Run, run, run

When I accompanied my mom at the Toyota Showroom in Iloilo City to buy a car, the general manager, Robert Uy asked me what model I drive. I told Robert I'm going around in my adidas to which he said "the shoe brand?" Yes, my car is my shoes and since I started running 26 years ago I've probably covered 85,000 kilometers. A lot of my friends also asked me when will I stop running and I answered that as long as there are roads I will continue to do so. Lord Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest and he replied "because it is there". The late Olympic marathon champion Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia didn't even wear shoes when he won the event in the 1960 Rome Olympiad. At present however, the Africans are the most sought after runners in the world and are being sponsored by giant shoe companies like adidas, Nike, Reebok and Puma. Running is also the cheapest form of exercise. One doesn't need equipment, courts or opponents when training. All you need is a good road and a good pair of shoes. And what sport generates thousands of participants? No question about that, it's the marathon. The New York City Marathon draws 35,000 runners while Los Angeles, Chicago and London boast of no less than 20,000. The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon attracted 40,000 runners last year.

Run For Sight

The next two Sundays of August will be red lettered days for running. On the 20th, the Cebu Doctors University 10K Run for Sight will unfold near The Cebu Provincial Capitol with over 1,000 expected participants. Dr. Yong Larrazabal who was bitten by the running bug last year said proceeds of this run will go to charity. Yong's clinic The Sight First will conduct free cataract operation to deserving indigents. Hope someday we could invite Kenyan Olympian Henry Wanyoke, a blind runner who won gold medals in the Athens Paralympics. I met Henry two years ago in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. He is the guy you see in the Standard Chartered Bank's commercial in BBC. Back to the race, runners have until Friday to register at the PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center. The Cebudoc run will also feature a doctor's category and those who already confirmed their participation are Vic Verallo, Romy Letigio, Wilson Goopio, Mar Chan, Al del Prado and Dr. Yong himself.

Milo Marathon

Then on August 27, the much-awaited MILO Marathon Cebu Elimination leg fires off near the Cebu City Sports Center. After the record breaking participation of close to 20,000 runners last year, the Cebu run is now limited to 15,000 for better management. Defending Champion Christy Sevellino is the hands down favorite to repeat this year in the absence of arch-rival Leszl Getaruelas and Merlita Arias who have already qualified. The same story goes in the men's division with Rogelio Reli, Reiz Enriquez and Joseph Penales already booking slots through other provincial qualifying legs. All eyes however will be on our group which I'll call the Celebrity Runners. I'm bringing one-legged triathlete and Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition housemate Rudy Fernandez to run in the 5K category. Rudy will be joined by former SEA Games gold medalist Ramon Solis, former boxing world champions Dodie Boy Peñalosa and Efren Tabanas and hopefully another PBB housemate Budoy. Rudy's trip is made possible by Rajah Park Hotel through its marketing manager Heidi Cabaluna, Trans Asia's Pinky Sy, Stan dela Cruz of Orthopaedie Frey Far East, Inc. who will be doing some repairs on Rudy's artificial titanium leg and Casa Ilongga.

Casa Ilongga 10k Run

Don't look now, but we are also cooking more runs before the year ends. Of course we have scheduled the M. Lhuillier -Kwarta Padala 10K Run on Oct. 1. We are also awaiting the exact date of the Guardo Anniversary Run also in October and the new kid on the block, Casa Ilongga 10K Classic that will herald the reopening of Casa Ilongga Restaurant at the Robinson's Place in November. Sad to say however there will be no Queen City Run this year according to organizer Bernadette Jingco. Then in December, the Midnight Run at the City Sports Club Cebu. O, DAGAN NA!