Midnight madness

With five races scheduled in the weekend City Sports Club Cebu Sports and Games manager Rey Fuentes and I, were uncertain if we would push through with the Midnight Run which was on its ninth edition already this year. There was a big race the following day and worse, it also involved my officials led by RACE’s Precing Capangpangan. Rey and I agreed however that this is already a tradition and we are gearing for our big bash next year when the race, the only one in the country will be 10 years old. Again my never-say-die spirit prevailed as I raced to put everything in place. Well, again the sponsors responded. Rudy Project through Cebu distributor Jens Funk gave eyewears as prizes. Eventual winner Ian Bernido said despite the absence of cash prizes, he decided to run for the chance to win the Rudy Project sunglasses and he did. Sun Cellular’s Lala Cervantes also gave out sports bottles and t-shirts. The other sponsors are of course Cebu Holdings Inc. that always provide the midnight snacks (call that breakfast), Kwarta Gram of Pryce Gases under Dodong Sulatre, Island Grill Express, Aguilon Construction through Jay-R and Rovie Aguilon, Runnr at Ayala Center Cebu, Waterfresh Drinking Water and Metrografix through Jung Cases and Ivee Cabahug for the arc, tarps and race numbers. Another big thank to Josie Uy of Stocks R Us for the beautiful trophies. Thanks also to San Mig Coffee through Joselito Tan for the coffee and oh yes, Purefoods for the hotdogs. And of course daghang salamat to City Sports Club Cebu under Micmic Solon. Big thanks to Cebu Business Park Administration through Clement Del Rosario. Gracias! to Ungo Runners and RTS / Air Force runners led by Sarah Dupio for joining the race. Hope to see you all when we celebrate a decade of midnight running next year.

SUPERPOWERS

When the Buddha Light International Association (BLIA) and San Miguel-Purefoods asked us to organize a race in just a little over one month, I promptly declined. To organize a good race, we need at least between two to three months preparation. But the sponsors were persistent. I know we will have an ace up our sleeves, what with the irresistible prizes being offered, like a P200 pesos worth of groceries and a singlet for your P300 entry fee. We went to a lot of rough sailing at first like changing the venue from the original Parkmall to the spacious Cebu International Convention Center but nevertheless it was all systems as for Run to the Power of 3. The move was a blessing in disguise as the venue was just perfect, ample parking space, secured area and ideal running venue. We know there were three other races scheduled for that day but as I said we had the upper hand to draw the runners what with the fantastic perks. So last Sunday, over 1,300 runners answered the starter’s gun fired by the president of BLIA- Philippines, who flew all the way from Manila. With big prize money dangled, most of Cebu’s top long distance runners were around to trade strides. Metrografix-sponsored Philip Dueñas took advantage of the still recovering Mendel Lopez, who a week ago ruled the 1st 50K Cebu Ultra Marathon, that fired off from Mt. Manunggal to the Cebu Provincial Capitol. In the women’s division Mary Rose Tabal also took advantage of Mary Grace Delos Santos’ absence, to take the crown and the P10,000 top purse in the main 10K category. Besides the prize bonanza, runners were treated to a pancake and coffee. CICC consultant Marisa Nallana, my friend from way back, said she’s looking forward to more running events in the future that will start at the center.

ELVIS ON TOUR

I’ll probably try to slow down next year (I also said that this year, but I’ll be directing my 11th race this week), however I’ll really be doing some diversion from the crazy weekly runs. I’m doing an Elvis mini-concert at Gaisano Ormoc, hopefully by February upon the invitation of Pipit Torres who operates Casa Ilongga there, then if plans doesn’t miscarry I’ll be joining the Philippine troop headed by the Department of Tourism to Paris, France for a series of shows to entertain the Filipino communities there. When I queried why they are bringing me to France when there’s a lot of French Elvis impersonators, the organizers said they are sending an all-Filipino group and I’ll be the Filipino Elvis. I’m really “all shook up”.