CEBU, Philippines- An avid runner yesterday died during a race dedicated to another athlete who died during another race.
Before the beginning of the R399 Run, Canadian national Dean Borg handed his camera to one of marshals, asking him to take a picture of him as he crossed the finish line.
He never made it there.
Instead, Borg, 52, collapsed just two kilometers into the race. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead on arrival.
According to one of the technical officials of the race, who requested The FREEMAN not to be named, Borg joined the R399 Run under the men's 12-kilometer division. The irony of it all was that the R399 was held in memory of a relay participant of an international triathlon event, Ramie Igana, who also died during a race a few years back.
"He was by his lonesome. And he even asked of the line judges and marshals to take a picture of him at the finish line," said the source.
The 12-kilometer run started at around 5:05 a.m. The weather was cloudy and everyone was having fun and raced relaxed with Borg still seen with the pack. But at the first turning point of the race, which was less than two kilometers from the starting line, Borg just suddenly collapsed.
Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation paramedics rushed to his aid and attended to Borg while a doctor, who was also one of the participants, also tried to help revive Borg.
Borg was then rushed to the Perpertual Succour Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival, according to his wife Mary Jean.
Before the actual run, Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera, through his Faceboook account, said Borg figured in a "freak accident” prior to the race. He was sitting on a motor bike near the starting arc when he suddenly fell. He hit his head in the gutter but still decided to join the race.
No information made available as of this writing as to the definite cause of his death.
Borg, is the president of Clifton+Sage Consulting, a business process outsourcing focused on helping businesses to be "more efficient and more profitable” by providing business consulting services and advisory support. He just transferred to Cebu last month from their Manila office and lived with his wife in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Before joining the R399, Borg was first noticed by the local running community, especially the ultramarathoners, when he joined the inaugural Cebu City 360 72-kilometer ultramarathon.
Borg, who was supposed to turn 53 this September 2, ranked 89th out of 174 official finishers with 12 hours, 45 minutes and 58 seconds clocking. His time was way ahead of the cut-off, showing that he was fit even for the long distance battle.
But just like the late Ramie Igana, who died of pulmonary embolism during the 90-kilometer bike leg of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 in 2012, Borg died without any sign of illness.
The wife of Ramie Igana and the organizer of the R399 Run, Dr. Mitty Igana, said she was saddened by what happened.
“I am saddened at what happened to Dean Borg. It was his first time to join the R399 Race. A medical team immediately attended to him, applying CPR and rushing him to Perpetual Succour Hospital, but he didn't make it alive. I feel for his family who lost Dean. I was in a similar situation when my husband Ramie died during the Cobra Ironman 70.3 in 2012,” she said.
“R399 Run may be a recreational race, but running is a strenuous activity. Dean was an ultra runner, having just completed a 72K race in Cebu last month. After today's race, I have not thought beyond condoling with Borg's family. That death occurred during the third year of the race pains me,” she added.
Last May, Eduardo Oriondo, a participant of the Olango Challenge open water event, drowned during the race. According to his friends, he was fit and was even preparing for two big triathlon events. —/BRP (FREEMAN)