Weight Reduction

On April 8, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

On the last week of October 2007, my weight was 155 pounds. After five months of serious training in running and participation of road races from marathon to 10K races, I was able to reduce my weight. Few days before the Mizuno Infinity 15K Run, I registered a weight of 142 pounds. I was surprised on my weight reduction and all my contemporaries and subordinates who have not seen me for a long time were also surprised about my reduction in weight and “more skinny” appearance.

My training during the duration of the Holy Week in Jamindan and “no meat-diet” were instrumental in my fast reduction of weight.

One of the bloggers asked me about my diet which I have not answered yet. Well, this is it. I eat a lot of Mang Inasal chicken whenever I am in Iloilo City and Negros Island. I eat also a lot of fish and fresh vegetables whenever I am in Jamindan and have a taste of fresh oysters whenever I visit Roxas City. Fried sliced banana (native saba), Sweet Banana (Lacatan), and fresh pineapple slices from Passi City, Iloilo are my fresh fruits. I drink green tea and lots of water. But my favorite dish is Tinolang Native Chicken & Pinakbet. Two days before road races, I eat a lot of pasta/foods rich in carbohydrates.

I have to maintain this weight to be competetive in my road races and be able to improve my time in my weekend road races.

See you this Sunday at The Fort.

Running & Golf

On April 7, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, RunningLeave a comment

Running and Golf complement with one another. For you to develop endurance in walking from one hole to another, running is a good sports to develop strength and endurance to one’s legs and stamina. It develops also the legs to be stable during golf swings, most especially in the last 9 holes. Once golfers reach the “green” to putt, the player who is a runner does not have to be breathing heavily and has the stable pulse to putt the ball into the hole.

Last Monday afternoon, 31 March, I decided to review my golf swing in our Parade Ground at Jamindan. The Parade Ground has two tee-off areas and one “green”/hole and the farthest distance is about 200 yards.

I started my warm-up using my Iron Wedge club for a distance of 30-35 yards to the putting green. After hitting at least 30 balls, I shifted my practice driving by using my Fairway Club #5 for a longer distance. I was able to hit another 30 balls using my longer clubs.

After my golf driving practice, I inspected the establishment and completion of a 550-meter jogging lane around the Parade Ground which will serve as Oval Track for the Officers and Enlisted Men in their 2-mile run tests. This had been a plan by former Commanders to build but it never materialized. Within this week and few days before my retirement from the service this plan will become a reality.

The following were some of my pictures during my golf driving practice:

After almost one year of not playing golf, my golf stance is becoming tense, awkward, and “rusty”.

I always remember “slow backswing” and shifting of body weight from the right leg/heel to the left leg and left arm straight up to downswing as tips in a golf swing.

A golf swing finishes with a nice upswing and a nice “form”. The Oval Track/running path is seen on the background where it is initially filled with sand and gravel and later to be overlayed with asphalt.

For more stories and insights on golf, please visit my new golf blogsite at http://thebaldgolfer.wordpress.com.

Update: Project “Donate A Shoe”

On April 6, 2008April 6, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Running5 Comments

06 April 2008

My staff with the Project “Donate A Shoe” placed their booth at the Run For Life: 3K & 5K Fun Run sponsored by BF Homes this morning. They are happy to report that the remaining seven (7) shoes that were donated, from the fourteen (14) shoes collected since we launched this project, were all distributed to runners who exchanged their “old, worn-out & tattered shoes”

The following runners received their new shoes from the donated shoes:

1) Jhun Bautista

2) Zoren Pama

3) Antero Ocariza

4) Danilo Sanchez

5) Riza Reyes

6) Juan Jose

7) Rodrigo Sale

Last Sunday, instead of six shoes that were given to the less-fortunate ones, we had given seven and we omitted the name of John Robert Evidor as one of the recipients.

Total of donated shoes distributed to other runners up to the present—14 pairs of running shoes.

My staff were able to take pictures of the recipients and their “old & worn-out shoes”.

Unfortunately, my staff were not able to collect any shoe donation in this morning’s road race in Paranaque.

To all the donors, thanks again! You made a lot of our runners happy today!

