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.

USATF 15Km Masters Race Walk Championships and LA Marathon

“All my bags are packed and I am ready to go” these are lyrics from the song “Leaving on a Jet Plane” sung by John Denver and Kenneth Browder in 1967.

Yes, I am all set to leave this Sunday May 10, 2009 for a much needed yearly vacation which I shall be spending at my daughter’s place in Moreno Valley California together with the whole family. Another purpose of the travel is to compete on two Race Walking events in California which I have been preparing myself since February 2009. There is no stopping me now even with the much talked about pandemic on A-H1N1 Flue Virus. One thing good working on my part is that the virus SO FAR has not affected people over 50 years old so this is one time that I am glad I am already 58 years old.

The first event will be the USATF 2009 USA Masters 15km Race Walking Championship to be held at Fairmount Park, Riverside CA on May 17, 2009 details of the event is as follows;

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The second event will be on May 25, 2009. I have entered myself in the Los Angeles Marathon Race Walking Division which is on a full marathon distance and to be held simultaneous with the running event. However, the race walk division shall be a judged event which could get you disqualified at any given time that violation on the rule of race walking has been made. The following are some information about the marathon;

(Click on image fo enlarged view)





To the Filipino Running Community out there, I seek your prayers that I be able to finish the events that I have prepared.I will keep you posted on my blog on how things turn out.

1000 Km Membership

Two person that I could easily site to have been inspiration in my daily endeavour in Running /Walk Racing are Gen. Jovinal Narcise (aka Bald Runner) and Major Ferdinand Espejo of the Bald Runner Team.

Bald Runner as the local running community is aware of has this “ 1000 km club” that he has been propagating in his blog site http://baldrunner.com Complete mechanics and purpose why he has been advocating runners to logged as much mileage can be found at http://baldrunner.com/1000-km-club/ it is open to all running enthusiasts.

Sometime early this month both gentlemen presented me with the “Finishers T-Shirt” and membership to “The 1000 km Club”. As of End December 2008 I have already logged 4,716.04km which I started counting from 27Apr07. The reward as what Bald Runner suggests is to treat yourself to a spa, massage, or anything that will make your continued running as comfortable as possible. The catch is “at your own expenses”. Anyways, inspirational idea like this with small memorabilia like a T-Shirt, a small recognition speaks a thousand words and is like a fuel that inspires you to run which money cannot buy. I do treasure that T-shirt which has a special place in my closet.

Thank you Bald Runner.

Ultra Oval Track Opened

Today, Ultra Oval Track was re-opened to the general public. I arrived the oval with at 5:15am with already six runners doing their regular thing. I immediately proceeded to do my usual 10km daily exercise and actually completed the distance of 11.3 km in 01H 17M. Took the opportunity to greet the regulars a Happy New Year. Talked to Capt. Espejo to finalize my membership with PATAFA which required of me in order to join a USATF Master's event which I hope to complete within the week. Nice run to open a busy week ahead.

Bonifacio High Street Runs

Today will be the last day of vacation after a very long and unusual one which started last 24th December. Since January 1-4 I have been doing my daily morning race walking at Bonifacio High Street instead of the ULTRA Ovals as it has been closed since the beginning of the holidays and will only be reopened to the general public tomorrow. I have logged in 10.2 km daily at a speed of 01h 08m which I hope I could improve or the the coming months.

Tomorrow, its back to ULTRA and hopefully be able to joining the Speed Diagnostics of the the Bald Runner Team.

Los Angeles Marathon - Race Walker Division

Today, January 3, 2009 I have registered myself to the LOS ANGELES MARATHON for RACE WALKER DIVISION which is scheduled for May 25, 2009. I shall also take the opportunity to join the Riverside CA USATF 15km Masters Race Walk Championship scheduled for May 17, 2009.

This will keep me busy for the next months to come to prepare for these two events. I am looking forward to these dates but most of all I shall be able to visit my daughter MARY DAWN who is a doctor at Riverside CA.

However, the plan is subject to my medicals as I am scheduled to undergo a angiogram which could lead to an angioplasty. Well pray pray pray and plans will not be derailed.