Team Guardo to HK Marathon

CEBU - Just when I was about to dust off the cobwebs from my Christmas tree after bringing it down from the attic, guess who called?, sportsman Atan Guardo, who probably can’t wait to run in 2010. Atan who’s been running more after finishing 21 kilometers in the Milo Marathon this year, has trained his sight to hurdling his first-ever 42-kilometer marathon. Atan leads a 10-man Team Atan Guardo to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in February next year. Atan has hired me for 1 million won (Korean currency) to train the team to Hong Kong.

At first I was hesitant, as it’s been 11 years since I last ran a marathon when my Nike Team clobbered the Europeans to bag the team championship in the 1997 Pal Manila Marathon. Our team then was composed of six-time Milo Marathon champion and Atlanta Olympian Roy Vence, Sea Games champion Allan Ballester, two-time Pal Manila Marathon champion Rey Antoque, 1992 Barcelona Olympian Herman Suizo and 1988 Seoul Olympian Hector Begeo. Since it’s been that long I’m a bit doubtful if I could finish the marathon. My knee isn’t 100 percent ready so I’ll just listen to my body, and take it from 25 kilometers. All first timers, the team is composed of Atan, Jerry, and Jeson Guardo, former Barangay captain Joel Garganera, Allan Delantar, Ariel Genobiagon and Ronnie Guardo. Genito Guardo and Edwin Ratilla will be running in the 10K category.

Last Saturday, Team Guardo embarked on its first uphill run as we tackled the Kalunasan trail route. The group included Atan, Joel, Jeson, Allan, two other runners and me. Missing was Sambag I Barangay Captain Jerry who would you believe, forgot his running shoes? Well, Jerry in runner’s lingo, “that’s a cardinal sin”. It’s like leaving your gun when you go to battle. The group had a little difficulty running on dirt roads but it was just the beginning of a rigorous training that will transform this bunch of runners to marathoners. Atan wanted to run a 20-kilometer distance but since they were running in the Gawad Kalinga run the next day, I suggested the trail instead. After an enjoyable run devoid of smog, heat and traffic, we proceeded to Abuhan for breakfast. Multi-titled Paralympian Arnold Balais followed. As coach of Team Guardo I told Atan we would need custom-made insoles to protect our feet. For instance, Jeson is high arch while Atan is slightly flat-footed. Arnold will be making the insoles. He made one for me and Cerc president Jess Taborada a few weeks back.

The insoles have worked wonders for my knees. I’ll soon be flying to Manila to look for dri-fit singlets from either Nike or New Balance to make sure the team is equipped with the best. I’ve also asked my New York-based doctor brother Jun to send us Powerbars and power gels. With all the hi-tech gears and nutrients, I’m almost certain we could all finish the race even if we clock 6 hours. It’s still finishing a full marathon and that is what’s it all about. And oh yes, we will have a pretty muse with us who will also run her first marathon, Haide Acuña.

Midnight Run

You can’t stop tradition, so just when I was starting to pack my bags for the Asian Masters Athletics Championship in Thailand, City Sports Club Cebu sports manager Rey Fuentes called. Rey said there’s a clamor among club members and runners alike for the staging of the Cebu Midnight Run anew. With two races just two weeks apart, I had no choice but to beg off from the National Masters Team who earlier picked me for the Chiang Mai trackfest on December 1-6. This year we are expecting a big number of runners including the Cebu Executive Runners Club, Rox Gym of Lapu-Lapu City, Holiday Gym and Spa and Prycegas runners. A New Balance running shoes will be raffled off to lucky finishers. As in the past, the race will fire off at the strike of midnight of December 14 with all participants receiving singlets. Midnight snacks will follow at the City Sports Club Cebu. Presented by Arthro and now on its seventh year, the race is co-sponsored by Cebu Holdings Inc. Athletes Foot, Ben Café Waterfresh Drinking Water, The Freeman, Holiday Gym and Spa. Island Grill Express, Pfizer, Stocks R Us, Manila Foodshoppe, Shellane and Casa Ilongga, Registration starts next week at the PSC Office Region VII at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Move 5k Run 2

Registration to the MOVE 5K RUN 2 set on November 30 at the Park Mall in Mandaue City is now in full swing at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and at Dr. Renald Ramiro’s clinic at the Cebu Doctors University Hospital in Mandaue City. Champions for both male and female will receive P3,000.00, the second placers P2,000.00 and the third placers P1,000.00. Fourth to tenth placers will each receive P300.00. All participants will receive singlets with the top 200 receiving a pack of multi-vitamins. All winners will receive medals and running caps. (THE FREEMAN)