Rio spearheads 1st Subaru Marathon Designated

Subaru asks you to get off that vehicle and start running, quite literally for your life. Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIPI), exclusive distributor of the Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries’ automobile manufacturing division, partners with RunRio, Inc. to organize the first Subaru Marathon – promoting health and fitness for more.

Scheduled to be held at the Mall of Asia grounds on September 13, the Subaru Marathon features five-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and half-marathon categories along with the main marathon.

To many in the considerable community of runners in the Philippines, Dela Cruz or simply Coach Rio is a symbol of fitness, health, and what an ideal runner should be. I had the opportunity to speak to him sometime back, and learned of his tale that is engaging as it is inspiring.

Rio started to run the way many of us did – playing traditional street games like agawan base and taguan in our youth. “My running form was first developed through those games,” he shared. Realizing he excelled at running, Rio tried out successfully for his school varsity team. “The first goal was to compete with my school mates, then it was on to division meets, the NCR meet, then I wanted to compete in the Olympics,” he continued. But what dawned on him primarily was crucial. Rio’s family was poor, and he saw that he could use “running as a stepping stone” to finish his matriculation.

As his running proficiency approached its apex, Rio was approached by various coaches and school officials who wanted him to be their scholar. While encouraged by his skill and affinity with the sport of running, Rio wanted to learn more. During semestral and summer breaks, he’d train with the national team in Baguio – paying his way for the privilege.

“I joined fun runs in Manila, and every time I’d win, I’d save it for that purpose,” Rio reveals. “You know, improvement will come a lot quicker if you’re around better athletes. I also got tips and ideas how to train properly.”

He acknowledged that money was hard to come by for him at the beginning, so the Rio had to be resourceful. “I had experienced selling ice, ice water, slippers… sometimes I knocked on doors of people to offer taking out the trash,” Rio shared.

Through it all, the runner had an almost fanatical devotion to his constant improvement. Rio would wake up at 2:30 a.m. for early training at the Marikina Sports Center. From there, he would return home, steal a couple of hours of sleep, then go attend his classes at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in pursuit of a degree in Physical Education from the College of Human Kinetics. In the afternoon, h would be at it again – the training, that is. At his peak, Rio was logging up to 200 kilometers a week for his six-days-a-week regimen. “I’ve sacrificed everything – my love life, social life. I’d go to bed at 8 p.m,” he said, grinning.

“My goal is to let other people know not to make poverty a hindrance to your dreams,” Rio insisted. “It was a motivation. I became more focused and dedicated.”

When running started to catch on, Rio used his experience and smarts to organize running events. He did everything himself – from putting barcodes on acetates, coordinating with running clubs, to bringing the jerseys, and taking care of registration. “I’d even make the star-finish arch, and emcee,” he recalled. “Those days, I’d sleep on the sidewalk to make sure I was there on time.”

Today, Coach Rio is at the helm of the successful RunRio – a race organization enterprise that already has a number of corporate sponsors, in addition to many supporters. “I feel good to share my passion and knowledge. I’m proud to be part of the running community,” he declares.

He advises kids to stay in school and persist. “Education is the wealth no one can take away from you,” Rio maintained. “That will bring you places. If you have a dream, come up with plan to achieve it – while being aware not to step on other people. Think of how to help other people, too.”

Registration fees are as follows: P750 (5K), P850 (10K), P950 (21K), P1,350 (42K). Inclusions are singlet with bib number and timing chips.

Interested participants (organizers are targeting 10,000) to the Subaru Marathon may visit www.runrio.com and register or e-mail [email protected]/PH. Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. will also open its showrooms in EDSA Greenhills, Global City, Manila Bay, and Alabang as official registration and race kit-claiming locations.