TNF (Phil) Sucks!

On April 26, 2011April 26, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Running, Trail Running, Ultramarathon2 Comments

Reasons Why I Don’t Run The North Face (Phil) Races

You can see in my profile that I never participated in any of the local TNF Races and I have personal reasons for it. Although I finished my first taste of an Ultra Trail Run at the Bulldog 50K in 2008 in Malibu, California in 2008, I was happy to know that the Main Sponsor for such race was The North Face. By chance, I finished this first ultra trail run using a TNF Arnuva 50 BOA Trail Shoes! Since then, I’ve been using various TNF Trail Shoes and apparel/equipment for my trail runs here and abroad to include my training runs up to the point that I feature them in this blog!

Let me go directly to the reasons why I don’t run on TNF local races. These are my personal reasons and I don’t want that my readers will be influenced by these reasons.

TNF Philippines did not act on my request for sponsorship for the 1^st BDM 102K in 2009 with the reason that it was not an ultra trail run. However, I saw TNF Logos being displayed on the Support Vehicles of Pinoy Ultra Runner (PUR) members who participated in the 1^st BDM 102K which simply means that these runners were “sponsored” by TNF. I really did not understand why TNF would sponsor PUR runners/participants in my race when in fact they did not favourably act on my request for sponsorship for the event. (Note: I wonder what happened to the elite ultra runners who called themselves as “Pinoy Ultra Runners”)
TNF Philippines gave a TNF Trail Running Shoes to a runner-blogger who have not yet experienced running on a trail running race event for the simple reason that the runner-blogger was going to participate a TNF 10K Trail Run along the lahar grounds of Clark-Sacobia area. I called the attention of TNF Philippines about this and complained why they are not giving “something” for the Bald Runner as he was fielding a team of runners from the Elite Team Bald Runner for the past two editions and had been a loyal user of TNF apparel and products. Moreso, that I finished already an ultra trail running event. TNF Phil promised to give a new pair of TNF shoes to me as a result of my complaint but up to now I have yet to receive the shoes. It was a simple case of being envious but it was not fair on my part as I’ve endorsed their products way ahead than the other runner-bloggers. Fortunately, it was one of my BDM 102 finishers who gave me a brand new TNF shoes but he is not in any way connected with TNF. Thanks to July Oconer for the “gift” and generosity. July is also a TNF “loyalist” like me.
I complained about the condition of my TNF Rocky Chucky Trail Shoes after a 50K Trail Run at Mt Pinatubo and TNF did not replace it. Instead, TNF Phil repaired the shoes by using glue to the detached parts and I got the repaired shoes after 5 weeks (that’s a long time to repair a pair of shoes!). After using the repaired shoes for one running workout, the glued parts were separated again. For once, I praised the customer service of TNF Phil when they replaced my non-operating BOA lock & wire for my TNF Arnuva 50 BOA shoes with a new pair of TNF trail shoes but in this case, their customer service was simply poor and deplorable.
It came to my attention of a complaint made by a runner who joined the TNF Baguio about his lost drop bags who got an unsatisfactory feedback from the Race Organizers but the bottom line here is that TNF Phil did not give a satisfactory reason why the runner’s drop bags lost during the conduct of the race. BDM 102 “veteran” Eric Socrates would attest to this information.
On technical matters about the local TNF races. In their 100K trail runs, the prescribed cut-off time is 30 hours. I think this is a very easy requirement to finish an ultra trail run with such distance. You can practically walk all the way up to the finish line even if the terrain is very challenging. The thing that I don’t understand is that the TNF Phil races has the same “point equivalent” with that of a ultra trail running event in the USA which is more challenging and longer in distance. Such accumulated points are needed if you want to qualify for the TNF Mont Blanc 100-Mile Endurance Run (UTMB) in Chamonix, France. So, if you have plans of participating in future UTMB Races, then joining the TNF Phil races will give you the “points” needed for you to be qualified for the race.
For this year, TNF Phil has scheduled a Trail Run in Camarines Sur on April 30-May 1 as part of the 2011 TNF Pacific-Asia Ultra Trail Run Series. Up to this time, TNF Phil is silent about the details of the race but there is only one mountain that is prominent in the province and that is the Mt Isarog. While I was in Camarines Sur for the Marathon Race last year, I had the chance to talk to the Philippine Army’s Intelligence Officer based thereat. In our conversation, I asked him about the security condition of Mt Isarog and he told me that it is not yet declared as “cleared” from the NPA/insurgent forces operating in the area. I hope and wish that from the time I had a conversation with the said Intelligence Officer up to this time, the Mount Isarog is already declared as “cleared” from the armed insurgents! (Note: I wrote this post 2 months ago and I hope that by this time the security forces in the area had “cleared” the place and they will be there to provide the necessary security for the said event)
I created a sports federation for ultra running in the country which is the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) under the auspices of the PATAFA and the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). PAU embraces and covers all running events that are considered farther than a Marathon Distance which is 42.195 kilometers, whether they are ultra trail runs, ultra road races, or multi-day/multi-stage runs. What I don’t understand is that the Race Organizers of TNF Phil are not coordinating with me or with PAU with regards to their races. If these people are professionals, they should have, at least, the respect and courtesy to coordinate with the sports federation on ultra running. A simple e-mail or SMS would satisfy me on this matter. (Note: This observation goes also to those Race Organizers/Directors who are coming up with ultra marathon races in the different parts of the country who do not coordinate with me/PAU in coming up with their scheduled events. I don’t want that the sports federation for ultrarunning will become like our cycling, basketball, shooting & other sports who have two or more associations/federations under each sports!)
This could be a petty reason but I would like to repeat it (all over again!) as I stated in my previous posts. When will TNF Phil sponsor the visit of Dean Karnazes to the Philippines? I think you know that DK is one of the most prominent athlete endorsers of TNF, if not, the most prominent in the world. I admit that I was strongly influenced by the first book of this guy to get into ultra trail running and eventually come up with the 1^st BDM 102K Ultramarathon Race. To describe how crazy I was to meet this guy, I went to Badwater, California for the start of the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2008 (a trip with my wife for 5 hours from Los Angeles where I drove a car) just to personally meet and have a photo-ops with this guy and it later resulted to meeting and talking to him again in two separate events. I hope TNF Phil will not wait till the time when DK is within the age of Jeff Galloway (age of 66) to visit the country.

Now, if you ask me if I will join in this year’s TNF Phil? No way, Pedro! I’d rather run in the San Francisco’s 50-Mile TNF Endurance Ultra Trail Run this December!

Good luck to all the TNF 100 CamSur trail runners & trekkers! Have fun and stay safe!

By the way, does TNF Phil allow the use of trekking poles? Just asking!

Real LIFE Foundation: Serving The Poor

On April 13, 2011April 14, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running, Running For Cause, Running Heroes, Ultramarathon2 Comments

Over a breakfast meeting at the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course Restaurant in the early part of January 2010, Joshua Suarez, a runner-applicant who was invited to run the 2nd edition of the BDM 102k Ultra Marathon Race, explained to me that he is going to run and finish the BDM 102K Ultra Marathon Race to raise funds in behalf of the scholars of the Real LIFE Foundation. It was in this meeting that he explained to me about the programs and projects of the said foundation.

