My Road Races (Since Nov 2007)
Ultramarathon:
2008 Bulldog 50K Ultra Trail Run (Calabasas, California)—7:18:16
2008 Mt Pinatubo Ultra Run 55K—8:15+
Marathon:
2008 Pasig River Heritage Marathon—4:49:03
2008 The San Francisco Marathon—4:36:23
2008 MILO National Finals Marathon—3:48:32
25K Race:
2008 New Balance Power Race 25K Run—2:09:00
Half-Marathon:
2008 Subic Half Marathon—2:12:56
2008 7th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half Marathon—1:47:16
2008 8th DND-AFP Gintong Pangarap Half Marathon—2:00:15
2008 Araw ng Maynila Half Marathon—1:53:53
2008 Milo Half-Marathon Elimination Race (Laoag City)—1:55:58
2008 ADIDAS “King of the Road” 21K/Half-Marathon—1:48:55
2008 “Patakbo Sa Kabundukan” 21K—1:45:40
Mt Trail Run
1st Mayon Trail Run 18K—2:13:23
15K Races:
2008 Mizuno Infinity 15K Run—1:16:53
2008 Mizuno Rush 15K Run II—1:21:21
2008 VSO “Bahaginan” 15K Run—1:14:43
10K Races:
2007 Animo 10K Run—55:31
2007 RUNNEX Executive 10K Run—52:07
2008 Clark Freeport 10K Run—50:36
2008 GIG 10K Run—46:45.9
2008 Condura 10K Run—49:37
2008 On Your Mark 10K Run—45:33
2008 4th Global City 10K Run—47:52
2008 25th RUNNEX 10K Run—48:48
2008 2nd Champion 11K Run—57:05
2008 Doc Fit Takbo Para Sa Puso 10K Run—50:35
2008 Hope In Motion 3 10.2K—50:24
2008 4th October Festival 10K Run—48:08
2008 RUNNEX Executive Classic 10K Run—48:32
2008 UP ICTUS Centennial 10K Run—48:28
2009 PSE Bull Run 10K---46:17
2009 Resolution Challenge 10K---43:30
Special Races:
2008 Gidaya Trail Run (2.15K)—14:47 (Champion 50+ Age Category)
2008 6th Philippine Army Physical Fitness Test—Champion
2008 Market! Market! 5-Mile Run—38:57
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Results: 2009 PSE Bull Run 10K Race
The 2009 PSE (Philippine Securities Exchange) Bull Run "Takbo Para Sa Ekonomiya" 10K Road Race was held last January 18, 2009 at the Fort, Taguig City and considered as the first road race for the year after almost a month of absence of road races due to the Holiday Season.
I ran the said race to prove if my training during the Holidays will result to a better performance. I reached a weekly mileage of 127 kilometers in one week, two weeks before this race wherein most of the mileage were done on the oval track. One week before the race, I tapered my mileage by reducing by one-third of my total number of kilometers covered. I did all the things to be done just to ensure to get a positive results.
In my Garmin Forerunner (GF) 305, it registered my finish time in 46:17 minutes. However, in the official results published by the Race Organizer after one week since race day, I got a time of 46:38 minutes. I can not understand the big discrepancy from the time registered in my GF 305 and the Race Organizer's clock as I pressed my watch simultaneously with the start command of that "loud" Emcee on the stage while "the ringing of the bell" was done.
From the official results, I placed #94 out of 762 runners in the 10K race, which is within the upper 12% of the finishers. In my age category of 50-59 years old, I placed #4 with a 50-year old runner from Fairview Running Club placing #1 with a time of 38:23 minutes! A difference of almost eight (8) minutes! A tough job is needed to attain that fast finish time. However, the 3rd placer had a time of 42:43 mnutes which I think would be a "doable" goal in the next coming races.
I ran the said race to prove if my training during the Holidays will result to a better performance. I reached a weekly mileage of 127 kilometers in one week, two weeks before this race wherein most of the mileage were done on the oval track. One week before the race, I tapered my mileage by reducing by one-third of my total number of kilometers covered. I did all the things to be done just to ensure to get a positive results.
