As I was browsing on my past posts/stories in this blog yesterday, I came across with this “insight” which I have written on February 14, 2014 (Valentine’s Day) and never was able to publish it in this blog. I was wondering what could be the reason why I was not able to post this as this post answers the BIG “WHY” I have been to ultramarathon and thus, creating an iconic Ultramarathon Event in the country which is the “Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race”. And this is my insight as an ultra marathoner (road and trail) and a Race Director and Organizer of Ultra Running Events which up to now is still true and applicable up to the present.
It is almost SIX years when I started to float the idea of conducting an ultra marathon race in the country and in this year of 2014, it will be the 6th edition of the Bataan Death March 102K Ultra Marathon Race. On hindsight, I have been thinking why I organized this kind of road running event and slowly made it as something to be proud of among runners in the country.
It all started when I saw a website of a marathon event that is named after the Bataan Death March which is being held in the desert of White Sands, New Mexico, USA. I saw this website when I was still in the active service in 1999. After a year, I implemented the same concept of the race among the units of the Philippine Army and made it as a Team Competition to include the US Army & Marines contingent based in the country. Although the race covered only 25 kilometers of the Bataan Death March Route, it became a success even if we did not ask for any Registration Fees from the Team Participants. It was simply sponsored by the Philippine Army, through my Office as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Education, G-8. In simple terms, I was the Chief Trainor & Educator of the Philippine Army nationwide!
If I can still remember it right, I only gave Trophies to the Top Three Teams and there were NO Finisher’s Medals and Finisher’s T-Shirts. Our office and my staff gave packed lunch to all the participants and we parted ways as happy competitors and runners. In the same manner, our civilian guest runners were just treated with the said packed lunch at the finish area.
Sadly, when I got transferred to Mindanao for a Combat Commander position, my BDM efforts just died and forgotten.
Fast Forward. Retirement and the Freedom to Run in any place and time of the day gave me a more focused attention to the Ultra Races that I’ve organized in the past. Of course, my being a Retired Major General of the Armed Services had also helped me in my coordination with the AFP, PNP, and the Local Governments. And whenever any of my ultra races is being concluded with all the finishers enjoying their triumph and victory, I always get a heart-warming feedback of “Congratulations For a Successful Event!” from the other runners, friends from Facebook, and from the thousands of followers of my blog.
It is a very humbling feeling when I get such feedback and it is already enough “compensation” for the preparation, coordination, risk, sleepless and tiring moments just to be able to monitor the safety of the runners and the progress of the race.
Personally, success to me in every race, is NOT in the number of registered runners. I would be happier if I have lesser in the number of runners whom I personally know and who would stick to follow my Race’s Rules & Regulations. Furthermore, I would be happiest when I hear stories among my runners on how they help each other in order to finish the race. These ultra runners whom I usually call “the usual suspects” are aware that the registration fee that they have paid to join the event is NOT enough to pay for my “Talent Fee” for seeing to it that they are safe and secured during the event.
But, most of the reasons for a Successful Event is attributed to the Competing Runner himself/herself. In ultra races, a runner can not “fake’ his performance backed with lackluster training and preparation. It takes a lot of pounding on the ground, discipline, determination, positive attitude, and critical problem solving if an ultra runner wants a decent finish in a race without any injury or “issues”. So, if a runner registers a Course Record Time for the event, it becomes a motivation for the others to work harder in their next training & preparation. Success for a runner is being able to overcome one’s inner demons, pain , suffering, and other personal challenges!
Success does not mean profit or money that a Race Organizer would earn from each event. Since I am not being backed up or sponsored by any Corporate Entity, a runner’s registration fee would be spent for the Podium Finisher’s Trophies, Finisher’s Medals, Finisher’s Shirts, Certificates, Race Bibs, Tarpaulins, Payment For Marshals & Event’s Staff, Ambulance/Medical Team Services, Planning & Coordination, Timing Services, Food For Runners at the Finish Line, and Travel Expenses. Sad to say, I am not being paid for being the Race Director!