I immediately approved on the request of Joshua and he was able to finish the race. He was cheered and supported by the scholars/students on those hot, humid, dusty, and exposed kilometers of road on the last half of the course. I guess, he was able to raise a lot of funds to support the scholarship of those students who belong to the marginalized families in Pasig City and other parts of Metro Manila.

Little did I know that Joshua recruited another four (4) runners immediately after he finished the BDM 102 and asked them to train for the 3rd edition of the BDM 102 with the same purpose of raising some funds to support the scholarship of selected students under the administration of the Real LIFE Foundatioon.

Paul Pajo, Ferdie Cabiling, Junn Besana, and Alden Meneses diligently atttended the Ultra Marathon Clinics/Lectures and participated in some of the PAU Races held last year as part of their preparation for the 2011 BDM 102K Ultra Marathon Race. Joshua Suarez became their point man and leader of what they dubbed as the “Bataan LIFE March 2011”, a charity project to raise funds for the scholars of the Real LIFE Foundation by running and finishing the BDM 102.

team-reallife-thankyouthankyou — BDM 102 "Heroes" For Real LIFE Foundation (Ferdie, Alden, Junn, Joshua, & Paul)

These five runners were able to finish the race and were able to raise funds amounting to P 500,000+ from pledges and contributions from donors, here and abroad. I am sure this money will go to the projects and programs of the Foundation with the main aim to provide hope and better future for less-fortunate and poor children for them to attain education and develop good values in the process.

These 5 runners became instant “heroes” to the scholars of the Real LIFE Foundation. And in a fitting ceremony, each of them received medal and plaque of appreciation from the Board of Trustees of the Foundation as represented by the Executive Director, Lynn Nawata.

I was also awarded with a plaque of appreciation and a gift for being the Founder and Race Director of the BDM 102K Ultra Marathon Race. My heartfelt thanks to the Board of Trustees for having me invited to such memorable event and for the award accorded to me.

Joshua Suarez Being Awarded With Jekoy Valle and Lynn Nawata

Junn Besana Being Awarded With Jekoy Valle & Lynn Nawata

I will always remember this program/ceremony. The testimonials of the graduates of the foundation’s scholarship program made me cry! It later sink in to my mind that I created an event, the BDM 102K, as a platform and instrument for people to be able to help the poor.

It is a motivation that will keep me doing my best to sustain the yearly conduct of the BDM 102!

If you want to be a part or donor to this foundation, please visit www.igivetolife.com.

Going To Ultrarunning?

On April 11, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Runners' Training, Running, Trail Running, Ultramarathon6 Comments

I highly recommend marathon finishers to read the following article from the Running Times Magazine if they are interested to try ultra marathon running in the future.

http://runningtimes.com//Article.aspx?ArticleID=21831

Good luck and train well!

“West To East”: “Flashback”

On April 5, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Places to Run, Runners' Training, Running, Travel, UltramarathonLeave a comment

This post is not about running but it is one way of explaining while I wanted to experience going back to places where I’ve been during my younger years by running. The following stories happened during the period from 1978-1980, three decades and some years ago!

oooOOOooo

After serving three years in Mindanao since graduating from the Academy, I applied for a position which would bring me to be assigned in Metro Manila. A senior officer who held an important and sensitive position in Malacanang Palace was in need of young and sports-minded officers who would be trained and pre-positioned as Regional Directors/Sports Coordinator with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (MYSD). It was then in the middle part of 1978. The plan was to expand MYSD to the different regions and develop sports in the grassroots level where each of us should be able to act as “catalyzers” in sports to the local government executives from the Provincial Governors down to the Municipal Mayors.

oooOOOooo

I was then a newly graduate of a Special Intelligence Course and most of us from the class were the core members who were recruited to be trained and projected to the expanded MYSD at that time. The country was then in Martial Law and the President would like to develop a holistic approach in sports development by discovering potentials in the grassroots level through Sports Meets and Competitions in the Provincial Level and later bringing the best to the Regional Level Competitions. I was one of the selected 14 officers to undergo a management/supervisory training on this endeavour, one Officer to each of the 12 Regions and 2 Officers for the National Capital Region (NCR). I was chosen to be assigned for Region 1 covering the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet and Mountain Province. The Regional Office was supposed to be located in San Fernando, La Union. (Note: This program was never brought out to the media and known by the public)

oooOOOooo

This challenging and gargantuan plan did not materialize. Instead, I was assigned as Intelligence Officer with a special task and had the power to send my reports direct to the President on all political, social, economical, and security matters that are happening in Region 1. I was also tasked to create and organize the different Civil Security Units (CSUs) in all the Regional, Provincial, and Municipal levels of governance to include Government-Controlled Corporations for the whole region. This task made me to travel a lot within the region, meet with local government leaders, conduct seminars and trainings, and “service” these organized CSUs on a regular basis.

oooOOOooo

For one year and 6 months, I’ve been assigned in Pangasinan and had an office within the City Hall of Dagupan. This was the time that I went around the whole province of Pangasinan. The Bolinao-Alaminos-Sual-Bugallon-Mangatarem Route was a memorable road because it was where I was able to hone and became expert in driving any kind of light vehicle. My service vehicle then was a Ford Fiera which resembled as one of the service vehicles of the Department of Public Works & Highways. It was a good “cover” for me where people would identify me as an employee or supervisor of the DPWH inspecting those workers and roadside cleaners contracted by the said office. There were times that employees of the DPWH would hitch a ride during my trips within the different towns of Pangasinan.

oooOOOooo

Intelligence reports worth to be known by Malacanang Palace were the smuggling activities in Bolinao and Sual where ships would dock for awhile and drop some goods to the waiting local fishermen in smaller motorboats and bancas. Goods would range from motorcycles, electronics, textiles and canned goods. On the other hand, Sual, Bolinao, and Anda had been the usual pick-up points for smuggled bangus and shrimp fries to be transported to Taiwan’s fish pens. These areas which are considered as coves are favorite stop-over of ships plying from Indonesia to Taiwan & Japan during times of inclement weather. These places then were not guarded by our Coast Guard or the Philippine Navy. I spent some days and nights on these places observing on the things that were happening which were worth reporting.

oooOOOooo

There were not much houses and structures along the roads in the Western Pangasinan. The Carlos Romulo Highway was always flooded and not passable to vehicles and buses during the rainy season. The security problem then within the interior barangays along this highway was cattle rustling. Although the place was considered as the birthplace of the CPP/NPA Movement, the insurgents were not active in Western Pangasinan during the 80s. At that time, there were no tricycles on the road.

oooOOOooo

I could still remember three (2) intelligence projects/cases which were brought to the attention of the President. These were the results of my intelligence operations in the province of Pangasinan. These were the activities of two separate groups of politicians and businessmen who were involved in the smuggling of bangus and shrimp fries out of the country and the smuggling out of the country of cured Virginia tobacco. I got the feedback from my “boss” then that these politicians and businessmen were called by the President to the Malacanang Palace and they were told to stop their illegal activities in Pangasinan (short of saying, they were “bawled-out” by the President)! The smuggling activities ceased to exist since their visit & “bawl out” session in the Palace!

oooOOOooo

The other intelligence project was a result of a report I made about the PC Provincial Commander in Pangasinan as the “main operator” and “mastermind” of the Jueteng operations in the province. It was the first time within Region 1 that Jueteng was introduced in the late 70s. The Provincial Commander was so brave to introduce the illegal numbers’ game to the province as he thought he could be backed up by the mother of the President. The PC Officer had served as the Security and Escort Officer of the Mother of the President for so many years! However, after I sent my report of confirmation on the presence of jueteng in the province, the Provincial Commander was relieved from his position immediately. After a few months, the PC Officer retired from the service!

oooOOOooo

Those were the days when the country was under Martial Law and the decision of the President was firm and decisive.

