“Naive” Runner!

On December 13, 2007December 13, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Races, RunningLeave a comment

I requested for an extension of leave after my schooling in Fort Benning for me to be the “baby sitter” for my kids and “driver” to my wife from May 1984 up to three months and got the chance to watch the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

During weekends and on my wife’s “days off”, I would join local road races from 5K-10K in cities near Los Angeles. Sometimes, I would travel 80-90 miles east of Los Angeles to the Lake Perris Skydiving Center for Skydiving every other weekend.

In the local road races, I’ve been winning trophies and medals in my age category (30-35 years old) which I show and brag to my wife and to my kids once I get home.

One time after attending one of the races, I got hold of a flyer of a 10K run whose route/course was a few blocks away from the house. I was enthusiastic to register immediately knowing that the course was almost the same route where I had my regular running practices and I was very familiar with the terrain.

On race day, I usually stay at the back of the pack and didn’t mind looking or staring at other runners. So, when the race started, I slowly squeeze my way into the middle of the pack and started looking at runners while passing at them. I observed that the men were good-looking and had nice bodies and most of them are in pairs. While the ladies were running like men and have nice bodies.

Little did I knew that I joined the Gay Pride 10K Race for the City of Los Angeles!!! My wife and my young kids were laughing at me after I told them that I joined and finished the said race. I felt embarassed and just told them that all I wanted was to run, don’t miss the chance to run a road race within the neighborhood and maintain my physically fitness.

Bottomline? I was too naive to ignore what the race was all about. The gays I’ve seen in this race were decent-looking guys and very athletic that you could hardly notice that they are such. They are strong and fast runners, too! Well, I did not bring home any trophy or medal on this race.

The gays and the lesbians beat me this time!!!

Bronze Medals for Marathon

On December 11, 2007December 11, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

Eduardo Buenaventura and Jo Ann Banayag of the Philippines won Bronze Medals in the Men’s and Women’s Marathon, respectively, in the 24th Southeast Asian Games held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on 09 December 2007.

Ed “Vertek” Buenaventura’s time was 2:27:21 hours while Jo Ann Banayag’s time was 2:44:41 hours which is a new RP record time.

The Gold Medal in the Men’s Marathon was awarded to Yahuza Yahuza of Indonesia who finished in 2:23:46 hours. The Women’s Marathon Gold Medal was awarded to Sunisa Sailomyen of Thailand with a time of 2:43:33 hours.

RFID Technology

On December 11, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Runners Accessories, Running, Running Technology1 Comment

At last, “running/runner’s chips” are here in the country! I just read an article in one of the daily newspapers about the conduct of the “New Balance Power Race 2007: The Next Level” held last 11 November 2007 at Clark Freeport where RFID Timing Technology or popularly known as “runner’s chips” were used by the runners.

These are three famous systems in the market today on RFID Timing Technology: “ChampionChip”; “Winning Time USA” & “AMB”.

This “chip” initiates the start of the runners’ time from the start line and registers the lapsed time once a runner passes through the finish line. The start & finish lines are equipped with antenna/transponder which is covered by a mat/rubber carpet. The antenna/transponder activates the “runner’s chip” once it passes through the mat/carpet. It is imperative that each runner should not pass the start line before the firing of the gun! This will discourage runners from “cheating” at the start line or along the route as more transponders could be placed to measure time splits every 10 kms/miles.

Shown below are the pictures I’ve taken with my runner’s chip I used in the Inaugural City of Angels Half-Marathon last 03 December 2006. This chip is from ChampionChip!

I hope to see these “runner’s chips” in all the local road races and marathon races in Metro Manila/Subic/Clark soon!

2000 Bataan Death March Challenge

On December 10, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, RunningLeave a comment

When I was the Head of the Training and Education Department of the Philippine Army from August 1999 to April 2000, I successfully organized and conducted the first and last Bataan Death March Challenge on 16 April 2000 along the “original” route of the said historical Death March from Balanga, Bataan to Crossing, Dinalupihan, Bataan. Although it covers only a part of the actual Death March, the route covered a distance of 25 kilometers (almost 16 miles). It was attended by contingent teams from the US Army, teams from all the Commands of the Philippine Army and the AFP, and civilians with a total attendance to almost 500 individual participants.

