Saturday In The Park

This past Saturday was not any ordinary Saturday to the SFRunner.  It was a morning to see if there's anything left in the legs, knees, heart and desire. 

A few days ago, this runner registered for the Rexcona 10 Mile Event in Makati City, Philippines.  Normally, this is mot a big deal but the 5K has a cutoff time limit of one hour (12 minutes a kilometer or 19 minutes, 31 seconds per mile).

Up until the last couple of years, this runner was never concerned about stuff like this.  Before the injuries hit, I was running seven to eight minutes per kilometer or 11-12 minute miles.  Since these days, it's been mostly power walking with an occasional jog, the margin for error is very short.

Last Sunday, on a course that had numerous signal lights and stop signs the first three kilometers or about two miles, the walk was around 61 minutes with the watch running.  Definitely, it was a disappointment because the last three kilometers, this runner worked hard.  The effort was good but not good enough.

On Saturday, it was definitely different.  There were two intersections on the 5K course in Golden Gate Park.  There were a couple of small hills but mostly level to downhill.  The time was four and one half minutes faster (56 minutes, 33 seconds), definitely exceptional compared to last Sunday.  There were cyclists, runners and walkers on the course but were never an issue.  It was good to see runners from my last club, Excelsior, along with a number of high school runners from University out there on a pleasant morning.  The weather was overcast and cool which is normal for August.

Tomorrow, I plan to jog a bit on the uphills of the Mountain Lake 5K course that is sponsored by the Dolphin South End Runners.  Certainly, this person would rather run the Makati City event, but needs to have a backup plan in case the running part doesn't fall through.  The muscle above the left knee is still not where it should be and am not confident at this point of pushing this much.

The good news is that there are still three weeks to go in preparation for the event (with two weeks to go here in The City).  Going home on the 31 MUNI, the effort was successful.

The Upcoming Rexona Race w/Carlito, Dennis and more!

The following post is quite a bit overdue but wanted to get this out before leaving for Asia next month (September).

I've known Carlito Buenaventura from the Philippines for a little while now (not quite as long as Wilbert, Dennis or Jennifer).  However, Carlito and I have a couple of things in common such as the local pro wrestling scene and running.

Earlier in the month, he shared a copy of a blog post that was inspiring back in 2008 with Jaymie Pizzaro (The Bull Runner) and Sir Jovie Narcise (Bald Runner).  It was at a time when running was booming in the country and this runner being a very small part of it.

Carlito was very inspired about the running blog I had until some time ago when the blog was deleted.  What this runner didn't realize was the impact the blog did for people, especially in the Philippines.

He had been a runner for several years until having heart surgery.  His time away was roughly four years from 2015-2019.

He got back into it by power walking and eventually running during the pandemic years.  There was depression and anxiety at the time.  However, Carlito  channeled it beautifully into something very positive. Today, he's back to running but not racing.

He's doing some amazing stuff.  Looking at a reel, Carlito just completed his 1081st straight (three years folks!) ultra distance (50 kilometers)!  When I hear about ironmen in sports, I think of Cal Ripken (baseball) and his streak of 2632 games without missing a game.  Carlito's streak is even more amazing because he's doing it at least seven-eight hours each attempt!    

We talked about various things such as Wilbert and Dennis who run races with him.  Wilbert and Dennis are runners that I've known for several years.  Carlito also mentioned a race that will take place while in Metro Manila.  The Rexona 10 Miler starts at one of my favorite training spots in Makati, the Ayala Triangle.  He's shared other things such as marathons, 90+ year old athletes that continue to run, etc.

With numerous people encouraging to get back into shape, and learning about Carlito, the attitude and motivation has changed dramatically here.  After getting off the rear end, and doing a couple of training walks, this runner registered for the event.  It is on Sunday, September 14th, beginning at 2am.  It will be part of a big day in which this runner will be at two other events, both local pro wrestling shows.

Back to Carlito, this runner is humbled and honored to be at the same start line with him, Dennis and anyone we both know on September 14th.  Doing a Run Rio event is also a bonus for those who have done one of his events!  Right now, the plan is to walk and jog a little.  The cutoff time for the 5K is one hour.  Walking-wise, I'm around that right now (within about 15 seconds walking).  

SFRunner's First Bay To Breakers

The famous Hayes Street Hill, between two and three miles, of the Bay To Breakers 12K and 15K events.  I will try and get today's photo later today and have it below the 1972 photo.

The date was Sunday, May 21, 1972.  It seems like a long time ago.

There was a lot going on worldwide and locally.  The Vietnam War was unpopular worldwide and it seemed no end in sight.  Locally, a sports entertainment known as Roller Derby was unpopular.  The Bay Area's favorite home team, the Bay Bombers had been replaced by the Chiefs.  That would change about a week later!

This runner had been training longer miles (like 30 miles per week over the past year).  The San Francisco Examiner, the sponsor of the Bay To Breakers, had entries in their newspaper for over a month.  The previous year, I had participated in the Dolphin South End Runners practice race and finished around 61 minutes.  It was so much fun, it was time to do it again!