To be continued…

2nd IAU 100K Asian Championship

On April 1, 2011April 1, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Places to Run, Races, Travel, Ultramarathon1 Comment

The following are the results of the newly-concluded 2nd IAU 100K Asian Championship Ultra Marathon Race held in Jeju Island, South Korea last March 26-27, 2011:

Overall & Men’s Category:

1	Hara Yoshikazu	Japan	6:52:07
2	Chou Pin-chi	Taiwan	8:01:52
3	Kim Daesoo	S Korea	9:06:40
4	Jeong Chanjin	S Korea	9:14:40
5	Wu Ching-chang	Taiwan	11:38:05

Overall Champion Hara Yoshikazu of Japan

Ladies Category:

1	Fujisawa Mai	Japan	8:28:10
2	Jong Heekyoung	S Korea	9:22:15
3	Park Narae	S Korea	9:40:35
4	Jung Yeonsook	S Korea	11:18:01

Women's Champion Fujisawa Mai of Japan Approaching The Finish Line 2010 & 2011 Women's Champion For the IAU 100K Asian Championship Source: Information sent by BJ Park of Korea Ultra Marathon Federation (KUMF); Photos taken from http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/ultrarunman) Share this: Email Facebook X Tumblr Reddit LinkedIn WhatsApp Print Pinterest Like Loading...

“West To East”: Evidence

On March 28, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Places to Run, Runners Injury, Runners' Training, Running, Travel, Ultramarathon9 Comments

On of my readers asked me if I am using a Sunscreen Lotion during my run. Unfortunately, I did not bring my 10.8 Fluid Ounce plastic bottle of Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50 Plus Sunscreen Lotion. I had some bad experiences when I use such lotion. At one time during my practice runs, the sunscreen lotion I applied on my head, forehead and face got mixed with my sweat and some got into my eyes. You could just imagine the pain that it brought to my eyes that I was temporarily blind during the run. I had to look for water and soap to rinse my face and head in order to remove the sunscreen lotion and then washed my eyes with clean water. Another experience happened again when I was playing golf. A mixture of perspiration and sunscreen lotion got into my eyes after driving the golf ball from the tee mound. From there, I was distracted from my game and end up going home.

The “stripes” I got from the heat of the sun will be finally gone in a few days with the help of lotion and the powers of Papaya Soap!

I really do not know the effects of the sunlight on my skin as I grow older and as I continue running under the heat of the sun. I would end up like the skin of my friend Wayne Plymale or Jeff Galloway but it would be a honor to have a skin like them. One of these days, I will try to see Mang Victor Ting’s skin to find out what is in store for my skin in the future.

The burned skin on my legs due to the heat of the sun are already peeling off and I have some patches of white dead skin combined with my actual dark brown colored skin. I hope these burned skin will peel off soon faster!

Left Lower Quads Have Swollen After The 4th Day

My swollen left lower quads had gone back to its normal state/size and condition. After 6 days of rest and recovery, the swelling and pain are gone! I had to apply daily dose of Ice Bag Treatment (20-30 minutes), elevation with my legs when I sleep, one Alaxan FR every day, complete diet and constant hydration, and lots of Salonpas Patches before going to bed! No massage and stretching had been done yet to my leg muscles. (The picture above was taken on the night after I completed my adventure run!)

I am still on a rest and recovery mode but many things are already playing in my mind about ultra running (and marathon races) here and abroad. See you on the roads and trails soon!

For those who have recovered already from the BDM Races, I hope to see you at the 1st Mt Mayon 360 Degrees 50-Mile Endurance Run. This is the first PAU-sanctioned road race for the year. If you want to earn your points for the most coveted “PAU Runner of the Year” (PROY) Award, you have to join this run! See you in Legazpi City this coming weekend!

“West To East”: 7th Day/Last Day

On March 26, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Food & Dishes, Insights, Jogging, Military, Pictures, Places to Run, Practice Runs, Runner's Fashion/Attire, Runners' Training, Running, Travel, Ultramarathon13 Comments

10:30 AM March 21, 2011/Laur, NE to Dingalan Bay, Aurora

Laur, Nueva Ecija is a small town where the National Highway does not pass on its Poblacion or center of the town. If you are travelling towards Gabaldon, NE, you could barely see the town as you need to turn left from a corner where the only Petron Gasoline Station is located. There are no common or popular commercial establishment or popular fastfood restaurants in the place. There was only one place where it serves cooked food and this was the place where I had my brunch with my team. The food was simple—sinigang na bangus, pork adobo, sauteed meat, and rice with fresh banana. The food serves its purpose as my source of energy for the day.

I was on a relaxed mood after I finished my brunch and took my time to reach Km Post #145 which is only less than one kilometer away from the Poblacion. I knew that this will be my last day of my adventure run and very confident that I will reach my destination without any “issues” or accidents along the road. I just have to maintain the things that I’ve done for the past days and I let my body on “automatic” mode once I start my run. It was at the Kilometer Post where I wear my ASICS Gel-LyteRacer and my Gray DryMax Running Socks. After wearing and checking the accessories I need to wear, I started my run with a simple prayer and sign of a cross, a ritual I’ve never missed to do every time I start my run.

Trying To Vizualize Dingalan Bay Behind The Mountains

I am not a stranger in this place as it was part of my Area of Operations (AOR) when I was a Brigade Commander of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. I always visit Gabaldon and Dingalan because it was our Advanced Command Post (ACP) whenever we had combat and civil-military operations in the mountainous and forested areas of these two towns. But times have changed since then. The roads are now cemented and well-built with the proper drainage and structured concrete bridges. More houses had been built along the Highway. There are already elementary and high schools built in most of the more populated barangays. And there are newly constructed and developed garden and water resorts in the area.

I was assigned in these areas for 2 years and 4 months. What I like with Gabaldon are their Onions! Gabaldon is considered as the Onion Capital of the Country. They cultivate and produce the white and the red onions. There were times when the price of these onions would go down to P 5.00 per kilo and a bagful (20 kilos) would only cost P 100.00! I usually bring some of these onions (in bags of 20 kilos) to Manila and give them as a gift to my friends, peers, relatives, superiors, and subordinates. Well, after a few days, they complain to me that they smell like onions already! On the other hand, the more smart traders/businessmen from Visayas and Mindanao would buy these onions when the price is low and have them transported to their “refrigirated” warehouses so that the freshness of the onions will be maintained even after months of being stored. And then sell them when they supply is low. It’s a good business!

