Finished another marathon one week after my Bataan Death March 102k ultramarathon. I’m happy to beat my last year time by 4mins. and finished it in 4hrs. 10mins. Thanks to the organizer and staff. Our condolences to the two runners who passed away during that said event.
with my son at the finish line
with my wife and son at the finish line
“Being patient is the most important quality to posses specially in running. Running is an extremely humbling sport that breaks even the best runners. If you are patient and give yourself time to adjust to a routine or races, you will accomplished your goal.” #southsiderunner
Ranked 20 out of 204 runners at 14hrs. 2mins. We started at KM 00 Mariveles, Bataan and finish line at the old train station in San Fernando, Pampanga where the KM102 was the ending point of Bataan Death March. Again a big thanks to RD Major General Jovenal D Narcise AFP (Ret) for yearly organising this event. Thanks to my loyal support team Bonjing and my nephew Carlos you both knows the drills in all utramarathon that I have joined. Friends in running community and to EARCOS family.
Congratulations also to all the runners who participated. And to my wife Sheryll, thanks for the sumptuous dinner and to my son Elijah, again happy to see another trophy along with his Lego collections.
Official race result click here
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Few Tips for others who will be running the next edition.
KM #00 Mariveles, Bataan. Group shot 8th edition of BDM102 2016
Approaching the finish line
Few more meters to the finish line
Overwhelmed.. wasak!
Traditional Hug from the Race Director Maj. Gen. Jovie Narcise (Ret.)
Ranked 20th at 14hrs. 2mins.
with the Race Director Maj. Gen. Jovie Narcise (Ret.)
It’s part of my running life that someday I will sign-up for a trail running event. But I never imagine myself running an ultra on trail and to be honest I’m a road runner. It never crossed my mind running an ultra trail as I was relying more on my support when I’m running an ultramarathon on road. But this time there’s no turning back I registered myself in 5th Valley Trail Challenge 50K organized by RD Jonel Mendoza of Frontrunner. The place was in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa. I have chosen this event for my first ultra trail run. With amazing views and scenic trails, Nuvali is the perfect training ground for a trail run. Runners will find a variety of trails and terrain throughout Nuvali. Maybe because the place was familiar for me even thought I never run that trail. Sometimes we have this instinct even when you never run on that place but nears your comfort zone it gives you courage and motivation to try a different experience and cultures in running.
I have this mindset that once I register to a certain event I review everything from maps, aid station, and even visit blogs and read race review. This time even what they’re wearing and what kind of brand I will buy or use for this kind of running.
Time flies and there’s no turning back. As usual, first time trail runner show up early at the starting line but I am not thinking that I’m going to run all 50k… I mean run all 50k. That’s not realistic for me as I know my body and limits. I have this plan to walk all the ups, run the downs and run the flats as I can. I’ll just going to enjoy this experience much more and learn a hell of a lot more as well.
3-2-1!!! off we go and I have reached the first AS-1 I didn’t stop as I still managed to run comfortably. Now we entered the second trail, this time I passed by 5 more runners and distance myself. Now I am running alone in the trail, so this is how it feels like running alone in an unfamiliar place without anyone to run besides you it’s just you and the trail. 1 hour have passed I noticed one runner and It was Alfred delos Santos. I ran with him until AS 2 but while reaching AS 3 we got lost and noticed another runner joined us, it was Wilnar Iglesia and Richard and a minute have passed another runner joined us and it was Thomas Combisen. We are all lost at the wide construction site as we are having hard time recognizing the markings but with each others help we have found the markings leading to 25K turn around. Thanks also to the Nuvali guard who guided us and remind us of the 20ft. deep canal.
A big relief when I reached the 25K turn around for 50k, this time I ranked 8th overall unofficial just based on the other runners who’s counting how many already reached the turn around. As usual familiar faces leading the pack Thomas Combisen followed Graciano Santos then Wilnar Iglesia. But after kilometer 32 I decided to changed my socks as my forefoot is developing blisters which gives me hard time to run and getting lost 4 times. Training your body to power hike and walk fast is some of the most important training you can do as an ultra runner. Actually, I did not bothered whether I am in top 10 or 20 my mindset was to learn more and experience the pain in running on trails. To be honest, I really did enjoy the trail run where you are one with nature. The sound of crickets, cows, goats, and most specially when you are greeted by sunrise on top of the hills, is just priceless and not to mention all the land mines (cow manures).