The Project “Donate A Shoe” booth will be available at the On Your Mark Road Race at The Fort this Sunday. The “One” White Wristband will still be available for distribution to the donors.

Hills, Heat, & Water

On April 6, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Races, Running3 Comments

Critique on the Mizuno Infinity 15K Run

This is my critique on the conduct of the first rendition of the Mizuno Infinity 15K Run which was held last Sunday, 30 March 2008 at The Fort and Taguig City Area.

In the shorter distance run less than the half-marathon, the Mizuno Infinity 15K Run was the most challenging road race I have participated in Metro Manila because of the terrain of the route. The hills along the Bayani Road, Lawton Avenue, and McKinley Hill made the race something to talk about among the runners. These hills separated the men from the boys, the ladies from the girls and those unprepared runners from the prepared ones. But there is nothing to complain about those hills because it is a part of the challenges in a road race.

At this time of the year, summer, the sun rises so early in the morning. The 6:00 AM start for the 15K runners was already a late time to start a road race during summer season. On that particular day, the sun rises and appears at the horizon after almost all the runners passed the first five kilometers of the race and when most of the runners were about to start running the last five kilometers of the race, the sun was already way above the horizon and it was already giving out intense heat to the runners. The hot sun and those continuous hills at McKinley Hill area (13th kilometer) tested the strength, patience, and perseverance of the runners. If only the race for the 15K started, at least, 30 minutes earlier, the sun could have not been as hot as it was experienced during the race day.

As I entered the Heritage Park after the turnaround at the end of Bayani Road/near C-5 Road, most of the runners at my back were already complaining about the lack of water and one of the marshalls told us that the next water station is on the next kilometer marker. A few meters from the Gate of the Heritage Park, one of the race volunteers gave me a small hand towel! I thought it was a “cold towel” but it was an ordinary “dry” towel and I said to myself, “wow, this is new!” This was my first time in a road race to be given a small hand towel. For what? So, my both hands were holding something while I was running inside the Heritage Park—on my right hand was the hand towel which I used in wiping my sweat on my forehead and my left hand was holding a bottled water. Later, I threw the empty bottle in one of the garbage bins in the park and I put my hand towel at my back, on the garter of my shorts and I continued to run with my hands free from anything.

Before leaving the Heritage Park, there was a water station and I tried to pick one cup and drink from it. I was surprised that the taste of the supposed water is different. I only found out later that the liquid is one of the energy drinks being given but it was so strange to my taste buds. It would had been better if they completely provided drinking water in all the water stations. The energy drinks are supposed to be available at the finish line where you can replenish the spent sweat and electrolytes from the body, most especially in road races shorter than the half-marathon

I seldom stop and drink from water stations during road races. This is one of my techniques to shave-off time for the run. If a runner spends 10 seconds to stop, drink, and walk in every water station and there are at least 3 water stations in a 10K race, he/she is losing at least 30 seconds. This is the reason why I bring my Nathan Water Belt or designate my security detail to preposition themselves in points where they could hand me those bottled water. But in this particular race, I had observed that the organizers placed enough water stations but there were not enough water supply and cups on these water stations for all the 15K, 10K, and 5K runners. I had observed also that they did not position a water station at the rolling hills of McKinley Hill area and at the Finish Line. Anyway, I read on the post of The Bullrunner that the organizers sent a letter of apology to all the runners for the reported “lapses”. I hope these complaints will not be heard from the runners in future races.

Finisher’s T-shirt? Who cares? For the nth time I was given a finishers t-shirt too large for my size. The organizers should think that almost all the runners have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 22 to 25 (the elite runners have lower ones) and this translates to XSmall, Small, and Medium Sizes.

My Overall Rating/Grade for this race—78%

(If the saleslady/staff of the Mizuno Store at Bonifacio Hight Street had smiled a little as I was smiling at her when I entered the store and if only she knew me also as the Bald Runner when I registered for the race, I could have raised my rating/grade to 80%)

Juvenal’s Prescription: “mens sana in corpore sano”

On April 5, 2008August 12, 2015 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running4 Comments

Last 28 March 2008, Friday afernoon, the Philippine Army celebrated its 111th Founding Anniversary with a Military Parade and Awarding Ceremony to its Officers, Enlisted Personnel, Civilian Employees, Reservists and NGOs. The Guest of Honor and Speaker in the said event was the Secretary of National Defense, Hon. Gilberto C Teodoro. I attended the event as one of the Major Unit (Infantry Division) Commanders of the Philippine Army.

