Jack en poy

It looks like there’s no stopping the running craze in Cebu. From the weekly races sometimes two, in one Sunday, Saturdays are now being considered. While some people asked me if I’m happy with what’s happening, considering that I’m probably one of those who started running here, well, I’m not. In fact, I believe I’m Frankenstein who created a monster that has gone out of control. Last year when running was reaching fever pitch, race organizers met in an attempt to control road races. We noticed that “bisag kinsa nalang,” would organize a race that sometimes violate the rules and regulations of road running. If the organizer lacks experience or knowledge or maybe cut on expenses, the race is bound to suffer. The proposed body was called the Cebu Association of Road Race Organizers (CARRO), a rip-off from the Association of Road Race Organizers, a group that included Angel Colmenares, Michael Keon, Tom Carrasco, Red Dumuk, Jun Castro, Rudy Biscocho and myself who became the last president, before it became inactive. The organization was meant to foster harmony among race directors and schedule runs, so there won’t be two races at the same time.

SANCTIONS

But races were not too many then and we just agreed on a date. Now with the mush rooming runs, organizers are squabbling as who gets the priority. One of the rules that we set at CARRO which was brokered by Cebu City Sports Commission’s Raul Manawataw and PSC’s Audie Marte, was to give priority to long-existing races like the Milo Marathon, Cebu City Marathon, Don Sergio Osmeña Run, Tri City Marathon, Midnight Run and Cebu Doc Run, to mention a few. Meaning if a new race pops out, it has to take a back seat from the consistent ones. Anyway we will be solving this problem soon. We will again re-activate a body that will sanction races. We will ask organizers to submit a list of schedule of their races and will still give priority to the established runs. And if all these fails, “Siguro, Jack En Poy nalang” or toss coin, with the winner getting priority. Manang Kriszanta wails “Ano va yan?”

TOBY AND NEWTON

In my more than 30 years of running and counting, I’ve probably tried every running shoe brand on sight. For instance I used Nike for 10 years when I organized the Nike Pharmaton Circuit in 1991 and Adidas for five years starting in 2001. Currently I’m pounding the streets in New Balance. Before I went to Nike, I was running in Brooks and Suncony. I also got to run in Asics, Puma and Mizuno. Just the other day, we feted Mary Grace Delos Santos who won second place in the Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon. Grace wore the new kid on the block Newton shoes. Runnr, distributor of Newton scheduled the presscon and also introduced Runnr top honcho Toby Claudio who also owns Toby’s (obvious ba?). Before he left for Manila, Toby gave me the latest model of Newton to try on. I told Toby I’ve reduced my running due to injuries and because of the Elvis gigs, but will definitely run on the Newton in my next race. Toby also booked me to lead the runners as Elvis in his next Rock and Run event at the Fort in Taguig. He said he will let me ride in a vintage convertible and perhaps sing a few songs at the awarding.

RACE TO REDUCE CHALLENGE

Registration for the Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge starts tomorrow at the PSC Office at the Cebu City Sports Center and Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place while entry forms are available at Runnr Ayala which will officially accept registration on July 15. ARRC race coordinator Jovy Tan said a press conference will be held on Friday July 9 at the Cebu City Country Club in Banilad at 11:00 am.

Note:

Several runners asked me what makes a race international in scope? Well it’s not just the number of foreign runners, there should be at least five world-class runners, meaning runners who clocked 2:20 or below. Even if you have 50 foreign runners (call them tourist runners) with 4:00 or 5:00 - hour times, the race would still lack the essence. COMPRENDE AMIGOS?