My Reliable Patagonia Long-Sleeve Capilene Shirt & NIKE Running Shorts

On my last day of my run, I opted to use my ever reliable Patagonia Capilene White Long-Sleeved Shirt. This is the same shirt that I used in last year’s Marin Headlands 50-Mile Train Run. It is not tight but it gives me a comfortable feeling when I run. As for the running shorts, I used a NIKE running shorts which I bought (at a discounted price) in a NIKE Store at the Caltex Gasoline Station along the NLEX. The running shorts is nice and comfortable that I did not have “issues” on my upper inner legs and crotches. I was already confident that I really did not need the Adidas Tech Fit Compression Short for this particular leg of my adventure run. I wanted to appear in my pictures as a traditional runner! The DryMax Trail Socks is thicker than the ordinary running socks and it fits well to my ASICS Gel-LyterRacer. I have no worries if my socks will be wet from the water that I pour on my neck and head, and perspiration from my body that goes down to my legs. I knew these socks will not give me any problems with blisters.

As soon as I started my run, the places that I passed and looked forward became familiar as I recall those times when I usually pass along this road going to Gabaldon and Dingalan. The scenery of the place is really amazing. This is the place where you could see clean and crystal clear flowing water on rivers. I’ve never seen such kind and condition of water on rivers that I passed in the provinces of Pangasinan and Tarlac. The mountains and hills are also amazing to behold. Although most of these mountains lack those thick forested areas, their size, formation and the different colors from their vegetation could give refreshing feeling to the eyes. How I wish these hills and mountains have trails where runners could walk and run. I hope to return to these places and talk to the locals and get more information about the trails on these mountains.

Running Towards The Mountains of Gabaldon, NE

I have observed that the road is clean from Laur to Gabaldon. I did not see any trash or unnecessary wastes along the road. Even when I reached the Poblacion of Gabaldon, I did not see any trash along the road. But what I’ve observed was that there are parts of the mountains which are burned. Burning the grass on the mountains had been an annual practice of the people thereat. The burning of the grass is a way for the grass to re-grow and the new grass growth is a good food or feed for the cattle in the area.

Another View of the River & Mountains From Bato Ferry Bridge

Clean Air, Clean Road, Clean River & Beautiful Scenery

Entering The Boundary of Gabaldon, NE (Take Note of The Onions On Top of the Arc)

I have to maintain my nutrition strategy during the run. I usually take a meal before my daily run as it gives me the necessary energy to last me for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and I don’t ingest any sports gel. I maintain my hydration strategy by drinking a sip of water evey two kilometers where my support have “leap frogged” ahead of me. This is repeated up to the time I reach 1 1/2 hours of running. After this, I drink one-half bottle of Sports Drinks and every 1 1/2 hours thereafter. If I feel hungry, I take those Nature Valley Sports Bar and/or Chips Ahoy Cookies. If there are fresh fruits, like banana or mangoes. I take them when I feel hungry.

As for my running & walking strategy, I dropped using the Galloway Method of following a run-walk ratio religiously. I simply followed my ritual of running along the descending and flat portions of the road and simply brisk walking on the ascending portions of the road. However, I tried my best to quicken my average pace during the run. The counting of strides was still religiously followed most especially during those times when the heat of the sun and the cement were very challenging. The counting kept my sanity during the run. Of course, there are times also that I pray when I feel that I was exhausted.

Onions Being Harvested Along The Side of the Road

In one of the legs/days of this adventure run, I tried a run strategy where I have to run hard on the early hours and sustain whatever strength I have left in my body in the later hours of the day. To be specific, I have to run 8 kilometers for the first hour; 7 kilometers for the second hour; 6 kilometers for the 3rd hour; and then maintain 5 kilometers for the 4th and succeeding hours until I end the run for the day. So, if I am going to run for 8 hours for the day, I would be able to finish at least 46 kilometers for the day. Nice run strategy but it really puts pressure on me. If not for the swelling of my left quads and the pain that goes with it, it would have been doable.

Red Onions Ready To Be Transported/Sold @ P28 Per Kilo

Due to my predicament after the Camiling-La Paz Leg, I maintained an average pace of 5 kilometers per hour but it became slower when I reached the uphills of Fort Magsaysay-Laur-Gabaldon-Dingalan areas. Although I was able to recover on the last two legs of this run, I did not think of taking the risk of increasing my pace on a tempo run mode but maintaining the LSD mode would be the nice decision for this adventure run. The goal is to finish this adventure run where I can still stand up and walk on my own and drive the support vehicle back to Metro Manila.

Another Version of "Marin Headlands" In Gabaldon, NE

For so many times, I’ve taken pictures of mountains that resemble the mountains in Marin Headlands in San Francisco, California in almost all the places that I passed through. I know for sure that that there are trails on these mountains and they could be used for trail running events in the future. I know for sure that once upon a time, these trails had been used by the insurgents and military patrols at the height of the government’s efforts to thwart the spread of insurgency in the country. Sometimes, I would think that trail running in some of the mountains in the country would drive away those insurgents to higher mountains and more forested areas. However, on the places that I passed through, these mountains are already cleared from the insurgents.

Crossing The Dupinga Bridge Where A River Resort Is Located

The challenge now is to find out the trails inside the Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation Area. This would be the best place to conduct an ultra trail running event in the future. I’ve been thinking about this while I was running through the places at Fort Magsaysay the previous day. It is doable and runners would be excited to experience an ultra trail run on a regular basis within the year.

The Entrance of the Resort Where I Slept Overnight

I was also thinking during my run to purposely travel from Manila up to Fort Magsaysay by taking the NLEX-SCETX-La Paz-Zaragoza-Santa Rosa-Fort Magsaysay Route to find out the travel time. Before the SCETX was constructed, the route to Fort Magsaysay would pass along the busy eastern towns of Bulacan and the southern towns of Nueva Ecija. Before, it takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours to reach Fort Magsaysay from Manila even if I take the shortcut route from Gapan, Nueva Ecija to the Southern Gate of Fort Magsaysay through Papaya, Nueva Ecija. I would say and suspect that Fort Magsaysay could be reached in 2 1/2 hours by taking the new route. I will try to prove if my suspicion is right in the coming days.

The Road After Leaving The Town of Gabaldon, NE

It was uneventful that I was able to reach the Poblacion of Gabaldon, NE. This town is the location of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. I had my pictures taken infront of Resort 8 where we stayed overnight before this day’s run. From that point, I had 5 more kilometers to the Poblacion of Gabaldon.