To tell you the truth, I am getting richer from my “tax-free” monthly pension and “tax-free” interests of my investments and rentals to my properties. Even without organizing or directing ultra races, I will be happy and contended sitting on my rocking chair while listening my music from my Bose Sound System and scrolling/reading your Facebook status on my MacBook Air and Apple iPhone!
Success, therefore, to me in races is developing friendships and maintaining those friendship so that in every race, a runner would learn something for him/her to be a better person. Better would mean stronger, healthier, more matured, more friendly, and have a better outlook in life.
The highest level of success is when ones experience as a Runner and Race Director/Organizer is being shared to others and such experience becomes an inspiration to emulate. And this blog has that main objective to share my experience to everybody.
Success Is Being Healthy At The Age Of 62
Thank you for reading this article. I hope you enjoyed it and have the motivation to challenge yourself to run and adhere the outdoors for the greater good of a healthy lifestyle. Please subscribe to this blog for more updates and stories. Thank you!
My First Adventure Run was the Manila To Baguio 240 Kilometer Run which took me 5 days, from February 9-13, 2010, 2 days after I finished the Condura Skyway Marathon with a time of 4:17:++hours.
The primary motivation why I did this run was to show to my readers that a runner who would venture to this kind of running can also “journalize” or document his experience on the road on a near “real time” reporting through a blog. My “pit stops” would include writing something on my blog so that my readers would know the progress of my run. My adventure story would be very detailed so that the reader is transported on the road and places where I was running. In simple terms, I was showing my integrity in doing this adventure run.
The second reason was to show and prove to my Cavalier colleagues/alumni and cadets of the Philippine Military Academy that I could join the yearly Alumni Homecoming in the month of February without riding a bus or a car. There seems to be a problem of Parking Areas in Fort Del Pilar/PMA every time there is an Alumni Homecoming of PMA. For obvious reason, there are Alumni who would join this event with lots of “support vehicles” in tow, from the Officer’s Aide, Family, and Security Detail. If you add up those politicians who are Honorary Members of our Alumni Association attending this event, parking of vehicles would extend up to the Loakan Airport!
As a result of my run, it became a topic of conversation among the Generals and Colonels of the AFP and Alumni of the PMA as it filtered down to the subordinate units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Army. I just hope that the Vehicular Traffic and Parking Space problems inside Fort Del Pilar during our yearly Alumni Homecoming had been solved (joke!)
Obviously, this Adventure Run was my recovery run after the Condura Skyway Marathon. It is also great way to travel by foot and see the places along the road in a very “slow motion” mode.
Fast Forward. On the last quarter of 2013, I thought of coming up with an ultra race from Luneta Park/Rizal Monument to Rizal Park in Baguio City and came up with a Facebook Event Page. I wanted to limit the number of runners to 30 only but I was surprised to find out that more runners were interested to joining the event. Just like what I did with the West Coast 200, I wanted the runners to experience a multi-day stage running event where they could rest every leg of the event. After 3 days since I posted the Event Page, the applicants for the race had exceeded 35 and more runners would request me to be included in the list after I closed the registration period.
The 250-kilometer distance from Manila to Baguio is divided into 3 legs where the 1st Leg is a 90-Kilometer distance to be completed in 16 hours; the 2nd Leg is also a 90-Kilometer with the same cut-off time; and Final Leg is a 70-Kilometer to the Finish Line with a cut-off time of 16 hours. The total cut-off time for the race would add up to 48 hours which equivalent to 2 days!
@Rizal Monument, Luneta Park, Manila
At the starting line, I could see “new faces” to include Tan Ray from Singapore, Lito Malillin from General Santos City (Mindanao), Rhodz Cordora from Zambaonga City (Mindanao), Dhannie Tan from Manila, Benedict Ngo from Dagupan City, Jaylord Ballao from Team Ek Ek, and members of the Team Snail Runners. The “usual suspects” in my Ultra Races were there and I could see that they are entertaining and talking to the “new faces” in my events.
And The Race Started Before 1:00 AM of Friday
There were 42 runners who started the race in front of the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park few minutes before 1:00 AM of Friday, February 7, 2014.
