And I'm Back

Miss me? Well I certainly didn't mean to be gone so long. I'm back though and not just in blogging but running as well. Those close to me know that I take Decembers off and this past December was no exception. In fact I lived it up a little too much. My girlfriend was visiting from London and we ate well and often. I promised her great food in San Francisco and San Francisco did not disappoint. Ah well the extra weight I'm carrying around will only make my legs stronger and I'll be faster once it comes off. Who needs a weight vest if I have a weight waist! Gotta turn that negative to a positive:)

So a quick recap. Last year I went on a seven week trip to the UK and the Philippines, working and living in both places for September and October and I came back out of shape. That Philippine ultra I participated in on my last post, I was only able to finish that because I know what the second half of a 100 mile ultra feels like. I went into it with very little training the four weeks prior to the race and no heat acclimation. It was an event I couldn't pass up however and I made great memories that day and new friends. Like my step dad used to say, "my momma raised no fools that lived". It would have been foolish not to experience a race in the Philippines when I had the time and resources to do so.

After I got back I was in a small panic, I had big plans for the end of the year but in terrible shape. So I ran my butt off. The ultra in Cebu and the handful of runs I managed to do while I was away preserved something and that little bit of something was enough to build on. Two weeks after I got back in the end of October I was off to Javelina to pace my buddy Tony Portera for his fourth finish at Javelina Jundred. I was worried he was going to drop me or I wouldn't have been able to finish my 40 miles of pacing. We've done this event four times, the first year we were over 24 hours but the last three we got that sub-24 buckle. Then it was on to the Quad Dipsea two weeks later. Oh that race was a beauty. I knew I was going to be slower so I had paced myself accordingly. I figured I was going to be at least 30 minutes longer than my time the year before (5:09) and planned my splits based on the slower time. On race day I did hope for a miracle, that I would actually be faster than I predicted but since I wasn't I just stuck to my original plan. I finished at 5:47 or so. Just shy of where I thought I would be but I felt great the entire time. The week after Quad I paced my friend Lisa Klinkefus on her first 50-mile race at the Northface 50-miler. Klink is awesome, I paced her on her first 50k and I'm glad I was able to swing it for her first 50.

By the time Northface came around I was feeling pretty good again. A month of run cramming and events got me back in the groove but then it was time to shut it off again for the year. I like my Decembers off and despite my constant bitching about how much I hate how commercialized Christmas has become, I do enjoy the holiday dinners, get togethers and parties. Took December off and enjoyed my time with my girlfriend until it was time for her to return to London on January 9. I've been training hard ever since.

Besides giving me that mental and physical break from training and racing, these breaks also keep from taking my health and running for granted. Having to work myself back into shape in January and February reminds me how hard this ultra-running really is. It's easy to take for granted. Two weeks ago, on our weekly early Thursday morning Headlands run, I was dealt with a big kick in the butt. A hilly route that I normally run with the rest of the gang, I couldn't complete it without taking walk breaks, especially on the hills. I dragged myself all over the course and was dead last. I came back too soon, I had no business being there but it was a good reality check. This past Thursday I redeemed myself by running the entire thing. The fitness is coming back nicely. Losing it and having to work hard to get it back reminds me it ain't free or easy.

Big plans for the year? Well I'm officially signed up for the San Diego 100 in June…again. Love that run. I plan to run Quicksilver 50-mile before that in May. No planned races at the moment on the lead up to Quicksilver, right now I'm making up my mind on a March 50k. We'll see.

Well until next time.

Photo courtesy of Gary Wang. In the Marin Headlands, finishing up our Thursday morning trail run.

Cebu Summit 60k Challenge

So that hurt a lot! A month later I think about the race with a lot of fondness and some cringing because of the suffering I went through. I'm talking about the race I referenced two posts back - the Cebu, Philippines Summit 60k Challenge. Oi! I survived the race only because of my experience in the longer stuff. I knew it would come down to that and frankly finishing as well as I did was a small miracle. The second half of that race felt like the end of a 100-miler. No joke. Well it served me right going into the race with very little training and trying to be competitive. I'm an idiot. I chased like I had something to catch and paid for it.

