STANDARD CHARTERED TAIPEI MARATHON & FUSS ABOUT OUTSIDE SUPPORT, ETC.

Oh, it's been a while since my last post. Time flies. Time to add to my running diary here.

I cannot remember the last time I did a full road marathon. It was most likely before Covid. In 2023, I did one but it was a trail, the Mt. Ugo. I have had my fair share of 42K in the past both locally and internationally that I lost count.

So recently, I did the Standard Chartered Taipei Marathon (due to ease of travel since visa is not required anymore). I wish I had more weeks to train to come under 4 hours but it is what it is. This is by far my slowest marathon. It was however just good to be out there. 

The route was okay as it was something new. I had the initial impression that we would be running through the city but the route was mostly along a river. As I wont to say, the best way to see a city is on foot. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Weather was cold between 11C to 13C with wind chill in some open areas. I felt stupid not bringing my gloves and so I had to improvise by buying a pair of grey socks which I used as gloves. Not too fashionable but what the heck.

Will I go back? Nope. My eyes are set on completing the Abbot World Marathon Majors. I think the biggest challenge here is the Boston Marathon with strict qualifying time at my current age of 54. Well, let us see.

The best part after running a full mary is the food and drinks! Well, you have earned it. Cheers!

(Famous oyster omelette)

(Yong Kang beef noodles. One of the best!)

(Birthplace of what is now called Bubble tea)

There is a recent fuss (for lack of better term) about the rules in one of the trail races up North. The Race Rules now prohibits support crew, and this caused some uproar in our trail running community.

Although, I rarely bother posting any comment in FB which I do not deem worth my time. Besides, I rarely open my FB account. It's just I don't have the mood going through countless FB posts which are mostly 99% rubbish anyway.

At any rate, here is my comment in one post. I posted this out of concern and should not be construed as personal. The links to the post and the open letter of the RD thereto are provided for fairness. 

Simply put, my opinion is that outside crew in designated areas and pacer should be allowed in tough ultra races like 100 miles. This is the standard now in those 100 mile races I joined abroad. 

My take is that the RD should give all what the runners need so they can finish the race. 

(It is actually 108.5 miles. Damn!)

I remember doing my first 100 miles in Australia (GNW100) back in 2010. I did not have a pacer and was in a strange land that I had not set foot on. Everything was new. During the race, I got lost a few times. The good RD "appointed" a pacer (whose runner dropped during the race or did not show up) for me which normally does not happen. The runner and his pacer should know each other. But the RD knows I needed one and the pacer helped me finish the race. So that kind of need a RD should provide to his runners. Rules are only meant to provide order. The RD's main concern is how to help his runners finish the race. At the end of the day, that is all that matters.

Here is my comment:

I rarely open my FB and I see this. Here are my two cents.

1. I have been asked several times by other runners what it takes to be a good RD and my only answer is do NOT think like a RD when organizing a race; think like a runner. That way you would know what the runners NEED during the race.

2. To become a good RD, you need to become a seasoned (not necessarily fast or whatnot) runner with a good deal of experience in joing races both locally and internationally. That is the only way to have a good grasp of what are the "standards" out there. Try to implement them in your race as much as possible. Problem is too many RDs now lack this experience; hence, they have myopic views.

3. They do not call it "Aid Stations" (AS) for nothing. These stations are literally meant and function to sustain runners from one AS to another. Give the runners what they NEED to keep going especially in ultra races like 100 miles. Your goal as the RD is to help your runners finish the race. That should be it. Unfortunately, you can never know unless you have a good amount of exposure to other races.

4. The longer and harder the race like H1 (I should know), the more the RD should provide support to runners. Food and fluid not enough for all the runners is to me, a mortal sin. Registration fees are also meant to cover supplies at all aid stations.

5. RD's rules are not written in stone. That is why they get revised through the years based on the feedback from runners and experience of the RD as the organizer from previous editions of the race. Improvement is what they call it.

