November 22, 2011
All within the past 12 months Cebu played host to the staging of
five ultramarathons with distances ranging from 50 to 65 kilometers. But the
Cebu Century Properties 100K Ultramarathon last November 18-19 was a landmark
run of sorts for Cebu being, the longest footrace the province had ever seen
passing through four cities and eight towns.
So, on a moonless Friday night in Bogo City, Cebu, 160 runners and
their mobile support crew waited for the stroke of midnight. Their mission:
run-walk a total of 104.5 kilometers of road from the province's northernmost
tip all the way to the finishline in Plaza Independencia at the heart of Cebu
City in 18hours and 30 minutes or less.
Photo credit: James L. Go |
But first they had to cross the 1st and only
checkpoint at kilometer 50 in Catmon town in nine (9) hours or be considered
DNF (did not finish). This half-way cut-off made some runners run faster than
they should and abandon the cardinal rules of finishing a 100K ultra – pace
yourself, don't get sucked in someone else's program and conserve energy.
As the day progressed, the sheer difficulty of running 100++
kilometers was aggravated by the punishing and unrelenting heat courtesy of
sunny, blue skies with nary a cloud sight. It was a perfect weather for going
to the beach, but for the 160 ultra runners the sunny weather was simply a
bitch.
Nevertheless, the aid stations and the mobile support crew made it
all seem like a beach party rather than a death march. The aid stations and
support crew, were all provided for and manned by volunteers coming from
members of Cebu's running clubs like Ungo and Cebu Ultrarunners Club to name a
few. Leg rub, neck massage, sponge baths, bananas, chocolates, biscuits,
free-flowing ice water, sports drinks and caffeinated sugary drinks are
standard fare, but others pulled out all the stops and provided puso, lechon,
eggs, humba and ice candy
Runners rolling out the red carpet for fellow runners – without
being asked, without being paid, and without discriminating whether you're
local or not is something that I've only seen in ultra races held in Cebu.
There were runners from out-of-town who had no provision for a mobile support
crew and survived only with help from volunteer aid stations. If it were any
other 100K outside Cebu, they would not have survived.
Photo credit: James L. Go |
Only 118 finished within the 18:30 cut-off, but many others would continue the race even knowing that they would no longer make it the official list of finishers like Richie Al Villagante, who was running with an engagement ring in his pocket and whose ultimate mission that day was to ask for the hand of his lady love Agatha Llamasares who was waiting at Plaza Independencia.
After 20 hours of running non-stop and barely able to fold his
legs Richie entered the Plaza with a banner announcing to the whole world his
proposal and grant gesture of love– “I just ran 102K to marryyou.” (click link for video). Then he struggled to climb the stairs of the mini stage, whipped
out a red box from his running shorts soaked with sweat and hugged a totally
surprised and emotional Agatha while the runners and supporters who have not
slept for almost 24 hours cheered, laughed and cried at the same time.
A fitting end to a day filled with triumphs – both of the human
spirit and of the human heart.
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