More Uphill Climbs On The Road Between Gabaldon & Dingalan

The road from Gabaldon to Dingalan has a distance of 12 kilometers. When I was still assigned in this place, the road was a dirt road with big boulders/stones protruding from the ground. Ordinary cars and vehicles would not be able to reach Dingalan because of the steep roads and slippery and muddy road. It was only those with 4-wheel drive transmission vehicles that could reach Dingalan from Gabaldon. But from what I was seeing during my run, the place had completely changed because of the first class highway where any kind of vehicle would be able to reach Dingalan

One of Those Flat Portions of the Road On Top Of The Mountain

Dingalan is the southern most town of Aurora Province and you need to travel through Nueva Ecija in order to reach the capital of Aurora which is Baler. Dingalan Bay is being planned to be the eastern seaport of the country and this could be the reason why the government constructed the SCETX as it would connect it to Subic Bay Freeport. A high-speed highway from Dingalan Bay to Subic Bay Freeport would cut the travel time of goods/materials from the Pacific Ocean to South China Sea or vice-versa, instead of the transport ships coming from the Pacific Ocean to go all the way south to the tip of Bicol region and finally going northwest to Manila Bay.

Dingalan Bay had been the source of Yellow Fin and Blue Marlin Tunas. When I was assigned in this area, a kilo of these fresh fish cost only P 45-50.00. My officers would buy by bulk (minimum of 10 kilos) and had the meat of the fish packaged and frozen into sashimi cuts. Whenever we have visitors from our Higher Headquarters and from our Operating Units, they were surprised when we serve them with sashimi with Wasabe Paste and Kikkoman Soy Sauce. I hope that those fresh catch tunas are still cheap at present.

Finally A Glimpse Of Dingalan Bay (Pacific Ocean) In Aurora

Poblacion Dingalan & Pacific Ocean At Dusk

My "Last Downhill Run" In This Adventure Run

It was already dark when I reached the last kilometer post. After the usual photo-ops, I ran another 600 meters towards the Dingalan Beach. The Dingalan Beach within the edge of the Poblacion is full of black stones while the neighboring barangay farther south has a beach with black/dark sand. After a picture pose at the Dingalan Beach, I grabbed my Nathan Bottle that I carried throughout the Adventure Run on my Nathan Hydration Belt where the Salt Water from Bolinao Beach was placed and contained.

The Last Kilometer Post In My Adventure Run

Finally, at 6:20 PM, I slowly poured the Salt Water from the South China Sea to the waves of the Pacific Ocen. Mission accomplished. I was able to finish this “West To East” Adventure Run.

Finally Pouring The Saltwater From The South China Sea To The Pacific Ocean

We tried to look for a place to rest overnight along Dingalan Beach but because it was dark along the main road that goes to the Beach Resorts, I decided to go back to Gabaldon’s Stone 8 Resort for the night. However, as we left the Poblacion of Dingalan, we dropped by a restaurant/resort on top of a mountain which is 3 kilometers away and along the highway. The establishment is called Gina’s Place. The place don’t have any display of cooked food but we were advised to order the food we want. I ordered Sinigang Na Yellow Fin Tuna and Broiled Blue Marlin. It was worth the wait as the tunas cooked were fresh.

After our dinner, we were back to Stone 8 Resort. It is time to rest and recover.

Data/Information For the Day’s Run:

Weather: Hot but it got cooler in the later part in the afternoon and in higher elevation

Number of Kilometers Covered: 37 Kilometers

Number of Hours (Actual Running): 8 Hours

Average Pace: 4-5 Kilometers Per Hour

Running Apparel: Patagonia Capilene Shirt; NIKE Running Shorts; DryMax Trail Socks; Ice Bandana; Buff; Sunglass by Ray-Ban & Oakley; Adidas Running Cap

Running Shoes: ASICS Gel-LyteRacer

Total Number of Kilometers Covered (7 Days): 289 Kilometers

Expenses:

Meal/Food with Fresh Bananas @ Laur, NE—P 320.00

Gasoline—P 1,000.00

Water & Ice—P 100.00

Hotel Accommodation @ Stone 8—P 1,500.00

Dinner @ Gina’s Place—P 320.00

Total Expenses—P 3,240.00

To be concluded…

(Note: Please click each picture if you want them to be magnified)

“West To East”: 5th Day/”Pain Is Temporary”

On March 23, 2011March 24, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Food & Dishes, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Places to Run, Practice Runs, Runners Injury, Runners' Training, Running, Sports Program, Travel, Ultramarathon7 Comments

12:45 PM March 19, 2011/SCTEX Exit/Entry in La Paz, Tarlac to Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija

I got good signs that I would be able to continue my run on the 5^th day when I saw my swollen left quadriceps had reduced in size and the pain I felt could be tolerable when I woke up in the morning with 9 hours of sleep. It did not matter if I was going to start at noon time for my day’s run as long as I can push my body to run a distance and bring myself nearer to my place of destination.

I was glad that I brought my Adidas Tech Fit Compression Shorts which has those shiny straps that are positioned on the buttocks & hamstring areas and connecting to my quadriceps muscle. The shiny strap has a way to compress and hold my muscles on the areas it covers and it relieves pain on such areas. I was lucky to have brought such compression shorts which I don’t normally wear on my training and road races. It was a blessing that I brought such compression shorts!

After taking my shower after I woke up, I tried the shorts and it perfectly solved my problem about my quads—the swollen portion is pressed by the strap and it minimizes the pain that I could feel every time I lift me left foot from the ground. At this point, I know I could reach my destination with the plan to use this compression all the way to the beach of Dingalan Bay.

After we checked-out from the hotel, we have to travel 35 kilometers from Cabanatuan City back to La Paz, Tarlac but along the way, we decided to take it easy for the day and observe how my swollen quads would react for the day’s run. In Zaragoza, Nueve Ecija (the first town of Nueva Ecija from Tarlac Province) and the town next to La Paz, Tarlac, we stopped by in one of the road side eateries which had been there for the past 40 years serving broiled catfish (hito) to people passing such area. These catfish are freshly caught and cooked as the place is surrounded with river and marshland.

Early Lunch @ Eva's Restaurant (Broiled Hito, Fried Pork Liempo, and...)

Beef Bulalo @ Eva's Restaurant (La Paz-Zaragoza Boundary)

We had our early lunch at 11:00 AM at the Eva’s Eatery which located near the Zaragoza Bridge (there is a lot of bridges though in Zaragoza in between La Paz and Santa Rosa). As we entered the place made of bamboo, wood, nipa hut, and concrete floor, I observed that the place is clean and had improved a lot since my last visit here when I was still a Lieutenant/Captain. The Inihaw Na Hito and broiled Pla-pla wrapped on an aluminum foil are still the favorite dishes in the place. We ordered Bulalo, Inihaw Na Hito, and Fried Pork Liempo and the food was great. We stayed in the place longer as we had planned as more customers entered the establishment. There was this group of motorbikers who stopped for lunch, two families in two separate commuter vans also joined, a middle-age couple, individuals, and seemingly businessmen and travellers passing along the said road.

After lunch, I prepared myself inside the restaurant by wearing my running shoes and arm sleeves and I knew that my trip to the starting point will be a short one. I started the run at 12:45 Noon after the usual photo-ops. It was hot but I was used to it already. At this time, I was wearing the “A Runner’s Circle” (BOA USA) Technical Shirt from Joe Matias, Raul, and Perkins of the said Specialty Running Store. I know, wearing this shirt is some sort of advertising the place and most of the people at the Eva’s Eatery were able to see my shirt, moreso, on all the places that I have passed along the way. It was a way to give back the favour of what ARC Manila had supported to the Elite Team Bald Runner, BDM and PAU Races. Thanks, guys! You are doing great to serve the running community of the country. Please continue helping others!

