The countdown begins

The countdown has begun for the Cebu City Marathon. After its official launching last Thursday at Mooon Café, in Guadalupe, runners are talking about it.

I met some runners last Saturday during my usual early morning gig and when I asked if they were already preparing for the Cebu Marathon their answer was a resounding “YES!”

Even out-of-towners are taking notice. Takbo.ph a blog and discussion forum about running in the Philippines featured the Cebu City Marathon on August 31. There are currently seven comments posted in the site but I know there will be more in the days to come. (Know what they were talking about by following this link: http://takbo.ph/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=413&Itemid=43)

This is not to mention the blog of fellow runner and ABS-CBN Cebu news anchor Haide Acuña in her site Marathon Foodie.

The marathon is a tour of Cebu City. The start/finish line will be at the IT Park. John Pages e-mailed me and said that having the race start and finish at IT Park would mean “ample parking space for all.” Yes, ample parking space for all – runners, sponsors, supporters and even kibitzers.

From IT Park, those who will be running the full marathon (42K) will pass landmarks such as the Capitol, Fuente Osmeña, Colon Street (the oldest street in the Philippines), Sto. Niño Basilica, Magellan’s Cross, SRP, Ayala Center and three overpasses on their way.

If that’s not a tour of the Queen City of the South, then I don’t know what is. What’s more important, John stressed is that SRP will be closed to traffic so runners will have that that seaside stretch to themselves during the run!

I’m expecting runners from all over the country and even those from other countries to visit Cebu and join the race. This goes without saying that we should invite runners to come to our city. The more the merrier as the saying goes.

Last night, I invited a friend who is residing in Singapore to run with me during the marathon. He’s married to a very close family friend and recently run a 21K event in Malaysia. I hope he will be able to squeeze this event into his busy schedule. It would be fun running with him.

I’m also inviting Dr. Renald Ramiro, my running mate during the Sinulong 21K half marathon last January, to run. We had such a grand time when we run the half marathon so I guess we’ll have grander time, this time, with a longer route.

Before I forget, the Cebu City Marathon will be a PATAFA sanctioned event. This means that whoever could break the current Philippine record of 2:18:44 set by Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista will be the new Philippine marathon king.

For more information about the Cebu City Marathon, please visit the official website: www.cebumarathon.com.

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My tukayo Raffy Uytiepo sent a text message the other day and requested that I mention in today’s column the upcoming IBP Fun Run on September 13. Of course, I couldn’t say no to Raffy. The run features two categories 5K- Open and 5K- Lawyers. Registration is now going on at the Philippine Sports Commission office at the Cebu City Sports Center.

For comments, please e-mail [email protected]. – THE FREEMAN