Marathoner's thoughts on breaking boundaries

Last week, we looked into reasons for government’s involvement in sports. Arthur T. Johnson and James H. Frey, editors of “Government and Sport,” state that as both amateur and professional sports have evolved into complex organizations and “big business,” characterized by commercialism and hierarchy, it has become more difficult to view sport at any level as an idyllic activity safe from the scrutiny of government. (In the United States), prior to the 1960s, sport entrepreneurs were the beneficiaries of tacit and overt agreements that, by granting sport a special status of freedom from normal government regulation, reinforced the separation of sport and the state.

The dynamic involvement of the private sector in sport events that have become institutions by themselves thus becoming instruments of promoting, say, tourism (consequently inviting both government support and regulation and intervention), is no more evident in sports that do not require complex skills and are therefore truly amenable to mass participation such as marathon running.

One such marathon race that attracts international attention is the Hong Kong (HK) marathon which the Standard Chartered Bank started sponsoring in 2005 as part of the Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) with HK as one of the four constituent races. The HK race started in 1997 with 1,000 runners.

The race for 2009 took place on Feb. 8. According to Timothy Chiu of The Standard, about 55,000 people enrolled, among which 51,272 runners turned up (of which 31,000 were entered in the 10 km event and 7,000 in the full 42 km marathon), breaking previous records. The prize money was $100,000, with the winner getting $20,000. Kenya’s Cyprian Kiogora Mwobi won the full marathon in 2:14:67, setting a new course record. The women’s title was won by Winnie Frida Kwamboka Nyansikera, also Kenyan, in 2:41:25. There must be something Kenya, a country poorer than the Philippines, is doing right to win so many Olympic gold medals while we still have to win one gold medal after more than seven decades of Olympic participation. We will take a look at the so-called Kenyan model next week.

At any rate, according to the Oriental Daily News and worldjournal.com, the 2009 finishing rate was 98 percent. The injury count was 394, of which 16 were sent to the hospital. Five thousand runners requested massage due to cramps. The day’s relative humidity was high at 60 percent-85 percent, making the race less comfortable.

It was therefore with understandable pride that OFW advocate and radio host Atty. Antonio G. Arellano, (Atty. AGA), broke the news that his two sons and friends finished the 2009 HK marathon which was noted for the course’s steep inclination. AGA watched his sons while proudly waving the Philippine flag.

Andrew (Drew) Arellano, the 29-year-old personable and popular TV host, finished the full marathon in 3:54 while Angelo (Gelo) Arellano, older at 37, industrial engineer and holder of a master of entrepreneurship, clocked 4:53. Friends of the Arellanos who also took part were entrepreneur Chris Litton; Oliver Diaz, 36, a medical doctor, crossed the finish line at 4:36; and Adi Ocampo, 32-year-old IT entrepreneur, clocked 4:56.

In his stirring account, Gelo referred to the whole experience as one of “Breaking Boundaries.” “Priceless,” he enthused. “This is about the exhilarating sense of achievement one gets after crossing the finish line of a 42 km marathon. We all know the health benefits of running a 10K or even a 5K. But running a full marathon? For the uninitiated, running for 42 kms is crazy or even downright suicidal! Why pay and even travel abroad just to experience pain?,” Gelo asks.

Gelo answers his own question, “I can probably best summarize this achievement in two words: ‘Breaking Boundaries.’ We all have a bucket list and quite simply, running a full marathon was part of this group’s list. Although they say that anyone can run a full marathon, I believe that it takes someone with purpose to run this grueling race. I mean you can have all the training, nutrition and best sports gear in the world, but without purpose, how can you get past what runner’s call ‘The Wall’? You know you have hit the wall when all energy is sapped out of you and the only thing that will help you reach the finish line is sheer determination.”

“For us, representing the Philippines in an international event was one more reason to be at our best. Thanks to Nike for keeping our runners dry and comfortable all throughout the race. You folks at Nike really know how to make running a more pleasurable experience with your efficient and ultra-sleek gear.”

Gelo ends by urging everyone, “It’s never too late to set new personal goals and break new boundaries”!