Personally, I wanted this event to be commemorated in the very same place where the historic “Bataan Death March” was done during the early part of World War II. Sadly and unfortunately, a Bataan Memorial Death March is popularly held in White Sands, New Mexico, USA approximately on the days when this event happened in 1942. Not because some of the few Americans who marched were from New Mexico, USA does not mean that they have the authority to commemorate the said event in our history! More Filipinos died on that Death March and in the Camp O’Donnell Concentration Camp, and the actual place of the event is here in the Philippines make us the sole proper and legitimate authority to conduct this event. It is really frustrating for the people assigned after me in my former position that they were not able to continue and push through with this historical and challenging event!

In the 2000 event, I copied the Categories of Participants in the US version. The Heavy Category was limited to only the Military teams. The Heavy/Military Category were in military uniform (Battle Dress Army/Camouflage with Combat Boots) with minimum load of 35 lbs. (16 kilos) on their backpacks. The Civilian category, mostly runners, were awarded individually while the Heavy/Military Category was a Team Competition (4 members).

On the start line, finish line and along the route, there were lots of weighing scale available to check the weight of the backpacks of the Military Heavy Category team members. Discrepancies on the weights mean outright disqualification from the race!

I hope that the Veterans Federation of the Philippines/Sons and Daughters of WWII Veterans or the Armed Forces of the Philippines or any race organization in the country would be able to revive the conduct of the Bataan Death March Challenge along the actual route where the event happened (Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga).

Top 20 Female: 2007 New York City Marathon

On December 10, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

2007 New York City Marathon, Women’s Results


Last Name, First Name (Sex/Age)	OverAll Place	Sex Place / Div Place	DIV	Net Time	State, Country	AG Time*	BQ*
PAULA RADCLIFFE (F34)	17	1 / 1	F30-39	2:23:09	GBR	2:21:44	BQ
GETE WAMI (F33)	18	2 / 2	F30-39	2:23:32	ETH	2:22:37	BQ
JELENA PROKOPCUKA (F31)	23	3 / 3	F30-39	2:26:13	LAT	2:25:58	BQ
LIDIYA GRIGORYEVA (F33)	25	4 / 4	F30-39	2:28:37	RUS	2:27:40	BQ
CATHERINE NDEREBA (F35)	27	5 / 5	F30-39	2:29:08	KEN	2:27:01	BQ
ELVA DRYER (F36)	55	6 / 6	F30-39	2:35:15	CO, USA	2:32:16	BQ
ROBYN FRIEDMAN (F34)	98	7 / 7	F30-39	2:39:19	IA, USA	2:37:45	BQ
TEGLA LOROUPE (F34)	125	8 / 8	F30-39	2:41:58	KEN	2:40:22	BQ
MELISA CHRISTIAN (F31)	126	9 / 9	F30-39	2:42:07	TX, USA	2:41:51	BQ
ALVINA BEGAY (F27)	140	10 / 1	F20-29	2:42:46	AZ, USA	2:42:46	BQ
CHRISTINE LUNDY (F37)	149	11 / 10	F30-39	2:43:21	CA, USA	2:39:14	BQ
VEENA REDDY (F29)	151	12 / 2	F20-29	2:43:26	PA, USA	2:43:26	BQ
CAITLIN TORMEY (F24)	154	13 / 3	F20-29	2:43:30	NY, USA	2:43:30	BQ
ERIN MOELLER (F30)	169	14 / 11	F30-39	2:43:57	IA, USA	2:43:53	BQ
NATHALIE VASSEUR (F42)	170	15 / 1	F40-44	2:44:00	FRA	2:33:07	BQ
SOPAGNA EAP (F26)	182	16 / 4	F20-29	2:44:37	OR, USA	2:44:37	BQ
ATALELECH KETEMA (F24)	190	17 / 5	F20-29	2:45:04	NY, USA	2:45:04	BQ
VICTORIA GANUSHINA (F27)	192	18 / 6	F20-29	2:45:15	NY, USA	2:45:15	BQ
HEATHER KILLEEN-FRISONE (F34)	209	19 / 12	F30-39	2:45:56	CA, USA	2:44:18	BQ
KRISTINE SPENCE (F28)	239	20 / 7	F20-29	2:47:00	UT, USA	2:47:00	BQ