Having declared this event as an adventure run, I am not that type of a Race Director that “spoon feeds” my runners by showing and instructing them very detailed route description and providing them with map, elevation profile, and deploying marshals on every intersection of the road. It is the responsibility of the runner to be observant on the signs along the road and find out the correct route to the Finish Line. It is either a runner would “google” the route or “test run” some portions or conduct a “window tour” while riding a vehicle in order to familiarize with the route.
The first leg/day was considered as a “disaster” for the other runners who were not observant on the signs of the road or they were simply ignorant of where they were on the road. Instead of going to Malolos City after hitting the Tabang Area, runners went straight to the Sta Rita Area (NLEX Entry/Exit for those Vehicles going to Cagayan Valley). Some runners would spent 40 minutes running just to realize that they were on the wrong track. Because of this experience for some of the runners, I allowed all the runners who finished the 1st Leg/Day beyond the cut-off time of 16 hours to still join the 2nd Leg/Day.
1st Runner To Reach Km #90, Jaylord Ballao2nd Runner, Jael Wenceslao, @ Km Post #90
Km Post #90, Finish Line of the 1st Leg & Starting Line of the 2nd Leg, is located 2 kilometers north of the center of Dau, Mabalacat. Dau is a famous Entry/Exit to and from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and it has a lot of commercial establishments to include hotels, motels, pension inns and restaurants. This place is an ideal “pit stop” for the runners for their much needed accommodation and food/supply replenishment.
Four runners did not join the start of the 2nd Leg/Day as they declared themselves as DNF. Most of them were victims of the intense heat of the route. Four minutes before 1:00 AM of Saturday, the remaining 38 runners started their run for the 2nd Leg.
I also joined the runners after two minutes from the time I released them. I wanted to practice my nutrition on this time of the night as it became my weakness to be sleepy when running from midnight to the early morning time. Slowly, I was passing some of the runners until I reached Tarlac City. I had to stop when my GPS watch registered a distance of 32 kilometers. Later, while I was driving my car, I found out that I was one kilometer away from the main group of runners.
More Power Walking On The 2nd DaySelf-Support Runner Rhodz Cordora From Zamboanga City
The runners were able to experience what I’ve experienced during my Adventure Run on this route. The intense heat of the sun and the road made the runners exhausted and would brought them to run slowly. It was a big test for them to endure as the stretch from Gerona-Paniqui-Moncada-San Manuel and the Pangasinan towns of Rosales, Villasis and Urdaneta were the hottest places along the course. Such stretch covers a distance of 60 kilometers of intense heat!
I decided to shorten the 2nd leg distance by 250 meters and made the famous Matutina Restaurant in Urdaneta City (Pangasinan) as the Finish Line. It was a very convenient place for the runners and their support team to rest and eat their snacks/lunch and dinner. I hope in the next year’s event, I will be able to get the said restaurant as one of the Race Sponsors.
Alfred Delos Reyes Arriving At The Finish Line On the 2nd Leg
I had to be strict on the implementation of the prescribed cut-off time on the 2nd day and it resulted to only 25 runners who would finish for the day. Runners were able to get accommodation within the city and most of the runners had more time to rest before the last leg of the event. Little did I know that there were some “drama” and/or “strategy sessions” being made by some of the top ten runners on how they would run the last leg of the course. However, one thing was sure as I’ve seen on the faces of these runners—they all wanted to finish the race and reach Baguio City on foot on the fastest time possible.
Runners from Pangasinan were at the Finish Line at the Matutina Restaurant to cheer the arrival of runners. Dennis Uy from Pozzurubio, Pangasinan, Head/Leader of the Pozzurubio Running Club was there to reiterate his invitation to stop by at his place at Km Post #195 for a “pit stop” for all the runners, support teams and to include my staff.
25 Runners On The Start Of The Last Leg/Day
Few minutes before 1:00 AM of Sunday, 25 remaining runners toed the line and started the last leg of the race. After releasing the runners, I went immediately (aboard my vehicle) to Dennis Uy’s place at Km Post #195 and he established an Aid Station for all the runners with Ice Cold Water, Hot Coffee, local rice cakes called Tupig and Patupat, and Hot Soup #5 with Misua (thin rice noodles). After 24 runners had passed the said Aid Station, the 25th/last runner was having some digestive tract “issues” but he was trying his best to catch up with the group.
