Today, Filipino running icon and my dearest friend, Patrick “RunningShield” Concepcion, passed away. He was the epitome of a real runner – self-effacing, humble, and kind. You would always just see him swiftly, lightly running by with a quick wave and his big smile. To me, he’ll always be running. RIP PatCon. You will be missed.

Photos: Ben Chan, Blacksheep Photography for The Bull Runner Magazine, Sept 2013

Reposting an interview with brothers, Patrick and Ton Concepcion, from March 2009 with edits:

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With the The Condura Run drawing near, it was imperative that I featured running brothers, Patrick and Ton Concepcion, the men behind what is expected to be one of the best races to ever hit Manila…

When did you start running?  How did you get into the sport?

PATRICK: I started running May. 30, 1980 in Vancouver Canada. I was a fat “pig” weighing in at 220lbs.  The reason I started running is NOT to lose weight but simply because I enjoyed running. When I took  my first running step I knew I was hooked. It gave me great pleasure a sense of freedom and confidence. The weight just melted away as I continued running on a daily basis. Now my weight is down to 133lbs.

TON: My brother Patrick inspired me to run as a kid. I saw how much he loved the sport and how he transformed from a “fatrick” to a “thinrick”.

I started running again before i turned 30. I had been married for 6 years and I gained 30 pounds with my wife and mother in law’s cooking.  I wanted to be in the best shape i could before i turned 40.

I remember I was so out of shape that i could not even run 1km. Each step though took me farther and every run ended with such a profound sense of accomplishment. My first 10km race was such a thrill that I even emailed my dad what a great experience it was. It was truly fantastic to be running with a sea of humanity who share your passion.

This passion ultimately made my join countless of 10k races and doing the unthinkable…joining 5 marathons in 14 months!.

Do any other members of your family run or are interested in starting?

PATRICK: My father (Raul T. Concepcion) is the original runner in the family. My father is the greatest influence in my running Life. I remember when I was a young age of 7. That was the year 1971, I would see my father run around the village in Forbes Park to do his usual 5km run.  and sometimes I would join him if I could but only for 200 meters. I remember him lacing up his Bata – Brand running shoes. (Nike, Asics, Adidas etc. was not available in the Philippine at that time) . Up to this day it is still very clear in my memory. At present, my father still does a little jogging in his treadmill. He is still is very strong at the age of 77.

TON: There are those that are seriously into running like Patrick, my brother in law Jimmyton Araneta who is a full ironman and myself.

My wife, Karen, also runs but every time she get up to 7km she gets pregnant (haha) we are now expecting our 5th child.

But last year’s Condura run created a “running boom” within the Concepcion clan. In fact there are 30 or so family members joining the Condura run this year.

Then, there is my dad who used to run a lot when he was younger. During last year’s run, he fell because the road was uneven and ended up with a nasty cut on his eye that had to be stitched. But despite this he refused any medical help and still ran to the finish line all bloodied and bruised. What a fighter he truly is. He truly is the Condura “durable” man.

What do you enjoy most about running?  

PATRICK: Running is something I enjoy doing. I believe it moulds your character to be a better person. Running makes me feel unique. It gives me confidence and I feel alive. When I run, I run NOT for others but for myself.  “It is a time for me and my God to connect.”

TON: It’s the best way to de-stress. It’s like I pressed a reset button in my mind after every run and I suddenly feel great again.  I feel very calm and peaceful. It’s almost like a spiritual experience.  Most of my best ideas come from running.

Can you share with us your weekly training program?  Do you train together?

PATRICK: I average at least 75 – 85 km/wk. Saturday is my long run day usually about 21 – 25km. Depending on how I feel. I would also incorporate 1 day a week of speed and tempo run. I usually have 1 or 2 days rest in a week. Wed is usually my rest day. While Sunday is my Race Day.

I don’t get to run with Ton because I run in the morning around 4.30am and Ton is usually an evening runner. And because I reside in Alabang and he resides in Makati it’s difficult to meet.

TON: When i’m training for a 42km marathon, I follow the FIRST training program which I picked up from Runners World magazine. It follows a “less is more” marathon training philosophy spread over 4 months with only 3 runs a week. Tuesday is speed work, Thursday is tempo and Saturday is a long run. Its perfect training program for those who have a hectic work schedule. I also lift weights to strengthen my core and my legs which i find very effective in making you run your best and to prevent injury.

I don’t train with Pat because he will find me too slow.

What was the most memorable race for you?

