Race for the race

When this column hits the streets, a race to get into the Aboitiz Race to Reduce Challenge set on Sunday at the South Road Properties, will be in progress. With just a few days before lift off, only a few slots remain in the 21K and 10K categories which will have electronic timing chips. The 21K is limited to 500 runners while in the 10K, only 1,000 will be served. Yesterday, we started implementing a late entry fee in all categories. The 21K will now cost P500 from P450 while the 10K will be pegged at P400.00 from P350.00. The 5K and 3K categories are also increased. Manila runners still consider the fees cheaper than Manila that charges at least P700.00, if a chip is used. Well that’s because Aboitiz is subsidizing the cost to make it affordable for Cebuanos. Our race bibs use the same recyclable material as in the New York City Marathon that’s waterproof. You can even swim in the flood and still get to keep your Du Pont bib for souvenir. We will still accept entries until we filled the slots while the 3k and 5k registration will be until Friday.

Gang’s All Here

It looks like everybody I know has signed up for the race. Kenyan Simon Losiaboi who skipped last Sunday’s 25K leads the who’s who in Cebu running. Mary Grace Delos Santos is also confirmed together with Yong and Donna Larrazabal, Peter Mancao, Jonathan Maximo, Paul Labra, Haide Acuña, Mary Ann Delos Santos, IBp Prexy Ramsay Quijano and wife Renee, Joy Polloso and Boying Rodriguez. Atan Guardo leads a 23-man Guardo Running Club that also includes brothers Jerry and Jeson, Joel Garganera and Alan Delantar. Almost all the running clubs are joining with Lexmark heading the pack with 100 runners, Cebu Executive Runners Club of Jesse Taborada, ONGU Runners of Max Limpag, Prycegas with Dodong Sulatre at the helm, Sta. Lucia Runners Club and Metrografix of Jung Cases. Adding to the expected 2,000 field are the runners coming from the different Aboitiz corporations. Reputation Officer Basti Lacson who swam the Strait of Gibraltar and ran the Barcelona Marathon leads the Aboitiz executives and newly-baptized runners Gonzo Gonzales and Jovy Tan, the prime mover of the race. Oh yes, we also have two Danish runners, a Korean, Japanese, Briton, American and Kenyan making the race, internationally-flavored.

Sponsors

Frankly, this is one race where you don’t have to worry about sponsors, what with over 20 Aboitiz corporations joining hands to make this run a success. Well, here are just a few, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Aboitiz Power, Aboitiz Foundation, SuperFerry, Aboitizland, Union Bank, Metaphil, VECO, Supercat, City Savings Bank, RAFI and PILMICO. Also backing the race are Gatorade who will give over 2,000 bottles of the sports drink, Y101 and Waterfresh drinking water. Of course Metrografix is playing a big role by providing the arc, tarps and posters. Frontrunner Magazine will be covering the event while the Philippine Star, Freeman, Sunstar and Cebu Daily News are our Media partners. Runner, Columbia Sportswear, Casa Ilongga and the PSC serve as our registration centers while MARRIOTT is the official Hotel. So what are you still waiting for? Register na!

Cebu UltraMarathon

The first-ever Cebu UltraMarathon will be launched on August 20 when organizer Jonel Mendoza of Frontrunner magazine arrives. The 50K grueling run will start at the Mt. Manunggal crash site on November 27. The route includes the trans-central highway and will end at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. Jonel has named me as race director and I can’t do anything but accept. As I mentioned in a previous column, Jonel threatened to cut my leg if I refuse.