25 Feb 2008—Rest/No runs
26 Feb 2008—Rest/No runs
27 Feb 2008—Rest/No runs
28 Feb 2008—Rest/No runs. Body Massage @ Riviera Spa Iloilo City
29 Feb 2008—Rest/No runs. Stretching & Dumbbell exercises
01 Mar 2008—10K/6.2 miles Run @ Libingan ng mga Bayani-Heritage Park-Bayani Road Loop
02 Mar 2008—2008 Condura “Run for Tubbataha Reefs” 10K Run
02 March 2008
My son, John Paul, just finished the Honda Los Angeles Marathon. He finished in 4:55:14 hours, which is a great improvement from his time last year of more than five hours! As seen from the results, he placed # 5,553 out of 17,011 finishers and he was ranked # 4,219 out of 10,491 males who finished the 42K run. This is his fourth time to run and finish the said race. Despite running 14 miles (22.4 kilometers) as his longest running workout three weeks before the race, he was able to comfortably finish the race with a better time. Unfortunately, my daughter, Jovelle, did not join him in this race this time.
Congratulations, John!
02 March 2008
Having a running workout yesterday morning with a distance of 10 kilometers gave me the confidence to run for the 2008 Condura (Race for Tubbataha Reefs) 10K Run early this morning. I was thinking of this run as part of my training for another marathon in the future. And I started also making some research on the Lydiard’s Training Method for my preparation in future races, hoping that I could come up with a training schedule that matches to my age and capabilities. (Note: I’ll posting some of the excerpts of the Lydiard training in my future posts).
I received my race packet two days before the race and I was impressed on the contents–a Finisher’s T-shirt, my race number from Runner’s World Mag, flyer on the importance of saving the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan, and most of all, a detailed instructions and rules of the road before, during, and after the race. My P 300.00 is really worth for this kind of race which is well-prepared and well-planned!
After checking-in at the starting line area, I had a chance to talk to “Totoy” of Happy Feet Runners Club and told me that he is a regular visitor of my blog and mentioned to me that one of the organizers of the 2008 Pasig River Marathon liked what I posted regarding my critique on the conduct of the Marathon Race. I saw some runners of Gold’s Gym who just participated in the Hongkong’s Standard Chartered Bank 42K Marathon Race two Sundays ago.
I did not stay infront to compete with the elite runners but I was in this area immediately infront of the stage which is on my right. After a long absence of running road races, I could hardly recognize Mr Rudy Biscocho, the race organizer, from the familiar face that I know when I was running in the 80’s. I regard Mr Biscocho as the number # 1 race organizer of running event in the country today.
The race started on time at 6:00 AM but before the 10K race started, there was a briefing on the course of the race, singing of the Pambansang Awit/Lupang Hinirang and a speech of one of the young Concepcions telling the audience and participants on the overall goal/objective of the race. The head of the organization/outfit that is implementing the preservation of Tubbataha Reefs also delivered a word of thanks for supporting the said running event.
And the starting gun was fired and off we go! The 10K runners were released first and after five minutes, the lesser distance races–5K & 3K runs, were released but with a different routes from the 10K runners. The 10K runners took the road that goes south going to S & R and then left towards the Kalayaan Fly-Over. All the runners enjoyed running the roads because there were no vehicles plying along the road! After going down from the Kalayaan Fly-over, we were already running the Gil Puyat Avenue. The turn-around was located near the Zuellig Building. There were kilometer markings in every kilometer along the way. There were also enough water in bottles given by the volunteers in water-aid stations. Except for the approaches of the Kalayaan Fly-over on The Fort area side and Gil Puyat Ave., the course is relatively flat.
My running form, 600 meters from the finish line!
My last 200 meters from the finish line!
That’s my happy face and victory pose for being able to break 50 minutes for the 2008 Condura Run 10K Race!
The following data were taken from my GF 305 after the race:
Finish Time—49:37 minutes Average Pace—5:03 mins/km
Average Speed—11.9 km/hr Maximum Speed—18.2 km/hr
Average HR—171 bpm Maximum HR—179 bpm
Total Ascent—440 meters Total Descent—446 meters
Total Calories—728 cal
Congratulations to all the Runners and Finishers of the 2008 Condura “Race For Tubbataha” Run!
