Mt. Mayon Triathlon, DAY 1: Aug. 7, 2015

DAY 1 - ROAD TRIP TO BICOL. AUGUST 7, 2015 So here I am back into racing again. I just turned 51 last April and into a new age group. With just about 2 months training with the Performance Kinetics Multisports team and doing the circuit workouts at the PerX Gym under Coach Dennis Antonio I would say I would be ready for the suffer fest. Together with me were Dan Sagayap (last minute replacement for Big Jay who had a kidney stone operation 2 weeks before the race), Jayson Maliwat, Yammie Rivera and Kirk Patrick Ang. We are of different age groups and me being the senior in the team. We met up at our place at about 2am and loaded the bikes in my car. 2 on top & 3 on my tow hitch behind. After making sure all bikes were secured and fastened we departed for the 10 hour trip to Bicolandia. Stopped over at Mcdo Tiaong for coffee break. Daybreak before Gumaca, Quezon. Just had to stop for this view & stretched out after about 4hrs behind the wheels.

Back to Basics

I just found out that my blog site is still active. In this age of social media this might be too old school already but I kinda feel like its gonna be fun doing it again. It may seem daunting & quite challenging given the time one would need to compose & pound on the keyboards. Well for starters this might be just up to here for the moment as it is already 2am and my eyes are already watery. So bye for now. Be back soon as a lot has happened lately. Goodnight.

Mountain Run Series 1 - Sumulong Olalia Cogeo

Since we moved in to our new house in Antipolo, this is the first time I did a long run outside of the village. It's Sunday, Feb.19, 2012 sunny weather. I decided to try to run up Antipolo via Sumulong Hiway. I have biked this uphill climb several times before but never had tried to run it. After my usual oatmeal breakfast and loading up on my usual stuff - hydration belt, ipod nano, garmin 910XT (my new multisport watch with GPS), heart rate monitor and my cellphone (for pics & emergency calls) I headed out the village around 7am. There are a number of bikers already on the road going east some in groups and a few pedaling alone. The uphill head is about 3km from the start and I noticed I was the only one running the route. My heart rate gradually climb as I started the ascend and going beyond the max of 166bpm which I set for my usual tempo runs.

I was running alongside bikers inching their way up to the top of eagle's nest. I kept a steady pace at times slowing down to lower my HR. I got to the top and felt good and decided to run further down the road towards Antipolo center. If I turned around and head home it would be mostly downhill already so I decided to make a loop via Olalia Road towards Cogeo market center. I knew that there would be some uphills from Cogeo to Masinag which would be worth to try. The downhill back to Marcos hway began about 4km to the new SM City Masinag. But the jeepneys were now piling up and the air quality was getting worse. I was calculating my pace and would still have enough time to get ready for the scheduled board meeting with our client in Quezon City. It was still about 2km more to home when I got to Marcos hway. I was running beside the center island in the newly asphalted road to avoid the jeepneys.

The route was great for uphills but the air quality going back home in the Masinag area was bad. Would have to try to do the reverse route next week.



Sumulong-Olalia-Cogeo Long Run by juls9265 at Garmin Connect - Details

Bataan Death March 102 Ultra Marathon March 6, 2011

Pre-Race: March 5, 2011

The original plan to have 4 runners in a support vehicle was splitted into 2 with Yob Red going with me and Dok & Oli together in another car. I picked up Yob, Tony his brother & our driver, Jackie my support and Mizzy as Yob's support. The 'Running for Lolo Pedro Team' met up at Shell Nlex in Balagtas, Bulacan and proceeded to BDM Km. 00 in Mariveles, Bataan via the SCTEX. We got a call from the group of Laarni De Guzman & Tatax Almoro that their car just stalled past the Dinalupihan exit. We advised them to wait for the group of Mot so Arni the runner could hitched a ride to Mariveles. We arrived Mariveles about 6pm and the PNP runners were there already with Jun Cunanan. I thought I forgotmy headlamp so we tried to look for a replacement in the nearby tiangge. Fortunately upon double checking I found my headlamp in my bag. The team headed to the 'Seashore' resto for an early dinner. Each one got ready and dressed up after dinner while the supports were busy preparing for the hydration and food for the runners. We had a short walk towards the BDM Km. 00 beside Jollibee where the check in and starting line was. There was a pre-race briefing by the race director 'Bald Runner' Sir Jovie Narcise, the singing of the national anthems of Japan, America and of course Philippines.