In my Garmin Forerunner (GF) 305, it registered my finish time in 46:17 minutes. However, in the official results published by the Race Organizer after one week since race day, I got a time of 46:38 minutes. I can not understand the big discrepancy from the time registered in my GF 305 and the Race Organizer's clock as I pressed my watch simultaneously with the start command of that "loud" Emcee on the stage while "the ringing of the bell" was done.
From the official results, I placed #94 out of 762 runners in the 10K race, which is within the upper 12% of the finishers. In my age category of 50-59 years old, I placed #4 with a 50-year old runner from Fairview Running Club placing #1 with a time of 38:23 minutes! A difference of almost eight (8) minutes! A tough job is needed to attain that fast finish time. However, the 3rd placer had a time of 42:43 mnutes which I think would be a "doable" goal in the next coming races.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The "History" Of My Running Shoes
When I was a cadet at the Academy, there was only one type of athletic/sports shoes issued to everybody, that was the Converse Rubber Shoes (Hi-cut), colored white, which was basically for Basketball. Yes, that was the running shoes we used in that long distance race where I had my first taste of competetive running.
During my first and second Alumni Homecoming Running Competitions in 1980 & 1981, I was using the cheapest Adidas Running Shoes which was made of soft leather and thin soles. Although it was heavy as compared in today’s running shoes’ technology, this particular shoes endured my long distance runs which made me one of the top runners among my peers.
My wife left for the USA on the later part of 1981 and since then I was getting a regular supply of “state-of-the-art” running shoes. She sent me the latest model of the New Balance Series 300. I guess, she had chosen New Balance because the symbol “N” on the sides of the shoes corresponds to the first letter of our last name. At that time, it was only the New Balance shoes that were exclusively “Made in USA” while Adidas Shoes were made in Germany then.
Since 1981, I used at least two models of New Balance Running Shoes in my running practices and was able to finish three (3) Marathon Races up to 1983. I really liked New Balance shoes because it was the lightest running shoe at that time that provides comfort on the heel portion because of its thick soles and it has an integrated anti-pronation system. Up to this time, I am still using a New Balance Shoes for my practice runs. Although my shoes (NB 716) which was bought three years ago is already old, I still feel comfortable with it. This is the shoes I am using here in the mountains of Jamindan.
During the summer of 1983, I ordered from my wife the lightest running shoes in the market and specifically asked her an ASICS Tiger Running Shoes. Since then, I’ve been using ASICS Tiger Shoes for my racing days. Presently, I am using a “Cumulus” Model of ASICS Tiger which my wife bought last December 2006 at the Phidippedes Store, Ventura, CA. I really like and appreciate the staff of this store as they made me run for about 50 meters to observe my footwork. This is my fourth ASICS Tiger running shoes since 1983. If my recollection is right, I have been using ASICS Tiger shoes to finish another five (5) Marathon races since then.
So, as an old runner, my running shoes preference is limited to my New Balance shoes which I use for my running practices and my ASICS Tiger shoes which I use only for my competetive races.
During my first and second Alumni Homecoming Running Competitions in 1980 & 1981, I was using the cheapest Adidas Running Shoes which was made of soft leather and thin soles. Although it was heavy as compared in today’s running shoes’ technology, this particular shoes endured my long distance runs which made me one of the top runners among my peers.
My wife left for the USA on the later part of 1981 and since then I was getting a regular supply of “state-of-the-art” running shoes. She sent me the latest model of the New Balance Series 300. I guess, she had chosen New Balance because the symbol “N” on the sides of the shoes corresponds to the first letter of our last name. At that time, it was only the New Balance shoes that were exclusively “Made in USA” while Adidas Shoes were made in Germany then.
