Running madness

I didn’t know that I still got a big following in Manila even though I seldom come to the Big City anymore. My hectic schedule, Elvis appearances included, has kept me at home. During the “Tatakbo Ka Ba”? run at the Global City, it was nostalgic all over again as I recalled the many races I organized in Luzon, especially Baguio and Laoag. The veteran runners now aging but still running invited me to come back to Manila so I could organize races there like the old times. Just like Cebu, running events are also going crazy with five races sometimes happening at the same day. After several years I was running again with the current oldest runner in the country Felix Belarmino, a fellow Ilonggo. Of course, I recalled being the running buddy of then the oldest runner Raymond San Juan who died at 91 years old and Felipe Villanueva who was dead at 89, until their deaths, both were still running. At the finish line, I had the chance to invite the different running clubs to the Cebu Marathon in January next year almost all the presidents of the clubs especially Rudy Fernandez (not the one-legged triathlete nor the late actor Daboy) of Runnex, Pablo Gay of Runners Link and the Bald Runners’ Jovie Narcise who all showed interest and promised to run in Cebu. On the other hand, the country’s top marathoners that include Vertek Buenavista, Crescenciano Sabal, Bernardo Desamito, Rene Desuyo and Ailyn Tolentino promised to join the Cebu Marathon.

Starting Early

After cramming for time in previous Cebu marathons, the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) made it sure that preparation starts early for next year’s Cebu City Marathon that fires off on January 10, 2010. Organizing committee headed by President Jesse Taborada, John Pages and Jacs Jacalan in fact, has launched the marathon already. To further drum beat interest, CERC will be conducting a running clinic that will be useful for beginners to finish a marathon. In fact we will schedule the first session on September 19 hopefully at the Parklane International Hotel. Parklane is owned by the Ting family who are no strangers to running. Manuel and Allan are runners. The clinic that will teach runners the proper form, nutrition, training schedules and injury prevention will have different speakers like Dr. Rosan Trani (Cardio), Dr. Renald Ramero (injury prevention), Millette Chiongbian and yours truly on how to finish your first marathon. With races sprouting like mushrooms, my advise to runners is don’t jump to all the runs unless you want to head for disaster like burning out or getting injured. Running has indeed reached madness proportion. Everybody wants to do a fund raising run. I just hope they are not just using running as a venue for their real motives. “Nabuang na jud ang mga tawo sa dagan”.

IBP RUN

Registration to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) run on September 13, is now in full swing at the IBP office at the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound, PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at Casa Ilongga Robinsons Place. The champions in the 5K open will each receive P2,500.00, the second placers P1,500.00 and the third placers P1,000.00. In the 3K category, the champions (Male / Female) will receive P 1,500.00, the second placers P1,000.00 and the third placers P500.00. There will also be a category for lawyers and judges with the winners getting medals.

Press Freedom Run

The media community is invited to join the Cebu Press Freedom 5K that fires off on September 26 (Saturday) at the City Sports Club Cebu. The race is open to bona-fide members of the media with the champions male and female each receiving P2,500.00, the second placers P1,500.00 and the third placers P1,000.00. Registration is free while singlets will be given to the first 120 registrants on first-come-first-served basis. A 3K run will also be staged but will just be for fun with no prizes. The running gears will be given before the race meaning no show, no singlet. Please register with the following: Max Limpag (Sunstar), Rick Gabuya (Cebu Daily News), Divine Ngujo (The Freeman/Banat) and Carlo Dugaduga (KBP).

Road To Kona Is Clear

One-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez and I were in Manila the other day to get our gears from our sponsors. Gabriele Boschi who took care of Rudy’s visa gave us eyewear, traveling bags and helmets. While Timex through Gemma Racraquin gave us Timex Ironman watches and even offered to provide our triathlon competition gears. Before we left, Cathy Salimbangon gave us FRS energy drink which is made from blueberries, red onions, apples and cocoa. It’s the same drink used by Tour D France seven-time champion Lance Armstrong. Finally, we are just awaiting our tickets from Philippine Airline’s through Bong Cruz and Jess Garcia. And finally if you have not yet registered, you have until today to do so. The Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. 10K Run blasts off tomorrow at Lapu-Lapu St. near Sto Niño Church. Don’t forget to mark your calendars on October 11, the Holiday Gym & Spa Run to the Max II 10-Miler fires off at the Holiday Gym & Spa parking lot in Banilad. (FREEMAN NEWS)