Race Proper: March 5, 2011, 10:10pm

After the group photo ops the race started at exactly 10:10pm. It was an easy slow paced 3km flats before the killer 4km uphills. Yob and I were running alongside Dabobong Angeles a veteran ultrarunner. He ran the 160km just a week ago but had to dnf and now he is again joining the 102km. Some runners taking on the hills while others were just pacing up reserving their stamina. There was a flood of support vehicles after the hills as it was not allowed for them to wait for the runners along the uphill route. The 1st water station was such a relief. From hereon I took a steady pace mindful of potholes that might surprise me. It was totally dark in some parts and the headlamps was such a comfort. At about 15Km the runners were pretty scattered already and in some moments I was all alone running in the dark. Our support vehicle with Yob's brother Michael on the wheel and Jackie Vallejo an AMCI member was my personal support.
I reached the 50km mark in Abucay, Bataan before 5am and after a cup of noodles decided to take a 30min nap inside the car. After the refreshing power nap it would be a walk-run strategy from hereon and instructed the support car to stop at every km. I asked Yob to go ahead with his own pace. I was now feeling some tightness in my calves and soreness in my knees. I tied a tire interior just below my knees to lessen the growing pains. At about the junction of the Gov. Roman highway my legs suddenly froze and the cramps going past my knees. Manny Dela Serna of Timex team handed me a sachet of GU Roctane which I gobbled in a rush. I slowly walked after I packed ice behind my calves under my compression socks. It numbed my legs and I walked cautiously for a few meters up to the Dinalupihan junction. The sun was already slowly heating up and the long unshaded stretch to Lubao, Pampanga is about a 20km straightaway. I told the support car to stop and wait for me every 500m as they poured ice water on me to cool me off. Met up with some of the timex team members for a quick lunch and a change of shoes in Lubao town center. Most of us almost wasted from almost more than 12hours of run-walk. We're almost there but the heat was almost unbearable. We hit the roads again heading to Bacolor. From there I started to gradually picked up my pace for about 6min/km. And from nowhere the thought of being almost there carried me thru to run without stopping for hydration the last 7km till the finish line. I changed into our green uniform just a few meters to the finish line where the 'baldrunner' was patiently waiting. I headed straight to where the team was huddling for water & anything I could eat. I was called back to the finihs line for the handling of the finishers trophy - a miniature replica of the kilometer mark of the Bataan Death March. 17hrs of non stop action testing one's resolve both in body & mind. BDM102 - Checked!!! Next goal - BDM160. Will give it a very long thought. LOL!

BDM Training - Shotgun to Boso-boso & back

After doing a 52km run just a week ago, next long run training was supposed to be at Sta. Rosa - 'reverse Palace to Tagaytay & back'. But the 'General' was not available in the morning of Saturday Feb. 19, 2011 since it was his kid's graduation day. So 'somebody' suggested to do the San Mateo route instead. There were 9 members of Team Lolo Pedro with one very 'able' support. Plan was to start at 5:30am from Aling Tina's store in San Mateo where mountain bikers normally meet-up. I picked up Dok at 5am and there was Chock's car already at Aling Tina's when we got there. With him still catching on sleep were DS and Yob. In a few minutes the other gang members arrived - the major, Arni with Tatax, Oli and Mot. Chock & DS grab a quick breakfast and started off at about 6:18am. The route leader was Oli & Dok being familiar with the place thru their regular mtb rides here. I had not been in San Mateo for a while. I used to frequent this place when I was more into mtb before even joined some races held at the Divine Mercy route.



