The impossible dream?

CEBU - I’ve been bombarded with text messages lately asking for my comment on the sorry state of the Cebu City Sports Center track oval. You see after the Cebu City government announced that the city has a surplus of P 120 million, some people are wondering if it could spare a few millions (crumbs?) for rehabilitation of the oval that by now has definitely become a danger zone. True, it has outlived its 10 years service but look at the Iloilo Sports Center oval built in 1992. Although also in a state of deterioration, it’s still usable. Well, it’s because the Cebu oval has arguably the busiest traffic in the whole country. Using the oval for the Sinulog Festival has also taken its toll. In Baguio City or at the Ultra track in Pasig for instance, no one is allowed to enter if wearing leather shoes. How much more bringing in props for the festival as big as Transformer robots or a diplodocus of the Jurrasic Era. Several runners already suffered injuries in the track while just recently three people had to be yanked out as their butts got stuck in the rubberized oval that melts when it’s too hot. So when will they fix it? If you ask me maybe when Cebu host the next Olympics err… I mean, the Palarong Pambakla err… Pambansa “diay”. I just hope the Sto Niño will visit the city officials in their dreams and order the rehabilitation of the oval, then that’s the time we will know that impossible is nothing. Hey that’s the Adidas slogan. Hey Goody Custodio, how about a pair of shoes for the plugging.

Rotary 10k Run

It’s all systems go for the 1st Cebu Rotary 10K Run on February 22 at the Terraces in the Cebu Business Park. As early as last year, event co-chairman and Rotary West secretary Andrew Jimenez started planning to stage the first-ever run for Rotarians. However the race aimed to promote fitness and wellness among the different club members is not limited to Rotarians. “This is opened for everyone,” said Andrew who also said a 5-kilometer run and a 1 kilometer walk – jog for executives and the elderly will also be held. Andrew is quite excited as the race will offer a fabulous start and finish venue, the Terraces. Ayala Center’s marketing head Joy Polloso is likewise excited considering that the run will surely boost the Terraces. Joy herself has asked me to train her and several of her staff so she could run in the almost monthly races, a fact that Cebu indeed has become the Mecca of running. Joy also said Ayala Center is planning a run for its summer activity and has already ask me to lay down the ground works. Attractive cash prizes trophies, medals, singlets and raffle items are up for grabs. The champions in the 10K division (male and female) will receive P5,000, the second placers P3,000 and the third placers P2,000. Fourth to tenth placers will each receive P300 while all participants will get singlets. In the 5K division, the champions will receive P2,000.00, the second placers P1500 and the third placers P1,000. Fourth to tenth placers will go home richer pay P200. Early sponsors of the race are Aboitiz Land, The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu and Waterfresh Drinking Water. Registration starts next week at the Philippine Sports Commission Office at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Hong Kong Marathon

A big Cebu contingent leaves for Hong Kong next week to join the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. The group is bannered by the Guardo Running Team composed of Atan, Jerry, Jeson and Genito Guardo, Allan Delantar, Edwin Ratilla, Joel Garganena and yours truly. We will be joined by CERC members Meyrick and Perl Jacalan, Frederick and Millette Chiongbian and ABS-CBN’s Haide Acuña. Running in the 21k Division are Leszl Gitaruelas and Mendel Lopez. Cebuano runners have been making waves in international marathons lately. Just last December, some 28 marathoners mostly from the CERC, participated in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

NOTES:

The Cebu Executive Runners Club is requesting all its members to attend the induction of new members on January 30, Friday at 6:30 pm at the Sug-angan Restaurant. Your attendance is needed. Those who fail to come will be sentenced by inducting officer Judge Gabby Ingles. Amputation of both legs!   (THE FREEMAN)