3rd PAU 50 km Ultra Marathon (T2N)

It has been more than a year since I last posted an entry here in my blog. I hope I get to post more in the next days. Hello to all!

This is a late entry but I have to post this event since this is one of the major race that I did for this year.  Prior to this race, I did the Condura Marathon back in February.

This event was also important because it was the debut ultra run of our friend Cherry Jardiniano who did great and now thinking of joining another PAU event. I guess she enjoyed it and trying to see how she would fair on a 65/70k run. After which, Im sure she'll go for the BDM 102k.  

It was another successful event from the Bald Runner and thanks to him for giving us the opportunity to participate in the race and that we were able to recruit a new addition to the ultra running community.

Nice Trophy!

With Jay and Cherry

Cherry looking strong.

I decided to run a faster pace and left Cherry and Jay. I wanted to see if I can maintain a certain pace until the finish line and see how far my threshold would be.  At the same time I was testing my nutrition and hydration whether I get it right this time, and to see if the mileage I build from the weekend long runs paid off.  I guess, I was just being stubborn and not being smart in pacing myself, because at km 40k I started to slow down until Jay and Cherry catched up with me at the last km.   It was yet another lesson and I had to build more mileage and plan my nutrition/hydration well.  

With Werner Cruz, his first time to do a 50k run. Finally met him in person, we are friends at Dailymile.

Gone Running Club, I hope to bring more GRC runners in the PAU event.

Thanks BR!

With Noemi, Jay, Allen, and Cherry

I love running this  route from Tagaytay to Nasugbu. Hope to see fellow ultra runners back here in December and I hope to run other PAU events as well.  


BDM 160K.. Jay and I are still contemplating on when we will do this.

My Ultra Marathon Experience

It’s been a month already since I completed my first Bataan Death March (BDM) 102km ultra marathon and I have not written about it. I must have enjoyed myself recuperating from it and enjoyed longer sleep which I barely had during the training season prior to the race.

One of my goal this year was to finish the BDM 102km. Another crazy idea, but I guess I have established already that whatever I put my mind into, I’ll make sure that I’ll work on it and eventually achieve it. I trained for 12 weeks for this event and have really focused on improving my mileage. I was glad that I was free from any injury and I hope it stays that way. Deciding to do the 102km was obviously to test our endurance and mental toughness.

Considering that the farthest I ran was 50k (PAU T2N) in November last year, there were a lot of unknowns on this race. We have not simulated the whole 102km distance during training and just relied on the back to back long runs on weekends where some weekends were skipped. We were not able to do the two test runs prior to the race to familiarize us with the route. Not sure what the condition is after 50km and how my body would respond to 18hrs of running and walking. But I felt that I was prepared and I thought that the mileage I put in training was enough to take me to the finish line.

Jay and I initially planned to do 15hours, but we were not sure if this was an aggressive or conservative estimate, we didn’t know. But it is important to set a goal so that you’ll have a clear direction on where you are going and what you will do along the way. Theoretically, we have set our planned pace to hit 15 hours, not knowing the real condition, we thought that it can be done. But reality steps in that this was a 102km ultra marathon and not a marathon. Though it was good to put a target but it has to be realistic. Respect for the distance was very important especially that it was the first time to conquer it. So we changed strategy and had a comfortable pace to cross the first half of the race as we know how to manage that distance. Then it was a total different strategy in the next half of the race (more of that later).

Prior to the race, we have not really thought about our support group. As a default, Jay’s wife will be there to support us together with a driver, my wife can’t come since she is pregnant and not allowed to travel. One day I was glad that my friend Mike Dauden (aka the transformer) and a GRC member volunteered to be part of the support crew together with Joey Cabanag who is from Balanga Bataan. Another GRC runner Cherry (who completed her 1^st marathon in Feb) also volunteered to join. I have distributed to them the rules of the race so that the support group are aware of their roles during the race.

Race day

Saturday morning at around 10:30am, we started to travel to Bataan. The plan was to meet up the rest of the support group (Mike and Joey) in Bataan where we are supposed to rest and prepare prior going to the start line in Mariveles. We arrived at Joey’s place at around 2:30 pm and we were welcomed with a prepared lunch. Food was great, we were kidding that it was like our last meal as we go to the bataan death march. I had coffee afterwards and since we have time, we took a nap to get some rest.

For lunch: Tinapang Bangus, Tinapang Tilapia, Crab, Prawns, Papaya, Singkamas, and Ube Halaya. Did I miss something?