Little by little I have reached the last Aid Station leading to the finish line. I was too tired because of the heat and the blisters in my forefoot. But I’m excited to crossed the finish line and to see my son Elijah, this is his first time to see me crossing the finish line. We have planned this but he is more excited than me, reminding me of my race every week. I ran and walk the last 3 kilometers to the finish line with foreign runner as we are both really tired and I am gasping for air as the sun is already up and giving me hard time to run conservatively.
All in all it was a very well organized event, markings are visible at every corners and junction as the Race Director reminded us before gun start. The race volunteers are all very helpful to assist us.
Thank you to RD Jonel Mendoza for organizing this 5th Valley Trail Challenge. To all his staff big thank you for giving your weekend time to assist us. To all frontRUNNER sponsors, Big thank you! Also the Nuvali guard who guided us in some critical trail. To all fellow trail runners congratulations!
To my nephew Carlos who’s with me in all my ultramarathon you know the drills as always. Special thanks also to George Dolores for some tips in running my first ultra trail run. To Phen Avanzado and his running friend nice to see you on the trail. It was a great honor and pleasure to meet and run with known ultra elite in the country like Alfred delos Santos, Wilnar Iglesia, and Thomas Combisen. Lastly, Congratulations also to my wife Sheryll who finished her first 12K run at Energizer Run in Filinvest.
“What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.” ~Spencer Johnson
All set for my first Ultra Trail Run. Nervous to be honest… 
1 minute to gun start.
3-2-1 off we go!!! 
I have reached the 25k turn around for 50k. 
we walk and run the last 3km to finish line as we are both tired. 
He just told me that he finished last week TNF100 ultramarathon. Congrats! 
sweat and hungry!
My son Elijah handed me a cold water but too shy to walk with at the finish line. 
Awesomenesssss!!!! mission accomplished! 
Thank you RD Jonel Mendoza on my first baptism on trail. 
Darn love this photo. Nice shot Carlos. 
George Dolores my friend was surprised when he saw me at the finish line. He didn’t know that I registered in this event as we always talk about the TNF100. But I choose the Valley Trail Challenge for my first ultra trail. 
With George Dolores. Balis ng panahon ang liit liit mo lang nung sa Parish Youth pa kami. LOL! Thanks George sa mga tips!
My son said when will be my next ultra and he promise that he will join me crossing the finish line. 
Congratulations guys! and thank you to all frontRUNNER sponsors! 
Probably my first 100miles run if i finish the Bataan Death March 102K strong with 3 weeks rest I’m up to this race again else will wait for another invitation to run the Bataan Death March BDM160.
Mayon 360° Fifth Edition
April 10-11, 2015
Albay Philippines
#southsiderunner
I had a great 10K Fun Run here at our very own little town of San Pedro, Laguna. Rain never stops from start to finish and had a great time running side by side with Champion Luisa Raterta up to Pacita Complex. But of course she was really fast and leaving me behind along Brgy. Landayan. It was a good run and have time reminiscing my Quezon Marathon last year where rain never stops up to the end.
I managed to finish the race still in Sub-1 at 49mins. 50secs. and landed in Top 10. But aside from that I was really humbled to receive a medal from the race director of that said fun run. Why? Because it was a ready made medal that you can easily buy in any bookstores.
But this medal reminds me of my High School days. This medal reflects all the good and bad times when I was in High School. This medal reminds me of those student in Public/Private who are very competitive with their respective sports. This medal is very special for me.
Thanks to Paramount Insurance, the race organizer Dinoji Bhadra Ananda, Marshall in every intersections, and the Liga ng mga Barangay and Kagawad Toots Paradina and Deck Dimaunahan Job well done!!!
When i’m running, my brain has too many Tabs to Open. #southsiderunner
Photo: Tim Kemple/The North Face
You’ll never get close to the ultrarunner’s 90-plus podium finishes, but his rules will help you run your best race.
Here, in an excerpt from the book, is his top race-day advice to help you run your best ultra—or at least finish.
Hal’s Top 10 Must Do’s on Race Day
DO be patient. The race ahead is long; allow it to unfold, and remind yourself to appreciate and enjoy the journey.
DO be gentle on yourself beforehand. Take it easy the day and night prior to race day. Race organizers don’t make that easy, by scheduling interesting expos and panel discussions the day before, where you are on your feet, walking around, expending energy. Discipline yourself to keep that to a minimum, making a conscious effort to sit and rest, with your feet up as much as possible. Don’t squander the good work you’ve done during your taper in the last day or two.