PATRICK:  The most memorable race has to be the Vancouver International Marathon 1983 I finished in 3hrs. 52mins and 20 sec. The 2nd most memorable race has to be the Philippine “Pasig” Marathon 2008 because after 24 years I did my 2nd marathon.

TON: Every marathon is like a baby and they are all special. But the New York City marathon would be on top of the list. It felt fantastic running along side 39, 000 people and being cheered by the crowds of over a million people throughout the entire 42km distance. You will truly feel like an olympian for the day.

A close second is Lake Kawaguchi in Japan. My breath was taken away with the beauty of running in and out of a forest with resplendent golden leaves in its full autumn glory and by a placid lake with Mount Fuji as the back drop.

What was the toughest race?

PATRICK: Philippine “Pasig “Marathon 2008. The reason is because at the last 10km of the race I was really hurting. My Legs wanted to quit. I was cramping all over but my heart and soul made me continue. When I reach the finish line I couldn’t help but cry because i felt an accomplishment as a runner as a person. “Sometimes the moment that challenges us the most defines us” – Joan Benoit Samuelson

TON: My second milo marathon in July 2007 was the toughest because of the heat. I remember cramping really bad at 35km. But I refused to give up. So you just learn how to run with a cramp. 20 feet before the finish line, every single muscle in both legs cramped and locked up! I could not move! I said oh no this is truly a case of so near and yet so far. It was really embarrassing to stop before crossing the finish line instead of sprinting towards it. Luckily the cramp released its vice like grip on my legs and I was able to walk the remaining steps to complete my 3rd marathon.

What advice can you give to those who will make Condura their first race ever?

PATRICK:  Just enjoy the race. “The Miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start” – John “The Penguin Runner” Bingham.

TON: Be proud that you actually woke up early to join the race.  Have a light breakfast and pray that you accomplish all your bathroom duties before you leave the house. Play your best tunes. Run at your own pace. Suck in the energy that is all around you. Enjoy the experience and treat yourself to a fantastic breakfast after the run then have a good sleep!

What is your dream race?

PATRICK: Hummmmm my dream Race is a Manila to Baguio City Ultra Race. We start in Quirino Grandstand, Manila and the finish line will be in Burnham Park, Baguio City.  It will be an Individual run not a Team relay race. That for me is the test of ultimate endurance. “Running is a head game, it is more mental than physical.” 

TON: to run the Paris marathon

QUICK QUESTIONS:

Favorite shoe…

PATRICK: Asics 2020 and 2030 / Nike Lunar

TON: For 10k and 16km races I use Nike Lunars. They are very light and provide excellent cushioning. For the marathon, I use the Asics Kinsei 1

Power song…

PATRICK: Music? I don’t run with music. I can’t enjoy my run with music. Music distracts me. I like the peace and quiet when I run.

TON: The theme from Rocky and “Don’t give up” by Chicane. But these days I prefer to run without music.

Best running accessory…

PATRICK: Garmin 205

TON: Garmin 405

Solo or  group…

PATRICK: Always solo. Running is a time for me with God. I’m not a good running Partner, If I run with a group I always think about how the group is doing ( am I running to fast…to slow… do I talk to much……etc.) total distraction from what running enjoyment is.

TON: mostly solo. Running is often the only time I have alone.  However, I do enjoy running with my best friends and R40- runners for others

Favorite race distance…

PATRICK: any distance between 10k and 42k.

TON: 42km – would you believe?

10k PR

PATRICK: 41 min. 10 sec.  UBC (University of British Columbia), 1983

TON: 51 min. 37 sec.

Marathon PR

PATRICK:  Vancouver International Marathon 1983 I finished in 3 hrs. 52 mins and 20 sec.

TON: 4 hrs. and 49 min.

For more TBR Runner’s interviews, click here.

All of us World Marathon Majors finishers are always looking out for the next race that’s going to be added to the prestigious list. News came out today that Sydney Marathon may be one of them! Read on below…

The Blackmores Sydney Marathon has officially been announced as a candidate race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) – the first marathon in Oceania to be nominated. 

The announcement marks the commencement of a multi-year evaluation process by AbbottWMM. 

To become a Major, the Sydney Marathon will be required to meet strict criteria over a three-year period and if successful, will join an esteemed group of races – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-BERLIN Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon – as a new member of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025. 

“We have always believed that the Blackmores Sydney Marathon has what it takes to be an Abbott World Marathon Major, so becoming one of only three candidate races is a tremendous honour”, said Wayne Larden, Race Director, Sydney Marathon. 

