Tag: Marathon

Recommend For Termination

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running18 Comments

I have recommended the termination of the DND/AFP Gintong Pangarap for Marathon effective immediately to the Secretary of National Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines due to the following reasons:

1) Since the creation of this sports program was directed in producing a member or members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a potential Olympic Gold Medalist in Marathon and was conceived by a former Secretary of National Defense, this program had never attained its objectives for the past seven years. The other DND/AFP Gintong Pangarap Sports Programs in Shooting, Taekwando, and Boxing were later abandoned after one or two years after it was conceived by the same Secretary of National Defense. It was perceived that the creation of this sports program was a “knee-jerk” reaction or “pa-snappy” effect for the AFP to contribute to the country’s first Olympic Gold Medal. 

2) Sports development, training and sustainment of support to elite national athletes are not the “core functions” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Hence, the financial support to the DND/AFP Gintong Pangarap was not within the budgetary programs of the Major Services and that the Department of National Defense does not have any support to this program. Continue reading “Recommend For Termination” →

Read This!

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Practice Runs, Runners' Training, Running5 Comments

For the past days after reading Dean Karnasez’ book, “Ultramarathon Man: Confessions Of An All-Night Runner”, I’ve been browsing on the Internet on websites that offer information on ultramarathon, ultrarunning, and ultratrail running.

In the course of reading these websites and blogs of accomplished “ultrarunners” and websites of ultrarunning & ultratrail magazines online, I discovered this article which was written in the UltraTrail Magazine in November 2006.

This is another approach of training for the marathon and I hope you enjoy reading this one. Continue reading “Read This!” →

2008 Boston Marathon Experience

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Running6 Comments

Last night while reading on WordPress’ Tag Surfer’s posted articles related to Running, I came across a personal account of a blogger, Heather Daniel, participating in the most prestigious Boston Marathon which was held last 21 April 2008. It was my first time to visit her blog and I am greatly impressed on her account of her experiences before, during , and after her participation in the 2008 Boston Marathon.

I seldom post in my blog stories and experiences of other runners/bloggers in the Internet because I wanted my blog to be about my training, preparation, my personal observations on the road races I joined, and my personal experiences on running and sometimes about my work. But because of my great admiration of the Boston Marathon’s stories in the 1980s and its prestige it brought to all runners worldwide which I consider as the “Holy Grail” of running, I might as well share the story of Heather to my visitors and friends.

I hope most of you will be inspired after reading her story and who knows, you can make it, too, in the Boston Marathon in the future. This is her story.

Thanks Heather for allowing me to share your blog and story. Happy running!

 

2008 Bataan Memorial Death March

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, Races, Running2 Comments

The 2008 Bataan Memorial Death March was held on 30 March 2008.

In the later months of 1999, I’ve been fascinated and surprised that a sports event among the US military and civilians is being held yearly to commemorate a very important part in the history of World War II that happened in the Philippines in a place called White Sands, New Mex.ico, USA.

As the Chief of Training for the Philippine Army, I conducted this kind of sports event on the second Sunday of April 2000 with the same rules & regulations & format but with a distance of 25 kilometers along the actual route of the Bataan Death March. The sports event was a success but that was the first and the last of it.

Since then, I’ve been browsing on the Internet on the yearly results of this event and even interviewed some of our soldiers who attended military schooling near New Mexico who were required to join in the event.

This is one of my plans after retirement from the active service to experience running a marathon on this special event. Maybe, I’ll give it a try on next year’s event (2009).

However, if there are any interested individual/s who would like to join me and experience this marathon event, we could form into a TEAM to represent our country. Maybe, this TEAM will be the first one to represent our country.

Please leave a comment if you are interested and we will talk about the details of our planning, preparation, training, and support system.

The following were the results of the 2008 Bataan Memorial Death March in every Division/Category Continue reading “2008 Bataan Memorial Death March” →

Women’s Marathon Idols in the ’80s

On By kingofpotsIn Pictures, Running, Running Heroes1 Comment

Joan Benoit Samuelson: (USA)

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     1979 & 1983 Boston Women’s Marathon Champion

     1984 Winner in the US Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials     in 2:31:04, 2 1/2 weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery.

      1984 First Olympic Womens Marathon Gold Medal with a time of 2:24:52. The only American woman to win the event up to the present.