Hope to see you again in next Sunday’s 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon!
Name Time
1. Jho-Ann Banayag 3:02:26
2. Christabel Martes 3:o6:50
3. Jeruto Kigen Caroline 3:10:26
4. Joanne Manangat 3:37:33
5. Flor Donos 3:42:46
6. Katie Fischer 3:46:09
7. Anna Vargas 3:48:16
8. Enate Sayrol 3:54:56
9. Jenny Kinsella 3:55:01
10. Geraldine Sealsa 3:58:31
11. Ailyn Morillo 4:04:55
12. Genevieve De la Pena 4:05:51
13. Mila Paje 4:08:43
14. Annie Agoncillo 4:09:35
15. Joan Pallones 4:09:36
16. Olive Cortez 4:11:18
17. Debbie Marie Bautista 4:14:52
18. Daisy Castillon 4:15:11
19. Reva Magno 4:20:10
20. Monique Nimo 4:22:45
01 March 2008
After five days of complete rest since running the 42K 2008 Pasig River Marathon last Sunday, I am back to running…again! I mean, serious running! Being the first day of the month, I decided to have my slow run at the Libingan ng mga Bayani-Bayani Road-Heritage Park Loop in order to bring back my leg muscles to running.
After my stretching exercise, I started my slow jog from my quarters going to the Libingan ng mga Bayani. I tried to be relaxed in my running form and just took slow strides with an average pace of 6:45 minutes per kilometer, however, after running two kilometers, I increased the pace to 6:00 minutes per kilometer. On my way out of the Libingan ng mga Bayani and towards the Heritage Park (downhill), I was already running a pace of 5:45 minutes per kilometer. From the C-5 Highway, I went back to the Libingan ng mga Bayani and had one more round inside with an even pace of 5:43 minutes per kilometer, completing a distance of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) for my running workout.
I was using for the first time my newly-bought (a month ago) ASICS Gel-1120 which I intend to use in my next road race tomorrow.
The following data were taken from my GF 305:
Total Distance—10 kilometers Total Time—57:24 minutes
Average Pace—5:44 mins/km Average Speed—10.5 km/hr
Average HR—156 bpm Maximum HR—168 bpm
Calories—733
It was a very relaxed and comfortable running workout just to bring back myself to serious running.
I am ready to join in tomorrow’s 2008 Condura Run 10K Race.
After telling Patrick Concepcion a.k.a “RunningShield” that I am going to be at the 2008 Condura Run as an answer to his invitation in one of his comments in my Road Races Page, I was thinking of an “alibi” or reason to tell him why I could not join the said race. This is what I hate to myself because whenever I make or utter a statement, I tend to stick to it and do it no matter how things will affect on me and to other people. So, for the past days after the 2008 Pasig River Marathon, I’ve been moving a lot in my camp, inside our Transient Facility, walking within the garden and parking area of our Field Service Support Unit Compound (where we repair and maintain our mobility assets, firearms, and equipment) while making calls to my wife, command staff and unit commanders, get a two-hour body massage (for the price of P 200.00), and lots of walking inside SM City (where I bought 3 DVD movies & ate at Ted’s Batchoy).
However, while I was still in Iloilo City, I got an invitation from my brother telling me to attend to his oath-taking ceremony with the President/Commander-in-Chief for his promotion to Major General (two-star General) on the morning of Friday, 29 February, in Malacanang Palace. As a member of his immediate family and as my younger brother, I have to attend the said occassion. Well, I have a valid reason again to be in Manila and be able to run in the 2008 Condura Run. Hopefully, with a short notice from my staff in Manila, I requested them to have me registered in the said race for the 10K run. Before I left Iloilo City Airport for the last flight to Manila, I just got a word that my race packet is already waiting in my quarters.
As of this date, Thursday, my body and leg pains are gone and can positively say that I’ll be running the 10K race this Sunday.
To my co-runners, I’ll be running as the bald runner, I mean, without my runner’s cap! See you there!
