Badwater Ultramarathon #1

On July 14, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Races, Running, Ultramarathon4 Comments

Early tomorrow morning at 4:00AM, 14 July (8:00PM, Monday, Manila Time), I will be leaving Los Angeles by car to Badwater, California, located inside the Death Valley National Park. The distance from Los Angeles to Badwater is 290 miles or 460 kilometers which is the estimated distance from Manila to Paoay/Currimao, Ilocos Norte. In my estimate, it will take me 4 1/2 hours to reach the place without any traffic problem or being get lost along the way.

My son just prepared me a printed map which he downloaded from Google with the detailed directions from our house to Badwater. I will be missing the runners who will start at 6:00AM and 8:00AM. The elite runners will start at 10:00AM and hope to meet some of them and witness their start of this ultramarathon event. Hopefully, I will be able to take some pictures of these runners while they will be running along Highway 190.

The following news article was copied from Puhrump Valley Times.

Death Valley race pushes to the limit
BY CHRISSY OHLINGER
PVT

BADWATER, Calif. — Many people don’t savor the idea of crossing Death Valley in the summertime by car. Some actually prefer to go on foot. This July 14-16, Route 190 in Death Valley National Park will be littered with people who do just that during the 31st annual AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon. The extreme sport event will track participants on foot through 135 miles of the hottest, most treacherous and isolated country in the country and the world: from Badwater, Death Valley National Park, to the trailhead of Mt. Whitney in California. The race route yo-yos from a plunging 280 feet below sea level across three mountain ranges before rising to the chilling heights of Mt. Whitney. Some contestants will even choose to scale the tallest mountain in the Lower 48 as an unofficial finish to their journey. Continue reading “Badwater Ultramarathon #1” →

“Fuerza Armada’s Story”

On July 12, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running2 Comments

The following is a comment from “Fuerza Armada” on my post regarding Mr Pompey Crisologo of North Star Run and owner of North Star Marketing, Inc. in Laoag City.

I’m a frequent visitor of your blogsite and this is my first time to post a comment. My memories travel back 20-25 years ago upon reading this artcile of Mr. Pompeo, considered as the Father of Local Running in Ilocandia. I have also joined once in the North Star 10K Fun Run when I was in Grade 5, that was in the early 80’s, and one Biathlon (Duathlon). Both events I DNFed. The races are usually held near the scenic Paoay Lake or Currimao Port Area near the beach and my father would usually win in the age category. Now, he’s in his early 60’s and can still run short distances.

When I begin working in the government here in Fort Bonifacio, I ballooned into 176lb frame with 5ft 4in height and would be diagnosed with mild hypertension. Until I started going back to life through running in 2005 and losing 54 lbs. My DNF events two decades ago in the North Star haunted me. Something in my life was lacking. And I am very much determined to experience finishing a 10K. After months and years of training, I did 5Ks, then 10Ks, 10-miler, half, then the ultimate full marathon which I already did 9 times (with 6 sub-4hrs).

Though dozens of race numbers and medals adorned in our living room in our home in Lapog, Ilocos Sur, my father never had a medal for 42K and his dream was only fulfilled through me. I cried when I crossed the finish line during my first 42K in the 3rd Manila Marathon since I devoted the race to my father.

Maybe this is the perfect time to thank Mr. Pompeo. Thanks for being the ambassador of good health in the region. We have discovered and produced national class runners during the North Star’s grandeur. The North Star Run will forever be cherished. I know the baldrunner is the perfect figure who could continue the legacy. With the general’s love and passion of the sport, I am very sure he can handle it well. I can also encourage my father, his group and my running buddies in the City Government of Vigan to support your planned races.Then we can have more interesting stories to tell…

Thank you very much, “Fuerza Armada” for sharing to us about your passion in running. I hope more people will be inspired to run/join road races and that “failures” are just small part of our life that would challenge us to surpass our capability to do some more and be a better person.

“Running In The Rain”

On July 11, 2008July 12, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Runners' Training, Running9 Comments

5:38 PM 09 July 2008 at The Fort

If I did not forget to bring my Ipod Nano in yesterday’s afternoon run, the title of this post could had been “Singing In The Rain”.