Top 20 Male: 2007 New York City Marathon

On December 10, 2007December 10, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race Results, Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

2007 New York City Marathon, Men’s Results

Last Name, First Name
(Sex/Age)

OverAll
Place

Sex Place
/
Div Place

DIV

Net Time

State, Country

AG Time*

BQ*

MARTIN LEL (M29)

1 / 1

M20-29

2:09:04

KEN

2:09:04

ABDERRAHIM GOUMRI (M31)

2 / 1

M30-39

2:09:16

MAR

2:09:16

HENDRICK RAMAALA (M35)

3 / 2

M30-39

2:11:25

RSA

2:11:25

STEFANO BALDINI (M36)

4 / 3

M30-39

2:11:58

ITA

2:11:50

JAMES KWAMBAI (M31)

5 / 4

M30-39

2:12:25

KEN

2:12:25

RUGGERO PERTILE (M33)

6 / 5

M30-39

2:13:01

ITA

2:13:01

STEPHEN KIOGORA (M33)

7 / 6

M30-39

2:13:41

CO, USA

2:13:41

MARILSON GOMES DOS SANTOS (M30)

8 / 7

M30-39

2:13:47

BRA

2:13:47

ALEKSANDR KUZIN (M33)

9 / 8

M30-39

2:14:01

UKR

2:14:01

WILLIAM KIPSANG (M30)

10 / 9

M30-39

2:15:32

KEN

2:15:32

ELIAS KEMBOI (M23)

11 / 2

M20-29

2:17:26

KEN

2:17:26

RODGERS ROP (M31)

12 / 10

M30-39

2:18:10

KEN

2:18:10

DEMESSE TEFERA (M25)

13 / 3

M20-29

2:19:33

ETH

2:19:33

GENNA TUFA (M23)

14 / 4

M20-29

2:20:15

NY, USA

2:20:15

FRANCISCO BAUTISTA (M35)

15 / 11

M30-39

2:21:15

MEX

2:21:15

JOSEPH CHIRLEE (M27)

16 / 5

M20-29

2:23:01

GA, USA

2:23:01

BRUCE DEACON (M41)

17 / 1

M40-44

2:24:19

CAN

2:19:41

KASSAHUN KABISO (M24)

18 / 6

M20-29

2:25:05

NY, USA

2:25:05

My Running Idols in the ’80s

On December 9, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Pictures, Running, Running HeroesLeave a comment

Aside from Waldemar Cierpinski whom I featured in one of my postings, I would like also to feature my “running idols” in the ’80s until such time when I reduced my regular practice runs in the ’90s. These “champions” motivated me to be serious in running and ultimately, inspired me to run more marathon races in the ’80s and later part of the ’90s. These running idols were the “items and personalities” to read in the Runners World Magazine and other runners’ magazines then and most readers sometimes try to emulate and copy their training programs. I was one of them!

Bill Rodgers (Race # 1) of USA won the Boston Marathon for four times (1980, 1979, 1978, 1975); won the New York Marathon for four times (1979, 1978, 1977, 1976); and won the Fukuoka Marathon once (1977).

Toshihiko Seko of Japan won the Fukuoka Marathon for four times (1983, 1980, 1979, 1978); won the Boston Marathon two times (1981, 1987); and other prestigious marathon races in Japan & Europe.

Rob de Castella of Australia won the Marathon in the Commonwealth Games twice (1982 & 1986); won the Fukuoka Marathon in 1981; won the Rotterdam Marathon twice (1983 & 1991); won the World Championship Marathon in 1983; and the Boston Marathon in 1986.

Alberto Salazar was born in Cuba but later migrated to the USA with his family. He won the New York City Marathon for three times (1980, 1981, 1982) and won the Boston Marathon in 1982. He suffered a heart attact last June 30, 2007.

Steve Jones is a Welshman who won the Chicago Marathon for two times (1985, 1984); won the London Marathon in 1985; and later won the New York City Marathon in 1988.