6. Organizing a race is still considered a contract between the RD and runners as customers. They pay the fees and they expect something commensurate in return. Not listening to your customers is just plain dumb. Otherwise, you will lose them eventually and your race will not grow.

Thus, as RD do not punish runners since the course (for hard and tough ultras) itself will do that job for you. Instead, give runners (customers) what they need to finish it. And believe me, they will come back.

Until next time!

Cheers,

Jon (looking for another race)

 

 

SO WHAT HAPPENED AT MT. UGO RACE & BOSS IRONMAN, 2023?

2023 MT. UGO RACE    

To tackle the 42k trail race (Mt. Ugo), I swore to climb and train at Mt. Arayat. I have learned my lessons from the previous 21k trail race of sore quads with a lot of cursing #$%@ that came with it days after the race. My previous story here. 

I was just glad that Mt. Arayat is now open to trailrunners, climbers, hikers, and visitors in general. The place has changed after the pandemic. There are cafes along the road and the entrance is now through a DENR post where you have to pay, I think Php30.00 each for every visitor. Also, a group of climbers will be required to secure a guide depending on the number of persons. I was told the rate is Php1,000.00. Given that they know us through the years, we are exempted. Besides, they don't bother telling or requiring us because we move fast. Some of the guides wear slippers and I think they like to keep the pace recreational. 

On a serious note, it occurred to me that acting as a guide is a good way to get in that exercise and earn at the same time. I wanted to try but I am not sure I have the patience to guide a bunch of folks where it will take them almost a whole day to be out and back. No offense but time for me is precious. Perhaps, if there are fast climbers that might work for me. Anyway, I am not doing it except upon request of friends or friends of a friend and it is gratis. Just to get in that climb is in itself the reward.

I am digressing. Okay going back. A fellow trailrunner, Arwin Sta. Clara and his wife, Joy joined me (or is it the other way around) for a double climb a week before Mt. Ugo. His wife joined us on the last climb. Nothing crazy fast or what. Just a chill climb and one of the best parts was a brunch at Abe's Farm. Delish!

So, after doing the climbing and running, I knew I was ready for the trail marathon. 

On the way to the Finish line, I passed several runners. Enjoying the downhill until I bonked. I was so hungry and did not realize how far the next aid station was. I appreciate the male runner from Cebu (I think and my apology I forgot your name) who gave me water and Cloud 9 choco bar. Thank you so much! 

Other than that episode, overall, I was happy with how the race turned out. 

Thank you to Jonel Mendoza and Robert Watson for allowing me to join. Of course, the race crew at every aid station and along the trail. It was so nice to be back!

2023 BOSS IRONMAN

Well, I could tell you now that this event felt like an ultra race on 2 wheels! 

No sleep for more than 19 hours before crossing the Finish line. Worse part was the incessant rain for roughly 400kms stretch up North in the middle of the night! We were all soaking wet.

Just like in all my ultra races before, I always tell myself that to control things that you can and not things you cannot like the weather. There is no point bitching about it. So for this long ride, all I did was gear up to protect myself from the rain. That's all I could do. 

But really, it was hard riding in the rain especially in those areas where I had to manage steep slippery downhills in pitch dark! Unlike a headlamp resting on your head where you can pivot to see what is up ahead, you cannot do it with a big bike. The beam of the headlight is limited to a straight line and so when one is managing a curve, you cannot see what is on the other side. It could get tricky and dangerous. In fact, there were several eroded sections. All I could do was ride slow and sure. One mistake could be fatal was all I kept telling myself. There was one incident where 2 riders were severely injured on a head-on collision because of a drunk driver, who from all indications, did it purposely. Damn. That guy should be punished severely. I wish I could find the video, which Epoy Poblete sent a link here. Thank you! I am just glad the 2 riders have recovered or are recovering.

Thankful, however, that I finished the ride safe and sound but absolutely wrecked. I cannot imagine doing this event with a pillion but I did see some. So, kudos.

