It takes all kinds in Manila marathon

An 89-year-old from Pasay City, a toddler from Pandacan, two ageless former marathon standouts and a master-dog tandem are running this Sunday, thus spicing up the historic inaugurals of the biggest ever one-time gathering of runners on Philippine soil — the Manila Marathon.

Raymundo San Juan of San Roque, Pasay City, is 89 but will be up and about at the break of dawn for the 10K race, while Liliana Garcia, who is barely a month shy of her third birthday, will already join the 3K race with her mom.

Obi, a mutt named after Obi Wan Kanobi of the Star Wars fame, was signed up by his master, Danny Capina of Bukidnon, in the 42K. The two have been running together for years now with Obi hitting the road "barepaw" but the interest lies on who’s pacing who.

"This goes to show that running is very much alive in the Filipinos’ hearts," said Ali Atienza, chairman of the Manila Sports Council, which is co-organizing the Manila Marathon with the Manila Sports Foundation.

The Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, SuperFerry, Air21 and Selecta Moo-Sunkist are sponsors.