What an irony being relegated to the background in a sport you popularized. I'm referring to the Boston Marathon which will enter its 111th edition next month. Since 1985 no American has won Boston of course it's the Kenyans and other African runners who has dominated the world's oldest marathon. But in last years staging of the run, five Americans finished in the top ten. Although Robert Cheruiyot ruled the race in a record 2:07:14, the Americans served notice that they are slowly trying to regain lost glory. Meb Keflezighi finished third in 2:09:56, Brian Sell camed in fourth in 2:10:55 while Alan Culpepper pocketed third in 2:11:02 Peter Gilmore and Clint Verran clocked 2:12:45 and 2:14:12 to place 7th and 10th respectively. Keflezighi was the silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympic Marathon. Before the Kenyans came, marathon legend Bill Rodgers won 4 Boston crowns. Another runner to watch is former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi originally of Morocco who clocked 2:07:04 in the London Marathon last year. The American woman is also making waves in the marathon, Deena Kastor established new American record when she won the 2006 London Marathon in 2:19:36, the 8th fastest time in marathon history. Great Britains Paula Kadcliffe holds the world record of 2:14:42 Kastor broke the European hold in the London Marathon beating the likes of Lyudmila Petrova of Russia and Ethiopian Susan Chepkemei. With their brilliant performance last year it won't be long before they realize the American Dream.
Running the Boston Marathon is every runner's dream. Filipinos who ran in Boston include Jimmy Dela Torre, Exequiel Baisac and Roy Vence. How about the celebrities?Well here are some, Erich Segal author of Lover Story ran in 1972 and finished in 3:28:45, Elf star Will Ferrell clocked 3:56:12 in 2003, novelist Haruki Murakami registered 4:00:11 also in 2003. Others who ran are Baywatch star Alexandra Paul (4:02:10) in 2005, JAG leading man David James Elliot (4:08:10) in 2005, Olympic gold-medal gymnast Kerri Strug (4:13:03) in 2005, NASCAR champ. Michael Waltrip (4:33:31) in 2000 and TU personally Lisa Lang (4:34:18) in 2001.
Got a call from former Freeman advertising manager Tina Poblador-Magbujos who is now marketing manager of SM City Bacolod which opened the other day. Tina a dead-ringer for Toni Gonzaga is tasking me to organize sporting events this summer for the mall. I'm a bit full this summer as I'm preparing for the Cebu Mountain Trail Run, a Mc Donald's Kiddie Run and two events at Robinsons Place Cebu, an Aikido demo with Banat's John Rey Saavedra and aerobics marathon. I'm also organizing the Adlaw Sang Iloilo Run. But how can you disappoint a pretty lady like Tina. So I'm off to Bacolod next week and shoot two birds with one stone. Visit the new Casa Ilongga outlet at SM City Bacolod foodcourt and start working with Toni err... I mean Tina.
| Sinulog Marathon Certificates |
Certificates of finish of the Cebu Sinulog Marathon may be claimed at Sug-angan Lutong Binisaya at Llorente St., near Fuente Osmeña. We are also inviting you to train for the second Sinulog Marathon on January 13, 2008- Sana walang ASEAN.