After almost 3 years of self imposed exile .. I am finally back in my playground … the place where I learned to run long distance. I can’t help but feel sentimental as I stare into the horizon.   Google Map – Pasay, Philippines     Manila Bay – Pasay City,...

  I took a picture of the medals I have accumulated since I started training again here in Sydney. It’s not a lot but it inspired me nonetheless as I am reminded of the hard work I’ve put in and my accomplishments in running in the form of these medals. I hope that this will inspire runners out there to keep on hitting the tarmac despite the difficulties of moving out of your comfort zones and traveling to new lands to brave a greener pasture.  ...

  I have not posted anything on this blog in a long time BUT I will try to update you with my latest run, The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival last Sunday.     This is the first time for me to run without proper training, not to mention getting a bit tipsy a couple of nights before this event from a dinner-party I attended. I followed the 4:45 pacer for awhile but finished at 5:19:18 instead.       I personally think that I could have done better had there been less elevation during the race. Just when you think you were done with running up and down the several bridges you passed, there’s still this one LAST bridge you have to traverse before arriving at the finish line.   The 37km mark screenshot from Blackmores Sydney Running Festival App by ASICS for iPhone. Click here to download from iTunes.   Well, I am not sure if I would attempt this again [without proper training] but I definitely loved the challenge of a good run on an early Sunday morning.     There never seems to be enough time for anything, but there will always be that perfect day of the year to run a marathon at The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival...

After thousands of kilometres of service, the faithful soldier has finally decided to surrender its sole to the ravages of war. In case you are curious .. I finished last year’s Sydney marathon even if I was undertrained. I joined this year’s edition as well … with a huge difference … I am now a lot more undertrained … oh well...

I have been busy of late and updating this blog has taken a back seat. About three months ago, I decided to join the Blackmore’s Sydney Marathon and as such I needed to “motivate” myself again mentally to achieve such a feat.   “Unbreakable” and “Run or...

I know we are all great in bed especially if it means SLEEPING ALL DAY! I have not trained for ages now, and my running life is basically nonexistent. So, here is a link I found for those who would want to try running for the first time, or for those who feel like it would be their first time to run after several lifetimes of sleeping, working, and the habitual overdose of unhealthy meals! Here it is at Cool Running. Better yet, you can install an app to your smart phone if you follow this link: http://www.active.com/mobile/c25k.  ...

If there is one thing that an athlete should aspire is to better himself in the sport that he loves, and if there is anything else my brother and I share than the interest in music and running, it would be the joy of reading how Filipinos are able to conquer trials from day to day work to international competitions. Was checking my mail, received an email from Arra Galang of Media Contacts Inc., and read about the news of our fellow Filipinos joining the Xterra Tri-Outs, World Championship, in Maui! As found in their website, “XTERRA Trail Runs remind you it’s more fun to run off-road. Hop across rocks, soar across streams, zig-zag your way along a mountain trail. Be a kid again and rediscover your super-charged sense of adventure and wonder. XTERRA hosts Trail Run races in major cities across the country. Proceeds from each benefit local charities.” For them to be sent there and represent our country makes me definitely more proud to be a Filipino! Check out Redg Plopinio, Hector Yuzon, Noy, Matteo, and Drew below and a closer look at the Sterra Tri-Outs World Championship through a video link of their journey from Training to Competing in Maui. Last, but not the least: I would also like to say that Xterra reminds and encourages us to trail run and have fun. The most important part of it is for us to live more....

According to Wikipedia, “Interval training is a type of discontinuous physical training that involves a series of low- to high-intensity exercise workouts interspersed with rest or relief periods. The high-intensity periods are typically at or close to anaerobic exercise, while the recovery periods may involve either complete rest or activity of lower intensity. Interval training can refer to organization of any cardiovascular workout (e.g. cycling, running, rowing, etc.), and is prominent in many sports’ training. It is a technique particularly employed by runners, but athletes from several backgrounds have been known to use this type of training.” Last Sunday, I was able to attain my fastest training 10k pace.  You see, when I train, I don’t usually do tempo runs because I believe that the only time you should exert maximum effort is on race day.         I used to believe that the ideal training pace should be relaxed and effortless – that was until I was forced to train seriously last March for a corporate running event. Interval training isn’t easy, and in fact I dreaded it .. my friend Isko (who acted as the team coach) would push us to our limits. There should be no excuses, well maybe if you are close to having a heart attack – so it is imperative that you should have yourself checked first by a doctor because this type of training is not meant for people with health problems. It would even reach the point when me and my team mates would secretly curse him – not in his face tho coz he was way bigger than us and could easily beat the living daylights out of us, hehehe As they say – no pain , no gain – it paid off....