We had at least 3 hours to sleep but I can’t sleep. I was thinking already about the race, was trying to visualize what’s gonna happen after 50km. I was also trying to psych myself up and try to maintain a positive mental attitude because I know at the end of the day, it will be all mental in the second half of the race. Went down and read magazines while drinking coffee (again!) at around 6pm. At 6:30 pm we started to prepare as we are to leave around 7:30 pm and head down to Mariveles at Km 0.

Jay and I changed to our running gear and preparing or our stuff for the race.

At km 0 with GRC support group.

After the final briefing, singing of the national anthem and final prayer, the 142 brave warriors went off for the BDM 102 challenge. This race was also to commemorate our fallen heroes of Bataan during the World War 2. The first 6km was an uphill climb, as the strong runners went ahead, we decided to do walk breaks that early on uphills to make sure that we conserve our leg power. After that long uphill, we went running and tried to enjoy the course. Our support group had to leap frog every 5km in the first 50km of the race.

Somewhere around the 49th km, Jay had to slow down and rested for awhile and he advised me to go ahead. I had at least a 2km lead I guess after that.

But not for long, Jay catched up soon enough and waited for him at the next pit stop and saw me there eating banana. We replenished our hydration and off we went.

Finally reaching the 60th km, we already passed our 50k mark and we still feel good.

At km 70, can still afford to smile..

During this stage, Jay and I were not actually talking, this is where we felt the heat of the sun. The support group had to be there every 1km or less so that we can get water sponge to keep us cool. We were not complaining but we were conscious of the time. I began to feel pain in my hamstring and calves and I had to stretch once in a while. Our objective at this point was to finish within cut-off time. We were doing a run-walk strategy, we ran 500 - 600m then walk the next 400m. Everytime we see a km marker, all I would say was, "X km to go, almost there!" Had to maintain a positive thought so that we can make it to the finish line. Around km 80 onwards, it is where you begin to ask yourself, why am I doing this (but friends would start to ask this question from the moment we decided to do this, haha!)? It is important at this stage to at least manage to have fun while having to go thru the struggle of running this distance. Though you have to be physically fit, it is equally important that you are mentally prepared.

Almost there! Can still smile (trying) no worries..

We were actually walking here, but there's a camera pointing at us, so better run and try to smile! hahaha!

Finally at the finish line, we finished at 17:12:17. We finished at 78th and 79th place.

We are very thankful with our support team. All support crews were very instrumental in every runner who joined this event.

It was a great experience doing the BDM 102K Ultra marathon. It would seem to be difficult and impossible, but through preparation, discipline, and determination, everything is possible.

2010 - A Remarkable Year

First off, I'd like to greet all of you a Happy New Year! By now, most of you have already looked back and reviewed your progress in 2010 and have defined your plans and goals for 2011. Congratulations and Good Luck to you all!

Last year has been a remarkable year for me as there were a lot of accomplishments and rewards. I have exceeded my target running mileage of 1,000km and have reached 1,666.24km, which leads me to my total running mileage of 2,310.42km. I pegged a total of 2,047.27 km cycling mileage and now have a total of 3,082.27 km. I also logged in 68.75km of swimming mileage. Yes swimming, i'll talk about that in a while.

I have joined a few races last year. I have done only 5 half marathons, and was able to set a new Personal Record (PR) at 2:07:45 during the Greenfield Sunset run in April 2010. I have done only 1 marathon and likewise set a new PR of 5:05:47 which gives me a 37 min improvement from my first marathon. However, what I thought to be my biggest accomplishment last year were these two important races that elevated my fitness level. I have joined the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines, my first official triathlon race and my first Ultramarathon 50 km race (Tagaytay to Nasugbu). I have no plans of doing these two events last year but it just happened.

Finishing the Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) in August.

Finishing my first Ultramarathon (50km). Next, 102km!

I recall in Feb 2010, Jay asked, "Let's join the Cobra Ironman 70.3 triathlon", at first I was hesitant since I planned to do this in 2011, and with no proper swimming skills, i doubted it. But in March 2010, we signed up for the event and hired a coach. Then in November 2010, I received an invite from baldrunner, to join the PAU 50k run. Both Jay and I signed up and off we went and conquered. And now, we are both training to do the BDM 102Km in March!