The race itself was free.  The only thing that runners needed to do was to join the Pacific Association of the AAU for one year.  The fee was one dollar.  Also, runners had to take a physical, either by their doctor, or on the morning of the race.  No problem.

The course.  Thank you to Map My Run in recreating the course.

The morning was partly cloudy with no wind.  That would change as we would enter Golden Gate Park as patchy fog would settle in over the area.

According to the Examiner, 2585 participants started and 2282 registered.  Ken Moore (pictured above) would win his fifth consecutive B2B in a record time.  A few years later at a corporate event, this runner had a chance to meet him several years before his untimely death.  We talked about the race and exchanged many memorable moments from the event.

Moore would go on to finish fourth in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich running in the Marathon.  This runner would finish his first B2B in just over 61 minutes.  Since then, I've completed 47 more of them.

Back in 1972, the race itself was far more serious with an occasional costume or two.  Today, it is far more of a party atmosphere.  In 1972, we received a certificate and water/juice for our efforts plus a blister or two.  Today, all official entrants receive a finisher's medal.  The race is one of the top 15 in the world as far as the longest running.  It doesn't look like it will end anytime soon.

A Takbo.ph Race

The late Patrick Concepcion and I before the Takbo.ph race.  Patrick did the 20 miler while I did the 16K.

 

This blogger has talked about races in the Philippines and the different promotions that put the races on.

 

In November 2017, I finally had the opportunity to take part in a Tabko.ph 20 Mile race in Pasay City.

 

This runner certainly was not in the best of shape going into the race.  The week before, I participated in a race at UP Dilman.  The 10K was the worst of my career although I had a blast.  Having a chance to run The Oval is something that everyone whether Filipino or anywhere around the world should run.  It is a place that this runner would train several days a week if I lived in Metro Manila.  

 

The Takbo.ph 16K, part of a series of races that morning was really special.  First off, I've known Jinoe and Que going back to 2008 when visiting the Philippines on a running vacation for the first time.  They have always been nice and appreciative, not only to myself but with the running community.  It was at a time when the running craze was growing in Metro Manila as well as Cebu.  When I finally retired from working full time in 2017, Doing a Takbo.ph race was one of the top things when visiting.

 

Prior to the 20 miler, Patrick Concepcion and I were warming up in preparation and we eventually had a photo-op.  We had a chance to meet up after both of us were completed and talked about running and visiting America again one day.  I understand there is a duo photo of Patrick and myself in the two different events from the event.  Honestly, am humbled greatly by this.  For years, Patrick and I talked about training, races, and exchanged training methods.  Also, Patrick was well known in the running community and was definitely great and kind with those that he knew.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I found out that he passed away and it hit really hard.  For several years, this runner because of injuries, the covid pandemic and disinterest became out of touch with the sport and with the running community in the Philippines and in America.  There was the Stripes Run 5K I did in 2023 in Pasay City and the local Bay To Breakers 12K here in 2024.

 

The race itself was well run, but this runner did poorly.  I believe I saw Dennis and a couple of other runners out there on the course.  The weather was good compared to some other long races when the humidity was a factor.  The aid stations were perfectly run, the kilometer markers were perfect according to the Garmin, etc.

 

During the second half of the 16K, there were a couple of women that were struggling.  They wanted to stop right there.  Since I was not going to run a good time that day, the two runners actually joined in and slowly ran with me.  The conversation from this runner was "you can do this!"  When they needed to walk, I walked along with them just to keep them going.  Both of them finished right in front of me at the finish (this runner didn't want to be macho!) so one mission on the race was accomplished.

 

Afterwards, I thanked Que and numerous staff members for the job they did on the race.  For those reading this, Takbo.ph continues to have races throughout the year and they have their own website.  Here is their website URL.  Please click the link below this paragraph.

 

  http://www.takbo.ph/

 

Afterwards, there were a few photo-ops, breakfast with several people including an old friend, Mon from the Happy Feet Running Club.  A couple of days later, I headed back to San Francisco on another flight.  It would be December 2022 when I returned to the Philippines.        

Feels Good!

Well, the workout wasn't pretty but the 200 meters jogging at Fort Point was good.

 

The walk today was actually a recovery from the quicker two mile yesterday in Golden Gate Park.

 

Because of a doctor's appointment, which this runner totally forgot, the run at Ocean Beach was changed.

 

After completing the walk from the apartment to Fort Point and around the area, it was decided to jog around the oval overlooking the Marina.  It was un-timed but knowing the distance, slight uphill and downhill, it felt good though it was about 200 meters.  Definitely the left leg and knee feels stronger than it did one week ago.  Doing some stretching, stair climbing around the apartment and hills have helped.

 

The goal for two weeks from Sunday is actually jog the Mountain Lake Park 5K instead of doing a self time.  Being with other participants is better than doing it alone.  The DSE cutoff is 15 minutes per mile or 46:36 per calculation.

 

With the upcoming race in the Philippines, the race organizers have an hour cutoff.  Right now, just walking, this blogger is around 18:10 per mile pace or 56:27 per 5K.

 

Tomorrow, a 5K on the track at Kezar Stadium and on Sunday, will walk the Mountain Lake 5K for the very first time.  I've run it several times and know the course well.