The climb started at the head of 'Shotgun' hill leading up to the San Mateo landfill. Dok told me that the name 'shotgun' was coined before when there was a shotgun toting guard on horseback who would drive away bikers up the rough roads then. Now it has been concreted all the way up the top but the rise is severe in every sense of the word. Several bikers were inching their way up the top while we mostly walk/run having fun. We chose to do the gravel road towards the top and all the way to 'Roxas' route if I am not mistaken. This led us to the main road of the Araneta/Filinvest property boundary and all the way up to the 'Giant' store where mtb riders converged for snacks & hydration.

When all had their drinks we moved on towards Boso-boso (no idea how far. 'naku malayo po un sir' - the answer i got when i asked some bystanders). The roads are paved but with undulating hills. I was toying with a horse type gallop going downhill (to the amusement of the group) and I found it with lesser impact on the knees plus it was faster. The duck walk of Chock going uphill was equally hilarious.

We were sparsely separated with Oli always on the lead (he ran most of the hill = 'halimaw'). In a short while the junction suddenly became familiar. It was already Boso-boso where we would normally parked our cars when we were hills training with our bikes for the ironman up to the Sierra Madre hotel. We had our rest and drinks again at the Bulaluhan sa Cabading store and after some photo ops we were again back to the route to the 'Giant' store.



My tommy was acting up. Normally happened when I was not able to do my toilet routine early in the morning. I tried to use the toilet at the store but the door was a piece of corrugated sheet one has to lift to cover up the door and it was dark. When we started back, I grimaced in pain and forced some unwanted gas to relieve myself. The time was almost 11am and the scorching sun was getting unbearable. We moved on steadily running on downhills and walking the uphills. The sight of the Giant store was a big relief. I went straight to the toilet to do some bombing runs. Had some group pics taken and was quite rested (& relieved) and the group walked out for the Timberland gate. We again re-grouped at the Timbeland guard post. I went to nearby nursery and was able to find a faucet where I wet my head and cap which was quite refreshing.



The way to Timberland was still the same dirt road we used to bike before. Some shaded areas provided much relief. I ran the whole cemented downhill road from the clubhouse area up to the Timberland gate. Oli was already savoring a bottle of soda when I got to the resto stop. When Mot arrived we went down together at the 'wall'. It was not safe to run this very steep road. Heard lots of accidents here among bikers (Ige Lopez had a crashed here last Saturday moments after we saw each other up at Timberland. Praying for his fast recovery.).

I tried to run when I got to the lower area all the way back to Aling Tina's. There was steaming 'pinapaitan' soup awaiting with iced cold soda. Took us 7hours to cover about 38km of mountainous terrain with almost 4,000 calories lost. I felt like I just did 60km. We capped the day with a couple of beer before we parted ways. I heard some of the gang continued the carbo re-loading at DS place. I slept the whole afternoon.









more pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=275115&id=608862180

BDM (Bataan Death March) Test Run 52km

This is the 2nd leg of the BDM test runs. The 1st one was held last Jan. 25, 2011 and was not able to join since my father passed away. The 2nd leg which was on Feb. 12, 2011 started at the 50km BDM marker at Abucay, Bataan and went all the way to the 102km marker in San Fernando, Pampanga.



We rented a van and was promptly at our gate by 2am. After loading my stuff we proceeded to pick up Dok, Yob and Oli and was off to the NLEX Shell Station for our early breakfast. We met there with the group of Mot & Laarni with Suzanne as their support.

