Still no marathons

Not contented with bringing sports to a standstill last year, Covid 19 continues to wreak havoc this year. All marathons were cancelled and it’s almost the same story with the major runs facing uncertainty while being postponed to later dates.  The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon set next month was moved to October 24. The Los Angeles Marathon still hoping that the infection will improve in March, but at the rate cases are spiking, I’m bound to believe the race will also be postponed. Boston and London marathons, two of the most prestigious in the world, have been moved to October. Also moved to October is the Tokyo Marathon which was supposed to blast off this month. The Berlin Marathon is targeting August while the New York City Marathon is set for November.  If you notice all the marathons will be held in October as organizers believe the vaccine will slowdown the spikes and slowly give sports some breathing room. Marathons are no-no at this time since there will be no physical distancing, what with thousands joining the races. Here at home, big races remain uncertain too. We will be missing the Milo Marathon, the Ironman Triathlon and the Palarong Pambansa.  Some organizers hold virtual runs but only a few are excited to join as it’s really different from an actual race.

Hasta la vista Hank

In 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s lifetime record of 714 home runs. By the time he retired from baseball in 1976, he had hit a total of 755 homers, a record that stood for 33 years. Aaron nicknamed “Hammerin Hank” died last Saturday at age 86.  Tony Ferrer who starred in James Bond-inspired tagalog movies as agent X44, also died at 86 the other day. I met Tony in the early 70s when he trained in our martial arts club, the Commando Self-Defense Shorin Ryu managed by Latino and Roberto Gonzales. Larry King, iconic journalist 87, left for the Great Beyond, also last Friday, a victim of Covid-19.

Did you know?

CARL LEWIS. In the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, Americans Calvin Smith and Lee Mc Neil made an illegal baton exchange on the third leg of the first-round heat of 4x 100m relay.  The US team was disqualified, thus denying teammate Carl Lewis, a shot at repeating his four- gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 LA Olympics.  In 1996, I was a member of the Philippine Masters Team to the Asian Masters Athletics Championship in Seoul.  Our team included former Asia’s fastest woman Mona Sulaiman, Linda Lavandia, Romeo Sotto, Lolit Lagrosas and Bong Pellosis among others.  I had “goose pimples” competing at the very same track oval where Lewis ran.  It was also at the Chamsil Olympic Stadium where Florence Griffith won the 100m and 200m gold medals, unbroken records to this date.