After the Marathon Race, having done my post-stretching exercises and changed my wet running attire, I immediately left Quirino Grandstand and looked for a place to eat breakfast together with my staff/support team from a nearby fastfood outlet. I rested in my quarters after a cold shower and later had my lunch at Causeway. I spent the whole afternoon sleeping and fixing my things to be brought back to my camp.
At 5:00 PM, I was already on my way to the airport to catch my flight back to Iloilo City and while I was at the boarding area, I was able to post my picture and story about my run at the 2008 Pasig River Marathon. I did not have any limp while walking but my leg muscles were really sore! I still have my intermittent coughing which disturbed my seatmates inside the plane and I had to cover my mouth with my handkerchief every time I cough. A lady passenger sitted beside me was annoyed with my coughing and I tried to smile and said “I am sorry” at her but she just stared at me.
After an overnight stay in our Army Transient Facility in Iloilo City, at 9:00 AM of Monday, I attended a conference presided by the Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas and a staff of the Office of the Presidential Affairs on Peace Process together with the AFP Commanders and PNP Regional and Provincial Directors in the Region VI, in one of the Function Rooms of Hotel del Rio in Iloilo City. Our agenda was focused on the implementation of the Peace Agreement between the Philippine Government and the RPA-ABB (a breakway faction of the Communist insurgents operating in Western Visayas). The conference ended with a lunch and after leaving the Hotel, I was already on my way to my camp in Jamindan, Capiz which is 2 1/2 hours ride by land.
On the following day, rains fell hard in Jamindan but this did not prevent one of my visitors to visit tha camp. I received and entertained a regular officer (Lieutenant Colonel) of the US Marines who is a Filipino. Being an Ilonggo, he had been helping my Command by sending medicines and books for the people living inside the military reservation and camp. He even supported the repairs of one of the primary schools situated in one of those far-flung barangays located inside the military reservation. In the afternoon, I have to send-off one of my Battalions for deployment to Negros Island and gave them a “pep-talk” to inform and inspire them of their actual mission in their area.
For today (27 Feb), I am going to preside and speak as the guest of honor during the turn-over of command of my Military Intelligence Battalion in Iloilo City.
Later this afternoon, I’ll have time to do some brisk walking and slow jogging at the Iloilo City Sports Complex Oval Track.
After dinner, a nice Sauna and Body Massage to relax my muscles at Riviera Spa (Iloilo City) for P 200.00 would be most welcomed!
1. Don’t be “mayabang”(boastful)—This was the exact words from my wife when I told her that I was coughing the day before the marathon. Travelling by land for two straight days in the island of Negros just to fulfill my mission to visit my troops and give them their specific mission in the island in person, made a “heavy price” on my health status barely few days before the D-Day. I should had rested when I reached Iloilo City and should had cancelled my oval track run where rains poured on me while running. Sometimes, I forget that I am almost 56 years old and my mind would tell me that I still have the body and strength when I was in my 30s whenever I have my daily runs. This is the most significant lesson I’ve learned in preparing for a marathon race—there is no way I could reach and attain my previous PR time when I was in my 30s! However, breaking sub-four hours in a Marathon Race will be a nice goal after my retirement from the service.
2. Taper and Rest—I guess, my 14 weeks of training for the Marathon Race were not enough to improve my time but just enough to finish the marathon without any injuries or illness after so many years of not training for road races. I should had made my last long run two weeks before D-Day and slowly tapered and rested in the next few days.
3. From “low-tech to high-tech”—I thought my GF 305 does not have any backlight. It was my fault, I usually do not read the manuals of “high-tech” items, as long as they work, it is fine with me. My thanks to my blog-friends for telling me more about my GF 305.
4. More mileage & “speed” runs—This is obvious! After retirement, I will try the Lydiard Method of Training. I guess, I have more time to run with no more pressing responsibilities to attend to. Having my grandchildren to “babysit” will be another story! Ha! Ha! Ha!
