Weekly runs

Don’t look now but May is indeed a busy running month. It all started when the Mandaue Runners held the Mandaue 10K Run last May 3. Then last Sunday, the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) had the PMAP Earth Run 2009 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. After a ceasefire this week to give the runners some rest, the Running Mad for Wellness fires off on May 24 at the UP grounds in Lahug. The run is organized by the Lahug Barangay Council under Captain Mary Ann Delos Santos to promote fitness awareness and wellness among the barangays and the whole community. The race is quite unique as this will be the first time that the distance is pegged at 12 kilometers. There will also be a 6km and 3km category for joggers. Registration is only P 100.00 inclusive of singlet and other goodies. Registration is now ongoing at the Athelete’s Foot at Ayala Center, PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center, Holiday Gym and Spa, Citigym at Waterfront and at the Lahug Barangay Hall.

mountain trail run

Highlighting the runs of May 1s the Arthro Cebu Mountain Trail Run at Kalunasan on May 31. The run will again cover the tough hills of Barangay Napo where runners run mostly on a trail uphill and downhill route.

Early sponsors include Arthro, Aguilon Construction and Development Corp. of running brothers J.R. and Rovie Aguilon, Waterfresh Drinking Water, Casa Ilongga and Tiger Energy Drink of Pryce Pharma headed by Dodong Sulatre. Registration is now ongoing at Planet Sports at Ayala Center, PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place Cebu. Oh, by the way, registration for the STAA Move with Air is also ongoing at the said outlets.

Manny in canvas

After our usual breakfast at McDonald’s South the other day, my basketball buddy, Jingjing Rama invited me to his place. Jing said he’s showing me an expensive oil painting. While we were cruising to the Rama compound my mind pictured a Picasso or a Van Goth. When Jing finally showed me the painting, lo and behold, it was a huge almost true-to-life replica of Manny Pacquiao. Jing said he’s not a painting collector but just couldn’t help having Manny painted ever since they became friends, especially while playing basketball together against our Sportswriter’s Association of Cebu (SAC) team. The painting was indeed fantastic and so was the cost, a cool P100,000. Jing said he will have the painting signed by Manny when he visits Cebu anew. Before I left Jing showed me another collector’s item, a custom-made gold-plated watch with President Ferdinand Marcos face on it. The watch is close to 40 years old but it is still working. I told Jing it’s priceless, just like my t-shirt that was signed by Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Nigel Short, Maya Chiburdanize and Viktor Korchnoi during the Manila Chess Olympiad in 1992. I also got a shirt signed by Boston Marathon four time champion Bill Rodgers in 1982. Did you know Jing also has mini-zoo at the Rama compound? His animals include a monkey, eagle and a snake.

no more miss nice gal

ABS-CBN Haide Acuña is quite serious about running these days. If you recall, Haide joined Atan, Jeson and Jerry Guardo, Joel Garganera, Allan Delantar and yours truly to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon last February. Well, I know from the start that we really lacked mileage after training only less than three months and Hong Kong is not really the place to run your first marathon. But I want the group to have a marathon experience. Atan and Joel made it but was 3 minutes short of the time limit of 5:30 because of the cut-offs and the tough terrain. Haide was picked up at km 24 while Jerry and I followed in km 28. Jeson also didn’t make the cut after being forced to the sweeper bus at km 37, sayang! Now Haide has one thing on her mind “unfinished business”. So after several post-marathon runs, Haide said she’s serious in finishing a marathon. Being the coach of Olympians Roy Vence and Herman Suizo, I’m giving Haide all the tips to finish her first marathon. We even hired track coach Precing Capangpangan to take care of her speed workouts. Haide also got a pair of racing shoes. While in the past, Haide puffs in the home stretch, she’s now more comfortable finishing 25 kms with ease. We are targeting the Quezon City Marathon in October and probably tackle Hong Kong in February once more. By the way, congratulations to Haide for finishing fourth in last Sunday’s PMAP Earth Run 2009 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

PMAP Earth run

Congratulations to PMAP Officials headed by President Chona Cejas and workhorse Flor Tangpus for the successful staging of the PMAP Earth Run 2009 last Sunday. Despite the meager budget, the run which was participated in mostly by member companies went on smoothly. Over 400 runners registered, thus realizing the goal of Chona and Flor to raise funds for their projects such as mangrove planting and assistance for the PWDs and the indigent. Jerry and Jeson Guardo joined me and Haide in the 5K race. –THE FREEMAN