Dennis Uy (Yellow Shirt & Eyeglass) With The Pozurrubio Running Club
Jaylord Ballao of Team EK EK had consistently led the runners from Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 and he was leading by two hours based from their aggregate total times from the rest of the runners. At Kennon Road, he was leading by almost 3-4 kilometers and it would be a matter of time before he would reach the Finish Line with a Course Record.
Jael Wenceslao of 100 Miles Cafe was trailing Jaylord Ballao from the start of the race up to the 3rd Day and he was already sure of getting the 1st Runner-Up position. The “drama” on the 3rd Day was a fight between Lao Ogerio, Alfred Delos Reyes, and Raffy Gabotero as who would be the 3rd, 4th and 5th Overall Top Runners of this Event.
Finally, Alfred Delos Reyes arrived at the Finish Line as the 3rd Runner of the 3rd Leg. Then, Raffy Gabotero came in as the 4th Runner to arrive at the Finish Line. Raffy Gabotero was surprised to know that Lao Ogerio was still on the road towards the Finish Line. Lao Ogerio, after running around the streets of Baguio City, realized that he was lost! It took him 30 minutes to finally find his way to the Finish Line. Despite such mistake, he landed 4th Overall with Raffy Gabotero as the 5th Overall Runner. Alfred Delos Reyes registered a faster pace on the 3rd Leg and eventually got the Third Overall Place for the race.
Podium Finishers (Left To Right: Alfred Delos reyes; Jaylord Ballao; Jael Wenceslao; RD)
After the cut-off time of 17 hours for this leg, 24 runners arrived and they were declared as the First Official Finishers of the 1st PAU Manila To Baguio 250K 3-Day Stage Ultra Marathon Race.
I consider this Road Race Event as an Epic Run and I could personally assess it as the most challenging road running event race in the country today. My special thanks and appreciation would go to the runners and their teams; Benj Termulo of Our Kitchen Restaurant who established an Aid Station in Meycauayan, Bulacan; Dr Marco Christopher Montaos of Valenzuela, Bulacan who provided an Aid Station at Bocaue, Bulacan; Juvy Pagtalunan for the Aid Station in Malolos City which served hot coffee and breakfast to all the runners; Dennis Uy of Pozzurubio, Pangasinan; Melan Ku Marquez of Baguio City for the post-race dinner to my staff; and to the BR’s staff. My snappy salute to everybody!
My friends (ultra runners) in Taiwan and South Korea are now telling me that they will train and prepare to join the next edition of this race. It would be a great exposure again for the country in terms of Sports Tourism and for our local ultra runners to mingle and develop friendship with the best ultra runners from our ASEAN brothers.
Two of the runners of this year’s event came all the way from Mindanao and they ran unsupported. Lito Malillin of General Santos City DNFd on the 2nd Day and he told me that he will be coming back for a vengeance on the next edition as he had learned a lot of lessons and experience during the event. Rhodz Cordora of Zambaonaga City, who ran also as unsupported, landed on Top 10 Overall and I consider him as the Most Hardcore Runner among the Finishers!
As I look for the future of this event, I can see great potentials in coming up with “side events” for this race. By next year, we will have a SOLO run for the distance, the multi-day stage (3 days) will still be there, and we will add also a 5-man relay competition (with one woman per team) event.
There are two things that I’ve proven in the conduct of this event. First, my past Adventure Runs can be easily converted as a Road Race Event because I was able to run and survive the distance at the age of 58 years old, and Second, the greatest lesson/experience we got from this event, it proved that we can travel by foot if we want to reach and visit the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City!
The next Adventure Run to be converted as a Road Race Event will be the “West To East”: Run Across Luzon!
Lace up, get out of the door and run! Keep on running!
