Simon loses

Kenyan Simon Losiaboi is a good friend. He even asked me to be his marathon coach. We often devour a bowl of Lapaz Batchoy at our restaurant. I was also the first to come to Simon’s rescue when local runners wanted to scalp him, saying life has become miserable for them since he arrived. I told the local runners we cannot ban him as it is his right to join open-category races. But as a race director I have to uphold the rules and regulations of road races. When I was president of the Association of Road Races Organizers (ARRO) that included Milo race director Rudy Biscocho, Trap president Tom Carrasco Patafa, secretary general Ben Silva-Netto and Red Dumuk, we implemented guidelines on road running events in accordance with the rules of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF). This is the main body that regulates athletics events in the Olympics and the World Athletics Championships. One provision of the rules says a competitor cannot use a number that is not his. Simon ran using another race number under Gilbert Berlin (who probably couldn’t make it). Simon registered a few days before the race and was issued race No 1, being the top seed. In international marathons, one cannot claim another’s number without written authorization from the owner. I was told Simon’s number was taken by his friend and sponsor who failed to arrive on time for the race. In fact before the start Simon asked me if I could give him another number but I refused to give him since he has one already. As a world class competitor Simon knows very well he was doomed from the start. In a previous race Simon also ran using another runner’s number but got away since the protesters didn’t do it in writing and the organizers probably didn’t have rules.

Protest

However it was different this time as the top ten runners led by eventual champion Mendel Lopez who was also his training partner, protested in writing and even paid the filing fee to make it official. As I said earlier even before the race started he was a “ghost runner”. Simon knows that a race number is your passport, no bib no race, that’s the rule. Sorry partner, I’m your friend but I have also an obligation of implementing the rules. Now runners out there, this could be a wake up call for you. If you get away in races organized by rubber stamp officials, we are different. We mean business.

Executive Division

The executive division has been a source of trouble during races. Some runners who are not qualified continue to join this category. In fact in my future races I’m scrapping this category. We had a problem last Sunday as we have to go over the names of over 50 runners who signed in as executives. What’s an executive? Runnex in Quezon City the original executive running club says are corporate heads like presidents, Ceos, doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, businessmen and if you’re in the military, a rank of captain. In order to join the executive division, one must have a P500,000 annual income and must submit his ITR. As I mentioned we have to reject these entries and move them to the open. In the entry forms, we were amused because in the occupation listed were warehouseman, driver, newsboy, security guard etcetera. In the event that we will include an executive category in future races an ITR will be required.

Note: Because of the chaotic entries we wanted to scrap the executive division, we even didn’t made codes. But to be fair, last Sunday’s winner in the executive division should have been Lexmark GM Chris Brodette who timed 1:06:00 CERC’s Steve Ferraren clocked 1:16. In the 15K women’s division Suzette Montalban should have been in fifth place with a time of 1:26:50   (FREEMAN NEWS)