So that is one off the bucket list. Will I do it again? I don't know. Let's see.

(Simply exhausted)

(What a dirty bike! Ugh)

(It took me more than a week to clean James. I didn't want to get near him and am sure James felt the same way too!)

Best,

Jon (resting this week after the 32km race yesterday and realizing this blog has become his running, among others, diary)

P.S.

Somebody told me of this 32k race in Clark and I immediately said why not. It is my neck of the wood anyway.

So, I bugged Don again to ask for free race kit. Thank you Don and the organizer of CCM!

Frankly, I was just happy to be running. Just give me a race bib and I don't care about the loot. Really. Ask some of the race organizers around. That is all I ask - a race bib just so I can run. And the same courtesy I extend to my fellow race organizers if they want to join my races. Besides, I don't want to bandit any race.

 

  

2014 Race Results for MF42

MF42

04 October 2014

Top 3 Male

CR = breaking the course record 05:40:25 for male in 2013

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	James Tellias	Male (M)	5:10:05 new CR
2	Jeff Suazo	M	5:36:06 CR
3	Thumbie Remigio	M	6:02:53

Top 3 Female

Old CR – 07:46:41

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	Lua Angela Limbo	Female (F)	6:55:19 new CR
2	Arlene Agulto	F	7:40:43 CR
3	Daphne Codilla	F	7:40:44 CR