I entered the event after over a month of having only run a handful of times while packing on some weight. I had no heat training either, ouch. You see two weeks before I left the United States on September 11, I ran the Headlands 50k. I had an amazing time and ran well but finished with an injury. I had a strain on the right hamstring due to my "bombing" of all of the downhills. Thankfully I felt the pain half a kilometer from the finish line but I was out of running for two weeks after the event. Only thing that kept me sane was TRX which I had taken up five weeks before and was addicted to. After those two weeks I was off to London where I enjoyed the days and worked through half the night on my freelance work.

I had my reservations of participating but ultimately it was my mom who gave me the push, "if you get tired you can always walk". That I did ma, that I did. So I went for it.

Took a flight out on a Saturday night for Cebu. An island so close to my hometown it only took thirty minutes and a prop plane at that. We went up then came right back down, well it felt that way anyway. At 2:30AM the next day Jonel Mendoza and Gary Garcia picked me up from my hole in the wall hotel and we were off. I was pretty excited, apprehensive but excited. We were off shortly after 4AM and I was surprised to see that despite my usual slow start I was close to the front pack. I was feeling like I was on top of the world that first 10k. Oh I kept watch on the pace, careful not to go out too fast. Even at that time in the morning I was already sweating buckets, horrible, but kept the pace solid. The first 15k was all flat road but after that we started to ascend a mountain road where we alternated between road and fire road. It got hilly quick and we were passing through small villages. These were remote rural areas where people were going about their normal lives. I saw three guys skinning a goat by the side of the road, a husband and wife duo who were each carrying a huge bamboo tree with bolos (machetes) on their hips, farmers minding their land, vendors selling this and that, playing kids, lounging unleashed dogs and lots of road kill that included snakes. It was pretty trippy and despite being so close to my hometown they spoke a different dialect that I couldn't understand. My fellow runners, the volunteers and the locals who I saw along the way were very supportive and offered encouragement, I just couldn't understand them. I never felt like a tourist in my own home country until this race.

Thirty kilometers into this, at 3 hours, I was already ready for the race to be over. Made sense I guess, the only runs I could manage for the previous month were a handful of 1-hour runs. Dying at 3 hours was normal except I had another 30 kilometers to go and the hills were non-stop! As it turned out the hills would continue for pretty much most of the race until the last several miles, the final downhill was painful in it's steepness. These damned cruel race directors - I'm a fan. Not only did I feel tired but I felt it physically, legs ached like crazy. Short of the 45k mark a volunteer ran up to me and asked if I wanted Omega Pro. Except for the Filipino runners, raise your hand if you know what Omega Pro is. Yeah I had the same problem, I was like "what?" said it several times. Finally he just pulled out the bottle. I was feeling so bad I agreed to have him rub the stuff on my legs, besides stopping felt like heaven. Well let me tell you, that salve felt amazing 5 minutes later. The menthol felt great on my legs and long after that wore off my legs continued to feel better. No help for being out of shape and racing heavy however, I still had to complete the remaining miles. At the 45th kilometer I was in 4th place, a position I had held since the 30th kilometer but the downhill slide took a steeper dive from this point forward. I got passed four times before I reached the finish line. It was disheartening even when I thought I was past the point of caring.

With about 6 miles to go we started coming down from the ridge and I was so happy only to find out in a couple of miles that we would start climbing again #$@*$!!! Up and up we went and I started thinking, "this downhill is going to be a bitch". Well it was. The best part was that at the end of the downhill a volunteer pointed me towards a six lane road and told me to cross it. There were no lights, crosswalks or rules about the pedestrian's right of way like you do here in the US, you just play frogger with the traffic. Thankfully the volunteer came with me, two is more visible than one. The last kilometer felt like forever, like having to take a dump but stuck in a long bathroom line. Holding your load would have been less painful I think. A motorcyle volunteer came alongside and kept me company. He radioed in my name and paced me to the final turn. I tell you that final turn took freaking forever. You actually pass the finish line before coming around to it. Did I mention I'm a big fan of the race directors? As I passed the finish line on my way to the final turn the blood blister on my right pinky toe burst. I laughed because it was that kind of day but wow… that pain. There is always that initial pain when raw flesh meets separated skin and it can go on for a minute. The pain was gone by the time I crossed the finish line but I had them take care of the toe at the finish.