Conquering my fear

One of my biggest fear was to swim in open water. I have no basic swimming skills at all. Being a very active individual since my grade school, I have always looked for an activity/sport where I would engage myself in. One of it was swimming, I never had any formal training. I only swam during family outings and I dont even do a proper freestyle. But during those days, I was adventurous and my positive attitude tells me that I can do it properly someday. One day, when me and my friends went for a swim in UP, I decided to start at the deepest portion of the pool. Thought I was doing it right and that I was progressing, I stopped in the middle not knowing that it was still deep. Then I drowned, I can still recall that I was trying to wave to my friends for help, and they thought that I was just joking, until I sank. Luckily, the lifeguard was there and had me up in no time. That is when I developed my fear in water. So when asked to join the Ironman, I was really hesitant until we hired a coach. I can't even cross a 25m pool at that time, but through consistent practice I was able to conquer my fear and learned to swim in open water and completed the swim leg of the Half Ironman Triathlon. This was one of my biggest accomplishment.

My first open water swim at El Nido Palawan

A new race

It was last year when I entered a new marathon of my life. I have tied the knot with Kay whom I have committed to share the rest of my life with. This indeed was another blessing.

Last year was definitely a good year for me. I was injury free, set new records, joined triathlon and ultramarathon. I'm looking forward to a better performance and a healthy 2011. Here are my 2011 fitness goals:

1. Finish the BDM Ultramarathon - 102km

2. Set a new PR for Half Ironman Triathlon

3. Achieve sub 4:45 hours for a full marathon

4. Achieve sub 2:00 hours for a half marathon

5. Lose 10 lbs this year. Current weight 180 lbs.

I hope I can encourage more people to be healthy and fit and may I be able to inspire others to believe in themselves. Anything is possible, just put your heart and mind to it. Good luck to us all and again Happy New Year!

Going beyond your limits

In the midst of my training for the QC International Marathon, I have received an invite from Mr. Jovie Narcise (aka baldrunner) to join the PAU T2N (Tagaytay to Nasugbu) 50K ultramarathon. I was honored and felt that I was considered to be ready to do this race. I have been doing long runs with my team (Gone Running Club) on weekends and we have done a 40km LSD 2 weeks before the PAU 50k race. That basically builds confidence that I can finish the race. Together with my buddy Jay, we both registered for the event and would log this as another milestone in our running career.

It was a cool sunday morning in Tagaytay City where we all gathered at the start line. Happy to see familiar faces, and knowing that it was an ultramarathon, I knew that all runners have prepared for this race and have pure will and determination within them. Jay and I were among the newbies and we were glad to be part of it. There were about 160 runners who participated the race and I learned that 159 have finished.

We decided to set a target time of 6:30 for this race. The first 35km was a good run as we were able to increase our pace and we were ahead of our target time. However, from then on I felt my heart rate has reached probably 90% or more and it was difficult to recover. I had to run and walk which obviously slowed as down. At 39th km, I told Jay to run his pace as I can't maintain a 6:40 min/km pace, and that we see each other at the finish line. It's 11km to go and in my mind I knew that I can finish the race, no doubt. I slowed down a bit, but I have another focus, my 42k split. Yes, I had a new Personal Record on my 42k, I logged 4:58 (my first marathon was 5:47). I was smiling as for me its another milestone of improving my time for a marathon. As I move on for the next 8km of the race, I managed to recover my breathing and heart rate was at a comfortable level but I was struggling already due to leg fatigue. More walk breaks for me. In the last 5km, I started to pick up some pace and mindful of my target time, but at this point I noticed that my garmin hanged and I was now totally blind of the time and pace. As I saw the Jollibee signage saying last 3km, I began to focus and and avoided walk breaks. The finish line was at the Nasugbu City Hall which was near the Jollibee Outlet. As I saw the Jollibee sign, I was too eager to get there the soonest that I can, but it seems to be the longest 1-1.5km of the race. I saw one of the bald runner marshalls and guided me to the final turn reaching the finish line. It was yet again another memorable moment as I have tested again my limits on this race. If you put your mind to it and prepare for it, you will achieve whatever goals you have envisioned. Keep raising the bar and believe in yourself. There's a long way to go, keep it one stride at a time and try to make a difference.

Thank you to team bald runner and PAU. It was a good race and a good experience. Looking forward for more PAU races in the future.

50km done! My longest run so far..

with Jay and Sir Jovie (baldrunner), I finished in 6:12:48 and 65th out of 159 finishers, Jay finished 5:52:50 at 51st place.