      1985 Winner in the Women’s Chicago Marathon in 2:21:21.

      2002 American Women’s Record Holder among 45-49 years old with 2:42:28 in Chicago Marathon

      2006 Running partner of Lance Armstrong in the last 16 miles of the New York Marathon

       2007 Training for the US Women’s Olympic Trials set on April 20, 2008 in Boston ( The day before the Boston Marathon). It will be her fourth Women’s Olympic Trials. Her goal is to break 2:50:00 at 50 years old!

Grete Andersen Waitz: (Norway)

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        1978-1988 Winner of the New York City Marathon for 9 times

        1983 Winner of the World Championship Women’s Marathon in Helsinki, Finland

        1983 & 1986 Winner of the Women’s London Marathon

        1984 Silver Medalist in the 1984 Olympic Games Women’s Marathon

Rosa Mota: (Portugal)

        1984 Bronze Medalist Women’s Marathon Olympic Games

        1983 & 1984 Champion Chicago Women’s Marathon

        1982, 1986, & 1990 European Women’s Marathon Champion

        1988 Gold Medalist Olympic Games Women’s Marathon

        1987 World’s Marathon Champion

        1987, 1988, & 1990 Champion Boston Women’s Marathon

Ingrid Kristiansen: (Norway) 

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        1980, 1981, & 1982 Champion Stockholm Women’s Marathon

        1984, 1985, 1987, & 1989 Champion Women’s Fastest Marathon Race

         1984, 1985, 1987, & 1988 Champion London Women’s Marathon

         1986 Champion Chicago Women’s Marathon

Allison Roe: (New Zealand) 

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         1981 Champion Boston Women’s Marathon

         1981 Champion New York City Women’s Marathon

Training Journal (17-23 Dec 2007)

On By kingofpotsIn Runners' Training, RunningLeave a comment

17 Dec 2007—Easy Run; Total Distance: 11 miles/17.6 kms; Total Time: 1:39:53 hours; Average Pace: 9:04.8 mins/mile or 5:40 mins/kilometer

18 Dec 2007—Easy Run; Total Distance: 11 miles/17.6 kms; Total Time: 1:33:53 hours; Average Pace: 8:32 mins/mile or 5:20 mins/kilometer

19 Dec 2007—Easy Run; Total Distance: 11.5 miles/18.4 kms; Total Time: 1:35:55 hours; Average Pace: 8:20-8:25 mins/mile or 5:13-5:20 mins/km

21 Dec 2007—Tempo Run; Total Distance: 8.5 miles/13.6 kms; Total Time: 1:06:27 hours; Time for 10K: 49:17 mins

23 Dec 2007—LSD Run; Total Distance: 20.625 miles/33 kilometers; Total Time: 3:20:00 hours; Average Pace: 9:41 mins/mile or 6:03 mins/kilometer

“Nostalgic” Long Run

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Places to Run, Practice Runs, Running2 Comments

23 December 2007 (AM) 

I woke up at 5:00 AM today and started to prepare for my “once-a-week” long slow distance (LSD) run. I started my run at exactly 5:30 AM from my sister’s house at Barangay Dibua South (#59-A), Laoag City. It was still dark but there were lots of tricycles plying the road already because of the early morning mass (Misa de Gallo).

The terrain in Laoag City is relatively flat and all the roads are paved up to the Barangays. From Dibua, I passed by the City Cemetery and jogged towards and along Rizal Street, the main road of Laoag City, and turning right after the PNB Building, and leading towards the City Hall and to the Padsan River/Laoag Bridge.

Running along Rizal Street and all the way to the Laoag/Padsan Bridge leading either to the Gabu Airport or to Fort Ilocandia Hotel or to Suba, Paoay brings back good memories from the time I started running and preparing for my first marathon. This is where I spent most of my running workouts during the early ’80s.

From the Bridge, I proceeded along the Gabu/Airport Road and later turning left at the road intersection going to Suba, Paoay or the Road that goes to the Fort Ilocandia Golf Course and to the Municipality of Paoay.

I reached the Clubhouse of the Fort Ilocandia Golf Course at 1:37:00 hours, which in my estimate covers a distance of 16.5 kilometers or 10 miles from my sister’s house in Dibua. (With the aid of my Nathan Water Belt, my run became very comfortable). From the Clubhouse, I made my turn around and proceeded back to Dibua. The run on my way back was slower which took me 1:43:00 hours!

