Monday, May 18, 2009

2009 USATF 15k Race Walk Regional Championship - A Personal Validation and Confirmation



Having done my utmost possible physical preparation for the USATF 15K Masters Race Walk Championship and done all logistical and race circuit familiarization, I have surrendered matters to the Lord for the outcome of the race. My main goal was (a) complete the race without being disqualified of race walk technical violation (b) to attain confirmation that my race walking form is in conformity to international judges standards which will be done by USA Track and Field Officials under IAAF Standards.

I slept early the night before but due to jetlag and compounded more of my excitement of the race, I was already awake by 1:30am (which is 4:30pm Sunday Manila) and to think race was only to start at 7:30am. Rather than opting to force myself to sleep, I just passed the time doing odd things in the house until 6:00am when it was time to leave the house and take a 35 minute drive from Moreno Valley to race site at Fairmont Park at Riverside CA.

On our arrival, the race event organizers The INLAND EMPIRE RACEWALKERS of Southern California and race officials from the USA TRACK & FIELD where already into their different tasks in preparation for the race event at the same time participants were starting to arrive for their registration check-in and bib collection.





After collecting my race bib, there was still a good 40 minutes left to warm up and I decided to take a one lap final familiarization of the race circuit. Minutes prior to starting gun, we have to report to our individually assigned LAP COUNTER who was designated to provide my lap count and lap time. And then a final race briefing was done by the USATF Race Director explaining that there were eight (8) judges situated strategically along the circuit whose main task is to ensure that each walker is in conformity to the USATF technical rules of race walking. Each time a participant is deemed to have violated the technical rule of race walking a judge will give him/her a paddle warning which shall then be exhibited on a board located at the finish line
visible to all racers as they pass. A racer who gets three red marks is automatically DQ disqualified to continue the race. These technical judging was my biggest concern of not being able to complete the race as the distance was very much a normal thing for me.





Then the race was on. First lap I was so stiff that all that I could think of was how was I executing my walk and that each time I pass a judge along the circuit all I could think of was my race form to practically forgetting about the speed. On my 4th lap I noticed that a van was slowly following me for about a minute and I knew then that the roving race official was watching me and my heart was beating faster not because I was tired but I was afraid that I be given a warning. To my great relief, the driver of the van commented “nice form keep going”. These words were I think what I needed to fuel my confidence and from then on I concentrated to put more rear kick action to speed into my drive.





01hour 53miunutes and 52seconds after the starting gun was sounded I finished the 15k race walk with NO race walk technical violation being given to me. I did not break my PR for 15k at 01h51m34s (DocFit last 22Feb09) but this race result mean so much to me as it was validation and confirmation that I can execute race walking in conformity to IAAF rules. The best part was that I did not receive a single warning from any of the judges. Praise God.





As an added bonus by the way, I got 2nd place for ages 55-59 years old and to go with it a medal to cherish for the 2009 15k Race Walk USA Track & Field Regional Championship. God is good all the time!



Thank you to all those who have given support to my endeavour. I shall not name names, but, you know who you are. Lastly to the members of INLAND EMPIRE RACEWALKERS of Southern California whom I have had the short opportunity to talk and to Dave Snider thank you for your assistance in my race registration.

20 comments:

  1. Wow! Good job tito madz! Congratulations!!! ;-)

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  2. hahaha! you are "the man"! congratulations for winning 2nd place in the age category. more power to you!

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  3. at last another filipino racewalker. i was planned to do it but i have a visitor from the bay area. we ended up going to san manuel(casino)saturday night.

    deo

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  4. ano ba..NAME NAMES!! hihihhihih jk!

    CONGRATULATIONS dad!! we're so proud of you!! galing galing :-)

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  5. Dear Irene - Thank you Iha! Hope life is good with you and Sonny in Singapore.

    Dear BR - That was also for Team Bald Runner.

    Dear Deo - Sayang we could have met. I will be doing the LA Marathon racewalk division on 25May just in case you will be there.

    Dawn - Do I also need to thank the family? Is that not alsready considered? Thanks you!

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  6. Congratulations sir!Di ka pa talaga matanda hehe..Kayang kaya pa rin..
    Kodus!

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  7. Congratulations! Parang NLEX pala me flying squad :)

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  8. Congratulations capt!!!! we are very proud of you po...international na po yan..

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  9. CONGRATULATIONS CAPT! ANG GALING GALING TALAGA NG BOSS NAMIN! BLOW OUT PAGBALIK NYO PO HA heheheheh...

    Acctg Staff

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  10. Uyyyy Close na sila..........

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  11. Congratulations.... have no doubt you would able to finished the race, but it's an added attraction you placed 2nd... with the endeavour you exerted you deserves all the jubilation.... SALUDO AKO AND MORE POWER!

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  12. Dear Miraclecello - Thanks! oo nga.

    Dear Reinier Staff - OK blow out pagbalik see you guys.

    Dear Chris - Thanks regards from Mommy and Keith.

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  13. Congratulations Tito Mads. Ang galing sobra. Idol! Can't wait to see you. - Karen

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  14. i'll be doing los angeles marathon too. i have not decided if i'll racewalk or run it. mukhang di organized yung racewalking division nila.no judges.
    ill be in manila third week of june. i might run the kl marathon then fly to sydney to run the gold coast marathon.

    deo

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  15. Dear Deo - Wow! you have a full schedule head of you. It would be nice to meet with you.

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  16. sir congrats ur winning of age 2nd place pareho po tayo nanalo sir nag break po ako ng record hintay ko po pagbalik ninyo salamat po sa pag sponsor napakalaki ng naitolong ng naibigay po ninyo sir thank you so much sir

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  17. di ko alam kung sino ito sa mga naglaro sa National Open sa Lingayen pero I am happy for your success sana may naitulong ako.

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  18. Sir,
    Si Michael Embuedo yun.
    Nag break sya ng Philippine record sa road race walking 20km last May 13 2009 during the National Open Invititional Meet held in Lingyen Pangasinan.
    MABUHAY TEAM BALD RUNNER.
    Super kayo SIR.

    Coach Salazar

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  19. Dear Coach Salazar - I am very very happy for Mike. I hope the sports authorities will now believe in his dedication and sincerity not withstanding his talent.

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