Midnight Express

When we conceptualized the first-ever midnight run in the country ten years ago, people thought we were crazy. Who will be running at midnight? The run was supposed to be for members of the City Sports Club Cebu and was held the night before “simbang gabi”. The idea was, after the run runners could go to the dawn mass. We had “tsokolate”, “puto bong bong”, and “bibingka” after the race. Since it was intended for club members at first, there are no cash prizes, just perks. On December 11, we will be celebrating our tenth anniversary and also for the first time, we will include a 10-kilometer category to the traditional 5K distance. Our loyal sponsors include City Sports Club of course, Waterfresh, Cebu Holdings, Rudy Project, Sun Cellular, Aguilon Constraction, Pryce Gases, Island Grill Express, The Freeman, Casa Ilongga, Stocks R Us and recently Runnr, Work Out Fitness Center, Planet Sports, The Athlete’s Foot and Avon Cosmetics. Registration is now in full swing at Runnr, Planet Sports, and TAF in Ayala, Casa Ilongga at Robinsons Place Fuente and City Sports Club. Cebu Registration is P300 inclusive of singlet and midnight snacks. Race packets will be distributed starting December 9 at 2pm at City Sports Club Cebu. We will also accept on site registration just before the race.

CERC centurions

In my last column, I mentioned finishers of the Century Properties 100km Ultramarathon as “centurions”. Out of 117 runners who made the cut-off, eight are from the Cebu Executive Runners Club namely Dodong Sulatre, Donato Sabino, Jun Remo, Arnold Palma, Dr. Abe Manlawe, Steve Dela Cerna, Cynthia Arnaiz and Bro. Carlo Bacalla. Most of the eight runners are veterans of the 3 ultramarathons held in Cebu while Bro. Carlo has finished the BDM 160km. Dr. Manlawe emerged as the oldest finisher at 66. Dr. Abe and Bro. Carlo assisted me during the final measurement of the route. Cynthia was a doubtful starter because of flu that hampered her training. Still, she came in second in the women’s division. Another member Melinda Ponce, was surely running   with the group. Cerc members received trophies from the club headed by President Roy Trani and former prexy Jess Taborada.