Date : 12 July 2009
Venue : Cebu Doctor's University, North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City
Technical Director: Joel Baring
Organizer: Run for Sight Foundation
Marathon Foodie started the day not with a race to the finish line but a race to get to the starting line on time.
Thanks to the evil snooze button, what was supposed to be a 4:30 AM wake up call turned out to be a 5:30 AM mad dash to change into running clothes, shoes, wear MP3 and contacts, grab a bottle of Gatorade and 2 wheat pan de sal from the fridge with no time to spare for palaman, call spider for cab.
Spider Cab No. 2018 came and zoomed to CDU campus at the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City with still 5 minutes to spare before the starting gun. 25 minutes! If only I could run a 10K that fast!
After running Milo 21K the previous Sunday, the Marathon Foodie signed-up for the 10K not to race, but intending only to check out the Run for Sight Running Series. I first read about it a few months back. I've also heard good things about it from other runners at the runners/joggers forum on istorya.net and the sugbutriathlon forum. Run for Sight has a website and an FB account and its profile reads:
Thanks to the evil snooze button, what was supposed to be a 4:30 AM wake up call turned out to be a 5:30 AM mad dash to change into running clothes, shoes, wear MP3 and contacts, grab a bottle of Gatorade and 2 wheat pan de sal from the fridge with no time to spare for palaman, call spider for cab.
Spider Cab No. 2018 came and zoomed to CDU campus at the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City with still 5 minutes to spare before the starting gun. 25 minutes! If only I could run a 10K that fast!
After running Milo 21K the previous Sunday, the Marathon Foodie signed-up for the 10K not to race, but intending only to check out the Run for Sight Running Series. I first read about it a few months back. I've also heard good things about it from other runners at the runners/joggers forum on istorya.net and the sugbutriathlon forum. Run for Sight has a website and an FB account and its profile reads:
"This group is for runners with a heart. It was created for runners to get together to share their experiences in running. 5k and 10k monthly runs organized to answer the clamor of the Cebuanos to have more runs.
Runner of the year male and female will be awarded with a colored tv, dvd and a specially engraved eye shaped medal to be given at year end. "
Curious, the Marathon Foodie decided to see for herself what the buzz was about.
I was happy to see Sunstar Cebu journalist Max Limpag and lawyers Negley and Edmund Villanueva at the starting line. Negley, a new convert to the great sport of running was racing in her first 3K. I was surprised to see plenty of runners, mostly young people and newbies. There were the usual competitive runners -- Madz Carter and Mary Grace Delos Santos, the guys from USPF, SWU and UC, Dr. Yong Larrazabal and wife Donna Cruz and Dr. Peter Mancao plus plenty of familiar friendly runners' faces whose names I can't recall. The Marathon Foodie is terribly bad with names.
I was happy to see Sunstar Cebu journalist Max Limpag and lawyers Negley and Edmund Villanueva at the starting line. Negley, a new convert to the great sport of running was racing in her first 3K. I was surprised to see plenty of runners, mostly young people and newbies. There were the usual competitive runners -- Madz Carter and Mary Grace Delos Santos, the guys from USPF, SWU and UC, Dr. Yong Larrazabal and wife Donna Cruz and Dr. Peter Mancao plus plenty of familiar friendly runners' faces whose names I can't recall. The Marathon Foodie is terribly bad with names.
As I was observing the runners get ready for the race, I immediately noticed an atmosphere different from the other races I've joined. Maybe I was just imagining it, but it felt encouraging and nurturing to new virgin runners who would otherwise be daunted by the thought of running a real race.
The fifth edition of the Run for Sight series had 3 race events -- 3K, 5K and 10K. The onsite registration was smoothly run and the race started almost on time (6:05). The starting gun went off and I started my 10K recovery run.
At first I was worried about the route with its many corners and turning points (3 and 6 turning points for 5K and 10K respectively), but the entire course had plenty of directional signs and race marshalls that it was hard to get lost. I found the surface at the reclamation area fast, really flat, softer (asphalt) and easier on the knees than running at the Cebu Business Park or I.T. Park (cement). But the best part was that the entire course was free from vehicular traffic. This means less pollution, less chances of getting sideswiped, and definitely less stress for road runners. When you don't have to worry about getting run over by a car or crossing busy intersections, a runner can focus more on his running form, running pace and time elapsed since the start of the race. There was plenty of water at the hydration stations and they did not run out of cups.
Congratulations are in order to Joel Baring's team and Run for Sight Foundation. They've mastered the organization and logistics for this particular race.
As I understand it, the concept of a running series is designed to make runners become better at a given distance. For example, now that Negley Villanueva has established her time for a 3K run, she now has a time to beat for the next edition -- whether on the same 3K course or on the more difficult 5K or 10K events. The time established during the run is also important in determining your personal training guide using the Smart Coach and the Pace Calculator -- two of the tools available for free at the Runner's World website.