After the parade, all the guests were invited to a Cocktails at the Garden Area of the Philipine Army Clubhouse. This was the time where I mingled and talked with other younger officers and some of my contemporaries in the military service. I wanted to approach the Secretary of National Defense (SND) for an informal talks with him. Last month, my brother called me through the cellphone one night informing me that he met SND at the Malacanang Palace with the information that Secretary Teodoro was extending his regards to me and that he had read my post in this blog about my new name–Vin Diesel and he informed me also that he is a regular visitor of my blog. My brother congratulated me as my blog is slowly reaching other VIPs.

At that moment during the Cocktails, I could hardly approach the SND because of the continuous presence of the media interviewing him and I did not want to distract his concentration on these interviews. At the signal that he was about to leave the place and go to his waiting car, I immediately positioned myself at the path he was about to take and it was good that he saw me. As he was walking towards me, he said, “You should write about “mens sana in corpore sana”, it’s Juvenal’s Prescription! You go to Google and read about it”. He repeated the phrase but I was not able to memorize the exact words of the phrase before he finally boarded his car. After thirty minutes, I immediately sent a text message to my brother asking him the cellphone number of the Secretary in order to get the exact words of the phrase he told me. After sending the SND my message asking him about the phrase, he immediately replied and I told him that I got the phrase and replied to him that the phrase came from Satire X of the Roman poet, Juvenal and the phrase is being used in the name brand of ASICS running shoes. I was already infront of my laptop browsing the Internet while sending him the message.

It was really nice for the Secreatry of National Defense to have given me this tip to read and relay it to my readers. The folowing is the excerpts of that poem written by Juvenal:

It is to be prayed that the mind be sound in a sound body.

Ask for a brave soul that lacks the fear of death,

which places the length of life last among nature’s blessings,

which is able to bear whatever kind of sufferings,

does not know anger, lusts for nothing and believes

the hardships and savage labors of Hercules better than

the satisfactions, feasts, and feather bed of an Eastern king.

I will reveal what you are able to give yourself;

For certain, the one footpath of a tranquil life lies through virtue.

orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.

fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem,

qui spatium uitae extremum inter munera ponat

naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores,

nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil et potiores

Herculis aerumnas credat saeuosque labores

et uenere et cenis et pluma Sardanapalli.

monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare; semita certe

tranquillae per uirtutem patet unica uitae.

(10.356-64)

This are the exact words of a portion taken from the Satire X of Juvenal for the Romans to have a “sound mind in a sound body” or often translated as “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, an answer to the question of what the Romans should desire in life.

This phrase is used in the name of a popular sports shoes, ASICS. Instead of calling the shoes brand as MSICS, taking the first letter of each word of the phrase, the originators changed it to ASICS (Anima Sana In Corpore Sano) which is translated as “a sound spirit in a sound body”. The phrase is also being used by universities and colleges and physical training units of well-known Armed Forces of other nations. This is also the favorite phrase of former American President Harry S Truman.

There had been so many articles written about this phrase as anybody could browse at Google and type in this phrase. I enjoin my readers to read the diferent articles about this phrase.

To Secretary Teodoro, thanks again for the “tip” and added knowledge. I am sure my readers will be happy about this.

More Pictures @ Mizuno Infinity Run

On April 4, 2008April 4, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running4 Comments

Posing for a picture with Totoy Santos of Hapy Feet Running Club before the start of a race is becoming a ritual.

The running Senator of the country, Senator Pia Cayatano with her security detail. It was nice to be seeing her in every road race.

It took me to practice a lot in Jamindan on how to drink water from a bottle while running. As much as possible, I don’t stop to drink on water stations during road races. It was unfortunate on this race that I did not wear my Nathan Water Belt. Practically, I had to hold a bottled water while I was running on this race.