DO wear a watch. I rely on my watch not only to know if I am on race pace but also for proper and strategic eating and hydrating. For example, I know I want to eat a gel every 20 to 30 minutes; I know I want to drink an entire bottle of fluid in an hour. A watch keeps me on that plan. Some people rely on aid station placement to some degree. However, that involves an intimate knowledge of the course that most runners don’t have, and it also allows the aid station to dictate your fueling pace, which should be in your control. Your watch is the fail-safe. Wear it.
DO fuel often and early. Attempting to play catch-up later in the race is a dangerous and mostly doomed proposition. For one, you process sugar and food poorly near the end of a race. Also, as you tire, it is easy to forget to fuel properly later in a race. Don’t get to the point of being either hungry or thirsty. Load on the front end.
DO have more than one goal. That way, if your primary goal goes out the window, you can reach for your secondary or tertiary goal. For example, a top goal may be going for first place in your age group. A secondary goal could be more time-focused, such as going for a sub- 24-hour race in a 100-miler. A tertiary goal might be simply to finish.
DO be ready to be resilient when things go wrong. If you roll an ankle or your breathing is erratic or your stomach goes, you and your crew will have to think on the fly. Be ready for and open to that. If you have severe cramping, for example, a plan-on-the-fly might be: We will walk through this rather than just sitting down and doing nothing. Or, I will run for 2 minutes and walk 2 minutes. Mentally, devising a plan gives you back and keeps you in control. Micromanage the problem while still keeping an eye on the big picture.
DO push yourself a little. This is a race, after all. And you’ve trained hard for this day, maybe years of cumulative effort, maybe 6 months straight of prioritizing training over other things in your life. You deserve to claim all that you’ve worked for. So go for it! Don’t be tentative. Push yourself up some of those hills, find that pace that you’ve trained for, and stick with it. Don’t be afraid to set your sights a little bit higher on the dream you’ve worked toward—embrace it!
DO visualize success. During every race, I see myself winning. Whatever it may be, you must have something that inspires you held like a beacon in your mind—maybe it is winning the race or your age group, or maybe it is the act of crossing the finish line. Visualize success. Visualize the course. Visualize getting through specific aid stations. As for me, in tough moments in a race, I see a reenactment of some of my best finish line scenarios all melded into one.
DO have fun. Make the most of the day, and be grateful for the unique opportunity to be there. When things go awry, remind yourself that you are there for fun, and enjoy the day you’ve been given as it unfolds. Be present.
DO stay aware. Most races are run in the wilds. The course will not be entirely flagged nor each turn highlighted. Pay attention to where you are, be familiar with the course beforehand, and know the markings. If you can get on the course for some reconnaissance before race day, do it. If not, online maps make examining the course easy. Have basic knowledge of where you are going, and know the names of the trails you will be on and where the ascents and descents will be. Do not just mentally check out when you are running; it is your responsibility to stay on the course. Knowing details about it will help you gain confidence when it begins to seem like it’s been too long since you’ve spotted that last race marker.
Hal Koerner manages to remain insanely competitive and also keep up a reputation as one of the happiest people on the planet. Now, the hordes of distance-running fanatics who look up to him can rejoice: the new Hal Koerner’s Field Guide to Ultrarunning is a comprehensive tome on the training, gear, and techniques that keep him going and going.
By Hal Koerner
How to pick and train for a worthy goal that is six, nine, or twelve months out.
As you set your goals for the New Year, consider planning beyond your next race or even your next season and choosing an ambitious long-term target. “If you’re just looking at lots of short cycles, it’s hard to reach your potential,” says Jess Cover, a running coach at On Track Performance Coaching in Burlington, Vermont. You can lose motivation once you hit a short-term goal, letting the fitness you’ve built lapse. Or you can train or race too much, burning out before you peak. By setting your sights on a macro-goal in the future, you can string together shorter training cycles and smaller victories in a way that builds toward a big win.
In Six Months, You Can. . .
Increase Your Short-Race Speed By One to Three Percent
If you haven’t been running regularly, spend one to three months building a base of at least three weekly runs, working up to at least six miles for your weekly long run, says Tim Bradley, M.S., C.S.C.S., the assistant cross-country and track coach at St. Louis University and owner of Big River Personal Coaching. Then add one speed workout per week: After a one- to two-mile warmup, run six to eight 30-second repeats at goal race pace or slightly faster, with one to two minutes of jogging in between. Each week, either speed up or lengthen your repeats until you’re running 30-second intervals at your mile race pace (“as fast as you can run while still feeling like you have another gear you can change into,” Bradley says) or two- to three-minute intervals at 5-K or 10-K pace. If you’ve been training consistently, do one speedwork day per week during the first three months, plus a long run and one to three easy runs. Beginning in the second month, swap one easy run for a tempo run each week. By race day, you’ll have honed your speed—and built the endurance to maintain it.