January 28, Tuesday: @HPA Parade Ground (Paved & Dirt Roads)/Start: 6:51 AM
Distance—-16.2 Kilometers/10 Miles
Time—-1:40:06 Hours
Average Pace—-6:10 mins/km
Average Speed—-9.7 kms/hour
Total Calories—-1,117 cal
Total Ascent—-518 meters/1,700 feet
Total Descent—-500 meters/1,640 feet
Weather—-Cooler on the 1st Half and Early Morning Sun’s Heat on the 2nd Half
Shoes—Hoka One One Stinson Evo
January 29, Wednesday: @Remy Field Oval Track/Start: 3:30 PM
Distance—13 Kilometers/8.1 Miles
Time—-1:14:16 Hours
Average Pace—-5:42 mins/km
Average Speed—-10.5 kms/hour
Total Calories—-883 cal
Total Ascent—-355 meters/1,164 feet
Total Descent—-361 meters/1,184 feet
Weather—-Sunny/Hot
Shoes—-ASICS Gel-Lyte Racer
Note: Speed Workout—Tried “1-2-3-2-1” Speed Intervals (One Minute @ 5K Pace with One Minute Recovery Run; Two Minutes @ 10K Pace with Two Minutes Recovery Run; Three Minutes @ 21K Pace with Three Minutes Recovery Run; and then back to 2 minutes @ 10K pace then one minute @ 5K pace. Followed by 3 Reps of 800-meter Intervals with 800-meter recovery run after each repetition.
January 30, Thursday: @Pastolan Trails/Start: 10:37 AM
Distance—-21.13 Kilometers/13 Miles
Time—-3:37:20 Hours
Average Pace—-10:17 mins/km
Average Speed—-5.8 kms/hour
Total Calories—-1,077 cal
Total Ascent—-1,107 meters/3,631 feet
Total Descent—-1,098 meters/3,601 feet
Weather—-Sunny On The 1st Half; Windy & Cloudy/Overcast On The 2nd Half
Shoes—-ADIDAS Vigor Trail
Nutrition—-2 pcs of Hopia (Chinese Bread) + 20 oz of Gatorade + 60 oz of Water
January 31, Friday: @ Pastolan Trails/Playground “Alpha” Loop/Start: 9:40 AM
Distance—-26.21 Kilometers/16.4 Miles
Time—-5:29:53 Hours
Average Pace—-12:35 mins/km
Average Speed—-4.8 kms/hour
Total Calories—-1,254 cal
Total Ascent—-2,377 meters/7,796 feet
Total Descent—-2,300 meters/7,544 feet
Lowest Elevation—-42 meters/137 feet
Highest Elevation—-510 meters/1,673 feet
Weather—-Sunny/Hot & Windy
Shoes—-TNF “Single Track” Trail Shoes
Nutrition—-Steamed Rice, Hard-boiled Egg, Hotdog, 2 pcs of Hopia + One GU Gel on the last 5 Kilometers + 80 oz of water
The following are the FINAL instructions to this event:
1. This event is a 3-day stage, solo running event covering a distance of 250 kilometers from Kilometer Post #0 in Luneta Park, Manila to Kilometer Post #250 at the Rizal Park in Baguio City (near Burnham Park).
2. Participants can be supported by their respective support vehicle/support crew or run as unsupported throughout the race. Runners must follow the Rules & Regulations of PAU Road Races and/or the established Rules & Regulations of the Bataan Death March 102K & 160K Ultra Marathon Races. Ignorance on these Rules & Regulations will NOT be considered as an excuse for being Disqualified in the Race. (Note: If this is your first time to join PAU Races or never been a Finisher of the BDM Races, it is your personal responsibility to browse this blog and read on the Rules & Regulations)
3. The race will start at 1:00 AM of Friday, February 7, 2014 at Kilometer #0 at the Luneta Park. Assembly Time starts at 11:00 PM of Thursday, February 6, 2014 for those who have yet to be processed and for the inspection of required running kits for every runner. Runners are advised to be at the Starting Area at least One Hour before Gun Start.
4. Runners will run along the old MacArthur Highway all the way to the Finish Line. From the Starting Line, runners could take their selected route up to Monumento/Balintawak Circle/Statue in order to proceed to MacArthur Highway. Runners must be able to reach the Monumento Area in 2 Hours. From Pangasinan, the route to Baguio City will be the traditional Kennon Road.