The problem with this picture was that I did not use my “hill bounding” technique. I was forced to use small steps in running over the uphill portion from the Heritage Park to the Bayani Road. I will improve on this some more in my future road races.

Another picture with the strong “lady in pink” runner. She finally overtook me along the uphill portion at the Essensa area and politely said, “Excuse me”.

A pose with Mark near the “Donate A Shoe” Booth. Finally, we met in person. Mark is my number #1 “commentator” in my blog. Thanks for the comments and additional information.

I forgot the name of this runner. Anyway, he approached me and told me that he is a regular visitor of this blog. He is a member of the Fairview Running Club and I can recall that he joined/finished the 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon last 09 March 2008. Major Rod Turno, a member of my staff in the Project “Donate A Shoe” is seen at the back.

A very promising weekend “road warrior”, Taki, who is improving his finish time in every race he joins.

A brief meeting and conversation with my “blog inspiration”, The Bull Runner. I told her, in due time we will be signing a “book deal contract” with Random House or Barnes & Noble Publishing about running in the Philippines.

My running & gym workout friends/buddies from Gold’s Gym Glorietta, Rene and Doc. These guys are really good and consistent “road warriors” in every weekend road races.

Results: 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon

On April 3, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Half-Marathon, Race Results, RunningLeave a comment

To my fellow runners, this is a partial list of the official results of the 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon held last 09 March 2008 at the Villamor Air Base. The list ended up to Miraclecello/Cecil and I have to encode at least 70 runners more to complete the list. Hopefully, the list will be completed tomorrow.

1 2054 Eduardo Buenavista 1:06:18

2 2069 Cresenciano Zabal 1:07:06

3 2094 Irinio Raquin 1:09:06

4 2065 Alley Quisay 1:09:50

5 3578 Reynaldo De Los Santos 1:10:21

6 2095 Ben Alejandrino 1:10:47

7 2096 Jhonny Espana 1:11:05

8 2070 Bonen Monecillo 1:11:06

9 376B Bong Samoya 1:12:49

10 4051 Rodolfo Tacadino 1:13:08

11 419B Hernandito Pineda 1:13:59

12 3059 Lorenzo Daniela 1:14:00

13 398B 1:14:27

14 352B Isidro Beduesola 1:14:50

15 360B 1:15:04

16 4048 Esmiraldo Ondoy 1:15:45

17 2049 Juniephing Tobias 1:16:30

18 2037 Warlito de la Cruz 1:17:16

19 4023 Warlito de l;a Cruz 1:18:32

20 4054 Jonanthan Galo 1:19:12 Continue reading “Results: 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon” →

Are These Guys Crazy?

On April 2, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Marathon Race, Races, Running14 Comments

Last Monday evening, while reading the newspapers, I found an advertisement entitled “94K Weekend: Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Event” to be held on April 18-20. And some of the events to be held on those days are–94K UltraMarathon event; 42K Marathon event; and 10K Run event–all devoted to running. The other events were about cycling, motor biking, and others not related to running. I did not mind about this ads and I just said to my mind that this something new.

When I visited The Bull Runner’s blog, I found out that in one of the comments where I asked “where is the next race ?”, Atty Jon answered my question with a recommendation to run the 94K Marathon on April 20 and he linked the 94K Weekend website in his comment. I checked on the The Bull Runner’s schedule of running events and I found out that she posted it already with the other running events for the month of April.

Checking on the 94K Weekend website, I found out that the events are really scheduled as advertised. Well, my reaction on this was that the guys who thought of including running events on this 94K weekend event were crazy! These Guys Are Really Crazy! Are these guys had experienced running in road races?

Runners are not “super humans” to prepare and join in a 94K UltraMarathon or 42K Marathon event in 19 days!!! They even stated in their brochure on line that the water stations in the marathon event will be positioned every five (5) kilometers!!! What? These people will kill their runners! The registration fee is very cheap to entice runners to join the event but I think this is also a “cheap” running event even if they posted big amount of cash awards for the winners.