In Nine Months, You Can…
Double—Or Substantially Increase—Your Weekly Mileage
If you average 15 to 20 miles per week, increasing this total builds endurance and allows your muscles, joints, and bones to better adapt to the stress of the sport. Start by adding up to a mile to some of your runs (or two miles to one run) to increase your weekly total by 10 to 20 percent. Maintain this mileage until it feels easy—three to four weeks—then consider adding again. To stay healthy, slow your pace and do as many runs as you can on soft surfaces. Listen to your body: If you’re tired and achy, back off for a week. And instead of racing, set mini-goals focused on what Bradley calls “training fundamentals”—for instance, aim to spend five to 10 minutes on strength exercises (especially for your core and hips) before each run and five minutes foam-rolling afterward to boost injury resistance.
In One Year, You Can. . .
Run Your First Long Race
For new runners eyeing a half or full marathon, a year “gives you enough time to overcome the training learning curve and accumulate appropriate mileage,” Bradley says. While more-experienced runners could tackle these distances in three to six months, a year allows more chances to practice necessary skills like eating and drinking on the run without gastrointestinal distress. Follow the same guidelines you would to build mileage, but include shorter races every two to three months. Within two months of your goal race, use the next distance down (a 10-K if you’re training for a half, or a half for a full) as a trial run to test your race-day outfit, fueling strategy, and pacing strategy, Cover recommends.
In One Year-Plus, You Can. . .
Run a Distance-Race Personal Best
Figure out, percentage-wise, how much time you want to shave off and divide it into more than one training cycle if it reaches double digits. For example, if you’ve run a 4:30 marathon and you want to break four hours (11 percent faster), aim to speed up four to seven percent (11 to 19 minutes) in your next marathon, and cut the rest after another full training cycle. (This aggressive improvement may not be possible for all, but dedicating a year or more to marathon trainingensures that you’ll run the best time you can.) Bradley recommends just one marathon per year (though other coaches allow one in spring and one in fall), with shorter races every six weeks along the way and a backup race six to eight weeks after the first in case weather or illness derails you. Half-marathoners can compress this schedule, planning for two per year with a backup three to five weeks out. As your race nears, make a plan for the weekend, including where you’ll eat, how you’ll get to the start, and how you’ll pace yourself. Follow it closely for the best chance of capitalizing on all your hard work.
by Cindy Kuzuma
Like Dean Karnazes, I wasn’t born with any innate talent. I’ve never been naturally gifted at anything. I always had to work at it. The only way I knew how to succeed was to try harder than anyone else. Dogged persistence is what got me through life. But here was something I was half-decent at. Being able to run great distances was the one thing I could offer the world. Others might be faster and can run longer than me but my strongest quality is that I never give up.
#southsiderunner
Full effort is full victory and I have finished my last Ultramarathon for this year with a record time of 6hrs 6mins and rank #54 out of 600+ runners. Surpassing my previous time by 12minutes.
It was indeed even you are familiar with the route still only YOU can dictate how you will perform and finish the race strong and injury free.
People think I’m crazy to put myself through such torture, though I would argue otherwise. Somewhere along the line we seem to have confused comfort with happiness. Dostoyevsky had it right: ‘Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness.’ Never are my senses more engaged than when the pain sets in. There is a magic in misery. Just ask any runner. The more pain, the more they are willing to finish the race.
Thanks to my support team Bonjing Mars Lenin Ladisla, Carlos Gabriel, John Hilario, Edward Hernandez who waited for me along Puregold Sn. Pedro and to my wife Sheryll. Special thanks also to my boss Dr. K for congratulating me.
#southsiderunner
Kawit, Cavite to Calamba, Laguna
53kilometers Ultramarathon
with Nonie Hilario
Starting line
Along Daang Hari, Cavite
Calamba City, Finish Line.
with Mon Gallego rank #20
my wife sheryll
with my Nephew Carlos Gabriel, 2013 IronKids RunRace Champion.
#southsiderunner
SouthSideRunner 