Last year, after organizing ten races, I promised myself to take it easy and go on hibernation mode. I also embarked on a mission to organize races where people probably don‘t know how to run (may ganun ba yun?) Take Siquijor for instance, I could not remember they had a race over there or people just don’t want to go there. “Makulam ta didto” said one runner who by now is getting dizzy joining all the weekly runs in Cebu.
As a start, I‘ll just pick up the race numbers when I arrive at Cebu and hop on a plane to Iloilo. On July 18, is the Philippine Academy of Rehab Medicine (PARM) will hold the MOVE 10K RUN there. I‘m writing this column in Manila before I leave for the airport. Well, I‘m glad I was able to accomplish my missions here like striking a deal with Vince Mendoza who will provide the timing chips for the much awaited Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge 2010 on August 22 at the SRP.
In such a short time, I was also able to meet Frontrunner Magazines‘ Junel and Connie Mendoza. Before we parted, Junel let me swore on my mother‘s grave to help him organize the Cebu 50K UltraMarathon In December. In fact, Iron lady Haide Acuna has started plotting a route, scourging the Mt. Manunggal area. We also intend to include that dreaded portion where a bus fell, killing Iranian medical students. In return, Junel, a hard-core ultramarathoner and disciple of the Bald Runner himself Jovie Narcise, promised to lend me his vintage Thunderbird convertible when I flag of the runners as Elvis in Toby Claudio‘s next ROCK AND RUN at the Fort. Deal Junel?
Run Don‘T Stop
While in Manila I was also able to talk with my good friend former Milo Marathon organizer Ron De Los Reyes, who wants me to take care of the Visayas leg of the Auto Review Road Safety Awareness Run. However, I advised Ron with the non-stop runs in Cebu, It‘s better we take our stuff elsewhere, like Bacolod or Iloilo, which he agreed. Ron‘s first leg will be in Manila followed by Davao City on September 25. All is not final though, we are still considering Cebu in November. Would you believe I am getting offers almost every week to direct a race? Some even ask me if we could hold their race in February or March next year. I answered back, it‘s too far away “Tingali patay na ta ana”. Ungo founder Max Limpag also reminded me about the FREEDOM RUN in September as part of Press Freedom Week hosted this year by Sunstar. Mario Ochoa of Ocean Care also reminded me of my promise to direct the Save the Ocean Race in Lapu-Lapu City, meaning I might say no to the Masskara Run in Bacolod. With all these races choking me, i‘m shouting the Beatles‘ HELP!