Another sign that the marathon is not well-planned is the fact that the marathon event will start at 5:00 AM. The planners/organizers do not know that it is already summer time and the sun rises at 5:45 AM. If they start at 5:00 AM, the runners will be fighting the heat of the sun after running 8 kilometers which is barely 1/5 of the distance. A combination of the heat of the sun and the far distance in between water stations will give serious problems to the runners. Running along an elevated highway/expressway without any trees on the sides or any shade from the sun and with the heat of the sun and the pavement during summer is something “crazy & unbelievable” to think about.

To the planners/organizers of the 94K Weekend, I suggest you do your “homework” properly and plan at least one year ahead.

As for me, I will not join this inaugural rendition of this 94K Weekend running events.

Cycling Shorts vs Running Shorts

On April 1, 2008April 1, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Runner's Fashion/Attire, Running18 Comments

Miraclecello/Cecil, one of my regular visitors, asked me to write about the merits of using a cycling shorts or a regular running shorts in a road race. I tried my best to make a research on this one on published articles and running references but I haven’t seen any resources that deal on this topic. So, this a new thing to tread on and I’ll try my best to give my opinion on this one from my personal experiences and observations.

In my observation in past sports events and athletics events as seen on TV, Sports Magazines, and actual events, the cycling shorts or tight-fitiing shorts which has a leg length of at least six inches from the groin area or the length goes up to few inches above the knees, are used in shorter distance runs in oval tracks (i.e. 100-meter dash to 10,000-meter runs). Seldom you could see elite marathon/ultra-marathon runners using these tight fitting cycling shorts. I can surmised that this kind of shorts impedes ventilation to the groin area and upper legs, thus, this is not preferred to be used in longer distance runs like marathon and ultra-marathon races. The regular running shorts are used to these kind of races.

Most of the triathletes use the cycling shorts because they can use it in swimming to cycling then to running without removing from their body, thus, minimizing their spent time in the transition phase in between events

In my experience, using the regular running shorts in 10K, 20K, half-marathon and marathon races produces “chaffing” or skin rashes on the inside portions of the upper legs as the wet seams of these shorts stick to the skin and rubs the skin as the legs move during running. The cycling shorts don’t produce any “chaffing” or skin rashes as the upper leg portion is covered due to the longer length of the inseams. However, “chaffing” is prevented with the application of baby oil, body lotion, or petroleum jelly on the inner portion of the upper legs.

In last Sunday’s Mizuno Infinity 15K run, my New Balance running shorts produced some “rashes/chaffing” on the inner side of my upper leg due to the wet seams of my short that tend to stick to the skin. The body oil and lotion that I applied on my upper legs were not enough to prevent the “skin rashes”.

Also, in my experience, the cycling shorts absorbs more perspiration/sweat coming from the upper body, thus, preventing the sweat to flow towards the legs and your running socks. As compared to using the regular running shorts where most of my perspiration flows towards my running socks making my feet wet, creating a hard rubbing between my wet socks and my feet. This creates some blisters to my feet in longer distances. Petroleum jelly applied to the feet before wearing your socks would prevent any blisters to the feet.

Using tight cycling shorts could be aerodynamically more advantageous to elite athletes in shorter races or dash runs in the oval tracks and they don’t restrict natural leg movements while running. The regular running shorts could create restrictions in the leg actions while running and could produce more air resistance due to its loose appearance.

Lastly, using the tight cycling shorts need a “bold face” from the user as it invites others to look what and how big your “boil” in between your legs. If you don’t want to create suspicious faces from people when they look at your tight cycling shorts, better use the regular running shorts.

Bottomline? I highly recommend using the regular running shorts in longer distance runs (half-marathon to ultra-marathon) and using the tight cycling shorts in shorter distance runs.

D-Day: Mizuno Infinity 15K Run

On March 30, 2008March 30, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Races, Running, Running Shoes16 Comments

30 March 2008 (6:00 AM-7:16 AM)

I arrived at the Parking Area near the Assembly Area of the Mizuno Infinity Run at 5:10 AM and immediately had my stretching exercises and warm-up jogging. I saw to it that I had to drink water and force my urine to get out from my urinary tract system before going inside the check-in area. It took me about thirty minutes to warm-up while making sure that my officers from the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap had arrived and put up their booth for the BaldRunner’s “Donate A Running Shoe” Project. I was glad that my staff had arrived on time and I gave them four of my old shoes for donation.