The thick rain clouds at The Fort area was an indication that it will rain that afternoon. However, after two days of complete rest from Sunday’s Manila Half-Marathon, I became uneasy and sluggish for not running. I felt that I was able to recover last Wednesday and I did not let the day pass by without sweating it out for a long easy run.

I started my run at 5:38PM at the corner of the IS Road and the main road going to the old Gate 1 of Fort Bonifacio. After running about 500 meters, there were flashes of lightning on the horizon and the afternoon became darker because of the rain clouds. I managed to run at least 4 kilometers, back and forth, along IS Road before the shower became rain. I had to take refuge at the back of the Every Nation Building and kept on jogging in place and used the stairs to do my “up and down” stair drill. It took me almost 12-15 minutes to wait for the rain to stop. When I noticed that the rain became weaker, I resumed my run even if there was still rain. The IS Road was full of rushing water on its edge and I had to run along the elevated sidewalk. Continue reading ““Running In The Rain”” →

Mr Pompey Crisologo

On July 10, 2008July 10, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running5 Comments

This is my picture with Mr Pompey Crisologo of North Star Marketing in Laoag City taken two weeks ago. Mr Pompey Crisologo is now 72 years old and he is still wearing a running shoes while he is in his office.

He finished his first Marathon at the age of 52 with a time of 4:15 hours and improved his second Marathon with a time of 4:00 hours flat. He was the father of the North Star Run which started in 1979 and had its last rendition in 2002. He authored the North Star Run Sports Program where he conducted 5K runs in different municipalities of Ilocos Norte on a monthly basis with P 5.00 as registration fee.

In my last meeting with Mr Crisologo, he does not have any plan or intention of reviving the North Star Run. However, I told him that I am interested to revive the said 10K road race but with a different name. He approved of the idea and he is willing to help in the revival of the said race.

I told him also that I am going to revive the duathlon event during summer and he was happy to hear also such news from me. Also included will be a trail running event in Ilocos Norte.

These events are presently on the planning stage under the auspices of the Bald Runner’s Events.

Update: Project Donate A Shirt #1

On July 10, 2008July 10, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Running4 Comments

I missed to post this picture last week after the Rush To Mizuno 15K Run. Miake Acedilla, the lady on my right, donated her Finisher’s T-shirt of the Mizuno Run to the Project Donate A Shirt. The lady on my left is her running friend/buddy, Pam. Thanks, Miake!

More Pics @ Manila Half

On July 7, 2008July 9, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Half-Marathon, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running18 Comments

The following pictures were taken at the Bald Runner’s Donate A Shoe Booth at the Finish Line (Luneta Park/Quirino Grandstand Area) of the Araw ng Maynila Half-Marathon Race on 06 July 2008:

From left side, Charlie (running & rowing mate of Mark FB); DelQ (runner from Los Angeles who had a brief vacation in Laoag City & Manila & he was scheduled to leave for LAX last night); Bald Runner; The Loony Runner; Mark FB; and IbanRunner.

We had this second take as the first pose was taken against the light/sun. Charlie and Mark FB were late for the Half-Marathon start and opted to run the 10K race. DelQ is a member of a running club in Los Angeles and he promised to donate some running shoes from his club members.

A pose with Joms of Happy Feet Runners (far left) and Patrick Concepcion aka Running Shield (on my right) ; the famous Doknoy (#305) & Don Ubaldo (#398) on my left side. Hey, I am surrounded with the fast and famous runners of Happy Feet!

As I was walking towards my parked vehicle, Sherwyn, the runner on my left, called my attention as the Bald Runner and I asked them for a pose. These runners are members of the Tutuban Running Club. They told me that my name was announced few minutes before the Half-Marathon started.

As promised in one of my comments, I distributed a Bald Runner’s sticker to each of the runner-blogger who visited/dropped by the booth. My booth had become the official meeting place of the runner-bloggers after road races in Metro Manila.