  According to Wikipedia, “Long slow distance (LSD) is a form of aerobic endurance training in running and cycling. Physiological adaptations to LSD training include improved cardiovascular function, improved thermoregulatory function, improved mitochondrial energy production, increased oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle, and increased utilization of fat for fuel. Ernst van Aaken, a German physician and coach, is generally recognized as the founder of the long slow distance method of endurance training.” The same article also mentions that “a typical 5k runner might consider 8 to 10 miles of LSD, while a marathoner might run 20 or more miles. LSD runs are typically done at an easy pace, 1–3 minutes per mile slower than a runner’s 10k pace.” I chose this topic because I have been running for a while now but haven’t actually realized how long should a run must be for it to be considered an LSD. I remembered last year when having breakfast with ultra runner friends (I mean running friends who are way stronger than me) when comments were made about some people bragging in social media that they just did a long 15k run. They said that they just don’t get it , because 15k isn’t really that long. In their opinion a long run should at least have a minimum distance of around 26 to 30km. I would like to think that distance is relative to one’s fitness level – some may consider 15k long , some people may consider it short. Whatever the distance maybe, as long as you are reasonably tired after it , then that maybe long enough for you.    We call this our “easy” loop – not because the terrain is easy (actually the terrain is more difficult) but because it is easier for...

Been awhile since I was able to run. This blog had been on and off with posts, but we try to update it from time to time. Started at the university and practicum in another city, there is almost no time to do anything. But running, and training…that is something one needs to make time for. Even if Bolt had taken quite a lengthy pause in training, he bought this Garmin gadget right here to use for running!       Above is the new Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Sports Watch. I guess he is  back on track! More posts to come in soon about his runs with this gadget...

Sometimes during your runs .. you see things that you just want to hold on to forever. Well, this post is not about that. It is about pictures I have taken recently. Hehehe    Sunrise from the bay   I don`t know what is happening here .. but it seems that the tug boat is trying to pull the entire island of Luzon into the Spratlys. Oh by the way, recently I have been also trying to run without my Zensah leg compression sleeves. I have been using them ever since my shin was injured while training for last year’s edition of BDM 102.     I love them, but I guess I couldn’t be too dependent on them.  ...

I have noticed that lately, I have been so dependent on technology when I run- so I decided to train this morning without my GPS watch. At first, I felt uneasy not knowing what my actual pace was but after around 3 KMs – I didn’t mind at all. I finished  my easy 18km (yes, I know the distance because I have measured this route before) this morning in 2:31  – it was supposed to be my recovery run for yesterday’s 20km but I enjoyed the slow pace so much      My GPS watches : Garmin 405 and 305. My 305 suddenly died just 8 months after I purchased it. The thing about GPS watches is that they suddenly malfunction just when you have gotten used to training with them. So my advice is this : don’t be too dependent on technology....

Hydration is an important part of training.  So at any given point in your runs, you should have access to  your fluids. Carrying them with you is a must, but it should be done in a manner that would be convenient to you. So as far as water bottles go, I’d prefer the handheld ones on my regular runs and a bladder based system on the longer ones. I have just been given an Ultimate Direction Fastdraw Plus water bottle and since it is new , I decided to  use it for my  last 4 short runs – the average distance of each run is around 23.5 kms.         While I was using it, I couldn’t help but compare it with my existing Amphipod Hydraform Handheld bottle – I use two versions: the 20 oz and the 12 oz. I know a lot about this has been previously posted on the web. So let me give you the short version:     •    They both can carry the same volume of fluids (20 oz) •    They both have wide enough  “mouths” for  ice to fit in •    The pouches that come with them can accommodate almost the same items (keys / phone / cash, etc) •    Ultimate Direction has a big finger loop : you can attach it to a carabiner , just like you would do on Nalgene sports bottles. •    Physically, I like the way Ultimate Direction looks like and also how it fits my hand, not to mention  how easy it is to adjust the strap; the thing is – I find it difficult to sip fluids from the nozzle and everytime I squeeze it, it doesn’t return to its original shape: I have to open the entire...

Last Sunday, I joined this 42km event in Nueva Vizcaya, the highlight of which was to summit Mt. Ugo. It was a refreshing change of pace from the usual weekend spent in Metro Manila. If you would ask me, the 9 hour trip was worth it : everything is clean- the trails especially.  It’s as if the farther you are from the Metro, the nearer you are to paradise. Course Map This is the first time I have seen a tree like this in Luzon This is the view from the starting line. Can you imagine how cold it is in the summit ? Let’s get ready to rumble. View from the trail at sunrise What else can I say ? Henry having a hard time accepting we have to pass this route twice. This is where we got lost earlier The summit, finally! For a brief moment, the sun decided to show itself. Finished! … Excited for my next trail   This one is perfect. The route wasn’t so difficult, the trails are 90% runnable even when wet. For the aid stations, they contain exactly what a trail runner needs : softdrinks, natural spring water from the mountain itself, bread, chocolate, biscuits and electrolyte drinks.   Well, too bad .. bandits aren’t allowed in this race. Maybe next time, they should register early. As with any adrenaline related activity, equipment and apparel are important. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the run as much if i had used any other shoe. This is my first time to use lightweight shoes in an actual race – and the thing is ,  I haven’t actually ran in this pair before.  So imagine how happy I am when instead of giving me problems , it...