Left Shell past 3:30am and headed to the San Fernando exit all the way to Dinalupihan. We took the Gov. Roman Superhiway to Abucay. There were already several runners with their supports converging at the 50km marker. After a short briefing by the Bald Runner we were off just before 7am. Our initial pace was a bit high at 5:30min/km. Told Dok to bring it down to just 6min/km. We stopped for our first break at bdm marker 60km. Then we asked Eric the van driver to wait for us at every 5km. The sun was up and was fast heating up when we reached the Dinalupihan junction (BDM km. 68). Took our chance for a photo group pic with BR and other runners at the monument.
The stretch of straight highway from Dinalupihan to Lubao seemed endless. Left side of the road was a gravel road and I opted to run on the asphalt road taking extra caution of upcoming trucks & buses which would not seemed to notice runners ahead. With me was Meljohn (Boypra) tagging along and i was very thankful to have company pacing each other. Our support van was to stopped every 2km marker from here on. After about 40km we were already in a walk run walk mode. We just targeted to run up to the next bdm marker then walk for about a couple minutes then ran again to the next marker. It was a relief from the busy highway when we were approaching Bacolor town. There were also some shade from the trees alongside the road.

There seemed to be some extra energy left in us when we reached bdm km. 97 about 5km to San Fernando. We managed to run the last 2km left. We reached km 102 after 6hrs 43min. We were all aware that this 2nd leg of the BDM 102 on actual race day would be excruciatingly painful and hoping that the weather would be not that hot.

EPIC RELAY 250KM RACE - June 12-13, 2010

PRE-RACE:



I got a call from Mannie Dela Serna a week before the race that I would be No. 8 runner for the 10-man relay team. I was in Morong, Bataan by the beach for our family outing. A week before we were informed to form 2 teams and the registration fees would be sponsored by Chris Sports but since it was on short notice only one team was formed. I didn't know who were with the team then when I just confirmed with Mannie that I would be joining. We just competed in the TNF100 last April 23-24, 2010 in Baguio and here we are again in a new adventure.


There was only one team meeting a few days before the race just to assign the Legs we were supposed to run. I got Legs 8 (11km), 18(5.4km) and 28 (8.5km) for a total of about 25km. I was also tasked to look for a van for rent. We were allowed to have 2 support vehicles with 5 runners each. I finally got to meet some of the team members mostly veterans of the recent TNF100 with elite runners form the PNP whom we have yet to meet. The official entry name is TIMEX-ROUNCE PRINTING CORP. team. Initially entered as a corporate team but later changed to elite All Men's Category. The runners in van 1 were team captain Mannie Dela Serna (Legs 2, 12, 22), members - Rienzi Del Rosario (legs 1, 11, 21), Manny Torralba (legs 5, 15, 25), Dandi of PNP (Legs 4, 14, 24), Boyet of PNP (legs 3, 13, 23). Van 2 is composed of Maj. Jun Cunanan (legs 7, 17, 27), Julian Confesor (legs 8, 18, 28), Romy 'Doc' Doctolero (legs 9, 19, 29), Oliver Templo (legs 6, 16, 26) and Dioni Carreon of PNP (legs 10, 20, 30). Mannie and Major would take care of the food, drinks and nutrition for the team. Initial contribution to the team coffers would be P2K each for the gas, food, van rental, etc.

Our initial race start was supposed to be at 6am Sat. June 12 but was later changed by the organizers to 12noon of Sat. June 12 under blistering noontime heat. Some teams were to start at 6am and 7am. So we headed for Subic at around 6am on Saturday morning and was at the Lighthouse Hotel for the registration before 9am. We just had a quick breakfast at the nearby Binalot resto and had some time to rest before the gun start at 12noon.

DAY 1:

The starting arch was in festive atmosphere. There were numerous booths from suppliers. A dance number from the Ponstan dancers set the mood of the day. Also to start with us were runners from the other teams - Powerpuff Boys, the Navarra team with a lady Kenyan Runner and Ponstan team. We learned that the other teams were released early in the morning.