@ The SCETX Exit/Entry in La Paz, Tarlac

I was glad my swollen left quads are holding up with the continuous pounding of my left foot on the road. I tried to shift my “more dominant” running leg to my right leg/foot and tried to run with my left leg with a very light touch on the ground. The counting of strides was still there and the “drill” on the road was followed religiously without let-up. Everything that I was doing on the road was already automatic and the support crew was already expert on providing me everything that I needed.

Along the La Paz-Zaragoza-Santa Rosa Road, I was consistently passed by wide trucks that carry US Marines’ mobility equipment, generators, and water treatment facility which I suspect to be proceeding to Fort Magsaysay. There must be a Joint Military Exercises which is about to be conducted with the US Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines inside the vast areas of Fort Magsaysay. Even if I was running on the right side of the road, these wide trucks really give some space as they passed me. The trucking company has good and disciplined drivers.

Passing On Those Parked Trucks Carrying US Armed Forces Assets

Passing Trucks Giving Me Space On The Road

Resting While Having Some Photo-Ops With The Ricefields

I Love The Pain and The Scenery Along The Road

I passed by the Eva’s Eatery and had some photo-ops outside of the place. The traffic of vehicle on the Nueva Ecija side is lesser as compared with the Tarlac side. The road from Zaragoza to Santa Rosa is bounded with vast ricefields on both sides and it was refreshing to see the colors of green and yellow as most of them have already grains on it. The rice will be ready for harvest in a few weeks’ time.

Signs That I Was Near The Poblacion of Santa Rosa

Running As I Crossed The Santa Rosa Bridge

And Then Walking Up To The End of the Bridge

Finished 30K At This Point But I Need To Run Some More!

Since this day’s run is for me to observe the condition of my swollen quads, I made it a point that this is my recovery run. I decided to cover a distance of 32 kilometers. Once I crossed the Santa Rosa Bridge, I was able to complete 30 kilometers. I needed to run another 2 kilometers and crossed the Maharlika Highway as the road leads me to Fort Magsaysay.

It was already dark when I reached the last kilometer post for the day. My swollen quads had passed the test and they have maintained its present condition. The pain was still there but it was tolerable. A longer sleep/rest will surely do the trick for me to be ready again for the next day’s run. The Adidas Tech Fit Compression Shorts did its job to hold my leg muscles during this recovery run lasting for 5 ½ hours actual time of running. I highly recommend this kind of compression shorts for those who are ultra runners and planning to do their multi-day adventure runs in the future. I decided to have it washed immediately and have it as my running shorts for the next day!

Continued To Run, Passing Along the Santa Rosa Public Market

Finally, Sitting On Top Of the Last Kilometer Post of the Day!

My dinner was in one of the road side eateries in Cabanatuan City with Sinigang Na Baboy, Lechon Paksiw, and our left-over of our Bulalo from the Eva’s Restaurant in the La Paz-Zaragoza boundary. After the dinner, we had to go back to the Hotel where we stayed the previous day because of its Wi-Fi Connection and clean rooms.

I did not had my swollen quads massaged but placed an Ice Bag to it for a duration of 30 minutes and then apply a thin layer of Omega Pain Killer and I took one capsule of Alaxan FR before going to bed.

So far, I’ve completed a distance of 207 kilometers after 5 days of running from the beach of Bolinao, Pangasinan. I knew I would be running another 70+ kilometers until I would reach my destination. I had mixed emotions before going to bed as I knew the places I will be passing along will be bounded with mountains and the roads offer more steep inclinations and therefore, will be more challenging on my part. There is only one way to think about the challenges for the next days—think positive!

Some of the additional data/information on this day’s run:

Weather: Very hot but becoming colder during night time.

Distance Covered For the Day: 32 Kilometers

Duration of Actual Running: 5 ½ Hours

Average Pace: 5-6 Kilometers Per Hour

Running Apparel: A Runner’s Circle (BOA USA) Shirt; Adidas Tech Fit Compression Shorts; Adidas White Soccer Socks; Headsweat Running Cap; Local Buff; Arm Sleeves; Nathan Hydration Belt; and Sunglasses by Ray-Ban

Running Shoes: ASICS Gel-LyteRacer

Expenses:

Dinner (Previous Day)—P 450.00

Early Lunch @ Eva’s Restaurant with Softdrinks—P 640.00

Hotel Accommodation—P 900.00

Dinner @ Cabanatuan City Roadside Eatery—P 160.00

Gasoline @ Cabanatuan City—P 1,000.00

Total Expenses For The Day—P 3,150.00

Total Distance Covered (After 5 Days)—207 Kilometers

To be continued…

“West To East”: 4th Day/Swollen Quads!

On March 22, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Food & Dishes, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Places to Run, Practice Runs, Runner's Fashion/Attire, Runners Accessories, Runners Injury, Runners' Training, Running, Travel, Ultramarathon2 Comments

9:45 AM March 18, 2011/From Camiling, Tarlac to SCTEX Entry/Exit in La Paz, Tarlac

I was able to sleep for 9 hours at the Royal Blue Hotel in Camiling, Tarlac and it was really a sound sleep. I felt energized again for the day’s run from Camiling, Tarlac up to the Kilometer Post where I could decide to stop to end the day’s run. The plan was to run leisurely without thinking of the number of kilometers that I have to finish for the day. I also started not to follow the Galloway Ratio of Run-Walk. I just simply ran an average pace of 7:30 to 8:00 minutes per kilometer and take a brief walk few meters before reaching my support vehicle. However, I maintained my ritual of walking the uphills and running through the downhills. My brief pit stops would last from 2-4 minutes and checking my blog through my laptop would last up to 15 minutes. And eating in those carinderias/road side eateries would last me for a stop/rest of 20 minutes!

After the usual “drill” upon waking up from bed, my team was ready leave the hotel for a brief breakfast at Jollibee. After breakfast, I was brought to the last kilometer post where stopped the previous night for the regular photo-ops as a part of the starting regimen of every daily run. I started my run at 9:45 AM.

@ Camiling, Tarlac: Start of the 4th Day

It seems that Camiling, Tarlac is the “melting” pot of the western portion of Tarlac Province. Once you pass along the commercial district of the town, you could see the slow movement of vehicles due to traffic. There was a parade of vehicles advertising some sort of Hog’s Feeds and a new business establishment for farm needs and supplies. It is also the crossroad of vehicles going to the central towns of Pangasinan and the western towns, too! So, vehicles and mass transport/buses coming from Manila and from the Western & Central Pangasinan would converge in this town. Due to the heavy traffic of the main road, I had to walk for about 2 kilometers on the sidewalk trying to observe the people, the vehicles, and the environment. It is good to see 2 PNP personnel manning the crucial intersection to see to it that the traffic is done in orderly manner. All the vehicles are moving but with a crawling speed, at least, all the vehicles are moving.