As i neared the finish of the first 5KM loop along with Dr. Raymund Bontol who was also recovering from a successful 42K run at the Manila eliminations, I really just wanted to stop and NOT finish the rest of the race. I entered the CDU canteen, sat and pondered my decision. I'm on my three-week break from training and I've been slacking all week after Milo. But then I was afraid that this kind of attitude can fester and turn me into a real slacker for the rest of my training cycle after this furlough. No, I cannot DNF. Not even if this is just a recovery run.
So I plodded on and ran the second 5km loop. Just as I was nearing km 7, I saw Madelyn Carter and a runner from USPF running towards me. I was confused. Madz finished the race minutes ago landing second to Mary Grace Delos Santos. But then she came back just to pace me! Wow! Like a drill sergeant Madz told me to run faster then maintain the faster pace, lift my legs, add bounce to my gait. She told me when to drink and when to sip just a little bit of water. She ran beside me and poured water on my head every 3 minutes to cool me down.
Man, this was Madz Carter, the back to back champion of the Cebu leg of the Milo 21K. She who runs with an average race pace of 4-minutes per kilometer pacing and escorting a super slow poke like myself! I was both embarassed and amazed. Madz and I train under Coach Precing Capangpangan, but I never expected to be looked after the way she did -- espcially not from a champion like her.
With Madz and the USPF runner I ran faster and overtook the remainder of the runners in my path. I finished in 1:06, which was good enough to land me in fourth place next to Abby Ponce, Madelyn and Mary Grace.
Even as I write this, I'm still amazed at what Madelyn did for me. I guess I'm just so used to the culture of one-upmanship at work that when random acts of charity and kindness happen so unexpectedly, they baffle me. Lately, I've been witness to this on a regular basis only among runners. I don't know if I'm just truly in love with this sport that I see everything with the proverbial rose-clored glasses. Only time and more mileage will tell.
Photo Credit: Run for Sight Foundation
The fifth edition of the Run for Sight series had 3 race events -- 3K, 5K and 10K. The onsite registration was smoothly run and the race started almost on time (6:05). The starting gun went off and I started my 10K recovery run.
At first I was worried about the route with its many corners and turning points (3 and 6 turning points for 5K and 10K respectively), but the entire course had plenty of directional signs and race marshalls that it was hard to get lost. I found the surface at the reclamation area fast, really flat, softer (asphalt) and easier on the knees than running at the Cebu Business Park or I.T. Park (cement). But the best part was that the entire course was free from vehicular traffic. This means less pollution, less chances of getting sideswiped, and definitely less stress for road runners. When you don't have to worry about getting run over by a car or crossing busy intersections, a runner can focus more on his running form, running pace and time elapsed since the start of the race. There was plenty of water at the hydration stations and they did not run out of cups.
Congratulations are in order to Joel Baring's team and Run for Sight Foundation. They've mastered the organization and logistics for this particular race.
As I understand it, the concept of a running series is designed to make runners become better at a given distance. For example, now that Negley Villanueva has established her time for a 3K run, she now has a time to beat for the next edition -- whether on the same 3K course or on the more difficult 5K or 10K events. The time established during the run is also important in determining your personal training guide using the Smart Coach and the Pace Calculator -- two of the tools available for free at the Runner's World website.
As i neared the finish of the first 5KM loop along with Dr. Raymund Bontol who was also recovering from a successful 42K run at the Manila eliminations, I really just wanted to stop and NOT finish the rest of the race. I entered the CDU canteen, sat and pondered my decision. I'm on my three-week break from training and I've been slacking all week after Milo. But then I was afraid that this kind of attitude can fester and turn me into a real slacker for the rest of my training cycle after this furlough. No, I cannot DNF. Not even if this is just a recovery run.
So I plodded on and ran the second 5km loop. Just as I was nearing km 7, I saw Madelyn Carter and a runner from USPF running towards me. I was confused. Madz finished the race minutes ago landing second to Mary Grace Delos Santos. But then she came back just to pace me! Wow! Like a drill sergeant Madz told me to run faster then maintain the faster pace, lift my legs, add bounce to my gait. She told me when to drink and when to sip just a little bit of water. She ran beside me and poured water on my head every 3 minutes to cool me down.
Man, this was Madz Carter, the back to back champion of the Cebu leg of the Milo 21K. She who runs with an average race pace of 4-minutes per kilometer pacing and escorting a super slow poke like myself! I was both embarassed and amazed. Madz and I train under Coach Precing Capangpangan, but I never expected to be looked after the way she did -- espcially not from a champion like her.
With Madz and the USPF runner I ran faster and overtook the remainder of the runners in my path. I finished in 1:06, which was good enough to land me in fourth place next to Abby Ponce, Madelyn and Mary Grace.
Even as I write this, I'm still amazed at what Madelyn did for me. I guess I'm just so used to the culture of one-upmanship at work that when random acts of charity and kindness happen so unexpectedly, they baffle me. Lately, I've been witness to this on a regular basis only among runners. I don't know if I'm just truly in love with this sport that I see everything with the proverbial rose-clored glasses. Only time and more mileage will tell.
Photo Credit: Run for Sight Foundation