Since 1981, I used at least two models of New Balance Running Shoes in my running practices and was able to finish three (3) Marathon Races up to 1983. I really liked New Balance shoes because it was the lightest running shoe at that time that provides comfort on the heel portion because of its thick soles and it has an integrated anti-pronation system. Up to this time, I am still using a New Balance Shoes for my practice runs. Although my shoes (NB 716) which was bought three years ago is already old, I still feel comfortable with it. This is the shoes I am using here in the mountains of Jamindan.
During the summer of 1983, I ordered from my wife the lightest running shoes in the market and specifically asked her an ASICS Tiger Running Shoes. Since then, I’ve been using ASICS Tiger Shoes for my racing days. Presently, I am using a “Cumulus” Model of ASICS Tiger which my wife bought last December 2006 at the Phidippedes Store, Ventura, CA. I really like and appreciate the staff of this store as they made me run for about 50 meters to observe my footwork. This is my fourth ASICS Tiger running shoes since 1983. If my recollection is right, I have been using ASICS Tiger shoes to finish another five (5) Marathon races since then.
So, as an old runner, my running shoes preference is limited to my New Balance shoes which I use for my running practices and my ASICS Tiger shoes which I use only for my competetive races.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Running "Tips" By Dr George Sheehan
Important Running Tips For Every Runner to Know by Dr George Sheehan
This column is for the benefit of those taking up jogging with the coming of favorable weather. Here are a few practical pointers to keep in mind:
1) Keep a record of your morning pulse. Lie in bed for a few minutes after you awaken and then take your pulse. As your training progresses, it will gradually become slower and after three months or so plateau out. From then on, if you awaken and find a rate of 10 or more beats higher, you have not recovered from your previous day’s runs, races or stresses. Take the day or more off until the pulse returns to normal.
2) Weigh yourself regularly. Initially you will not lose much weight. What you lose in fat you will put on in muscle. Running consumes 100 calories a mile and there are 3,500 calories to a pound so you can see weight loss will be slow unless you do heavy mileage.
3) Do your exercises daily. The more you run, the more muscle imbalance occurs. The calf, hamstrings (back thigh) and low back muscles become short, tight and inflexible. They have to be stretched. On the other hand the shins, the quads (front thigh) and the belly muscles become relatively weak. They must be strengthened. Learn the Magic Six: Three strengthening exercises, three stretching exercises.
4) Eat to run. Eat a good high-protein breakfast, then have a light lunch. Run on an empty stomach at least two, preferably three hours after your last meal. Save the carbohydrates for the meal after the run to replenish the muscle sugar.
5) Drink plenty of fluids. Take sugar-free drinks up to 15 minutes before running. Then take 12 to 16 ounces of easily tolerated juices, tea with honey or sugar, defizzed Coke, etc. before setting out. In winter that should be all you need.
6) Run on an empty colon. Running causes increased peristalsis, cramps and even diarrhea. Having a bowel movement before running and particularly before racing prevents these abdominal symptoms.
7) Wear the right clothes. In winter this means a base of thermal underwear followed by several layers of cotton or wool shirts with at least one being a turtleneck. Wear a ski mask and mittens. Use nylon if necessary to protect against wind and wet. In summer the main enemy is radiant heat. Remember to wear white clothes and use some kind of head covering.
8) Find your shoes and stick to them. High-arch feet do better with narrow heels. Morton’s Foot (short big toe, long second toe) may need an arch support in the shoe. If a shoe works, train in it, and wear it to work.
9) The fitness equation is 30 minutes at a comfortable pace four times a week. Your body should be able to tell you that “comfortable” pace. If in doubt use the “talk test”. Run at a speed at which you can carry on a conversation with a companion.
10) Run economically. Do not bounce or overstride. You should lengthen your stride by pushing off, not by reaching out. Do not let your foot get ahead of your knee. This means your knee will be slightly bent at footstrike. Run from the hips down with the upper body straight up and used only for balance. Relax.
11) Belly breathe. This is not easy and must be practiced and consciously done just prior to a run or a race. Take air into your belly and exhale against a slight resistance either through pursed lips or by a grunt or a groan. This uses the diaphragm correctly and prevents the “stitch.”