After two kilometers of walking and another right turn towards Tarlac City, I started my jog as I met a lot of vehicles coming from the opposite direction. The usual ritual during the previous run was followed—drink water every 2 kilometers where my support have advanced; drink sports drinks every 1 ½ hours; and eat solid food during my longer duration of pit stops. Just like in the previous days, I see to it that I have to urinate at least every hour and observe how my body is perspiring. Since yesterday, I opted not to take any Tylenol tablets to ease the pain on my running legs.

The road from Camiling to Sta Ignacia, the next town, and towards Tarlac City is famous for those rolling and long ascending and descending slopes that I have to force myself to walk on those ascending portions and run through the descending parts. It was a repetitive process to be doing this to preserve the strength of my leg muscles. On those walking breaks on the ascending portions, I would also count my strides just to be able to have a continuous rhythm and pace throughout those inclined portion. Although I was still on the right side of the road, I would go to the shoulders when I have my walking breaks. But on those descending parts of the road, I have to continue my running on the paved portion of the road. If there is white-line paint on the edge of the road, then this is the place where I have to land my foot during running. Those white lines are surprisingly rubberized that it has some bounce on my running shoes. There were lots of ascending and descending parts of the road for today’s run.

At Barangay Nambalan in Sta Ignacia, Tarlac, in front of one of those High School compounds, I passed by a group of students who were walking towards the direction where I was going. As I passed them, I waved my hands at them and they cheered at me and they were shouting words of encouragement. After 300 meters ahead, my support vehicle was waiting for me. While the group of students were walking behind me, I stopped at the support vehicle and started to have my “ritual”—drink and sit on my stool. As I was sitting and resting, the group of students reached me and one of them said,

Student: Uncle, adda met gayam napintas a lugan mo. Apay nga agtar-taray ka? (Uncle, you have a nice car and why are you still running?)

BR: Exercise ko lang daytoy! (I am doing this as a part of my exercise)

Student: Uncle, Ban-banogem lang dayta bag-bagim! (Uncle, you are just punishing yourself!)

BR: (Silent. No words to think of)

The student is smart and he has a point! After that conversation, I was already thinking of stopping my adventure run and go home to have my rest. But as a “warrior” I don’t want to be distracted in accomplishing the mission that I have set to myself.

I resumed my run and running and walking through the ascending and descending portions of the road that leads to Tarlac City. Later, I was already entering the city limits of Tarlac. The Aquino Bridge is the target to cross and I am already within the Commercial Center of Tarlac City! But something is bothering me on my feet. It seems that my feet are burning and I could feel that they are getting hot and had expanded. With one kilometer to go before the Aquino Bridge, I decided to stop by my support vehicle and changed my socks and running shoes. I opted to use the Adidas Adizero Mana for the day but it was my first time to feel such burning sensation and expansion of my feet after running with it for about 32 kilometers. I was using my ASICS running socks which I’ve been using for my long runs but I knew it was the shoes that was causing the problem. I immediately changed my socks with the local PUMA running socks which are thicker and used the always reliable stability-cushion properties of my ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 shoes.

Starting To Feel The Traffic In The City

After changing my shoes and socks, I was back on the road, crossing the Aquino Bridge, walking along the commercial district of Tarlac City and later I was already entering the road that goes to La Paz, Tarlac and to the SCETX Entry/Exit. As I was running along the La Paz-Sta Rosa Road, I felt I was hungry and decided to stop in one of the Carinderia/Turo-Turo Eateries. I ate a big bowl of Bulalo Mami/Noodle Soup with Ice Cold Coke. The simple meal energized me and I resumed my running.

It was already getting dark and the main task at hand was to reach the SCTEX entry/exit where I’ve decided to end the day’s run. I think I walked on the last 3 kilometers because of the heavy traffic on the said road, the dark sidewalk, and most of all, those gravel filled sidewalk where the foot hurts when I step on those big and small stones!

Finally, I reached my target, SCETX! At this point, I was already thinking of ending the adventure run and head towards Metro Manila. For today’s run, I was able to cover a distance of 45 Kilometers and in a Total of 175 kilometers in 4 days. I could feel that there was some pain on the mid foot portion of my left foot and my left knee was also in pain. After changing to drier clothes, I decided to look for a place where we could sleep with a Wi-Fi connection and I was back on my mission.

After eating my dinner, checking in a cheap hotel with Wi-Fi Connection in Cabanatuan City, and taking a shower, I observed that the lower portion of my left quadriceps had swollen. I thought it was my left knee that expanded in size but as I compared it with my right leg, I could see and feel that it was my lower left portion of my quads (it connects to the knee) that have been bloated and had some pain when it is pressed by the thumb. It was my first time to experience this and I knew that I got it from those descending roads in Sta Ignacia and Tarlac City. I would say this is the description of ultra trail runners of what they call as “fried quads”. There is no panic! I told my support crew, Marlon, to put some ice in my ice bag and have it strapped on the swollen part of my quads and then to massage it lightly with Omega Pain Killer. And lastly, to remind me to take one Alaxan FR capsule before I go to sleep.

After 9-10 hours of sleep, the swollen quads had reduced its size and there was no more pain that I could feel on my quads. It’s a “Go” again for the 5^th Day!

Some data/information during the day’s run:

Weather: Still hot but there are some places that were shaded with trees.

Distance: 45 Kilometers

Duration of Run: 9 Hours (due to more walking on the last 3 kilometers)

Average Pace: 5 KPH

Running Apparel: Team BR Technical Shirt; Adidas Adizero Running Shorts; ASICS Running Socks & PUMA Spots Socks; Local Buff; Headsweat Running Cap; Sunglasses by Ray-Ban & Oakley

Running Shoes: Adidas Adizero Mana (For 32 Kilometers) & ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 (For 13 Kilometers)

Total Kilometers Covered (4 Days)—175 Kilometers

Expenses:

Hotel Accomodation—P 750.00

Dinner (Previous Night) & Breakfast—P 700.00

Gasoline—P 1,000.00

Total Expenses—P 2,450.00

To be continued…

“West To East”: 3rd Day’s Strong Winds

On March 20, 2011March 20, 2011 By kingofpotsIn Food & Dishes, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Places to Run, Practice Runs, Runner's Fashion/Attire, Runners' Training, Running, Travel, UltramarathonLeave a comment

8:45 AM March 17, 2011/From Brgy Socony, Bugallon, Pangasinan to Camiling, Tarlac

It was not too hard to look for a place to stay overnight. Just ask from the local folks and they will tell you where to go. After my run the previous day, I walked in one of the Carinderia’s on the side of the road. I asked for some Sinigang and they have Sinigang Na Baboy. I was surprised that they are serving Sinigang Na Native Na Baboy as seen from the black skin of the chopped meat of the broth. After 5 hours of running, the taste of a hot meal is simply amazing, coupled with an ice-cold Coke!

