Six Hills and then Some

The streets of Cebu City saw pink flood on Sunday morning of October 4. There was the Avon-sponsored walk for breast cancer from Capitol to the Cebu City Sports Center and the Pink October Run.

The fun run was a fund raising activity initiated by the Philippine College of Surgeons and I Can Serve Foundation. Proceeds from the Pink Run will be used for the groups’ breast cancer awareness projects as well as fund free mammograms and pap smear tests for marginalized women.


Winners, Doctors Category

The Pink Run which featured 1k, 3k, 5k and 10K categories provided on opportunity for couch potatoes and hard-core runners alike. Of course the Marathon Foodie ran 10K. Who could resist a climb up 6 flyovers (Ayala, Tesda and Banilad-Talamban all ran twice) and one extra hill (between Country Mall and BTC) on a perfect Sunday morning?

The Marathon Foodie likes to race other runners just when they’re huffing and puffing on an incline. I run hills thrice a week in Banawa where I live, and I’m mighty proud of what my chicken legs can do. But running hills when you’re all alone is tiring and monotonous. So when race routes feature inclines, the Marathon Foodie never passes up an opportunity to test my hill-trained legs (hehe).


Race Director Dr. Peter Mancao with cancer survivor and pink warrior Me'anne A. Solomon

The race route of this year’s Pink run was particularly interesting for runners who plan on joining the Cebu City marathon on January 10, 2010. The 3 flyovers form part of the last 12 KM of the 42KM race route. So the Pink Run afforded a preview of sorts of the most difficult part of the Cebu City Marathon.

The Marathon Foodie foresees possible problems when runners climb up the three flyovers on the last part of the marathon, for they are way too small and narrow (only two lanes with no shoulder) and therefore dangerous for runners.

The Cebu City Government which is a co-presentor of the marathon should close the 3 flyovers to vehicular traffic to ensure the safety of the runners, or at least dedicate one lane exclusively for runners. The Marathon Foodie saw several CERC members closely involved in the organization of the Cebu City Marathon at the Pink Run.
Theresians all

I’m sure this dry run of sorts has given them much thought as to the traffic arrangements or the possibility of modifying this portion of the marathon route.

Let’s keep posted for developments.

In the meantime, here are Top 10 Facts* you should know about breast cancer.
People Support Running Club

Fact # 1
All women are at risk. Approximately 70% of breast cancers occur in women with none of the known risk factors.

Fact # 2
Only about 5% of breast cancers are inherited. About 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will be the first to be victims in their families.

Fact # 3
Breast cancer is the leading killer of women ages 35 to 54 worldwide. More than a million women develop breast cancer without knowing it and almost 500,000 die from it every year.

Fact # 4
One out of four who are diagnosed with breast cancer die within the first five years. No less than 40% die within ten years.
Lexmark Running Club


Fact # 5
The incidence of breast cancer has been rising for the past 30 years. And the supposed authorities and experts that should know, don't know why.

Fact # 6
Risk factors are not necessarily causes of breast cancer. Enough evidence exist linking environmental pollution and contamination to cause breast cancer.
Joy and Crestina

Fact # 7
Mammography fails to detect as much as 20% of all breast cancer and as much as 40% in women under the age of 50.

Fact # 8
Early detection does not prevent breast cancer. Avoiding and eliminating known causes will prevent breast cancer.

Fact # 9
One out of eight North American women will develop breast cancer. The San Francisco Bay Area has the highest incidence rate in the entire world.

Fact # 10
The Philippines has the highest incidence rate of breast cancer in Asia and is today considered to have the 9th highest incidence rate in the world today.

(*Source: Philippine Breast Cancer Network)