We did it!

It took some time to do it, 17 years to be exact but only one thing matters, we did it! When current Cebu Executive Runners Club president Roel Militar and several members of the club hatched the idea of organizing a full marathon (42.2 kms), it sounded like a mission impossible. In fact I was lukewarm to the project as I know it would entail not only a huge budget but a lot of time as well. We started preparation this year but can't seem to take off due to limited funds. But the dilemma even posed a big challenge. Some club members even doled our from their own pockets while we solicited some little assistance from our members who are abroad. So with a measly budget for prizes that would surely looked like peanuts to other big marathons like Milo and Pasig River, we announced our race scheduled for January 14 and called it the Cebu Sinulog Marathon. But when the Asean Summit postponed its scheduled, we had to adjust our own, thus setting a new date for February. So the stage was set. Meanwhile, prophets of doom were predicting the failure of the marathon citing time constraints and the little budget. But everybody was willing to sacrifice. So I solicited the services of probably the best race officials in the region. The list included Sacred School for Boys athletics coach Prescing Capangpangan, UC coaches Ilde Banzon and Natnat Villasor and veteran organizer Joe Deresas. Of course we were ably assisted by member s of the Cebu Executive Runners Club.

Impressive Cast

Although we offered inferior cash prizes compared to Manila marathons, we had an impressive cast. Former national training pool members Bernardo Desamito 2005 Philippnie Marathon for the Pasig River champion stamped hsi class as he virtiually dictated the tempo of race early to breeze to the finish line in 2 hours 23 minutes and 45 seconds. Rene Desuyo of Cadiz City, Neg. Occidental came in second in 2:25:16, giving Desamito a hard time while Cebuano Adonis Singscon captured third place in 2:34:39. Davao bets NoelEspina and Placito Diaz pocketed fourth and fifth places in 2:36:03 and 2:39:36 respectively. Another Capid City runner Joel Deb o would up sixth in 2:42:16 with Rusty Vergara at seventh in 2:54:48. Jepot Lumungsod who just arrived the evening before after wining a gold medal in the CVIRA in Bohol collapsed at the finish line due to cramps but still took eighth place in 3:01:55. Edgardo Carabuena and Jose Betonio of Leyte were nith and 10th placers in 3:03:34 and 3:041:01 respectively.

Women Division

In the distaff side, former Milo Marathon champion Stella Mamac Diaz of Davao City virtually wiped out the opposition to annex the crown in 2:54:85. Diaz who also won in Pasig in 2005. Merlie Edullantes, also of Davao was second in 3:12:41 in her first marathon while Cebuana Madelyn Carter salvaged third in 3:27:36. Kota Kinabalu Climbathon veteran Merlita Arias would up fourth in 3:27:36 while Cynthia Bataluna took fifth in 3:57:02. Doris Nudalo of Mandaue City was sixth in 3:59:14. The rest of the top ten were Claire Maranga 7th in 4:22:59, Emily Chiongbian 8th in 4:40:36, Christina Lamparas 9th in 5:09:14 and Julie Chan 10th in 5:21:33.

CERC Members

Roel is still in cloud nine after the success of the race. Roel is also happy that all members of the club who participated finished the race. Congratulations to Nogie Biagan, Jun Renio, Sergio Amora, Edgar Sanchez, Jon Consunjie, Oscar Villaflor, Barry Marquez, Joven Villasor and Rening Ylaya, the oldest at 72. Congratulations guys!

I will be mentining in my next column the sponsors, government entities, corporations, running organizations and individuals who made the race a success.