Kiddie run

Touched down in Iloilo City the other day to finalize preparations for the Governors Cup Kiddie's Run slated next month in SM City. The run is being spearheaded by the Iloilo Provincial Government under Gov. Niel Tupas and coordinated by Provincial Administrator Boy Mejorada. We are expecting close to six hundred runners coming from the different schools in the city. Kids aged 5 to 13 will vie in 3 categories namely: 1K, 2K, and 3K. Expected to back the race are Jollibee and SM City Iloilo. Mejorada said this will be the real grassroots program of the province as we are encouraging kids as young as 5 years old to be aware of physical fitness. Iloilo is also bracing for the MILO Marathon Elimination Run that is set on September 11. But before the Prosports' Boyet Rentoy is organizing the Dengue Run on August 28, an awareness event for the dreaded dengue which as of the latest count already claimed 10,000 victims nationwide. Before I leave for Bacolod I will be watching the Tribu Sugbu test the mettle of the skidding Iloilo Warriors on Wednesday. Rudy Fernandez

One of my missions here in Iloilo is to start training one-legged triathlete Rudy Fernandez for the ParaGames happening after the Sea Games also in Manila. Rudy who swam the 28-mile Guimaras-Negros Channel in 1996 will compete in the 400 meters swimming event while running in the 1500 meters in the oval. This will also be Rudy's final tune-up before we depart for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in the Middle East on Jan. 8 next year. Dino Cardines

In the 1993 Nike Pharmaton 10K Classic, a skinny kid skipped the water stations in order to catch then Cebu's top runner Toto Cañete who was leading the race. His move proved disastrous as he collapsed just a few meters to the finish line due to dehydration. He landed in the hospital and vowed never to run again. I had to explain to him that champions are not made overnight but that he has the potential to become one of the near future. After a few months he was back on the road and the following year I brought him to Cagayan de Oro to compete in the MILO Marathon Elimination Leg for Mindanao. I also gave him a "World Runners" singlet to wear just for luck. A virtual unknown he was never given a Chinaman's chance to win but he surprised the field including himself when he ruled the race. Soon he was trading strides with the likes of former national marathon record holder Herman Suizo, PAL Manila Marathon back-to-back champion Rey Antoque and five-time MILO Marathon king Roy Vence. He was later taken in as a member of a national training pool that was based in Baguio City. He competed in international events and was sent to China for exposure clocking an unofficial time of 30 minutes 20 seconds in the 10K. Nine years ago he joined the RP Team composed mostly of army men that competed in a cross-country event in Florida, USA. Some members of the team including this guy never returned to the Philippines. He hooked up with several Pinoy runners who were in the US for quite sometime. Some of these are Primo Ramos, Weng Monon, Teddy Danoy and Nene Pellosis who are all based in New Jersey. Just the other week this former runner returned to Cebu City for a short vacation he is now a green card holder, some 15 lbs. heavier and of couse enjoying the "good things" Americans has to offer. His name is Segundino Cardines who is now second to none. Welcome home buddy.