Coast to coast 65K

CEBU, Philippines - It’s all systems go for the fourth edition of the Coast to Coast 65K Ultramarathon set on May 10 at 10p.m.  in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Over 100 ultramarathoners from all over the country have already registered for the grueling race that will finish at the Toledo City Sports Complex via the Trans Central Highway.  Race organizer Jonel Mendoza, who was responsible for bringing ultra running this side of the country, said the cut-off time will be 12 hours, meaning all of the participants must be at the Toledo City Gym by 10:00 a.m.  The new time slot is a welcome innovation as runners will be avoiding the intense heat being experienced in the country.  Last year, the race started at 1:00 a.m. with runners welting in the heat of the sun at noon. As usual, there will be no cash prizes, with finishers recieving a dri-fit shirt, medal and post-race meals and drinks.  All runners are advised to bring their own hydration bottles as there will only be one aid station at km 32.5.  Those who still want to register may deposit P1,250 payable to Constante C. Mendoza Jr. on  BPI S/A 2379036239 and e-mail scanned deposit slip to fruntrunnrmag@ gmail.com. Runners are also advised  to be at the Provincial Capitol at 8:30 p.m. for the final briefing and race bib distribution.

Past due

Several friends of mine who organized a footrace some two months ago complained that their sponsor, the city government, has yet to pay them for the staging of the race.  According to them, they have used their personal resources  to pay the cash prizes, materials and race officials. This group said they got a little down payment so they could start the preparation but after the race, the balance seems to be in  limbo.  They said  “Gipasa-pasa sila” when they followed up the collection. Well, I told them, I’ve been organizing races for the past 30 years now and it’s a fact that when you deal with the government, sometimes the organizer “mamatay nalang wala pa kabayri”

Consuelo de bobo?

Meb Keflezighi became the first American runner to win the Boston Marathon after 29 years. Not young at 39 years old, Keflezighi clocked in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 37 seconds to win this year’s race dominated by Kenyans since 1984.  Keflezighi finished second in the 2004  Athens Olympic Marathon while  finishing fourth in the London Olympic Marathon in 2012. He won the  New York City Marathon in 2009, becoming the first American champion since Alberto Salazar in 1982.   But did you know it was only a few years ago that Keflezighi became an American? He was born in Ethiopia and represented his country before becoming a US citizen.  In the eyes of many, Keplezighi was naturalized so he could end the American marathoner’s drought in major marathons “Murag consuelo de bobo.”  Look at Qatar, in one Asian Games marathon, a Kenyan became a Qatar citizen and won the race. (FREEMAN)