5. Runners has to run the following legs with the corresponding cut-off time:
1st Leg/Day—-90 Kilometers in 16 Hours. Finish Line @ Kilometer Post #90 in Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga
2nd Leg/Day—-90 Kilometers in 16 Hours. Finish Line @ Kilometer Post #180 in Urdaneta City (Pangasinan)
3rd Leg/Last Day—-70 Kilometers in 16 Hours. Finish Line @ Rizal Park, Burnham Park, Baguio City
Runners who will NOT be able to finish each leg within the prescribed cut-off time will be declared DNF. There will be Intermediary CHECKPOINTS along the way where the RD would declare a runner as a DNF if he/she could not pass the said point. These Checkpoints are unannounced places.
Kilometer Post #90 in Mabalacat, PampangaKilometer Post #180 Will Be 2 Kilometers Before This Place (Photo Courtesy of Dennis Uy)
5. Each leg of the race shall start at exactly 1:00 AM and nobody will be exempted from wearing the necessary equipment like, headlight/flashlight, reflective vest, and hydration system during the night run.
6. As a reference, a runner can browse the links in my blog on my Adventure Run from Manila to Baguio City on the Facebook Event Page on the link below.
7. Finishers will be awarded with Finisher’s Medal, Finisher’s T-Shirt, and Certificate. Podium finishers for the Men’s & Ladies will receive Trophies. Finishers of EACH LEG will receive a Finisher’s T-Shirt. Results will be published on this blog.
(Note: Mt Balagbag is located in Rodriguez, Rizal and can be accessed through Quezon City)
A day after the conduct of the Rizal Day Run 50K & 32K at Camp Aguinaldo last December 29, 2013, I was invited by Ultra Runner Ronnel Go aka Kampuger for a trail run on his running group’s “playground” which is very near Quezon City/Metro Manila. This was my first time to visit the mountains near Metro Manila but I had a chance to join a half-marathon road race in one of the towns in Rizal four or five years ago which is located within this area.
Ronnel Go became my tourist guide while we were joined by Ariel Tuto Aquino and Dr Marc Conrad Molina. We parked our cars at the Barangay Hall of San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal and from there we started our hike. Knowing that Ronnel Go had just finished the Rizal Day Run 50K Ultra Race where he placed as the 2nd Runner-Up and Dr Marc Molina finishing the race, I advised the group that we will power hike the whole route even if it will take us to finish it the whole daytime. The trail tour was some sort of a recovery hike for the two runners while Ariel made some running on the flat and descending portion of the trails to have some easy long run workout for the day. I was there as a hiker trying to orient myself in the place.
First 5K of the TrailResting Is Picture Taking
I was informed that we were taking the reverse route where most of the hikers would avoid because the approach to higher peaks are steeper. So, we power hiked and enjoyed every scenery we could see around us as we go higher to some of the hills and later to the mountains. We have to stop and take some pictures of the places where one could see up to the vastness of Metro Manila, Laguna De Bay, and the mountains of Rizal and Bulacan.
Billiard Table In A Store
We stopped in a store where there is a billiard table and we took our first snacks and rest. We made a re-supply of our water bottles and continued our hike. As we moved higher to more peaks, we felt cold winds all around us and the sky was overcast. It was a perfect weather for a hiking in the mountains and my companions would make some remarks that it was their first time to experience such cold, windy and overcast sky in the area.
Single File!
I could hardly feel any tiredness and exhaustion as we moved to a higher elevation. The stories, jokes and laughter with the group make our hike enjoyable plus the nice scenery all around us. The group brought me to their “signature” locations where one would take ones picture. They have this favorite “rock” and ascending trail until one would reach the peak of Mt Balagbag.
Group “Selfie” At The Peak Of Mt Balagbag
The peak of Mt Balagbag has a flat portion for campers where they could “fix” their tents. We stayed for a longer time in the place to see the places around us and take some group pictures. From the peak, everything were all descending until we reach Barangay Licau-licau but before we reached this place for our lunch, we dropped by a store where we had our second snacks for the day.
Barangay Licau-licau is a crossroad to a descending road that goes back to a barangay with garbage and to San Isidro; the ascending road that goes to Mt Balagbag; and a flat road that goes to the populated area within the barangay. There is a store with “turo-turo” (ready cooked) food and this where we had our lunch. This is the place also where we met another ultra runner, Lao Ogerio, who placed 1st Runner-Up in the Rizal Day 50K Run. He was there also for his recovery run a day after the race.
