Lessons from Mactan

It was too late when we realized that Mactan Island was just too small to hold over 4,000 runners. By then every space at the starting line at the Mactan Shrine was filled. When we planned the Great Lapu-Lapu Run 2, it was agreed that it would be meaningful to start in the area where the Battle of Mactan really happened, hundreds of years ago. Although the route including the Marcelo Fernan Bridge was a change of scenery, the streets were just too narrow. The previous year, the route went around, passing the dread full Basak district the roads are ruled by tricycles and multicabs. We concluded that Mactan could only hold at least 2,000 runners to make the run manageable. Of course the organizers got a lot of complaints including use of recycled cups. GLLR chair Hembler Mendoza said if the runners saw some cups bearing the logo of a popular fastfood, it was not used ones, it came from the company’s stock room as Hembler himself, got them when the water stations were running out of cups. The delay in the start was due to a timing malfunction which was really beyond the organizer’s control. We could have started on time if they really wanted to “kay init na”. But they will have no clocking. However, the starting time for a 21K marathon was still within the time suggested by IAAF. If we are scared of the sun, then maybe let’s have more midnight runs. If you’re running a marathon and targeting five hours, there’s no way you could escape the sun. You’ll be running at 8:00 to 9:00 am or even 10:00 am when the sun would affect your “porcelain” skins. Triathletes are in far more worse situations. Ask Bro. Carlo Bacalla or Annie Neric who ran in the CamSur Half Ironman. They started at 12:00 noon (run segment) at about 35 degrees Celsius. So if a little sun is troublesome for you, you’re in the wrong sport. A few years back, an organizer suggested that runners bring an umbrella if it gets too hot. However we are not doing a Pilate here, all we could say the race could have been smooth if some groups in the organizing committee followed their roles to the hilt. My dad used to tell me “if you want to do it right, do it yourself,” True, but no man is an island, in an orchestra, the strings and the wind instruments must be in harmony. Or else the music will be out of tune.

THE CIRCUS CONTINUES

As I mentioned in my last column, I’m taking a few months off to concentrate on my other undertakings. I’ve neglected our food business and said no to invitations for Elvis. The running boom will continue until the end of the year or beyond. In fact, the whole Sundays of May and June are booked. There is also the emergence of new race organizers, some having little or no knowledge at all of road race management. Anyway, I’m wishing them the best of luck.

RACE 2 REDUCE CHALLENGE

The next big race in Cebu will be no doubt, the Aboitiz Race 2 Reduce Challenge set to fire off on August 8 at the Sugbu in the SRP. We are again thinking of using timing chips, but it’s going be better than the last time where most runners in the 10K got to use it for the first time. We will negotiate for the closure of one lane for the safety of the runners. The race is geared to promote reduction of carbon emissions, fuel, water and electricity consumption among the Aboitiz group of companies and likewise reduced a person’s weight too. Keep tuned.