100 milers

When Frontrunner Magazine’s  Jonel Mendoza first introduced ultrarunning in Cebu with the first Cebu Ultramarathon 50K from Cebu Provincial Capitol to Mt. Manunggal in Balamban, a lot of people wonder if Cebu is ready for the distance.  Since then, we have gone a long way. We introduced the 1st Coast to Coast 65K Ultramarathon from  Toledo City to the Cebu Provincial Capitol and went one level higher when we staged the Century Properties 100K Ultramarathon from Bogo City to Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.  We also introduced the BE Resort 50K ultra designed for newbies. Well, a lot of the runners passed the tests with flying colors.  So, when Jonel Mendoza told me  we’ll be doing the first ever 100 miles (160km), I told him “ Naa pa ba mo apil ana?” Jonel said if nobody will join  he will run alone. So the stage was set, we scheduled the HARDCORE 100 MILES ULTRAMARATHON which we called (H1).  We also set the requirement  that participants should have a 100km experience.  We closed the registration with 23 entries while rejecting 35 others who failed our criteria.  In response  to the clamor that we hold a lesser distance for those who cannot tackle the 100 miles, we decided to stage the Bogo 500 miles (80K) Challenge, which drew 35 participants.  Of course the field was hardcore since this race is not for the faint-hearted or sissies.  Bayani Alvarez, Kenji Yushioka and Iligan City’s Zenchen Lagapa, my protege  who used to be CIT’s top trackster and who just came back after many years in Qatar.  The race started at the new Bogo City Hall with Mayor Junie Martinez firing the starter’s gun, Alvarez started like a house on fire and even erected a 5-kilometer lead on the rest of the field.  However the fast pace almost took its toll on Alvarez who started to have cramps going to the uphill Sogod “EME” road.Unknown to Alvarez, Yushioka was fast breathing on his neck. If not for the big lead earlier, he would have been beaten by the game Japanese who clocked  20:24:15 to only lose by 7 minutes to his 20:17:51.  Zen wound up third in 23:35:47. Paolo Osmeña, a Comrades Marathon, South Africa veteran and son of Minnie, came in seventh in  28:10:07.  The rest of the finishers are  4th Raffy Gabutera ( 25: 49:03), 5th Bong Alindada (25:49:33) 6th Edwin Colina (28:10:03), 8th Jay Arias (28:17:58),  9th January Sarmiento (28:30:01) 10th Vic Velila (28: 53:50), 11th Cj Escandor (29:04:36) 12th Vans Camanong (29:40:15)  and 13th Benedict Meneses (29:45:42).  There were 13 finishers only and not 19 as earlier reported. All three women entries Bernie Schlueter from Guam, Carmeli Ortega and Katrina Fiel failed to meet the cutt-off of 20 hours in Borbon.

BOGO 50 MILES

In the accompanying Bogo 50 Miles Jeffrey Diaz overtook leader Jonathan Ancajas in the last 3 kilometers to win in 10:22:12. Ancajas who protested Diaz’ win saying the latter took a ride, came in second in 10:31:41.  The rest of the top 10 are 3rd Zan Cagulangan (11:03:29) 4th Jefferey Peralta (11:03:59) 5th Benj Termulo (11:17:45) 6th  Frans Van  Dongen (12:03:14) 7th Erlyo Ortiz (12:03:54) 8th Ryan Gonzaga (12:07:04) 9th Starkey Apilado (12:09:34) and 10th Kent Lampago (12:31:45).  In the women’s category, Julie Aguilar reigned supreme in 13:33:09, Mary Ann Estanislao came in second in 14:20:53 while Sarah Oinal salvaged third in 14:20:54

THANKS BOGO

Just like last year, Bogo City through Mayor Junie Martinez gave its all out support for the success of the first ever 100 miles ultramarathon, the longest foot race in the Visayas and Mindanao.  Thanks to HRD’s Slavsky Ybanez who did all the coordination as city  administrator Pepe Lepon was in Europe.  We had lechon during the luncheon briefing and another one donated by Paolo Osmeña during breakfast at the finish line. Thanks also to the medical team that went all throughout the route, traffic division, sports complex personnel and to all those whose names escape us at the moment (walay tulog kami for 3 days), Daghang Salamat!

NOTES:   Fronrunner Magazine also announced that we will be holding the 200 km Santander to Bogo Ultramarathon Relay on June 16 as the highlight of Bogo City’s Charter Day Celebration.  We will have a team relay of 4 persons, each running 50 km with  the best agregate time as winners.

Slavsky said,  “ Baka may sumunod na naman sa race natin ha?”.  Then on May 1, the 3rd Labor Day Coast to Coast  Ultramarathon from Cebu Provincial Capitol to Toledo City and on Nov 9 to 10, the 2nd H1 and Bogo 50 Miles on Nov 9 and 10.

Registration to the Cooperative Advocacy Run is now going on at Runnr, Cebu City Sports Center and City Hall (  Councilor Nida Cabrera’s office).