2014 BDM 160 Ultra’s 1st Runner-Up Lao Ogerio As Ice Cream VendorGroup Picture With The Ice Candy Vendor
From Barangay Licau-licua, we became five in the group. Lao Ogerio became our lead hiker until we met a local who was selling ice candy/popsicle. He carried the ice box of the local guy to shaded portion of the trail and we had a rest while enjoying the sweet and cold taste of the popsicle. After paying the local guy for the popsicle we ate, we continued our hike until we reached the highway that led us to the Barangay Hall of San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.
It was Ronnel who was wearing a GPS watch and it registered a distance of 34 kilometers with 9 hours of elapsed time since we started our hike. I did not ask for the total ascent & descent of the place but I know this is a place where one would make himself or herself a strong runner.
Now I know why the group of Ronnel and the other runners who make this place as their “playground” are very strong in ultra running and trail running. I happened to know also that some of the top contenders of my PAU Races come here in this place for their weekend long runs. No wonder they are strong and fast in my ultra races.
If you ask me why I call the trail as “Charcoal Men’s” Trail, it is because the local people whom you meet in the area are carrying with them 3-4 sacks of charcoal in going up and down the mountain trails.
January 14, Tuesday: @ Pastolan Trail (Start: 5:25 PM)
Distance—9.8 Kilometers/6.15 Miles
Time—1:42:24 Hours
Average Pace—10:27 minutes/kilometer
Average Speed—5.7 kilometers/hour
Total Calories—491 cal
Total Ascent—507 meters
Total Descent—592 meters
Weather—Cool & Windy
Shoes—ADIDAS Vigor Trail Shoes
Note/Comment: Early Evening Easy Run. Slowed down on the 2nd half due to poor illumination using a handheld flashlight.
January 15, Wednesday: @ Remy Field Oval Track, Subic Freeport (Start: 3:10 PM)
Distance—13.10 Kilometers/8.18 Miles
Time—1:13:11 Hours
Average Pace—5:35 minutes/kilometer
Average Speed—10.7 Kilometers/Hour
Total Calories—886 cal
Workout—4 Kilometers as Easy Run; 5 X 800 meters with 800-meter recovery jog; and then 1 Kilometer as Cool Down. (800-meter time in 4:00 to 4:10 minutes per repetition)
Weather: Sunny & Windy
Shoes: Helios by La Sportiva
January 16, Thursday: Rest Day
30-Minute Stationary Cycling
January 17, Friday: @ Pastolan Trails (Start: 9:44 AM)
Distance—20 Kilometers/12.4 Miles (Easy Run)
Time—3:16:37 Hours
Average Pace—9:49 minutes/kilometer
Average Speed—6.1 kilometers/hour
Total Calories—1,075 cal
Total Ascent—1,257 meters
Total Descent—1,287 meters
Shoes—HOKA One One Bondi Speed
Weather—Sunny, Hot & Windy
January 18, Saturday: @ Pastolan Trails (Start: 9:13 AM)/Easy Run
Distance—26.2 Kilometers/16 Miles
Time—4:48:30 Hours
Average Pace—11:00 minutes/kilometer
Average Speed—5.4 kilometers/hour
Total Calories—1,306 cal
Total Ascent—1,517 meters
Total Descent—1,479 meters
Weather—Cloudy & Windy
Shoes—Helios By La Sportiva
Comment—Slower by 3 minutes from my previous easy run on the same course. Nutrition was perfect and practiced more time to eat while power hiking.
January 19, Sunday: @ BDM Ultra Route From Km #32 to Km #50 (Start: 2:40 AM)
Distance—16.2 Kilometers/10 Miles
Time—2:08:19 Hours
Average Pace—7:55 minutes/kilometer
Average Speed—7.6 kilometers/hour
Total Calories—1,024 cal
Total Ascent—445 meters
Total Descent—463 meters
Shoes—HOKA One One Bondi Speed
Weather—Cold/Night Run
Total Mileage For The Week: 85.3 Kilometers/53.3 Miles
Bald Runner 
You must be logged in to post a comment.