“The Sydney Marathon is part of Australia’s largest running festival, the Sydney Running Festival, attracting thousands of participants to run across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and finish under the sails of the Sydney Opera House each year. 

“We can now take a huge leap forward and become one of the most iconic running events in the World and achieving this status would be a tremendous boost for Sydney and Australia. Australia is a proud sporting nation, and we want to call on all of Australia’s runners from all over the country and runners from overseas to support the Sydney Marathon achieve the criteria to become an Abbott World Marathon Major in Sydney” 

Whilst the Sydney Marathon already meets many of the requirements set by the Abbott World Marathon Majors and continual enhancements will be made to the race over the next three years including significant growth of our marathon finishers. 

“We are pulling out all the stops to achieve these goals and greatly appreciate the support of the running community across Australia and Overseas, as well as the support from our partners, sponsors, staff and volunteers who are helping to make this dream a reality.” Larden said. 

The Sydney Marathon and its candidacy for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. 

NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres said the candidacy acknowledges the Sydney Marathon as a world-class event with one of the most spectacular marathon courses on the planet. 

“No city in the world has a better combination of natural beauty, love of sport and iconic infrastructure for hosting a marathon than Sydney. The Sydney Marathon is recognised as one of the world’s best marathon events, uniting people of all backgrounds to enjoy an unforgettable running experience. The World Marathon Majors candidacy recognises Sydney as a premier destination to join the great marathon cities of the world, while showcasing Sydney’s natural beauty and desirable lifestyle to a global audience. 

“Achieving the status of an Abbott World Marathon Major would cement Sydney’s position as one of the world’s great sporting event cities. It would attract thousands of visitors to the Harbour City and play a key role in the NSW Government’s ambition to make Sydney and NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific,” Mr Ayres said. 

A legacy event of the Sydney Olympics, the Sydney Marathon will attract some of the world’s greatest long-distance runners and wheelchair athletes to Sydney throughout the candidacy period. The presence of these elite athletes is expected to draw significant interest in the event, lower current finish times and act as a drawcard for age group runners. 

The candidacy also sees Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company, become a stakeholder in the Sydney Marathon. The organisation will provide strategic input on both media rights and sponsorship strategy whilst also supporting the event throughout the evaluation phase. 

Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Personal & Corporate Fitness at Infront, said: “Sydney is an amazing destination and has an iconic marathon with a strong legacy. Infront is delighted to form part of the efforts to make it an AbbottWMM event in the coming years. The event is already recognised as a success, and we will leverage our expertise, networks, and insights to elevate the event to the next level. We are proud to work in close partnership with the Abbott WMM team, as well as the Sydney team including all stakeholders to make the dream of establishing a WMM event in Sydney, Australia come true.” 

CEO Athletics Australia, Peter Bromley added: Athletics Australia is extremely proud to be the owners of Australia’s greatest running festival. A legacy event of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, it has a long and prestigious history. Building on that, this candidacy opportunity will deliver significant growth to the event and showcase the sport of Athletics far more broadly. We look forward to assisting the event achieve the criteria and become an Abbott World Marathon Major. 

Dawna Stone, recently appointed Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO said, “The Abbott World Marathon Majors are delighted to welcome the Sydney Marathon into the candidate process from 2022. This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Oceania and further our mission to create, grow and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. We look forward to working closely with the team in Sydney as we start this journey together!” 

The marathon is part of the Sydney Running Festival which boasts incredible courses that take in Sydney’s most scenic and iconic landmarks. The Sydney Marathon provides runners with the unique opportunity to run over the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge, traffic-free, before crossing the finish line surrounded by the sails of the Sydney Opera House. 

In addition to the Sydney Marathon, Cape Town’s Sanlam Marathon and China’s Chengdu Marathon are currently part of the AbbottWMM candidate process. Only three candidate spots are available. 

The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival including the Sydney Marathon will take place on Sunday 18 September 2022. Early bird entries are open at sydneyrunningfestival.com.au. 

Basecamp is a 12-week running program that will build your base mileage for marathon training. It is essentially the pre-training program to TBR Dream Marathon training.

The running program was designed by certified USATF Level 1 and RRCA running coach and TBR Dream Marathon founder, Jaymie Pizarro, The Bull Runner.

Who can join?

Basecamp is for individuals who are new to running, beginners, or runners who are coming back after a long hiatus.