12) Wait for your second wind. It takes six to 10 minutes and one degree in body temperature to shunt the blood to the working muscles. When that happens you will experience a light warm sweat and know what the “second wind” means. You must run quite slowly until this occurs. Then you can dial yourself to “comfortable,” put yourself on automatic pilot, and enjoy.
13) Run against traffic. Two heads are better than one in preventing an accident. Turn your back on a driver and you are giving up control of your life. At night wear some reflective material or carry a small flashlight.
14) Give dogs their territory. Cross to the other side of the road and pick up some object you can brandish at them. Never try to outrun a dog. Face the dog and keep talking until it appears to be safe to go on.
15) Learn to read your body. Be aware of signs of overtraining. If the second wind brings a cold clammy sweat, head for home. Establish a DEW line that alerts you to impending trouble. Loss of zest, high morning pulse, light headedness on standing, scratchy throat, swollen glands, insomnia, palpitation, are some of the frequent harbingers of trouble.
16) Do not run with a cold. A cold means you are overtrained. You have already run too much. Wait at least three days, preferably longer. Take a nap the hour you would usually spend running.
17) Do not cheat on your sleep. Add an extra hour when in heavy training. Also arrange for at least one or two naps a week and take a long one after your weekend run.
18) When injured find a substitute activity to maintain fitness. Swim, cycle or walk for the same time you would normally jog.
19) Most injuries result from a change in your training. A change in shoes, an increase in mileage (25 miles per week is the dividing line; at 50 miles per week the injury rate is doubled), hill or speed work, or a change in surface. Almost always there is some associated weakness of the foot, muscle strength/flexibility imbalance, or one leg shorter than the other. Use of heel lifts, arch supports, modification of shoes and corrective exercises may be necessary before you are able to return to pain-free running.
20) Training is a practical application of Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome. Stress is applied, the organism reacts, a suitable time is given to reestablish equilibrium. Then stress is applied again. Each of us can stand different loads and need different amounts of time to adapt. You are an experiment of one. Establish your own schedule, do not follow anyone else’s.
This column is for the benefit of those taking up jogging with the coming of favorable weather. Here are a few practical pointers to keep in mind:
1) Keep a record of your morning pulse. Lie in bed for a few minutes after you awaken and then take your pulse. As your training progresses, it will gradually become slower and after three months or so plateau out. From then on, if you awaken and find a rate of 10 or more beats higher, you have not recovered from your previous day’s runs, races or stresses. Take the day or more off until the pulse returns to normal.
2) Weigh yourself regularly. Initially you will not lose much weight. What you lose in fat you will put on in muscle. Running consumes 100 calories a mile and there are 3,500 calories to a pound so you can see weight loss will be slow unless you do heavy mileage.
3) Do your exercises daily. The more you run, the more muscle imbalance occurs. The calf, hamstrings (back thigh) and low back muscles become short, tight and inflexible. They have to be stretched. On the other hand the shins, the quads (front thigh) and the belly muscles become relatively weak. They must be strengthened. Learn the Magic Six: Three strengthening exercises, three stretching exercises.
4) Eat to run. Eat a good high-protein breakfast, then have a light lunch. Run on an empty stomach at least two, preferably three hours after your last meal. Save the carbohydrates for the meal after the run to replenish the muscle sugar.
5) Drink plenty of fluids. Take sugar-free drinks up to 15 minutes before running. Then take 12 to 16 ounces of easily tolerated juices, tea with honey or sugar, defizzed Coke, etc. before setting out. In winter that should be all you need.
6) Run on an empty colon. Running causes increased peristalsis, cramps and even diarrhea. Having a bowel movement before running and particularly before racing prevents these abdominal symptoms.
7) Wear the right clothes. In winter this means a base of thermal underwear followed by several layers of cotton or wool shirts with at least one being a turtleneck. Wear a ski mask and mittens. Use nylon if necessary to protect against wind and wet. In summer the main enemy is radiant heat. Remember to wear white clothes and use some kind of head covering.