I was informed by Captain Espejo that some runners donated finisher’s t-shirts after the race. To those who donated these t-shirts, thank you very much!

Road Marshalls Were Great!

On July 6, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running11 Comments

Araw ng Maynila Half-Marathon on 06 July 2008 at Luneta Park, Manila

I was late for the start of the Half-Marathon Race due to traffic at EDSA and due to my pre-race activities (warm-up & looking for a place to pee) after I arrived at the parking area at the Luneta Park. I thought the Half-Marathon Race would start at 5:30AM after arriving at the starting area at 5:25AM only to realize that there were fewer runners who were waiting at the Starting Area. Once I arrived at the Starting Area, I realized that the runners who were waiting were the runners for the 10K race and some members of the Fort Striders Running Club told me that the Half-Marathon runners had left at about 5:10AM. More than fifteen (15) minutes had elapsed after the start of the race!

I had no choice but to start running and to push the start button of my GF 305. After running for one kilometer, I could hardly see any of the last runner and Roxas Boulevard (going to Pasay City) was free from traffic..and I was the only one running with a race number! I thought of going back to the finish line and declare myself as DNF (Did Not Finish) for being late and later join the 10K runners. But when I was about to reach the area before the Manila Yacht Club & Philippie Navy Headquarters, I could see the blinking lights of the Road Marshall’s car at the corner of Vito Cruz and Roxas Boulevard and I saw a lady runner with a senior runner running together. The sight of the road marshalls and the last runners made me decide to push through with the race. Aside from that, I consider myself as a “road warrior” who never surrender to any fight!

After I passed by the last two runners, I had to depend on the road marshalls which were positioned in every traffic light and street crossing/intersection to ask for the direction and route of the race. I was alone at the busy street of Harrison Road and I tried to maintain my pace. However, when I turned right at Quirino Avenue, I could see some runners staggered along the stretch of Quirino Avenue towards Nagtahan Bridge which were at least one kilometer away.

Road Marshalls were all around the crossings/intersections and along the route and some were on their motorcycles. Some of the road marshalls riding on mortorcycle would escort me after I turned right at Quirino Avenue and after I crossed Taft Avenue. They were really there to help the runners and maintain traffic, holding off the vehicles and giving priority for the runners to pass on busy intersections. These road marshalls really inspired me to continue with the race. They were great!

I thought I was the last runner who started from the Finish Line. But later, at Km #7-#8, Joms of Happy Feet Runners called my attention as he passed by. He started the race way much later after I left the starting area. He is really a strong runner!

Slowly, I had to overtake most of the runners along the way and was comfortable going through those bridges at Santa Mesa and Nagtahan. I was maintaining a sub-6-minute pace per kilometer up to kilometer # 12, but for the rest of the way up to the finish line, I started to reduce my pace due to the heat of the sun and it also made my body asked for more hydration. I was glad I had my Nathan Water Belt with me and had, from time to time, my staff giving me additional Propel Drinks along the way. Some of the runners complained of lack of water stations from the Nagtahan bridge up to the Finish Line and my staff was able to share some of my prepared water supply to some of the runners.

These runners on my back were some of the runners I passed by along the way. I was wearing an orange The North Face (TNF) shirt and my first time to use my ASICS Gel-Kayano 13 running shoes to a road race. The shoes is very comfortable and stable. I intend to use it for my San Francisco Marathon and Bulldog 50K Trail Run in Calabasas, California next month.

At this point, my pace became slower because of the heat of the sun but I ried my best to overtake and leave these runners!

I overtook the lady runner at the back when we were about to reach the Intramuros area. I was trying to catch up with a younger runner at this point but he was too fast.

I tried to smile at the Finish Line but my mind was pre-occupied with the thought of drinking a bottle of ice-cold bottled water once I get out from the chute. I was glad I finished the race.

I was able to overtake more runners on the last two kilometers before the finish line and my time on the last kilometer slowed down because of the heavy volume of traffic infront of Manila Hotel. I finished the race in 1:53:39 hours but my GF 305 registered a distance of 19.5 kilometers. I knew I would be able to improve my finish time from the 8th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon if only the race organizers were able to measure the route properly.