5. Sports Gel & Enery Drinks—I have 100% belief that Sports Gel (Gu) and Energy Drinks (Gatorade/Red Bull) give a runner more resistance and strength in marathon races. I consumed at least 8 pieces of Sports GU (Vanilla & Chocolate flavors), a dozen of plastic-bottled Gatorade drinks (from 30 Km mark to the finish line), a dozen of bottled water, and one bottle of Red Bull!
6. ASICS Running Shoes Forever!—This will be my running shoes, for training & road races, from now on. I have ordered an ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 from my wife as my “gift” to myself for finishing the 2008 Pasig River Marathon.
7. Start Getting a Running Partner—Since I am alone in my training for the past four months, I didn’t have any training partner except when my son was visiting the country. However, in marathon races, I randomly look for runners whom I think would be a “companion” while running. Sad to say, they have a faster pace and compete with me and sometimes, other runners could not cope up with my pace. I tried picking up a 19-year old boy (with a nice running form) as my running partner at JP Rizal, Makati but after giving him a bottle of water, he just slowed down. At the Pandacan Bridge, I tried to run with a guy who is older than me but ultimately, he walked later along the way. I guess, I need to join one of the Running Clubs at The Fort in order to look for a running partner in marathon races.
8. Going Back to the Gym—Definitely, I am going back to the gym again to strengthen my calves, thighs, and hamstring muscles. For the past 3 months, I avoided the gym and wanted to reduce my weight by 3-5 pounds and put more time to running. I found out that running is not enough to make your legs more responsive but I need light and high repetition workouts for my leg muscles.
9. Always “be positive”—Even if I knew I was not 100% healthy & fit a day before the marathon, I knew I could finish the race based from my past experiences and training/preparations. On the last 10 kilometers or 6 miles of the marathon race, everything is about “positive attitude”. You should be able to bring out your “warrior” spirit from your body and pray harder that you will finish the Marathon.
10. Support Team—You have an “edge” and positive outlook if you have a support team to give you the much-needed assistance along the way. You need a photographer to document the event. I really appreciate the wife and children of a runner, aboard a van, taking his still pictures and video along the route. Of course, if you are a blogger, having your pictures posted on your blog while you are running a Marathon give/provide more credibility and fun to your readers.
18 Feb 2008—Rest/No Runs
19 Feb 2008—Rest/No Runs
20 Feb 2008—4.68 miles or 7.5 kilometers (Iloilo City Sports Complex Oval Track)
21 Feb 2008—4 miles/6.4 kilometers (inside Camp in Jamindan, Capiz)
22 Feb 2008—Rest/No Runs
23 Feb 2008—Rest/Sleep/Stretching
24 Feb 2008—26.625 miles or 42.6 kilometers (2008 Pasig River Marathon)
Total Distance Covered—35.305 miles or 56.488 kilometers
Critique on the conduct of the 2008 Pasig River Marathon
This is not about the movie which was shown when I was 1st year in College (1968/69?) and this is not about Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. Do you still remember them? I think these Actors are still alive up to the present. In one of the blogs that I visited, the writer/runner described his experience running a marathon by these three words and I am going to copy him in describing how the 2008 Pasig River Marathon was conducted. In one of my earlier posts, I described my experience running this marathon in 2006 which I gave a failing grade comparing it from the PAL and Manila Marathons in the ’80s-’90s. So, here are the things I could say and impression about this Marathon Race.