After the dance number the race started with the PPB runner leading and the Kenyan tugging along. Not far behind was our runner Rienzi in a comfortable pace. We went ahead and stationed our van near the harbpr before the 1st Runner's Exchange Point (REP) located at the Freeport Oil gas station. We were wondering why it took sometime for the front runners to pass by. We learned from Rienzi that the PPB and Kenyan runners made a wrong turn and went back to the starting line.It was a good 5min difference and head start for our 2nd runner Mannie DS. The mohawk runner from PPB caught up with him but with just a few meters to the REP. Our 3rd runner Boyet of PNP made the hills to Morong gate from Darwins Tavern (about 5.4km mostly uphills) looked so easy and gained more minutes from the PPB runner. This was complemented by a very strong run by Dandi of PNP up to the Anvaya Cove REP.It was downhill from there to the Pawikan station exchange point and the General (Manny Torralba) made steady progress. We went ahead of the pack and waited for our turn at the Pawikan center exchange point. There we saw the Kenyan runners and the other members of the PPB team also waiting for their runners.



After the General had arrived the next runner was Oliver with a short uphill climb to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant exchange point. No sight yet of the next runner. Major Jun was runner no. 7 and he took off after Oliver. I was already the next runner so I asked to be dropped off the next exchange point already at Brgy. Ulingan about 11km away. It was a bit of a surprise to see a PPB runner reached the exchange point first just minutes before Major Jun. He had gained and overtook Jun and took first place. Their next runner was equally strong as he sped away for the next exchange point 11km away. I never saw him since. Leg 8 was described as intermediate to advanced. It was mostly uphill. The Kenyan runner passed me by about a kilometer to go to the exchange point. The Ponstan runner caught up with me about 300m to the exchange point. We were now running 4th all of a sudden. Dok was able to gain some ground on the Ponstan runner and the Navarra runner. PPB runner was way ahead already. Then with about a kilometer to go the Navarra runner declared injury and was quickly replaced by the Navarra runner. That would be a 60-minute penalty added to the overall team time. Our leg 10 runner was Dioni of PNP touted as the fastest among the team. He took off already minutes behind the PBB and the Kenyan. But he ran so good up Mt. Samat and definitely gained a lot of minutes for the team to keep up with the front runners. It was such a brutal climb even our van's engine was grinding strong and loud. When we reached the top we were about 7min behind the first place. Rienzi was the next runner and he sped off downhill chasing the others. It was so steep that he had side stitches but managed o hang-on. At this point, Mannie DS declared unfit to run due to his allergies and Dioni would take over his remaining 2 legs. After so much discussions, calculations and debates we finally agreed that we still got a chance to take the lead. At this point our van went ahead of the 1st van. We went looking for a gas station and some open carenderia to grab dinner. It was almost 10pm already and most gas stations and shops in Morong town proper were already closed. We were told by bystanders that we could knocked on the Petron gas station nearby and we were lucky that the owner graciously opened the station for us for a refill. Then we got a call from our team captain Mannie DS that we were again in first place running. The PNP runners Boyet, Dondi and Dioni had great runs and recovered the minutes we mere mortals had lost. We were back at the Pawikan center to meet the General and for Oliver to take over the leg to Anvaya Cove. Oli made a steady uphill climb and we were in Anvaya shortly. Just as Major Jun took off a few meters away, we were advised to skip the leg by the race directors Eric Imperio and Daryll De Leon and was advised to already cancel off the current leg and proceed to the next REP which was in Morong Gate to Subic. This was to make sure that all teams would be back to the starting line before the 3 am 2nd day start off. We abided and I was the next runner and was candidly advised by the subic sentries to look out for crossing snakes along the road. It was midnight and the route was mostly downhill to the next station. Dok took off from me and in such a hurry he donned the reflector upside down providing us with some comic relief since he looked like a bishop being chased by a pregnant nun. The Kenyan overtook him just before the exchange point.