The spirit of ultra is alive and well in the Philippines and this race, the support and organization is on par with what I'm used to in the US, even better than some races I've experienced. The course marking was excellent and the intersections were manned by volunteers who waved red flags. The red flags were great in the street sections where the volunteers looked like everyone else - I just aimed for the flags. Really, really great event. I have no complaints. If I need to have one then that finish line beer shouldn't be Lonestar from Texas. It should be the local beer which tastes a whole lot better!

It was a really, really great time and with my finish I got to check off two bucket list items; participate in an international race and finish an ultra race in the Philippines. Great, great time. UItra is going strong in the Philippines and it's growing!

With Gary Garcia and Jonel Mendoza.

Bridge crossing, it's so lush over there.

So green.

Intersection with race volunteers.

Chewing on a boiled yam while trying to pose for a picture. I'd prefer the yams over boiled potato but you need a lot of water with it.

Bananas and yams for aid station fare. Oh that candy is called Cloud 9. A type of chocolate snack that doesn't melt with the heat. It worked, all that mattered.

Finish line with medals that included place.

Making new friends.

Passed out post race. Photo courtesy of Jonel Mendoza.

For the complete photoset click here.

2011 So Far

2011 So Far

RACES

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PCTR Chabot Trail Run
February 20, 2011
Ran the 30k event, got real muddy and had a great time. It felt good to race again. Getting back into shape for the longer races!

Race Report

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PCTR Pirates Cove
March 19, 2011
I was supposed to run the 30k for this event as well but changed my mind on race morning and stepped up to the 50k. Had a great race and it was unexpected. I felt good for pretty much the entire time. It was sloppy with the mud and rain but I kicked butt, my own especially. Cracked that whip for the entire race.

4:48:35 for 5th Place.
Race Report

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American River 50-Mile
April 7, 2011
Disappointed that I just missed going under 8 hours but had a great. Fun race, great support!

8:05:22 for 64th out of 612 finishers.
Race Report


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Quicksilver 50-Mile
May 7, 2011
After AR50 I just kept on training hard and ran Quicksilver on tired legs. I definitely felt the wear and tear but had an unexpectedly good race. I was up and down the entire race but finished strong. Glad I did it.

8:24: something for 11th
Race Report

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Western States 100
June 25-26, 2011
Came away with another finish over 24 hours. Yaaaargggghhh! One day, one day! Besides that it was a great tie with friends, those running as well as crewing, volunteering and spectating. A great event.

24:50 something...
Race Report
More Photos


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San Francisco Marathon
July 29, 2011
First marathon in 7 years. Woohoo I forgot how fun they can be, painful too - all that asphalt. Fun time and as hilly as San Francisco is, it's nothing to the hills we run ever weekend in the Marin Headlands.Paced Jennifer Pattee, did a poor job at it but she did get her sub-4 goal.

3:56 something...
Race Report


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VOLUNTEER, CREW OR PACE
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Pacing at Miwok 100k
May 5, 2011
Paced buddy Bradley Fenner and was a witness to his amazing strength, determination and stamina. He had been injured earlier in the Spring and couldn't run for 8 weeks. Despite being under trained he finished and finished strong. Amazing performance.

Report


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Crewing and spectating at San Diego 100
June 11-12, 2011
Love San Diego 100, ran it the last 2 years, out this year because of Western States. Nevertheless I joined a group of friends to crew and pace. I was supposed to pace my buddy Randy Katz but he came down with food poisoning two days before the race. After he dropped he and I returned to the course to keep track of friends. We got to see Larissa Polischuk finally finish a 100 miler. A great time

Report
Videos

Booo!

And I'm back! So I've been gone, yes I know that much has been obvious. What I mean is that I've been "gone, gone". I'm not in the country. I left for London early September and now I'm in the Philippines. Before anything else I'd like to send a big shout out to my man Scott Berge who is taking care of my place while I'm gone. Dude you are the best!

I was in London to visit my girlfriend, she's in a master's program there and I'm here in the Philippines to visit family. It was my grandmother's 94 birthday the other day, quite a reunion for the family. She raised me until I was 12 and like the rest of the family we are especially treasuring the time we have left with her.