The Good
This is the eight annual rendition of the Pasig River Marathon which changes its name for the nth time. Seven years is a lot of time to improve the race and I was impressed that this 42K race had improved tremendously! First, the attendance of runners for the 42K had increased to almost four times from the time I first joined this race. This is a proof that Filipinos had become more health-conscious and they put more premium on having a healthy heart and being fit. Second, the organizers changed the course/route–from Marikina Riverbank to Quirino Grandstand as compared from the old route–from Intramuros to The Fort, crossing almost all the bridges that cross the Pasig River. The new route was very advantageous to the runners as nobody could be lost along the way in the first 20 kilometers even the surroundings were still dark because the roads are wide and easy to follow. In the old route, many runners got lost in the first 5 kilometers because the roads were narrow and dark. Third, starting the race at 4:00 AM was a “cool” idea! The roads from the start up to the 30 kilometer point were exposed to the sun but running on these roads were easy as it was still dark and cold. And the next ten kilometers were along roads that were shaded with fences, houses, and buildings except for that long bridge which was my first time to see in Pandacan. Finishing a marathon in four hours and the heat of the sun at 7:00-8:00 AM is still tolerable to the body even if the sun was shining. Fourth, I was happy to see kilometer markings every 4 kilometers placed on top of parked vehicles of the marshalls. Fifth, there were lots of water stations along the way and the supply of water was not a problem. People in the squatter areas in Mandaluyong and Pandacan were giving water in plastic bags to everybody which was not part of the organizer’s designated water station/s. I even saw some ladies offerring raisins and bananas to the runners. Sixth, there were lots of road marshalls and I was glad that the Philippine Army contributed with soldiers/Military Police lined up from the entry of Bayani Road near Heritage Park up to The Fort area and down to the old Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio near Kalayaan Road. The Philippine Army Band was also at the Bayani Road playing lively music to the delight of the runners. Seventh and last, the weather was the “best” weather for a marathon race. It was cloudy and the sun did not appear at all! Bottomline? The 2008 Pasig River Marathon was a well-planned and well-prepared marathon race.
The Bad
First, the traffic and road construction at the E. Rodriguez Jr Ave. made the runners inch their way in between trucks and vehicles, barely one kilometer from the starting line. Second, running along C-5 with the vehicles on your side and back was a scary experience for runners. Orange-colored street cones should had been placed along C-5 in order to separate the runners from the vehicles going in the same direction. I could still remember that these cones were present along C-5 during the past races. Third, I’ve never seen a “portalet” along the way. For drinking so much water/liquids before the start of the race, I had to “relieve” myself along Julia Varga St, barely 8 kilometers from the start, by approaching one of the plants along the road. Fourth, a gasoline tanker nearly bumped me, head-on, when the driver forced his way in a crossing passing through a “red light” in Pandacan. I was glad the road/race marshall and the traffic enforcers were there to stop and shout at the driver! Fifth, the traffic was so bad on the crossing Nagtahan Bridge and Legarda St up to the Quirino Grandstand. Sixth and last, there were so many multi-colored strings given along the way just to prove that a runner passed through a certain part of the route. This is our “primitive” RFID “runner’s chip” tool, but I didn’t see anybody at the finish line checking all of these (dozen of) strings in every runner’s neck or wrist. I guess, I was an insignificant runner/finisher finishing the race more than four hours! Although these were minor lapses, I knew these things will be corrected in the incoming races for the Pasig River Marathon.
The Ugly
First, the squatters area at Mandaluyong (along Pasig River) and Pandacan. Do I have to explain this? Do we have to show “our dirt” to our guests/international runners. It’s okey if the African (Kenyans & Ethiopians) runners are our only international runners because we have better living conditions than them, how about the US and European runners? Second, very poor quality of air and the carbon monoxide emissions from trucks & “jeepneys” that we breath while running in Manila. Third and last, it’s the foul SMELL of the Pasig River! I just hope that the proceeds and earnings from this Marathon Race will benefit the project to rehabilitate Pasig River. I was smiling when I overheard one of the runners beside me asking from his companion if there are fishes that thrive with the dirty waters of Pasig River. The other runner answered back laughing with the words “None”.
P.S. I can not make any comment on what happened in the “Pasta Party” which was held o/a 4:00 PM of 22 February 2008 (Friday) at The Orchidarium, Teodoro Valencia Circle in Rizal Park because I did not attend to this. Instead, I brought my daughter, her boyriend and my mother-in-law to the Centennial Airport for their departure back to Los Angeles. I hope they have improved already on how to properly cook their “pasta”. Lastly, I did not observe any “cheating” along the way. The “long bridge” at Pandacan which every runner took going the North and then back going South has a divider that could be easily crossed was very tempting to “cheats”. I was glad I did not see anybody who dared to cross the said divider.
My overall rating/grade for the 2008 Pasig River Marathon—90%
Bald Runner
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