The best ever

The members of the Cebu Executive Runners Club didn’t sleep a wink during the eve of the historic Cebu City Marathon, preparing for the race. We were all deployed to our assignments like manning the water stations and putting barricades along the crucial intersections. Our efforts paid off when we got an “A” rating after the smoke of the marathon cleared. In fact we are still in Cloud Nine, savoring the sweet smell of success. No less than retired general Jovie Narcise a.k.a the Bald Runner, a critic of chaotic runs, commended the organizers for a “perfect run”. Of course Jovie knows what he’s saying, not because he’s my friend, but because he truly knows when a race is disorganized. The same was said of Runnex president Rudy Fernandez who ran here with several of his members. To recall the Quezon City International Marathon organized by Runnex ran out of water. Well, it was a group effort but we have to give credit to prime movers John Pages, Jacks Jacalan and Jess Taborada who I call the “3Js”. In the early part of our preparation, John asked me if it’s worth providing computer chips to the runners. I said we could have better control and could guarantee exact clocking and past results. But the chips and the whole system are expensive, a fortune for a not so high-financed club. In fact we have to dig deep into our resources. But John and Jacks said we have to take the risk, the rest was history.

A Lesson From Cerc

Most of the Manila runners were impressed by the CERC’s management of the marathon. They praised us for the route, the non-stop flow of water from the aid stations and the entertainment from the dancers along the route. Water stations were manned by all the members of the club. Take a bow gentlemen! Some of my Manila-based friends said the Cebu City Marathon is better than some big-time and cash-rich runs in Manila. Well, we are just showing these people that if we just put more effort on things we do, we will succeed. After getting a lot of stories on runners getting lost or marshals leading participants to a wrong turn, John and Jess asked me to be the lead marshal. At first, I was hesitant. That evening, I just arrived from Manila where I attended the wake of my aunt, going home at 2:00 am for two straight days. In fact, I missed the burial as I hurried back. Pre-race favorite and former Milo Marathon record holder Cresenciano Sabal was in the pack and even took the lead in the 16 Km mark but eventually ran out of steam and did not finish. It was a crazy blunder. I even yelled at him that he was going to fast but he never listened.

Kenyans Rule

A few days before the race Cebu-based Kenyan Simon Losiaboi asked me if he should run in the marathon Simon has never run a full marathon. With a best time of 1:03 in the half, he will win in the 21K hands down. But Simon wanted to try the marathon, I told him he lacked mileage but why not give it a try. Simon indeed gave his fellow-Kenyans a run for their money as stuck to eventual winner Willy Tanui for most part of the race and losing only to the latter by 26 seconds as they entered Asiatown. Tanui clocked 30:59. Actually Simon almost lost to my “kababayan” Eric Panique of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, but edged the Ilonggo runner in a photo finish. Both finished in 2:32:23, only a fraction of a second separated the runners. Pre race favorite and former Milo Marathon record holder Cresenciano Sabal was in the first pack and even took the lead in the 16 km mark but eventually ran out of steam and did not finish. It was a crazy blunder. I even yelled at him that he was going to fast but he never listened.

Streak Ended

I knew Aileen Tolentino since she was 14 years old. She was just starting her career in my Nike Pharmaton 10K series in Cagayan de Oro. I also knew that she could beat Mary Grace Delos Santos who I think is now leading to a burn out, having participated in almost all the runs here. True enough, Aileen ended Mary Grace’s streak here as she won the race in 3:15:31 beating the Zamboanga native by 13 seconds. Cebuana Miscelle Gilbuena would up third in 3:22:08. In the half marathon, Madelyn Carter finally erased doubts that she’s only a bridesmaid to Leszl Gitaruelas as she won in 1:30:51, beating Leszl by 1 minute. Aileen’s sister Ellen Tolentino was third in 1:36:58. In the men’s division Alquin Bolivar was top in 1:12:02 while Crifranreadel Indapan was second in 1:12:11. Gerald Sabal pocketed third in 1:13:46.