Run for Ondoy Victims

"Run for Sight Foundation in cooperation with LARRAZABAL EYE will sponsor a charity run " Run for Ondoy Victims" on October 18 2009 6am along the traffic free course around Cebu Doctors' University ( P.Larrazabal Ave, Mandaue North Reclamation).

Registration is pegged at P300.00 or more from your heart since all proceeds of this charity event will be given to the flood victims of Typhoon Ondoy.

Top 10 male and female 10k runners will be awarded with prizes and medals. Registration will begin October 5 2009 at Centre for Sight , Cebu Doctors University Hospital. Contact 256 2020 or 2555555 loc 356 look for Lalyn."

Please support this special run for Ondoy Victims organized by Dr. Yong Larrazabal. Every bit of help when pooled together can mean the world to the victims of the cataclysmic floods in Manila.

For once, let us run/ walk for others in need and not just for ourselves.

Fourth University Run

23 August (6AM)
4th University Run

Organizer: Run for Sight Foundation
Race Directror: Dr. Peter Mancao

3K, 5K and 10K run around the CDU campus at the North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

Last year's run attracted 5,000 runners making this a premier running event in Cebu.
Category includes -- open, doctors, Cebu Doc Group employees, CDU students.

Registration fee is P200.00 which includes singlet and Sun Cellular SIM pack

Registration at CDUH Rm. 104, CDU Sappro Office and Cebu City Sports Center

Marathon Foodie Race Review : Run for Sight V

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:

"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.

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

Beginnings

After months of procrastination, I finally found the time to write my first blog entry.

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.

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).

In Cebu we have Dr. Yong Larrazabal’s “Run for Sight” but this is not a blog. My favorite sports blog, John Pages’ “Cebu Sports Blog” has become a vital source of information for updates on the local sports scene, but John’s blog is written entirely in English and is not solely dedicated to running.

Being a diary of sorts, the Marathon Foodie will track in Cebuano and English my torrid love affair with running. I thought that writing a bilingual running blog would not only be a unique idea, but will hopefully reach out to bisdaks (bisayang dako) who are passionate about running too. Admittedly, writing in Cebuano is so much harder than writing in English, but I will try my best to write in elegant conversational Cebuano.

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. After four months of following TBR’s blog, I am convinced that a blog or a web diary can become an effective tool in tracking my progress as a runner. But the bigger 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 to persevere and become better at the sport.

The Marathon Foodie is my humble contribution to Cebu’s running scene.

Paghimugso

Human sa ta-as nga panahon nako nga paglangay-langay, nakakita na gyud ko ug higayon pagsuwat sa labing unang tampo ning maong running blog.

Marathon Foodie ang akong napili-an nga ulohan sa akong blog tungod kay ma-o ni duha ka butang o bisyo nga akong gikabuangan karon – pagkaon ug mga lamian nga pagkaon ug ang pagdagan ug marathon.

Ganahan unta ko nga ang ulohan sa akong blog “Foodie on the Run” apan naunhan na ko sa usa ka Amerikana nga nagbase sa Reading Pennsylvania. Sama kanako pwerte pud siya ka hinganon apan ang iyang sport mao ang triathlon.

Unsa man ang nakapa-aghat nako pagmugna ning maong blog? Sa tinud-anay lang naibog ko sa sikat kaayo nga blog ni “The Bull Runner” a.k.a. Jaymie Pizzaro. Alang ni-adtong mga hardcore runners, nagsunod pud tingali mo sa blog ni TBR. Gani mabasa nako sa comments section sa TBR ang mga bantugan na nga runners sa Sugbu sama nilang Dr. Yong Larrazabal ug Dr. Peter Mancao.

Sa upat ka buwan nako nga pagsunod sa TBR akong nabantayan nga ang usa ka blog mahimong pinaka-paspas ug up-to-date nga tinubdan sa mga importanteng impormasyon kalabot sa mga race schedules, running clinics, running tips ug uban pang mga butang nga kapahimuslan sa mga mahiligon sa dagan.

Ang usa ka blog mamahimo sab nga agi-anan paghi-usa sa mga mahiligon sa sport nga running. Si TBR naa magbase sa Manila hinungdan nga ang iyang mga lindog kalabot sa mga race updates ug race reviews nga maka-agni lang sa mga tu-a ra pud magbase sa kaulohan ug mga silingang probinsya.

Dinhi sa atu-a, duna untay “Run For Sight” website nilang Dr. Yong apan dili kini blog. Ang akong paborito nga “Cebu Sports Blog” sa columnista sa Sun Star nga si John Pages mahimo sang kadangpan sa mga runners apan ang maong blog natagik sa pinulongang English.

Ang ako unta to nga duna say blog nga sinuwat sa pinulongang Cebuano alang sa mga bisaya nga mahiligon sa running. Ug usa, pa unique ang concept sa bisaya nga running blog. (LOL) Di baya lalim ang pagsuwat ug bisaya. Gani, mas sayon alang nako ang pagsuwat ug iningles. Apan di nako pugson ug bisaya ang tanan nakong entries kay basin ma trying hard ang akong dating. Maningkamot hinuon ko nga mahimong bi-lingual ang akong blog nga mahimong kasaw-an niadtong gusto ug bisaya lakip na kadtong mas hanas sa pinulongang English.

Apan labaw sa tanan, mas personal ang hinungdan nganong naenganyo ko pagmugna sa “Marathon Foodie”. Gusto ko nga mao ni mamahimong buhing saksi sa akong love-affair with running tungod kay sa tibu-ok nakong kinabuhi, karon pa ko mahigugma ug susama ni-ini. Ingon sila nga ang tinud-anay nga nahigugma andam mo-sakripisyo ug di igsapayan ang paghatag sa tanan. Ma-o ni akong gibati sa running. Dako ang akong namatikdang kausaban sa akong kaugalingon sukad ko magseryoso ning maong sport apan ato na lang nang istoryahan sa laing higayon.

Unsa may mapa-abot gikan ni Marathon Foodie? Daghan. Akong paningkamutan pagpa-ambit kaninyo ang akong mga nakat-unan ug kasinati-an isip runner; mga schedules sa mga running events dinhi sa Sugbu ug mga silingang dapit nga mahimo natong kaapilan; eview sa mga running events nga akong ma-apilan; mga running ideas ug tips nga akong ma-diskubrehan ug uban pa. Apan labaw sa tanan ipa-ambit pud nako dinhi ang mga sugilanon sa mga everyday Cebuano runners nga mahimong tinubdan sa inspirasyon natong mga bag-o pa lang ning maong sport. Hinaut unta nga ang Marathon Foodie mahimong kadangpan sa mga bag-ong runners, ug mahimong agi-anan sa pagbinayluay nato ug mga kasinatian.

Mao ni akong gamayng tampo sa running community sa Sugbu.