Master List

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	James Tellias	M	5:10:05
2	Jeff Suazo	M	5:36:06
3	Thumbie Remigio	M	6:02:53
4	Richard Akol	M	6:26:53
5	Rey Cristofer Ali	M	6:30:44
6	Jerome Bautista	M	6:32:02
7	Juan Carlo Igos	M	6:32:03
8	Jones Rafael Mortega	M	6:40:11
9	Ernani Jerie Occiano	M	6:48:42
10	Carlo Gonzales	M	6:51:58
11	Benedict Ngo	M	6:52:58
12	Robert Watson (Australian)	M	6:54:42
13	Lua Angela Limbo	F	6:55:19
14	July Oconer	M	7:08:01
15	Rai Cabanig	M	7:12:02
16	Warren Causing	M	7:12:26
17	Charles Gangaey	M	7:21:41
18	Paul John Regencia	M	7:23:38
19	Marvin Evasco	M	7:25:22
20	Jose Llaneta	M	7:25:23
21	Rico Laplana	M	7:25:52
22	Alfred delos Reyes	M	7:25:59
23	Virgmar Montefiro	M	7:28:13
24	Jomar Rodero	M	7:28:13
25	Roy Garcia	M	7:28:45
26	Yammie Vicera	M	7:28:47
27	Mark Conrad Molina	M	7:30:52
28	Eric Geminiano	M	7:36:13
29	Christian Albert Pabato	M	7:40:31
30	Arlene Agulto	F	7:40:43
31	Daphne Codilla	F	7:40:44
32	Edmund B. Cura	M	7:51:48
33	Ho Yuen Loong (Malaysia)	M	7:52:47
34	Exceliencito G. Halog	M	7:53:24
35	Jeffrey D. Poblete	M	7:56:07
36	Rene D. Milan	M	7:59:13
37	Cyrus Fabros	M	7:59:58
38	42063	?	8:02:13
39	42082	?	8:02:14
40	Armando Mabutas	M	8:02:43
41	Joji Salvador	M	8:03:17
42	Alwyn Sy	M	8:05:25
43	Julie Ann Luchana	F	8:08:02
44	Diorella Cerujano	F	8:15:32
45	Ronnel Go	M	8:19:41
46	Ellany Anlap	F	8:20:17
47	Rizzalyn Damaso	F	8:20:42
48	Tristan John Sacdalan	M	8:26:13
49	Elmer Parazo	M	8:35:42
50	Nicholas Ben Barrowclough (British)	M	8:39:32
51	Oliver Templo	M	8:44:05
52	Teejay Yoshiumi Junatas Sakuma	M	8:44:06
53	Andrew T. Gawidan	M	8:45:32
54	Joy Ali	F	8:45:48
55	Rone D. Milan	M	8:46:45
56	Miel D. Caballero	M	8:51:30
57	Ling King Keong (Malaysia)	M	8:54:09
59	Calvin John Escandor	M	8:56:42
60	Larry O. Duruin	M	8:57:17
61	Nathaniel Navarro	M	8:57:18
62	Andrew Aquino	M	8:58:00
63	Rodel Saclao	M	8:58:42
64	Michael C. Carpiso	M	8:58:43
65	Sheila Rose C. Elasin	F	8:59:33
66	Dexter Cruz	M	9:01:50
67	Dennis C. Uy	M	9:06:35
68	Chester Roy Santiago	M	9:09:33
69	Ronald Sulapas	M	9:09:36
70	Elson Ballena	M	9:09:54
71	Rolando Valdez	M	9:15:35
72	Jose Alan P. Laid	M	9:16:51
73	Dominic Jamisola	M	9:17:54
74	Glenn Anthony Magnaya	M	9:18:12
75	Jonel Mendoza	M	9:18:13
76	Lai Fong Sang (Malaysia)	M	9:21:20
77	George Ged-ang Jr.	M	9:21:39
78	Marvin Restor	M	9:21:56
79	Ryan Garcia	M	9:21:57
80	Manny Ocampo	M	9:21:58
81	Joey A. San Diego	M	9:22:33
82	Francis Arnaldo Rivera	M	9:23:18
83	Roxanne A. Maquinto	F	9:24:30
84	Bernard Go	M	9:25:20
85	Jonjon Alegre	M	9:26:28
86	Eden Pagsolingan	F	9:26:29
87	Andy Suguitan	M	9:27:19
88	Gladys Alcido	F	9:27:20
89	Stanley dela Cerna	M	9:27:46
90	Lady Dianne Palogan	F	9:29:28
91	Melissa Nafarete	F	9:29:36
92	Lourders Therese S. Mallari	F	9:30:23
93	Simon Pavel T. Miranda	M	9:30:32
94	Marlon Roque Santos	M	9:31:22
95	Oliver Alcido	M	9:31:39
96	Arthur Kenneth Viray	M	9:32:18
97	Christine Ferrera	F	9:35:55
98	Reza M. Tordilla	F	9:36:17
99	Ngoan Le	M	9:36:49
100	Jerson Patron	M	9:37:14
101	Michael Lafuente	M	9:37:59
102	Venus Santi	F	9:39:49
103	Raschid Lee Apostol	M	9:39:50
104	John Philip G. Perez	M	9:40:39
105	Adel Laking	F	9:42:52
106	Bren Bulso	M	9:42:53
107	Melojane Amit	F	9:43:02
108	Elmer Mateo	M	9:43:03
109	Michael Flores	M	9:45:31
110	Darell B. Padolina	M	9:45:43
111	Amor Sanz	F	9:47:16
112	Heijhay Gatdula	M	9:47:17
113	Beverly Benaid	F	9:53:14
114	John Rey Chua	M	9:53:59
115	Arnel P. Distor	M	9:58:53
116	?	?	9:59:04
117	Alice Lee Ng	F	9:59:14

MF42

04 October 2014 for 26K

Top 3 Male

CR = breaking the course record 3:18:50 for male for 2013

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	Daniel Alagos	Male	02:53:39 new CR
2	Sumner Ninobla	Male	03:01:01 CR
3	Jael Wenceslao	Male	03:01:06 CR

Top 3 Female

Old CR – 3:20:27

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	Sandi Abahan	Female	02:48:46 new CR
2	Jennifer Cabbab	Female	04:07:53
3	Karen Joy Umila	Female	04:12:18

