 2009/1st AMEPA 6K/3K Run @ Mall of Asia

6K Run/Men’s:

Alquin Bolivar—6th Place Overall

Rene Desuyo—9th Place Overall

Frankreader Indapan—10th Place Overall

6K Run/Women’s:

Marecil Maquilan—2nd Place, Women’s Overall

Anna Valdez—7th Place, Women’s Overall

3K Run:

Jujet De Asis—Champion

Gerald Sabal—5th Overall

Raul Lamprea—10th Overall

Milbert Nabuab—12th Overall

Christian Dalida—20th Overall

6:00 AM 16 August 2009/Walk/Run For Moral Force 10K @ Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park

Rey Antoque—5th Place Overall with a Finish Time of 38:00+ minutes (Unofficial Time)

Running Clinic @ CITIBANK

On July 23, 2009July 27, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program4 Comments

This is the 7th Running Clinic that the Team Bald Runner had conducted since it started this program. And we have maintained it to be FREE.

This time, the running clinic was done at CITIBANK’s Main Office in Makati City. The coordination was made by Owen King, one of the staff, through an e-mail he sent me. The e-mail which I received while I was still in United States started the “ball rolling” and final coordination had been made in a few days.

Finally, the Team Bald Runner conducted the 1st phase of the Running Clinic at the CITIBANK Tower in Makati City o/a 5:00 PM last Friday, 17 July 2009. The lecture was attended by 20 participants which consisted of officers, staff and employees of the bank. The lecture and open forum lasted for about 2 hours in one of the lecture/seminar rooms of the building.

Participants Listening Attentively During The Lecture

Received Used Shoes For My Project Donate A Shoe

After the conduct of the lecture, Nigel Romano, CFO of Citigroup Philippines and Owen formally had given to us the used shoes they have collected from the participants as contribution to my Project Donate A Shoe. Thank you very much!

At 6:30 AM, the following the day, Saturday, July 18, 2009, the CITIBANK running group started their practical demonstration and exercises at the ULTRA Oval Track. Coach Titus Salazar and the Sabal Brothers (Elmer & Gerald) of the Elite Team Bald Runner conducted the practical demonstration and exercises. Coach Titus demonstrated the proper running form, footstrike, and other important “basics” in running, to include stretching exercises, drills, and techniques. The session lasted for two hours.

Drills & Strides (Cathy Sy Doing The Drills)

Every Participant Was Required To Do The Drills (Owen King at the Front)

Nigel From Trinidad-Tobago Doing The "High-Knee" Drills — Nigel Romano From Trinidad-Tobago Doing The "High-Knee" Drills

It was nice to see almost all the participants in the Running Clinic during the conduct of last Sunday’s GLOBE Run For Home at The Fort. I hope that the Running Club/Group of CITIBANK will grow in the number of members and will soon come up with their own corporate-sponsored road race.

Elite Team BR @ GLOBE RUN FOR HOME & M.O.V.E. Manila Run

On July 20, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Race Results, Races, Running, Sports Program1 Comment

The following were the standings of the Elite Team Bald Runner in yesterday’s road races that were held in Metro Manila:

Elmer Sabal—2nd Runner-Up, Men’s Overall, 21K with a time of 1:13+ hours

Marecil Maquilan—1st Runner-Up, Women’s Overall, 21K Run with a time of 1:28+ hours

Alquin Bolivar—Champion, Men’s Overall, 10K Run with a time of 32:28 minutes

Gerald Sabal—2nd Runner-Up, Men’s Overall, 10K Run with a time of 34:00 minutes

Frankreadear Indapan—2nd Runner-Up, Men’s Overall, 5K with a time of 16:15 minutes

Anna Vargas—Champion, Women’s Overall, 10K MOVE Manila Run @ UP Diliman

Reynaldo De Los Reyes—2nd Runner-Up, 10K MOVE Manila Run @ UP Diliman

The Elite Team Bald Runner members who won in the MOVE Manila Run which was held at UP Diliman were able to receive their cash prizes, medals and gifts during the awarding ceremony after the race.

Running Clinic @ APL Pricing Administration Center

On July 15, 2009July 18, 2009 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program1 Comment

Insular Life Corporate Center, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City/10-11 July 2009

Mr Mark Parco, the Director of the Pricing Administration Center of the American President Lines (APL), invited the Team Bald Runner to conduct a Running Clinic to its staff & subordinates through the efforts of Mr Allan Martin who consistently acted on the details of this activity. After coordination through e-mails, a Running Clinic was conducted to the employees of the said office at the Seminar Room “B”, Tower 1, at the Insular Life Center Building at Filinvest City in Ayala Alabang.

The running clinic was divided into two phases, a lecture and an actual demonstration of running, exercises, and drills to the participants. The lecture on the Basics and Principles of Running was conducted at 3:00-5:00PM last July 10 and the actual demonstration and practical exercises were done the following day at 6:00-9:00 AM, July 11.

The lecture was attended by almost 40 employees to include Mr Mark Parco and wife, Tiffin, who are competitive runners who are permanent “fixtures” and participants of weekly road races in Metro Manila. The lecture of the Bald Runner was complemented with more explanations and examples from Mr Parco as he was a former Captain of the UP Diliman Track Team. It was a very fruitful lecture to every employee.

Mr Mark Parco, Director of the Office, Introduced Me to the Audience

Around 40 staff & employees attended the lecture.

Another View of the Seminar/Lecture Room

On the following day, members of the Elite Team Bald Runner helped in the conduct of the actual demonstration and practical exercises in running. The participants were made to warm-up through jogging, did some stretching exercises, ran along the roads of the Filinvest City, did some running drills, and finally, did a short competition of a shuttle run where the group was divided into three groups. The actual demonstration and practical exercises on running were highly appreciatedby the employees as they requested from their Director the conduct of running activities at least two times a week among them. The Director, in return, voluntarily promised to provide them with a running program for them to finish at least a 5K road race and that he will support their registration fees.

Warm-Up Run with KC, daughter of Mark Parco

A 2-Km Run Along the Roads of Filinvest City

I highly appreciate such heads/directors of offices who are responsive to the needs of their employees for them to be motivated to adhere to physical activities and a healthy active lifestyle. By doing so, I think these employees will be more productive and more focused to their assigned tasks. My congratulations to Mr Mark Paco for being a good example of a corporate head who, aside from being a good “running” example to his wife and kids, he is also a good example to his employees…a true mark of a good leader!

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