Before the start and as soon as I entered the starting area, many runners had greeted me, most of whom are my visitors/readers of my blog. Guys, thanks for your comments and visits!

The 15K Run started at exactly 6:00 AM with the other runners in the 10K and 5K races to start after 15 minutes. The 5K was scheduled to start at 6:30 AM. As expected my 1st kilometer was a slow one, finishing in 5:44 minutes. But my time was a very slow pace from my planned time to finish every kilometer. I had to pick-up the pace when I was already at the Bayani Road. After almost two-kilometer run inside the Heritage Park, the hills before the Bayani Road, at Lawton Avenue, and at the McKinley Hill areas slowed down all the runners. The worst was, once the runners reached Lawton Avenue after coming from Bayani Road, they were already facing the heat of the sun.

Running at 3-Km point along the Bayani Road before I threw water to the driver of a black Nissan Patrol who was about to cut us from an intersection. I met Mark at this point after the said incident.

It is fun to run when there are lots of runners around you, the more you have to increase your pace!

At this point, going to Km. 8, I just left the Heritage Park and about to run uphill towards Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio.

At the uphill portion going to Gate 3 of Fort Bonifacio and Bayani Road

I started to pick up again my pace after successfully ascending from the McKinley Hill area and reached back to Lawton Avenue. At this point, I had only 2 kilometers to go before the finish line. I joined the pace of a lady runner in pink and a soldier from Camp Aguinaldo. At the last turn before the Finish Line, I saw the digital clock registered 1:16:00 hours. I just maintained a quick pace and was able to cross the finish line in 1:16:27 hours, my unofficial finish time for the 15K race.

I picked-up my pace after leaving McKinley Hill area. The motorbike rider who escorted me from Heritage Park to the Finish Line was one of my personal drivers & member of my security detail when I was then the Camp Commander of Fort Bonifacio.

A picture with the lady runner in pink who set the pace along Lawton Avenue and a soldier from GHQ, Camp Aguinaldo following us. This was the first time I saw this lady in a weekend race. She is strong and I am sure she placed one of the top five among the ladies.

At the finish line with a time of 1:16:27 hours as I read from the digital timer/clock, my unofficial finish time.

After finishing the race, I immediately went to the booth where my staff established my Project “Donate A Shoe”. I found out that three of my old running shoes were already given to the less fortunate runners. Later, Don Fernando Zobel of Ayala Land Inc. approached the booth and asked where he can donate his shoes. And I and my staff answered, “Here, sir!”. He immediately removed the running shoes he was wearing, an ASICS GT-2110, and donated them to us. We let him signed some forms and took some pictures of him and myself. He left our booth walking with only his socks on. Thanks, Don Fernando! We salute you!

Runners looking at the array of donated shoes infront of Bald Runner’s Project “Donate A Shoe” booth being supervised by Major Rod Turno and Capt Ferdie Espejo of the DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Running Club, Inc.

Don Fernando Zobel signing the Deed of Donation for his running shoes he was wearing that he donated. I gave him a “ONE” Wristband which he accepted.

Many of my officers/enlisted personnel and dependents in the Philippine Army, my brother, members of the Happy Feet Runners Club, Fairview Running Club, Takie, Mark, Jomes, the BullRunner, jhun & wife, rene & doc from Gold’s Gym and others whom I forgot their names approached our “booth” and had good words about our project. We had some picture-taking, too!

A pose with the members of the Happy Feet Running Club. Guys, you look great!

A pose with my brother & wife who joined the 5K run. At far right is Colonel Oscar Lopez of the Philippine Army who is also a passionate long distance runner & joined/finished the 15K run in sub-1:30:00 hours.

A pose with Takie and the most popular The Bull Runner among the Running Bloggers!

One of the senior runners who received my New Balance 902 Performance Running Shoes showing his old shoes which he used in the 15K run!