Overall

Rank	Name	Gender	Time
1	Sandi Abahan	Female (F)	02:48:46 new CR
2	Daniel Alagos	Male (M)	02:53:39 new CR
3	Sumner Ninobla	Male	03:01:01 CR
4	Jael Wenceslao	Male	03:01:06 CR
5	Albert Ong	M	03:03:57 CR
6	Lou delos Reyes	M	03:08:08 CR
7	Raffy Gabotero	M	03:13:58 CR
8	Patrick Hervic Aquino	M	03:13:59 CR
9	Lay Tamale	M	03:30:03
10	Kirk Patrick Ang	M	03:32:46
11	Aristotle Casucom	M	03:46:35
12	Virgilio Sioson	M	03:51:47
13	Kenneth Sarabia	M	04:03:06
14	Romulo Doctolero	M	04:04:08
15	Jennifer Cabbab	F	04:07:53
16	Andrei Philip Lim	M	04:11:09
17	Karen Joy Umila	F	04:12:18
18	Rhina Sison	F	04:17:12
19	Robert Quiazon	M	04:19:39
20	Peterson Ong	M	04:35:21
21	Cyril Bermudo	M	04:39:49
22	Isagani Perez	M	04:39:50
23	Raymar Mercado	M	04:40:23
24	Ronald Recabar	M	04:48:51
25	Pierre Flores	M	04:48:52
26	Yob Red	M	05:03:59
27	Chris Favila	M	05:07:42
28	Jeffrey Furiga	M	05:09:41
29	Ro Anne Jervoso	F	05:10:39
30	Dennis Andres	M	05:12:23
31	Bayani Fangayen	M	05:12:24
32	Alan Galang	M	05:17:15
33	Arvin Bituin	M	05:17:16
34	Jonathan Pineda	M	05:17:17
35	Ceso Chavez	M	05:20:46
36	Harvey Pelayo	M	05:20:47
37	Nestor Galang	M	05:24:17
38	Daisy Visperas	F	05:34:16
39	Jackie Gutierrez	F	05:34:17
40	Bernard Masa	M	05:39:59
41	Soleil Navarro	F	05:40:12
42	Jericho Jaime	M	05:46:15
43	Jayson Dimaranan	M	05:46:26
44	Christine Wong	F	05:48:45
45	Jose Raphael Arenas	M	05:49:04
46	Luzel Franco Tibo-Oc	F	05:50:25
47	Mark Anthony Tibo-Oc	M	05:50:28
48	Ma. Charisma Vicuna	F	05:51:56
49	Carmina Luisa Jereza	F	05:52:53
50	Agustin Angeles	M	05:58:55
51	Michael Mandap	M	05:58:56
52	Adriell Dagusan	M	06:05:28
53	Nica Lorraine Tanjutco	F	06:09:36
54	Charly Dator	M	06:15:54
55	Joni Ann Miranda	M	06:16:22
56	May Ubaldo	F	06:16:23
57	Irone Boquiron	M	06:16:24
58	Julie Somoso	F	06:17:50
59	Jose Raphael Zapata	M	06:21:52
60	Lilet Abuel	F	06:23:44
61	Doods Abuel	M	06:23:45
62	Edric Ang	M	06:24:29
63	Mark Fer Castillo	M	06:25:59
64	Domingo Taban	F	06:28:11
65	Ruthie Cristobal	F	06:35:51
66	Asleigh Cristobal	F	06:38:54
67	Gloria Tatad	F	06:38:55
68	Vicenta Vedad	F	06:38:56
69	Natalia Joy Sy	F	06:40:32
70	Raeanna Cranbourne	F	06:38:54
71	Rosella Marie Gonzaga	F	06:50:51
72	Joel Caballero	M	06:54:14
73	Marife Cruz	F	06:57:47
74	Lam Foong Nee (Malaysia)	F	07:00:05
75	Erwin Pattaui	M	07:21:10
76	Renelle Madarezo	F	07:25:22
77	Emmanuel Faminialago	M	07:25:23
78	Ralph Rasaul Roldan	M	07:30:06