Got to do some running in London, flat but enjoyed it nevertheless and I got to do some running here too in the Philippines, also flat but humid and warm. Here in the Philippines, it's been loop courses, not a lot of places to run in the places I've stayed at, the streets are not safe because of vehicle traffic and stray dogs. To be honest the running has been at a bare minimum. I only manage to run every 2 or 3 days or so. I'm so off my rhythm, have to consider other people's schedules and I've been working on my freelance work at night. I've also been um… indulging in the local foods I miss so much. Ah well, nevertheless this hasn't stopped me from signing up for a 60k this coming Sunday:) What the hell, as long as I don't pass out from the heat, finish in a decent time and still make my plane back to my hometown I'll consider it a huge success. I just hope I don't embarrass myself. Some runners here consider me the most experienced Filipino ultra-runner. I don't know if that's really true and if it is it won't be for long. More ultra races are being organized in the country and those who have the means travel internationally for races.

The running scene here is booming including Ultra's! It has been for the last 4 to 5 years. Runners have become celebrities and more celebrities have taken up running. A gal whose blog I use to follow is now on billboards and posters endorsing products. Good to see. She also helps a lot of runners get started with her programs. Through the years I've made friends with her and other Filipino runners, ultra and non, through blogs and Facebook. It's been 3 years since I've been back to the Philippines and I've been wanting to meet some of them. Some I've lost touch with over time which is a shame. If I was here longer I could take the time to track them all down. Anyway I did manage to connect with four runners last week and one of them, Jonel Mendoza, invited me to run a 60k at a neighboring island. Lots of islands here. It's only a 30 minute turbo prop ride away but far enough that they speak a different dialect (77 dialects in the country), thank God for English because frankly my proficiency in the national language is suspect and spoken with an American accent.

I was in good company that evening, accomplished gents with a lot of passion for the sport. Jonel Mendoza runs races all over the country is the editor in chief of FrontRUNNER magazine - a great running mag with lots of ultra content. Jonnifer Lacanlale and Simon Sandoval finished UTMB with Simon going on to run the Berlin Marathon three weeks later. I've always wanted to run Berlin since I visited the city so many years ago. Doc Peter, I forgot his last name:), is a doctor from the University of the Philippines who has also participated in UTMB twice. He has had the opportunity to travel for work and has run the Grand Canyon. I promised to take him to the Marin Headlands when he visits. Only thing that could have made it better is if Jovenal Narcise aka the Bald Runner had been able to join us. He is a retired two star army general who has been tirelessly working to grow the sport of ultra in the Philippines. He travels to the U.S. frequently and applies the things he's learned to the ultra scene here. He is the RD for the Bataan Death March which started as a 102km (63 miles) race that was extended to a full 160km (100 miles) this year the winner of which broke 18 hours. It's a road ultra but the Filipinos are getting faster every year! He has since organized another 100-miler, it will be the second for the country, that is primarily trail with hills and a stream crossing. It will be a loop course, in an Army base, but safer. It's a wilder environment here and I'm not just talking about the kind of animals that walk on four legs. The Bald Runner is busy in California, he is set to run the Dick Collins Firetrails 50-mile - my favorite 50 mile under it's new but accomplished RD, Julie Fingar, who also organizes two other incredibly popular ultras, Way Too Cool 50k and the American River 50-mile.

So my current shape; not a lot of running - vacation schedule, plumpier - is that even a word?, slower and not acclimated to heat and humidity. Awesome right? This has the makings of an epic run or epic failure. Well I just couldn't pass up on the opportunity, it will be my first international race after all and an ultra at that and furthermore at a place I've never been. The run starts off in the midst of a town complete with dusty roads and crazy traffic but we will make our way to tree covered fire roads and HILLS! I miss hills and I miss trail. I think this is the first year of the event. Not sure though. If it is it just adds more incentive for me to finish well and by well I mean just finishing looking decent. I'm sure.

Wish me luck or say a prayer if you are so inclined. I will need all my so-called experience to make it through this one gracefully. I've never been the kind of runner who just winged it at events. Like in college, I spent a lot of time studying and working to make up for lack of God given talent and skill.

From left: Jonel Mendoza, myself, Jonnifer Lacanlale, Simon Sandoval and Doc Peter.

With Jon. I started trading emails with this gentleman 2-3 years ago. Back then 100 miles was just a dream for him, he has since three, all in different countries, with another scheduled at the end of the year. He is just getting started.