8) Find your shoes and stick to them. High-arch feet do better with narrow heels. Morton’s Foot (short big toe, long second toe) may need an arch support in the shoe. If a shoe works, train in it, and wear it to work.
9) The fitness equation is 30 minutes at a comfortable pace four times a week. Your body should be able to tell you that “comfortable” pace. If in doubt use the “talk test”. Run at a speed at which you can carry on a conversation with a companion.
10) Run economically. Do not bounce or overstride. You should lengthen your stride by pushing off, not by reaching out. Do not let your foot get ahead of your knee. This means your knee will be slightly bent at footstrike. Run from the hips down with the upper body straight up and used only for balance. Relax.
11) Belly breathe. This is not easy and must be practiced and consciously done just prior to a run or a race. Take air into your belly and exhale against a slight resistance either through pursed lips or by a grunt or a groan. This uses the diaphragm correctly and prevents the “stitch.”
12) Wait for your second wind. It takes six to 10 minutes and one degree in body temperature to shunt the blood to the working muscles. When that happens you will experience a light warm sweat and know what the “second wind” means. You must run quite slowly until this occurs. Then you can dial yourself to “comfortable,” put yourself on automatic pilot, and enjoy.
13) Run against traffic. Two heads are better than one in preventing an accident. Turn your back on a driver and you are giving up control of your life. At night wear some reflective material or carry a small flashlight.
14) Give dogs their territory. Cross to the other side of the road and pick up some object you can brandish at them. Never try to outrun a dog. Face the dog and keep talking until it appears to be safe to go on.
15) Learn to read your body. Be aware of signs of overtraining. If the second wind brings a cold clammy sweat, head for home. Establish a DEW line that alerts you to impending trouble. Loss of zest, high morning pulse, light headedness on standing, scratchy throat, swollen glands, insomnia, palpitation, are some of the frequent harbingers of trouble.
16) Do not run with a cold. A cold means you are overtrained. You have already run too much. Wait at least three days, preferably longer. Take a nap the hour you would usually spend running.
17) Do not cheat on your sleep. Add an extra hour when in heavy training. Also arrange for at least one or two naps a week and take a long one after your weekend run.
18) When injured find a substitute activity to maintain fitness. Swim, cycle or walk for the same time you would normally jog.
19) Most injuries result from a change in your training. A change in shoes, an increase in mileage (25 miles per week is the dividing line; at 50 miles per week the injury rate is doubled), hill or speed work, or a change in surface. Almost always there is some associated weakness of the foot, muscle strength/flexibility imbalance, or one leg shorter than the other. Use of heel lifts, arch supports, modification of shoes and corrective exercises may be necessary before you are able to return to pain-free running.
20) Training is a practical application of Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome. Stress is applied, the organism reacts, a suitable time is given to reestablish equilibrium. Then stress is applied again. Each of us can stand different loads and need different amounts of time to adapt. You are an experiment of one. Establish your own schedule, do not follow anyone else’s.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
"Listen To Your Body"
This was posted on the first week of November 2007 in my Wordpress site.
I just read the news at www.yahoo.com that a runner died while running the Olympic Trials for the Marathon in New York yesterday, Saturday. The runner/marathoner is 26 years of age and had been a elite runner since the early 2000’s. The cause of death is not yet released/known and it will take some time before the doctors and experts will find out the reason why he died while running the marathon in the early stage of the course.
I remember the writer and turned-marathoner James Fixx, which was popularly known as “Jim Fixx”, who was the author of the “The Complete Book of Running”. Jim Fixx and his book were credited to have started the “running revolution” in the United States and to the entire world. The book motivated the whole world to run and be physically active to be in good health. But at the age of fifty-tw0, he died of cardiac arrest after having his daily practice runs. His death brought questions and doubts if running is the cause of his demise and brought a wrong message to the people. However, as a result of more investigation and studies on the background and lifestyle of Jim Fixx, it appeared that he was a “chain smoker” in his younger years before he started training and running numerous marathon races. His father died of heart attack also and he was advised by doctors and experts to undergo regular treadmill tests and heart monitor tests. But he refused to heed to the advice of the experts. It appeared that cholesterol deposits had thickened in his arteries that impeded the regular flow of blood in his circulatory system, thus, causing his heart failure.