There are 3 Phases to Basecamp with each phase being 4 weeks:

Phase 1: Jul 4 to 31 – if you are new to running or wish to start running again gently start here

Phase 2: Aug 1 to 28 – if you are a beginner runner ora runners who is returning after a long hiatus start here

Phase 3: Aug 29 to Sep 25 – for beginner runners, runners returning after a long hiatus, or runners who want a light running program to prep them for marathon training

The program is open to runners who are not registered for TBR Dream Marathon.

What do you get?

Here’s what you receive when you join us:

+ Weekly Running plan delivered via Tempo by TBR mobile app
+ Direct messaging to Coach Jaymie for support
+ Exclusive group access on Tempo by TBR mobile app

How does a typical week look?

You will be running 3x a week: 2 weekdays are regular runs while we run a bit longer on weekends. You also have one day of walking. Other days you can choose to rest or cross-train. You can switch the days to accommodate your schedule.

The program encourages run-walk intervals for the program. This means we run then walk for a few minutes and repeat. This method is what we have used for all our marathons with over 6,000 TBR Dream alumni and is based on the Galloway Run-Walk Method of U.S. Olympian and running coach, Jeff Galloway.

All runs are done on your own at your most convenient time and preferred schedule. Runs can be done outdoors or on a treadmill.

How will this help you?

Base training will allow you to gradually increase your running time or distance without putting much strain on your body. This safely builds your fitness level whether you are just starting to run or a runner who is just coming back after a long hiatus. This program will improve your endurance slowly but surely with less risk of injury.

This is a BASE TRAINING program. Our goal is to build your foundation for marathon training, NOT go into full training mode just yet. We will go at an easy pace.

How much is Basecamp?

Each phase (4 weeks) costs only USD7.99 or roughly PHP400. That’s only P100 per week!

If you purchase the entire 12-week program, it’s only USD19.99 or PHP1,000. You save PHP200!

How can I join?

You may register at the link below. We only accept credit card or paypal.

<<<JOIN NOW >>>

Come and join TBR Dream Marathon, my baby, my personal project, and advocacy. It’s the first and only marathon in the world that caters to first- and second-time marathoners.

Now on its 12th year, The Bull Runner (TBR) Dream Marathon will be held on Feb. 12, 2023 at Clark Parade Grounds in Pampanga. Registrants will enjoy a free marathon training program, in-person monthly Bull Sessions (run clinics), virtual monthly Bull Circles (running talks), and a Send-Off Party right before the race. Of course, you’ll also have one of the most memorable experiences of your life when you run your first marathon with us surrounded by the cheers of our volunteer Dream Chasers and the support of your batchmates who will, by that time, be your best running buddies!

This year, we have a lot of new features for the race, such as a new Base Training Program to get beginner runners ready for the training ahead. This is purely option and virtual and begins on July 4. We’ll also have a new mobile app which runners can use to view their marathon program for the week. Just for an additional monthly fee, you’ll get a Strength training program for runners, meditation classes, and weekly motivational tips to get you race ready.

Application opens on JUNE 4, 2022 at 12:00PM. More info about registration HERE. Please read our RACE RULES and FAQ before signing up too.

As always, slots for TBR Dream Marathon run out within a few hours, so we encourage you to save the Application link and show up on time. Click below to access the link:

<<< SIGN ME UP FOR TBR DREAM MARATHON 2023! >>>

We look forward to running with you!

For years now, I wanted to put my Health Coach certification into practice. But, for those who know me well, running always came first. My focus was running my own marathons. And, inspiring people to run their own through TBR Dream Marathon.

Then, the pandemic happened. Without races as goals, I was lost. I gained 10 lbs even if I was running and biking. My cholesterol was at an all-time high by October 2020. I was at my unhealthiest both physically and mentally.

Thankfully, I pulled myself out of that rut. I lost 8 lbs and stopped obsessing over my weight, went vegan, dropped my cholesterol back into the safe zone by May, and ran my 19th marathon at the virtual Global Marathon Challenge. Last but not the least, I found myself in a better, healthier headspace.

Through that rollercoaster ride, I realized that people may need help to get healthier, fitter or just feel better about themselves.

I created TBR LYF.

TBR LYF is a four-week virtual challenge for what I call my 3Ms: MOVEMENT, MINDSET and MEALS. It goes beyond running. It goes beyond just fitness. It goes beyond me.

TBR LYF is about a whole-person transformation brought to you by myself and our team of experts in their fields. We’ve basically done all the prep work for you and all you have to do is show up.

Registration will be on August 1.  We start September 3.

For now, let it simmer. I’ll tell you more about it in the weeks to come.