About 200 meters away from the Carinderia is a Traveller’s Inn called ACRO and from a distant sight, it seemed like one of those motels in Metro Manila. I really don’t care about the place as long as there is an air-con room with soft mattress with pillows and blanket and a shower room, the place is already perfect. Of course, the parking area is adjacent to the room and I was surprised that the room is clean and don’t have the smell of a cigarette smoke. The caretaker said that I have to pay P450.00 for a 12-hour stay and have to pay once I will leave the area. Great! It’s cheap as compared to the places where I spent overnight for the past two nights!

The “drill” was very fast once I entered the air-con room—undress my running apparel, enter the bathroom, take a cold shower first and then later rinse the soap with the hot water, dry up with the towel, brush my teeth, and change to something that is made of cotton and open the laptop computer to upload the pictures taken from my digital camera.

If I have time, I browse the Internet and check on my blog. Since the place has no Wi-Fi Connection, it is hard for me to make a post and upload some pictures in my blog using my SmartBro Internet Connection. What I do is write a post through MS Word as a document which I could save in my files. Once I reach a place where there is a Wi-Fi connection, that is the time I compose my blogpost by mixing the post I made through MS Word and uploading the pictures from my Computer. It is really fast if I am connected with an establishment with a Wi-Fi Connection.

@ The Starting Post For the 3rd Day Run (Brgy Socony, Bugallon, Pangasinan)

I started my run as early as 8:45 AM from the Km Post #357 and I was already on the Carlos P Romulo Highway that goes all the way to Tarlac City, 75 kilometers away! A hundred meters from the Crossing of Barangay Socony, I could feel already the Strong Winds meeting me. It was hard to run with this kind of situation. It seems someone is pulling me back as I progressed gaining few inches on the ground from my running. This was the feeling and the challenge of the environment until I reached the boundary of Camiling, Tarlac.

Almost all the parts of the Highway are flat and wide. Most of the sidewalk/shoulder is cemented/paved as I have an extra space where I could run if there are wide and big trucks on my back and on my front which are about to overtake slower vehicles. Running along the highway is uneventful except for those strong headwind. My pace and strides are okey that I have to follow what I’ve been reading on the blogs of other Ultrarunners. Actually, I’ve been using this technique since I’ve started running long distances—counting on my strides from 1-100 and repeating again..and again..and again, until it becomes my running “mantra” up to the time I take my rest or pit stop.

Trying To Chase The Philippine Version of Ford Motors

Another "Marin Headlands" in Bugallon, Pangasinan?

Trying To Duck From The Strong Headwind!

Counting the strides, instead of having attached to wires on your ears, is a better way for me to be motivated to run in long distances. Researches would say that for a runner to maintain a good form in running, he/she should maintain a good and consistent average stride pace/count. The research would say that an average of 80 strides per minute in long distance runs would be a good pace. However, more of the runners and scientists would prefer to maintain 90 strides per minute. So, on my run along the Romulo Highway, I tried to apply both, the 80 & 90 strides per minute. After running for about an hour and counting on my strides, I found out that I could sustain 90 strides per minute on flat/level parts of the highway while I could do as low as 85 strides per minute if the road is on a rolling terrain! So, for the rest of the way, I didn’t mind about the strong headwind as I consistently counted on my strides per minute. On the average, I could count 8 sets of 90 strides every time I could cover the distance between two kilometer posts! As my left hand is holding my stopwatch, my other hand’s fingers are counting on the number of sets of strides I’ve gone through!

@ Mangatarem, Pangasinan's Catholic Church

One of Those Rest Moments In Waiting Shed Along The

The road side Billboards of a certain garden and water resort in Mangatarem, Pangasinan was simply enticing that I have to stop for a late lunch! The attraction is that it has a Wi-Fi Connection! That was great! The place is called Dandan’s Resort which is located 2 kilometers off the Romulo Highway. On our way to the resort, as we followed the directional arrows, we got lost! Somebody changed the location of the directional signs which we found out later from the people within the barangay.

We ordered food to eat for our late lunch. It took some time before the food was ready but I did not bother me at all as I was busy uploading my pictures to one of my blog posts. The Internet was fast that I was able to upload a lot of pictures needed to be shown to my readers. The food consisted of Sinigang Na Bangus, Deep-Fried Na Liempo, Calamares and Chopseuy. The food was nice and I took time to eat almost everything. I was satisfied with the performance of their Wi-Fi connection. `After almost 2 hours of pit stop at the said resort, we were back to National Highway and started where I left.

Soon enough, I was already crossing the boundary of Pangasinan and Tarlac and I had my picture taken from the billboard of the Governor of Pangasinan, Hon Amado Espino Jr, who is also a Cavalier, Graduate of PMA Class of 1972. Governor Espino and Bani Mayor Navarro are both classmates and members of PMA Class of 1972. We belong to the same Company in the Academy, the “Charlie” Company! Actually, I am close with these two gentlemen! If they knew I was having my running adventure in their place, I am sure my running schedule will be put into a lot of adjustments and the Provincial PNP elements would escort me along the road with the proper local media coverage. I really don’t want that to happen. I did not want so much attention along the road.

...And Finally In The Province of Tarlac

San Clemente is the first town of Tarlac and the Poblacion’s commercial district is not impressive. It was already dark but I made up my mind to complete my run up to Camiling, Tarlac where I could see on my way to Bolinao that the place had improved tremendously and progressively for the past years. They have Jollibee & Chowking, signs that the place is economically progressive and stable. I tried to use my handheld Mini-Mag Light to light up my way but after a few minutes, the light simply died down. Since it was night time and I still have 5 kilometers to go, I asked my support vehicle to “shadow” me so that I can use the light coming from the vehicle’s headlamps. As the traffic is so light between San Clemente and Camiling, nobody from the vehicles behind us complained. Cool! The strong illumination created by my support vehicle made me run faster and consistently counted my strides by sets of 90.

As soon as I reached the Km Post at the Poblacion of Camiling, I had my usual last photo-ops for the day. Next thing to do was to proceed to Jollibee for my dinner. After a quick dinner, I ended sleeping in one of the clean and cheap rooms of the United Royal Hotel, located 500 meters from the last Kilometer Post of the day. Unfortunately, the place does not have a Wi-Fi connection but the signal from my Smart Bro started to become faster in its connection to the Internet. I went to bed at 10:45 PM for my 8-9 hours of rest/sleep overnight!

@ The Last Kilometer Post For The Day In Camiling, Tarlac

Other data/information for the day:

Weather: Very hot with Strong Headwinds from Bugallon, Pangasinan to Camiling, Tarlac

Distance: 45 Kilometers

Time: 8 Hours (Actual Time of Running)

Average Pace: 5-6 KPH

Running Apparel: NIKE Livestrong Shirt; NIKE Running Shorts; Adidas Running Cap; Bandana; DryMax Socks; Sunglasses by Ray-Ban & Oakley; Arm Sleeves

Running Shoe: ASICS Gel-LyteRacer

Expenses:

ACRO Accommodation—P 450.00

Dinner @ Carinderia—P 150.00 (For 2 persons)

Dandan’s Resort Late Lunch—P 700.00

Mangoes—P 100.00

Ice—P 30.00

Jollibee Dinner @ Camiling—P 350.00

Total Expenses For The Day—P 1,780.00

Total Distance Covered: 130 Kilometers (3 Days)

To be continued…

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