SMIS 10K challenge

If you recall, i mentioned in my last column that a big food corporation is staging a big race first week of November. I wanted to keep it a secret until we launch it next week, but almost always secrets are made to be broken. The San Miguel Integrated Sales (SMIS) 10K Challenge will unfold on November 7 at the Parkmall in Mandaue City. SMIS Executive Lito Tan and Arlan Lazaga said this will be one of the biggest races this year after the Cebu City Marathon ,The Great Lapu Lapu Run, Milo Marathon, and the aboitiz Race 2 Reduce Challenge.Well, I’m sure the race will be another block buster, what with registrants getting Php 200 worth of food items (like corned beef, coffee, cheese, milk etc.) in a basket, upon entering the finish line. In other words, a runner who pays Php 300 for the race also gets a singlet worth Php 120 besides the food items mentioned earlier. The cash prizes are also attractive with the top 20 winners in the 3 categories (3K and 5K are the other distances,) getting the perks. There are also plans to bring in San Miguel Corp. product endorser, Deither Ocampo and some PBA players. Registration starts next week at RUNNR in Ayala Center, Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place and at PSC office at the Cebu City Sports Center. Tan said they are expecting over 2,000 runners to participate.

Running Epidemic

Looks like the running epidemic is here to stay as organizers even now include Saturdays as their race day. The weekly races continue after the Pink October Run was held last Sunday .On October 9,The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers will stage a run at the Terraces. The following day two races will fire off with the Run to the Max 3 unfolding at Holiday Gym & Spa while the Gullas Run blasts off at Talisay City Hall on October 17. The Eagle Night Run will be held at the CDU in Mandaue City while the following day the Columbia Duathlon unveils in Balamban. The United Architects of the Phillippines (UAP) Get Up and Go Green 12K takes off from the Terraces on October 24, the same day as the St. Peter Run that starts at SM City. Then finally on October 31 the Citigym Halloween Run at the Waterfront Hotel Lahug. I’m just waiting for the day when races will be held daily, “Ano Va Yan?” wailed Manang Krizanta.

Porlon As Lead Car

I was ammused by the announcement of a life plan company cum funeral parlor regarding some unique features in it’s coming footrace. Well who would’nt be tickled with the organizer’s bulletin that a hearse (porlon) would be the lead car in the race. They also said that their employees will be wearing Halloween get-up since its almost All Saint’s Day. In the New York City Marathon, the race director starts the race in a convertible Mercedes Benz while in the San Diego Rock N’ Roll Marathon the starter dressed as Elvis leads the race in a vintage top down. I just hope “dili kuyawan ang participants”. Well, as they said, it’s a unique race. A runner suggests why not include an embalmer’s category.

Cebu Ultramarathon

Cebu Mountaineering Club adviser and Cebu Executive Runners Club founding member Dr. Abe Manlawe will be one of the speakers when we will hold a clinic for participants to the historic Cebu Ultramarathon that fires off on November 27 at Mt. Manunggal in Balamban. There’s no fix date yet but it’s definetely second or third week of this month. I have also invited mountain marathon champion and many- time Mt. Kinabalu Climbaton participant Francis Cosgrave of Ireland. Doc. Abe also prepared a comprehensive route map to guide the runners. As i write this column we have now a total of 160 entries. Beating the deadline are the Guardos bros. Atan, Jerry and Jeson, Allan Delantar, Joel Garganera, Twinkle Ignacio, Merlita Arias Dunkin, Cynthia Arnaiz, Ken Alonte, Hembler Mendoza and Dr. Depariene.

Milestone:

Belated Happy Birthday to Cerc’s Roy Trani who turned 38 (according to Jesse Taborada but i still have to confirm this by his NSO.) Last Sunday, Roy treated the CERC members to breakfast at Abuhan at I.T Park AsiaTown. More marathons Roy!