Jim Fixx was basically a writer but because of his popularity in motivating the people to run and finish/compete in marathon races, he has to “walk the talk” and do what he preaches. I really don’t know how many Boston Marathon Races and other marathons he had competed or finished but I guess, he did not listen to his body and took time to undergo a treadmill test. For me, Jim Fixx had greatly contributed my development into a passionate and determined runner.
In my experience as an old runner, I see to it that I determine my pulse rate every morning after waking up in the morning. Check my blood pressure through the latest digital blood pressure gadgets available in the market. I have also my annual “executive medical check-up” whenever I visit the United States once a year.
The practice runs for the day should depend on your pulse rate, blood pressure, the amount of rest/sleep you had the night before your run, and your “gut-feeling” about yourself and your body.
Always remember, listen to your body.
I just read the news at www.yahoo.com that a runner died while running the Olympic Trials for the Marathon in New York yesterday, Saturday. The runner/marathoner is 26 years of age and had been a elite runner since the early 2000’s. The cause of death is not yet released/known and it will take some time before the doctors and experts will find out the reason why he died while running the marathon in the early stage of the course.
I remember the writer and turned-marathoner James Fixx, which was popularly known as “Jim Fixx”, who was the author of the “The Complete Book of Running”. Jim Fixx and his book were credited to have started the “running revolution” in the United States and to the entire world. The book motivated the whole world to run and be physically active to be in good health. But at the age of fifty-tw0, he died of cardiac arrest after having his daily practice runs. His death brought questions and doubts if running is the cause of his demise and brought a wrong message to the people. However, as a result of more investigation and studies on the background and lifestyle of Jim Fixx, it appeared that he was a “chain smoker” in his younger years before he started training and running numerous marathon races. His father died of heart attack also and he was advised by doctors and experts to undergo regular treadmill tests and heart monitor tests. But he refused to heed to the advice of the experts. It appeared that cholesterol deposits had thickened in his arteries that impeded the regular flow of blood in his circulatory system, thus, causing his heart failure.
Jim Fixx was basically a writer but because of his popularity in motivating the people to run and finish/compete in marathon races, he has to “walk the talk” and do what he preaches. I really don’t know how many Boston Marathon Races and other marathons he had competed or finished but I guess, he did not listen to his body and took time to undergo a treadmill test. For me, Jim Fixx had greatly contributed my development into a passionate and determined runner.
In my experience as an old runner, I see to it that I determine my pulse rate every morning after waking up in the morning. Check my blood pressure through the latest digital blood pressure gadgets available in the market. I have also my annual “executive medical check-up” whenever I visit the United States once a year.
The practice runs for the day should depend on your pulse rate, blood pressure, the amount of rest/sleep you had the night before your run, and your “gut-feeling” about yourself and your body.
Always remember, listen to your body.
My Earlier Posts At Wordpress
I will be posting my earlier posts with my blogsite at Wordpress in the following days to come. I will also add those previous posts which had registered most hits and read widely by my visitors/readers.
I hope you will enjoy reading them.
I hope you will enjoy reading them.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Project Donate A Shoe
While running during weekend road races in Metro Manila for the past year, I've seen a lot of runners who were wearing old and tattered shoes. I've seen more runners with old and worn-out running shoes when I joined the 2008 Pasig River Heritage Marathon. Due to this observation, I posted my four (4) pairs of running shoes in my blog with Wordpress to show my readers that I was donating them.
This gave me the idea to appeal to my readers to donate their old and used running shoes to my project and have these shoes given to the less-fortunate runners who could not afford to change/replace their shoes to a better one.
