Running – Page 5 – Cebu Sports Blog by John Pages

The torture called Quezon City Marathon

That’s me and Bro. Carlo Bacalla meters from the finish

Jesse Taborada, a veteran of six 42K marathons, calls it, “The hardest marathon in the world!”

Of course, Jesse exaggerated. Nothing, I assume, can beat the Great Wall of China or the Mt. Everest marathons. But the 42.195 kms. that we trekked last Sunday may be termed, “the country’s toughest 42K.”

The Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) started at 4:30 a.m. Anticipating harsh weather due to Typhoon Ramil, it did not rain at the QC Circle. Stars glazed. At the Starting Line, hundreds of hearts pounded. Then, after a 10… 9… 8… countdown, the firing gun blasted. Joel Garganera was beside me. Same with Jesse. And Bro. Carlo Bacalla of Don Bosco in Labangon, Cebu. We entered U.P. Diliman in darkness as students slept. Next, we exited and ran along Commonwealth Avenue—all of eight lanes-wide per lane. Cars were barred. It was perfect.

Pink October

Real men wear pink. So says my daughter Jana. And so I wear pink. Once in awhile. But this month, I hope to wear pink more often. The reason is obvious: It’s Pink October. It’s that time of each year when one color shines brighter than gold, yellow or silver. Why Pink October? Because this is the month that’s also termed, “Breast Awareness Month.”

Me’Anne Alcordo Solomon, one of the most animated and charismatic people that you can meet in Cebu, is the leader of this yearly movement. The reason why Me’anne is so involved? She herself, back in 2004, was a victim of the scariest alphabet letter that anyone wouldn’t want to hear: C. The Big C. Cancer.

Pink October Run

Press Freedom Run photos

Last Saturday morning, members of the media joined together to run. Starting and finishing at the City Sports Club area inside the Cebu Business Park, the mediamen participated in the 5K and 3K runs. Here’s the Sun.Star story by Edri Aznar (who placed 2nd overall in the 5K) and by Raffy Osumo of The Freeman (who also did well, despite abdominal cramps, in his 5K run).

Cebu City Marathon And The Running Fever

There is a virus that’s plaguing our city. It’s not the A-H1N1 strain or the Dengue fever scare. It’s more widespread and thousands are afflicted. All types of bodies have been stricken: 73-year-olds, college girls, Sun.Star online editor Max Limpag, CEOs, doctors, Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, lawyers…

The good news is, this virus is healthy and invigorating. Running, it’s called, and, for the past three years, dozens upon hundreds upon thousands have bought New Balance shoes, worn Nike Dri-Fit wear, purchased Garmin GPS watches, laced Adidas Supernova soles, traveled to Singapore or Chicago or Hong Kong to pound their two God-given legs from Start to Finish Line.

Cebu City Marathon

Read The Freeman story by Caecent Noot-Magsumbol.

Read the Sun.Star Cebu article by Edri Aznar.

Excellent Rening Ylaya piece by Max Limpag

Rening Ylaya is 73 years old. Nothing unusual about that. There are plenty of senior citizens walking around town. But Rening doesn’t walk… he runs. He runs 10Ks, he runs 21Ks, he runs fast, and, come January, he’s planning to join the Cebu City Marathon and run for 42 kilometers. Read this great write-up by Sun.Star Cebu online editor (and fellow runner) Max Limpag… “At 73, Ylaya keeps beating runners half his age.”

Is Yong running?

Read the Sun.Star article.

So… is Dr. Larrazabal running? Definitely….

QCIM and the Subic Marathon

Two major marathons are happening seven days apart from each other: the Quezon City International Marathon and the Subic International Marathon. The QCIM is on October 18 while Subic is on Oct. 25.

Haide Acuña

One of my favorite new blogs is Marathon Foodie. If you’re into running, this site is a must. Says the author in her “About Me” section: “I am Haide P. Acuna, a lawyer and broadcaster based in Cebu City, Philippines. I’ve been running on and off since 1996, but got seriously into running only in January 2009. The creation of this blog was inspired by The Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizzaro’s wildly popular and award-winning blog, which has become an authority on anything running. My vision is for this blog to become a place where newbie runners in Cebu can converge for helpful information about training, race schedules, race reviews, products, and practically all things relevant to running. This blog will also feature stories about runners, both veterans and novices, that will hopefully inspire runners become better at the sport.”

(Photo: Vic Kintanar)

Haide posted her first blog entry last June 28 with “Paghimugso,” and has, since then, written about every race that she’s joined (plenty). In her commentary, Haide is candid (calling the other weekend’s run, “The Great Lapu-Lapu Run Race Review Part 2: Great Expectations, Great Disappointment”). She is comprehensive and thorough. She writes on a personal, first-person level—what she sees, likes, suggests, criticizes—she pours out. I like it.

But why, you ask, the name? “I chose Marathon Foodie for a blog name because it encompasses two of the things I am truly passionate about – good food and running a marathon,” writes Haide. “I would have wanted to name this blog ‘Foodie on the Run,’ but I’ve been beaten to the punch by an American blogger based in Reading, Pennsylvania – a triathlete who loves to cook, loves to eat and competes in races in order to give her a guilt-free indulgence in all these loves. Just like Foodie on the Run, the Marathon Foodie runs because she won’t give up her ‘humba’ (Cebuano term for pork stew).”

Click on Marathon Foodie here.