With running events sprouting out like mushrooms, it won't be long when runners start to burn out from the overdose of joining every race on sight. Well, did you notice that participation in the runs has started to dip? One runner said he feels like vomiting after joining races almost every week. A factory worker said: "Purdoy man ta ani", probably referring to the fact that he shells out P 300 for a race. If one runs four times a month, that's P 1,200, a fortune for an ordinary worker. Lately, some races gather less than 500 despite the "perks" some organizers dangle to lure the runners. Well, I think it's a good development. Soon, running will be back to its real essence and not being used by some people for other motives. Soon, the guys who just joined the band wagon will be gone. I was at the PATAFA office in Manila the other day and course measurer Joey Santos said even PATAFA is saddened by the weekly races. It has defeated the purpose of discovering new talents for international competitions. How can we find potential gold medalists when all these runners join the weekly runs? Worse, others join the longer distances like the half and full marathon. We coaches always stress that a runner must rest for at least three months after running a marathon before jumping into another one. Well, it's always the same answer, "okay lang ko, I feel great," said a runner after completing two marathons in a span of three months. Remorse is always at the end and sometimes it's too late.
Aboitiz race to reduce challenge
Barely had I slept a wink when Aboitiz’ hardworking and race chairperson Jovy Tan wisked me to Manila. We had to meet the supplier of the timing system which we will be using for the Aboitiz Race To Reduce Challenge on August 14. Soon we were at UP Diliman for a meeting with Anna Pasetes who heads Itemhound Corporation. Anna explained how to use the Strider Shoe Tag (RFID) that it is more cheaper than what we used last year. That's why we are just charging P700 for the full marathon while paying only P 550 if you won't get the singlet. We have also finalized the number of split points we are going to install. In no time at all, Jovy was off to the airport for her trip back home to Cebu. I had to stay behind so I could send off my sisters who were flying to Vancouver Canada that evening to attend to my niece Rica's wedding. To the query if there will be a finisher's medal, we are giving all finishers in the marathon a beautiful key chain that cost almost the same as the medal. Aboitiz’ reputation officer Basti Lacson said he has a lot of medals just lying around and gathering rust so he decided to have a key chain instead which one could bring around. Registration to the much-awaited race is now ongoing at RUNNR Ayala, One Cebu Office at the Cebu Provincial Capitol and at the Cebu City Sports Center. Deadline is on August 5 with no extension.
Notes:
Bumped into my good friend and "kababayan" Jimmy "Taong Bato" Noblezada, the former UTEX enforcer who was also known as Ironman. Jimmy has probably sent a lot of players to retirement. Jimmy hails from Miag-ao, Iloilo and used to supply meat to Casa Ilongga in the early 80s. Jimmy is probably one player who stood up to another " balyador" Robert Jaworski.