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I ran a total distance of 33 kilometers or 20.625 miles which took me 3:20:00 hours to finish. This was my longest run so far in my preparation for the Pasig River Heritage Marathon on the 24th of February 2008. I am glad that I am still injury-free and don’t have any major problems with my legs and body.

I started to alternately jog, run and walk on the last mile. I felt that I was about to reach my “Wall” if I continued running at a faster pace on my last mile before reaching my sister’s house. It was almost 9:00 AM when I finished my long run and the heat of the sun was starting to burn my skin.

I consider this long run as something special as I was able to recall all those running workouts I’ve done from the Laoag Bridge to Suba, Paoay and back, almost everyday, morning and afternoon before I joined and finished my first Marathon Race. This route was my favorite practice area and it gave me the strength and fulfillment to be a passionate and a lover of running.

Top 20 Male: 2007 Bataan Memorial Death March

On By kingofpotsIn Marathon Race, Marathon Race Results, Military, Race Results, Races, RunningLeave a comment

                                           2007 Bataan Memorial Death March, Men’s Results
More Results:  

Last Name, First Name
(Sex/Age)		 Time OverAll
Place		 Sex Place
/
Div Place		 DIV Net Time City, State, Country AG Time* BQ*
MICHAEL WALDO (M53) 3:16:45 1 1 / 1 MCivL 3:16:43 LAS CRUCES, NM, USA 2:51:28 BQ
JOHN SCHMIDT (M42) 3:25:40 2 2 / 2 MCivL 3:25:04 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA 3:16:50  
BILL BARTHEN (M31) 3:28:05 3 3 / 3 MCivL 3:27:50 SUPERIOR, WI, USA 3:27:50  
FRANK CHARLES LIVAUDAIS (M32) 3:29:45 4 4 / 4 MCivL 3:29:07 AUSTIN, TX, USA 3:29:07  
RICKY E DE SHAW (M34) 3:33:42 5 5 / 5 MCivL 3:33:37 SOCCORO, TX, USA 3:33:37  
MICHAEL TOMPKINS (M49) 3:34:48 6 6 / 6 MCivL 3:34:37 COLUMBIA, MD, USA 3:13:58  
JEREMIAH NELSON (M32) 3:46:49 7 7 / 1 MMilL 3:34:56 ELLSWORTH AFB, SD, USA 3:34:56  
STAN F FERGUSON (M43) 3:36:40 8 8 / 7 MCivL 3:35:13 CONWAY, AR, USA 3:24:51  
TOM SILVERBERG (M53) 3:37:15 9 9 / 8 MCivL 3:35:31 BLOOMINGTON, MN, USA 3:07:51 BQ
RAYMOND D. WILLARD (M57) 3:42:35 11 10 / 9 MCivL 3:39:32 SUMMERVILLE, SC, USA 3:04:19 BQ
LOGAN DANIEL BEHRMANN (M34) 3:42:46 12 11 / 10 MCivL 3:41:01 ALAMOGORDO, NM, USA 3:41:01  
CHARLES COSNOWSKI (M33) 3:43:06 13 12 / 11 MCivL 3:41:23 ALAMOGORDO, NM, USA 3:41:23  
MICHAEL JAMES MALONE (M36) 3:48:13 14 13 / 12 MCivL 3:42:54 FARMINGTON, NM, USA 3:42:40  
BRIAN J. REARDON (M36) 3:50:26 15 14 / 13 MCivL 3:42:57 JEMEZ SPRINGS, NM, USA 3:42:43  
UNKNOWN DW00A49 (M99) 3:50:26 16 15 / 14 MCivL 3:42:57   0:48:42  
STEPHEN GRADY STANLEY (M54) 3:46:48 17 16 / 15 MCivL 3:43:27 GARLAND, TX, USA 3:12:59  
NOAH C. HANNERS (M27) 3:48:53 19 17 / 16 MCivL 3:43:54 EL PASO, TX, USA 3:43:54  
FRANK RATH (M38) 3:48:55 20 18 / 17 MCivL 3:44:14 CENTREVILLE, MD, USA 3:42:12  
               

Bronze Medals for Marathon

On 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.

2000 Bataan Death March Challenge

On 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).