"on a shoestring"

Name: Wayne Plymale
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Age: 58
Years of Running: 42 years
Training Ground (fave route for training): I have several.  My training runs from my apartment to Golden Gate Park and back as well as those from home to the Presidio and the Marina are enjoyable.  


Favorite Runner (if any):  My favorite runners have to be Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuleson. They’ve given me advice back in the 1990s. Also in the mix are Jeff Galloway and Steve Scott.    
Favorite Race: My favorite race is the Bay To Breakers 12K.  In the top five is the Bahaginan 15K that I ran in the Philippines in 2008. It was on a nice course and it’s one that I’ll always remember.
Fave Running Quote:  ”The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”  -Juma Ikaanga of Tanzania


Best 5K Time: 17:47 at the Carlsbad 5000 in March 1996
Half-marathon PR:  1:15:55 at the Avenue Of The Giants Half Marathon in May 1974.
Marathon PR:  3:14:46 at the Napa Valley Marathon in Marck 1984
How many full marathons have you finished:  24 (whew!)


Fave running shoes: My favorite running shoe was the Nike Elite back in 1974-1975.  It was the greatest shoe I’ve worn.  I’ve worn the Mizuno Wave Riders and the New Balance 901 which were among my favorites.
Running gears (if any): I don’t have a specific type of running gear.  As long as they’re comfortable, I’ll wear it.
Unforgettable Moment: Running my first and only Boston Marathon to date in April 1999.  My second was the reception that I received before my first of two races in the Philippines in November 2008.  I’ll never forget the race, the day and 11 days I spent there.
Reason(s) for running: There are many.  The camradrie of meeting other runners, places and the different distances are an inspiration.  It helps with the stress from a workday. Also, one feels better after a workout.  
Worst injury: Slight tear of the right achilles tendon in 2007.
Post-race food: (breakfast) – French Toast  (dinner) –  Seafood


Additional questions:
James: If there is one tip that you want to share to newbie runners what will it be?
Wayne:  Rome was not built in one day.  There will be good days and not so good days.  Keep at it.  As a runner, I had other runners who told me this.  Now, it’s my turn to share it with you.  As long as I know runners, I’ll be there to encourage and inspire.


James: What do you do when you are not running?
Wayne:  There are many things that I like to do.  I do some photgraphy work, love movies, music and follow sports.  I recentlly met a lady per a co-worker from work. We’re friends and we see each other a couple of times a week.


James: Do you do any crosstraining?
Wayne: Yes.  Right now, I bike for about an hour and / or swim for about an hour once a week.


Thanks a lot Sir Wayne, can’t wait to see you and train with you when you get here in the Philippines for the second time! Enjoy running and hope you continue to inspire fellow runners.


Too know more about Wayne, you can visit his blog at http://b2bwayne.blogspot.com/

——————————–
If you know a runner/backpacker that is worth to feature here, please let me know. You can email me or just put a comment.

Running with Donna Cruz-Larrazabal. After some 1.8 kilometers I saw Donna Cruz. Knowing her 21K time, I said to myself if I just run with her, I will reach my sub2:00 target time. So at kilometer 2 to 8, I was not looking on my Garmin (‘coz I don’t have one, hahaha). I was just focused on my running form and breathing, stopping on water stations to sip cold water and pour some on my head. Donna was consistent on her strides and pace, always looking on her watch to check her time. Oh btw, she was wearing an apple green Nature Valley’s tech shirt, compression tights and cute pink Saucony (if I’m not mistaken).


Porta-Potty break at KM.9. You wish,  I don’t want to blog about this. 


ANR Alabang Support at Km10. I was really excited to pass by our support group because of tow things, 1. I needed some motivation on the 2nd half of the course. I think the heat and pollution started to make its toll (I hate pollution! Who doesn’t? I live near Mt.Makiling that is why air is clea in green in my training ground). 2. With no Photovendo around, I want a picture of myself running my first ever Milo Marathon. 
Thank you so much ANR Alabang, especially to Ms.Nao, Captain Chit, Anna and Adel. Way to go guys! Pasensiya absent muna ulit ako sa mga susunod na Tuesday runs.

Noelle aka kikayrunner (look at the pinky finger). Happy Birthday!

Left-knee injury. I was running consistently on a 5:30-5:50/km pace until KM15 when I felt my knee acting up again. I tried having short walk breaks in hope that it will subside. But it started to get painful as I run on more kilometers. Looks like I have to say good-bye for my sub-2:00hrs dream and just enjoy the rest of the course. The next 3.5 kilometers were a punishment of heat, pollution and reckless drivers. Luckily, I found my second wind at Km16- I’m running Milo, I have to give my best.


Last stretch. Final 3K, second wind didn’t last that long as I am forced to walk the final kilometers. I saw Jojo as I began to walk and told him to continue running to beat his PR. So I walked as fast as I could until Gideon (my training buddy who is running his first 21K) called me, musing to continue running. I closed my eyes and breath a prayer for the last 800meters. Nearing the finish line I gave everything and I was able to sprint the last 20meters. Wooohoooo! All, I wanted to do was to sit down.


Paying it forward. I still remember vividly my marathon experience during TBR. And I want to pay it forward. So after the free massage and ice pack on my knee (thanks Aby of Red Cross Manila Chapter). I can walk/run again.  After some more rest, I experienced the most unforgettable thing on Milo. I was privileged to pace 42K runners on  their last 500meter. I saw a lot of seasoned and serious runners conquer the finish line. I saw someone on a bad running form because of fatigue, someone running with one shoe on and because of blisters, runners with amputated arms still giving their best, runners already deaf of exhaustion, some with all smiles. Everyone of them is an inspiration! How I wish I can someday say, “I finished the Milo Marathon. I’m not only a marathoner, I’m a Milo Marathoner!”

To the Milo Marathon organizers, thanks a lot for the memorable race! Everything was great (singlet, registration centers, timing chip, advocac, website and Facebook page) and I hope that you can improve on the ff:
1. Hydration on the last 5 kilometers. The 3K and 5K runners drank everything. Was sad to see 42K runners suffering in dehydration and heat exhaustion. I saw passers-by get water from stations.
2. Traffic control especially on crossings. I noticed that as the race is about to end, marshals and police aren’t that strictly already.
3. Earlier time start to avoid heat exhaustion. Maybe 3:00am for 42K and 4:00am for the 21K?
4. 3 loops for the 42K was mentally unbearable. I wish you can bring back the classic route on the 35th so I can run 42k.
5. More organized baggage counter. I learned that someone fainted while claiming her bag. It was a total chaos. I also heard that a lot lost their bags, cellphone and money at the counter. 
6. Cheaper registration fees. I know of a lot of serious runners who were not able to register because of the expensive fee. I hope you can do something about this. As far as I know, this is sponsored by Milo. I do think that P500 is a rip off. If not for its prestige and me supporting my friends running for the first time, I would have opted to have my own 21K LSD.
7. Please give the medal to 21K finishers within the cut-off time as he/she crosses the finish line next time. That’s a great encouragement for us.
“7 humble requests po, KAYA N’YO YAN!”


Still, I will be joining some of your provincial races. Maybe the 5K fun run because its way cheaper than P500.
Now, I’m getting ready, getting ready for the next bigger challenge: 14 Days Solo Backpacking Challenge: Visayas up to Luzon. Please check out the blog for updates during the trip. Thanks!


Share |