Run don't walk

Next to Manila, Cebu is undoubtedly the Mecca of Running in the Philippines. Since January there have been six races todate including the record-breaking Milo Marathon Cebu that attracted close to 20,000 runners (although most were walking). The others were the Sinulog 10K Run, TriCity Marathon, Cebu Mountain Trail Run, Freeman 10K Run and the Gawad Kalinga Run. However we will be missing this year's edition of the Don Sergio Osmeña Half Marathon. I was informed that Cebu City Hall is not pushing through with the race due to financial reasons. The rest of the schedule are the Terry Fox Run on October 8, a fund-raising event for cancer research organized by the Canadian Embassy through honorary consul Robert Lee "Dili ta sington ana kay gikan ra man sa Capitol padung sa Cebu Normal University". Then on October 16 is the Run for the Church, another fund-raising race for the benefit of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

We are still awaiting confirmation from Cebu City Sports Commission Chair Atan Guardo, the schedule of the Osaka Anniversary Run which is held every October. Happening on November 6 is the Smart 10K Run organized by the Cebu Executive Runners Club. We are also waiting word from the organizers of the Queen City Run, which is supposed to fire off on November 20. The three Sunday's of December will be busy. Firing off on December 4 is the Phil Business for Social Progress 5K Run, still another fund-raising run spearheaded by Edsel Quismundo, a CERC member which I will be assisting since I cannot say no to him. On the 10th will be the much-awaited Cebu Midnight 5K Run which will be on its fifth year. Ms. Tetta Baad of the Cebu Holdings Inc. already promised to support the race presented by the City Sports Club Cebu. This run is the only one of its kind in the country. In fact the Direct Link Running Club of Manila has been inviting me to direct a midnight run at the Baywalk, also in December but I told them I couldn't be in two places at the same time. And finally the Halad Kang Mano Amon Run held in Danao City every 24th of December to commemorate the birthday of Danao's Grand Old Man, Mano Amon Durano, who will be 100 years old if he were alive today.

Halad Kang Mano Amon 10 miler

Speaking of Danao City, councilor and Danao City Sports Commission chair Boying Rodriguez has asked me to direct the Halad Kang Mano Amon 10K Run, which I suggested that we upgrade to a 10 miler (1.6km). Boying said this year they are celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Mano Amon therefore, "ato ibongga gamay". We are thinking of bigger prizes and more giveaways besides the t-shirts, trophies and medals. Maybe Mano Amon's "apo" DOT Secretary Ace Durano would support this second oldest foot race in the country. Next Wednesday, I will be shuttling to Iloilo to inform Capitol of my plan to move the Governor's Cup Kiddies Run to November as to give me some breathing spell. In between the runs I'll be also in Manila and Subic to assist the marathon and the triathlon events of the SEA Games. I'm just scared I might not be able to chew what I have bitten. "Don't you ever sleep?" asked pretty Fil-Am runner Jenny Ytem who hails from Dallas, Texas and currently training for her first triathlon. I almost forgot I have to train myself for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 6 and the Hong Kong Marathon the month after. Well, I just don't know the meaning of REST.