These were the data I gathered from my GF 305:

Distance—19.5 kilometers Time—1:53:39 hours

Average Pace—5:51 mins/km Average Speed—10.3 kms/hr

Maximum Speed—15.2 kms/hr Total Calories—1,445 cal

Average HR—160 bpm Maximum HR—168 bpm

Total Ascent—918 meters Total Descent—909 meters

My pictures with the “Friends of the Bald Runner” will posted tomorrow.

Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)

On July 5, 2008July 6, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Running, Sports Program9 Comments

The Project Donate A Shoe is now under the auspices of the “Bald Runner’s Events” which is now a duly registered entity which has a license to operate from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Capt Ferdie Espejo came up with a new tarpaulin background of our booth, which you see in the background on all the pictures taken. Captain Espejo will be my frontman and associate in this understaking.

Last Sunday, we have launced also our Project Donate A Shirt, which will become as a repository of all donated old, used, and new Finisher’s T-shirts, from runners which in turn to be donated to families residing on Gawad Kalinga (GK) communities in Metro Manila and to other victims of disasters and calamities in the country.

Hereunder are some of the pictures of our good donors and recipients of these projects. Continue reading “Update: Project Donate A Shoe (June ’08)” →

18K Run @ BHS Loop

On July 4, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Runners' Training, Running2 Comments

Instead of running along the International School Road, I decided to run at the Bonifacio High Street (BHS) Loop for my tempo run. I had my car parked at the B-3 Parking Area and it became my water station as I left my water supply inside my car.

I started my run at 6:43PM along the BHS Loop going against the traffic at the asphalted road. I started to see some individual runners, male & female, along the said route. I forced myself to drink water every time I finished two rounds of the loop which equivalent to 2.5 kilometers.

I was wearing an all-white running gear which was a combination of a Speedo shorts, Bench muscle shirt, The North Face Flight Series Cap, and ASICS Gel-Kayano 13 running shoe, which was almost the same as my running gear when I posted my first running picture in this blog. This was a part of the pictures taken during the 1st City of Angels Half-Marathon in Los Angeles last December 2006.

When I was about to complete my fifth (5th) round, I met a group of runners and I saw The Bull Runner at the middle of the pack and I started waving my hand and calling her name. She was surprised to see me. When I met her group at the other side of the BHS Loop, I joined her and had to reset my watch. I was able to run already a distance of 6.25 kilometers when I joined her. I think I was able to chat with her for about 250 meters and she introduced me to Coach Igge who was also running with her.

I had to peel off from the group when I realized that The Bull Runner was taking the “smaller loop” and resumed my pace. The brief run and chat with The Bull Runner was enough to know that she had recovered already from her injures. I was able to see Marga running along with friends at the bigger loop. I saw also BenChan who was so fast in his pace. Another group of runners were also busy doing their warm-up and stretching at the corner of the parking area beside the Fully Booked Store. I made another three rounds on the big BHS loop before I made some adjustments in my route and expanded the distance and came up with an “extended Loop” around BHS where the route was not busy with vehicular traffic.

I finished 12.5 kilometers at 8:45PM and I could only see one male runner (in black) doing his workout around the BHS big loop and it started to shower.

Overall, I finished 18.75 kilometers in 1:50:48 hours.

More Pictures @ 2nd Mizuno Run

On July 4, 2008July 4, 2008 By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running11 Comments

These pictures were taken after the 2nd Mizuno Run last 29 June 2008 at The Fort.

I felt I was a Commander with this pose while talking with Prometheus, High Altitude, and The Looney Runner after the road race. These are the famous runner-bloggers today among the male runners in the country.

Another pose with (from my left) High Altitude, The Looney Runner, PrometheusCometh, and DATC.

I call/named these two runners as “Scout Rangers” as they don’t leave each other during the 8th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half-Marathon.

Totoy Santos of Happy Feet who was proud of wearing his Finisher’s T-shirt in the All-Terrain Trail Race where he won as Champion in the 12K Trail Run. Congratulations, Totoy!