DAY 2:

Our runner Dioni was back at the starting line about 1:30am after leg 20 and we were able to sip some noodle soup and a good power nap before the race started again at 3am. I probably dozed off since I was jolted by Major that we need to get back and bring some water to the other van. It was already my turn to drive. I was disoriented but managed to get my bearings back. Then all of sudden we were back in contention. Dioni did a great run after Rienzi and was able to catch up with the SAF runner (the Special Action Forces Team took off 7am Saturday). After a blistering pace by Boyet the next runner Dondi finally grabbed the lead and we were again back in first place. Everyone's spirits were again alive and the captain was barking orders left and right with much amusing displeasure from Major. We grabbed a quick lugaw breakfast by the road at San Marcelino town proper to get us ready for our turns. The turn-around loop was a short 3km run and the General managed to get a good head start punctuated with a sprint run by Oliver. Major took over and the SAF runner was just about 100m away from him but was not able to overtook him. We were kidding him that maybe he gave orders earlier to the SAF runner not to outlast him lest he would be demoted. I took off after Major Jun knowing that he has only about 30m lead over the SAF runner. The next leg was a flat 8.5km run but under a scorching sun with very little shade along the road. Our captain was constantly reminding me & Dok to run like we had never ran before. I felt the burden on my shoulder should I ran a lousy pace. The SAF runner with about 2 km to go suddenly caught up with me but I hanged on to his back keeping paced with him and talking to him. Told him that the Kenyans were just behind us and we should help each other with the pace. He just nodded in agreement. With about a kilometer to go the choco bar I took minutes before suddenly kicked in and I upped the pace a bit and told the SAF guy to keep up. When I turn around to check on him he was slowly losing ground and I pumped some more till the exchange point. Dok was nowhere. He told me later he went to the toilet. Anyway, the transition time was not counted and we would not lose precious time. Dok's turn which was about 11km was already hot and you could feel the asphalt heat burning your legs. I brought a sprayer and was applying mists on him to relieve him of the heat. The PPB runner caught up with him with about 3km to go. Dok was able to hold on and kept a steady distance from him. We were already at the last exchange before Subic town and it was Dioni's turn for the 12km leg back to the finish line. The PPB runner was about 2 minutes ahead and the SAF runner was about 4min ahead. At this point we were at 3rd place. Dioni was very determined to take the lead. We lost him thru the traffic at the Subic town center and when we caught up with him he had already overtaken the PPB runner. A few meters away was the SAF runner already walking and suffering form cramps and Dioni just blew past him.
He tackled the hills of Subic like a butterly with a grim face of a true champ. When we asked what drinks he needed, he said all he wanted were pictures of him running. We totally forgot to take pictures with the intensity of the race. The general's camera was on the other van and I had only my Blackberry running low on batt already for the pics. Then when we were about to enter the Subic gate we got a call from our captain to already proceed to the lighthouse and that we were the first team to reach the finish line and that we would have a victory walk to the finish arch for photo ops with our finishers medals (also doubles as bottle openers). We were not automatically the champion yet since the times had to be computed first for the standings. We were also the first to use the portable field showers for a very refreshing bath and shower.

AWARDING AND EARLY DINNER:


We headed back to Binalot for our lunch and most of us off in the van and at the hotel lobby. The awarding was still scheduled around 3pm and several teams were still arriving. The fun prizes were awarded first. We got the 'best team smiles' award'. The PPB got the 'best uniform award'. Most teams had some sort of awards. We were not still sure at this point that we would getting the All Men's Category Champion's trophy. When our team was called we all rushed tot he stage and our captain had no idea that w bagged the first place. He thought we were 3rd place since we were the first to be called. But there was no 2nd nor 3rd place. Only Champions for each category. The Smart Team were the Corporate champs.

The race was truly epic not just because of the distance but the adventure and team strategy each team had to employ. We were just out there to enjoy this unique experience and were having fun along the way. But when we realize that we were in contention each one put on their game faces and did their share for the team. I admired the perseverance and unrelenting spirits of the elite policemen displaying what true champions are. This was the epic inaugural race and we would be back next year to defend the title.