After posting to my blog the pictures of runners whom I've donated my running shoes and posting the pictures of their old and worn-out shoes, my project gave the public an awareness that there are more people who keeps on running without having the benefit of replacing their old shoes. This resulted to people/runners coming to me personally after road races to donate their shoes and more are leaving their comments to my blog about their intention of donating their old shoes.
If I can remember it right, this project started at the middle of second quarter of last year and it became a success. A tarpaulin background was made and it is always a "fixture" at the vicinity of the start/finish area in every road race in Metro Manila. Later, this acceptance "booth" became the meeting place of runner-bloggers and visitors to my blog. More of the affluent runners and those who believe to share their blessings to other runners started to support this project. Some did not want their names to be known and their faces and pictures to be posted in my blog but donated shoes kept pouring in to my booth and at the same time give the donated shoes to the needy ones. VIP runners or well-known executives and owners of big corporations would come to my booth and remove their shoes for donation.
This project extended all the way to other runners across the seas who gave their time and effort to send "Balikbayan" boxes filled with donated shoes. Other foreign runners would also join our road races and later donate their old shoes, too! Some commenters to my blog at Wordpress would also leave notes of their plan of donating their used and slightly-used shoes.
So far, I've have collected/received and donated at least 120+ "used" running shoes since I started this project.
As a gesture of my thanks to these donors, I usually give a "ONE" (white) wristband (http://www.one.org/) to each donor to signify that he/she is a part and supporter of the world-wide advocacy "to fight poverty and make it a history". I have these wristbands ordered in the United States at a cost of $ 1.00 a piece.
This gave me the idea to appeal to my readers to donate their old and used running shoes to my project and have these shoes given to the less-fortunate runners who could not afford to change/replace their shoes to a better one.
After posting to my blog the pictures of runners whom I've donated my running shoes and posting the pictures of their old and worn-out shoes, my project gave the public an awareness that there are more people who keeps on running without having the benefit of replacing their old shoes. This resulted to people/runners coming to me personally after road races to donate their shoes and more are leaving their comments to my blog about their intention of donating their old shoes.
If I can remember it right, this project started at the middle of second quarter of last year and it became a success. A tarpaulin background was made and it is always a "fixture" at the vicinity of the start/finish area in every road race in Metro Manila. Later, this acceptance "booth" became the meeting place of runner-bloggers and visitors to my blog. More of the affluent runners and those who believe to share their blessings to other runners started to support this project. Some did not want their names to be known and their faces and pictures to be posted in my blog but donated shoes kept pouring in to my booth and at the same time give the donated shoes to the needy ones. VIP runners or well-known executives and owners of big corporations would come to my booth and remove their shoes for donation.
This project extended all the way to other runners across the seas who gave their time and effort to send "Balikbayan" boxes filled with donated shoes. Other foreign runners would also join our road races and later donate their old shoes, too! Some commenters to my blog at Wordpress would also leave notes of their plan of donating their used and slightly-used shoes.
So far, I've have collected/received and donated at least 120+ "used" running shoes since I started this project.
As a gesture of my thanks to these donors, I usually give a "ONE" (white) wristband (http://www.one.org/) to each donor to signify that he/she is a part and supporter of the world-wide advocacy "to fight poverty and make it a history". I have these wristbands ordered in the United States at a cost of $ 1.00 a piece.
"1,000-Km Club"
I came up with this program when I was still a Major in the Philippine Army. It was a motivational tool for my officers and men under my command to involve themselves in jogging/running. Each personnel had to run a total of 1,000 kilometers without any time table or required duration for its completion. For every increment of 100 kilometers that they finished, I had to give them an inexpensive "gift" which was needed in their running. For finishing 1,000 kms, I had to give them a brand-new running shoes.
Ultimately, our office formed a running group and we joined weekly/monthly races in Metro Manila and even conducted long runs along major highways towards nearby towns and provinces. It was a successful program where my officers and men improved their endurance and faster times in road races.
After finishing the Pasig River Heritage Marathon last February 2007, I introduced this "tool" in my blog and explained the history and mechanics of the program. I suggested each runner who would undergo this program to have a brand-new running shoes as their "gift" for themselves for completing the required number of kilometers (1,000 kms) and donate their "old/used" running shoes for my Project Donate A Shoe.