This morning, I ran 20k in the rain, by now I guess you know how refreshing that feels :). Anyway, it has been a two week rest after QCIM –it seems that I have almost recovered from my injuries  – this means that I could start increasing my mileage again, (finally).   QCIM Let’s get ready to rumble …. This is the third edition of the Quezon City International Marathon – I am happy to be a participant in all three events. I think this is the first time when it actually rained on this race.  I had doubts at first if I can complete this edition since my left foot is still swollen from the  trail run (CM50) which I joined the week before – imagine running the entire 42k with swollen feet. Finished this one in 5:27 – I had to since we were pacing for 5:30   Clark to Mayamit Falls 50 Miler Happy thoughts before the race … As I’ve said .. painful but fun   This is the first edition of this trail race ( I joined the shorter 60km edition) , and boy was I glad to have joined it! If you would ask me, there are two races here that you should include in your bucket list : Bataan Death March and this one (in no particular order).  I would describe this one as “masarap na masakit”. This is the first time that I injured my hamstring, finished with swollen feet and got lost many times. I reached the finish line way after cut-off.  This is also the first time that I have experienced eating gourmet pasta in the middle of the race – ha! Ang sarrrrap! In a nutshell, the best local trail race that I...

This morning was the 2011 edition of the Adidias King of the Road  and I realized that about 2 hours ago. I remember when the registration fee for this 21k event was still reasonable… For my 30k run this morning, I spent 20 bucks for a 300 ML bottle of Pocari Sweat  and 15 bucks for a 500 ML bottle of water. Hmmm...

  About three weeks ago, I  participated in the CAMSUR Marathon. I have yet to see the results – no PR for this one, just one of the LSDs you need to gain mileage. The thing is – a lot of runners who participated in last year’s edition said that last year was better. Personally – i wish that they have lighted some of the roads like what they did with Milo. Luckily, i brought with me my other cel which comes with a LED flashlight. No hydration issues on this race. Work  is hectic (as always) – not much on the weekday runs. Yep, I have gained weight (again). I hope to loose it over the next few weeks when I return to my usual mileage. Last Saturday i did 15K, 32k on Sunday and 19k last Thursday.  I wasn’t able to run this morning due to the weather – hopefully i’d be able to do a long run tomorrow.   The calm before…   The damage brought about by the typhoon was tremendous. I have other pictures of it but it is the same ones  you see in the news. This one (for me) stood out.   It stood out because it blocked my path,  hehehe     Lock Lace I have always been a lock lace fan. However, due to financial reasons, i was forced to pursue other alternatives : my friend Isko provided me with a high quality shock cord – all that I needed to do was to find a stopper. More details on this in another post. Thanks to Jay for the CAMSUR...

Since one has moved to another place like Sweden, one should prolly think there will be more place and time to take the runs there. Whether it be in the forest that surrounds mostly an entire city, or just through the city center where “cozy” buildings stand (sometimes a city centre would just have a two-story building as its tallest). Of course, that was possible if only I did not have to spend five days of my waking hours preparing to go to school, which would end at 1430H or 1600H. When I get home, I need to study some more, continue my portfolio, clean our place, and prepare food. My brother always said an ultramarathon, or a marathon for that matter, is 90% mental and 10% still mental. There is a race here every winter where you use walking sticks, called Vasaloppet during winter. The distance is 9 Swedish miles, where 1 mile is equivalent to 10 kilometers (normal kilometers haha). Maybe I will train for that instead. As for now, the closest training I get is when I hit the gym if I got the time and the energy I spend walking to school....

The 4 day weekend was contaminated. It was laced with laziness – so no long weekend runs for me, It was just carbo-loading all the way. I was lucky enough tho, to squeeze in a 7 km run last Sunday and a 26km run last Tuesday. This morning i ran around 23km and yes – still lazy; i started my run at 7 am and finished at around 10 am. Let the pictures speak for the laziness at hand …. Damage brought about by the storm. Endless bludgeoning … now the same culprit lay still, timeless and bound. As I’ve said … Lazy. Maybe I should buy a bike...