Rod Dixon of New Zealand had been the Bronze Medalist in the 1972 Munich Olympics for the 1,500-meter distance. He also won the New York City Marathon in 1983. He was a distinct runner then with his all-black running attire (official color of New Zealand uniform) and mustache in his running pictures. He now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

These “marathoners” were featured in the cover pages of running magazines in the ’80s and it was nice reading articles how they won in their respective marathon races by writers who were also runners. Nowadays, seldom you could see marathon champions featured in the cover pages of popular running magazines in publication. Most of these magazines are already fond of featuring beautiful lady runners who are are not yet champions!

I wonder when will they (runners magazines) feature the top Kenyans, Ethiopians, African, European…and Asian “elite/champion” runners in their special stories and cover pages?

Recap: Training Journal (02-08 Dec 2007)

On December 9, 2007December 9, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

Total Distance Covered: 31.5 miles or 50.6 kilometers

Average Pace: 5:45-6:00 minutes per kilometer/ 9:00-9:30 minutes per mile

Comments: Reduced mileage for this week; increased the distance in LSD run; minimized speed and fast tempo runs; and strengthened leg muscles through workouts and cycling.

Saturday LSD Run

On December 8, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Pictures, Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

I woke up at 5:30 AM and prepared myself for my long slow distance run for this week. After my 15-20 minutes of stretching, I was on the road, running along the 2-mile route I’ve measured inside the camp. This route is considered as hill workout due to the terrain in my area.

The following are my registered times every round of the 2-mile route:

2 miles—— 19:32 mins

4 miles—— 38:38 mins; 19:06 mins/round

6 miles—— 58:06 mins; 19:28 mins/round

8 miles——1:17:13 hours; 19:07 mins/round

10 miles——1:36:14 hours; 19:01 mins/round

12 miles——1:55:42 hours; 19:28 mins/round

14 miles——2:17:50 hours; 22:08 mins/round

16 miles——2:42:37 hours; 24:47 mins/round

I finished my run with a 500-meter cool down jog. It was almost 9:00 AM. I took a longer time for my stretching exercises after the run. I felt pain on my right ankle before the 14-mile mark as my shoes and socks were soaked with my own sweat and rain. My wet New Balance 716 shoes became tighter to my feet as my right big toe nail started rubbing to the top-front edge of my shoes. I don’t want to have a “dead” toe nail as I had never experienced one before.

The pain on my right ankle and the rubbing toe nail made my run slower before completing my 7th round and ultimately, made my last round as my slowest run for the course. That gave me the signal to slowly end the running workout for the day. Besides, I was already hungry!

The intermittent rainshowers in the morning in Jamindan were very refreshing to my body.

It was a nice and refreshing Saturday Long Slow Distance run.

Griffith Park, Los Angeles

On December 8, 2007 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Places to Run, RunningLeave a comment

I had fond memories with this Recreational Park just outside the city limits of Downtown Los Angeles. This is the place where I bring my family/kids to play, walk, run, bike and picnic when my kids were still in the elementary grades and secondary school. This is still the place where we have our practice runs during my visits with my family.

I have trekked and jogged to almost all the streets, roads and trails of this popular and the biggest municipal park in the United States which is located in a an urban area, almost at the center of Los Angeles City District.

I usually park my cark near the Merry-Go-Round area or at the Maintenance Area of the Golf Course (Harding/Wilson) and start my practice runs from there. I pass through the LA Zoo-Gene Autrey National Center-Southern Railroad Station up to the mountains and following the road that goes to the Loz Feliz Boulevard entrance of the park.

More challenging dirt trails branch out from the road/street that leads to the Griffith Observatory. These trails lead to the peak of the mountain where the Hollywood sign is located. This is where you could see the vast area that occupies the Los Angeles City District and its neigboring cities.

Lots of running activities/road races and biking are done in this park, too! One of the most popular road race events done inside the park is the St. John’s Health Center Jimmy Stewart Relay Marathon which is usually done a month (4th Sunday of April) after the Los Angeles Marathon.

Whenever you are in Los Angeles area, it is a must to visit this recreational park as it offers a lot of attractions and memorable places to see.

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