Each finisher of this program is given a "Finisher's T-Shirt" as a symbol of acceptance for being a member of the "1,000-Km Club". Most of the runner-bloggers in the Philippines have accepted this program by creating a separate page or placing a distance/mileage indicator in their blogsite.
So far, since March 2007, there are at least 12 runners whom I awarded the "Finisher's T-Shirt". This program became a success among novice and intermediate runners where they were able to increase their weekly mileage and improve their endurance base.
Ultimately, our office formed a running group and we joined weekly/monthly races in Metro Manila and even conducted long runs along major highways towards nearby towns and provinces. It was a successful program where my officers and men improved their endurance and faster times in road races.
After finishing the Pasig River Heritage Marathon last February 2007, I introduced this "tool" in my blog and explained the history and mechanics of the program. I suggested each runner who would undergo this program to have a brand-new running shoes as their "gift" for themselves for completing the required number of kilometers (1,000 kms) and donate their "old/used" running shoes for my Project Donate A Shoe.
Each finisher of this program is given a "Finisher's T-Shirt" as a symbol of acceptance for being a member of the "1,000-Km Club". Most of the runner-bloggers in the Philippines have accepted this program by creating a separate page or placing a distance/mileage indicator in their blogsite.
So far, since March 2007, there are at least 12 runners whom I awarded the "Finisher's T-Shirt". This program became a success among novice and intermediate runners where they were able to increase their weekly mileage and improve their endurance base.
Monday, January 12, 2009
"So Far, So Good"
I started blogging about running at Wordpress in October 2007 after reading a runner's blog in the Philippines who started blogging in May 2007. After reading such blog, I was inspired to have my personal blog about my running activities. I tried to recall my past running experiences and I tried my best to document my experiences since I was a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy in the early '70s.
My blog later became as my diary and journal for my preparation for the incoming Pasig River Heritage Marathon which allowed me at least 3 1/2 months of preparation. In between my journal, I tried to research and post in my blog the different school of thoughts and training for long distance running. I am a firm believer of the Lydiard's Method of Running and I am one of the disciples of this kind of training.
However, after 14 months of blogging and running, I am shifting my training towards developing my speed endurance on the oval track with the supervision of IAAF-trained coaches. So far, I am slowly improving my finish times in my road races. With such training, I was surprised to know that I've slowly increased my weekly kilometers covered and developed endurance to my legs and body.
I hope I will be successful in making my finish times faster in my incoming road races.
My blog later became as my diary and journal for my preparation for the incoming Pasig River Heritage Marathon which allowed me at least 3 1/2 months of preparation. In between my journal, I tried to research and post in my blog the different school of thoughts and training for long distance running. I am a firm believer of the Lydiard's Method of Running and I am one of the disciples of this kind of training.
However, after 14 months of blogging and running, I am shifting my training towards developing my speed endurance on the oval track with the supervision of IAAF-trained coaches. So far, I am slowly improving my finish times in my road races. With such training, I was surprised to know that I've slowly increased my weekly kilometers covered and developed endurance to my legs and body.
I hope I will be successful in making my finish times faster in my incoming road races.
"I am coming back"
I started "blogging" with Blogger since March 2007 as my way of keeping track of my activities while I was assigned in Western Visayas as a Commander of an Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. However, after I started to seriously train to run a Marathon race, I started blogging my running experiences and training with Wordpress as the Bald Runner.
Now, that I am retired from the military service and enjoying my retirement, I have continously and seriously trained for road and mountain trail running events in Metro Manila as well as in the United States.
My blogsite at www.baldrunner.com with Wordpress is now popular among runners in the Philippines and in other countries. However, due to some technical problems I encounter when posting with Wordpress, I deemed it necessary to have another blogsite with Blogger with the same title and objective of posting anything about running, sports, or any thing I could think of and share to other readers. Thus, I am coming back to Blogger.
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