The Simon & Mendel Show

Before Simon Losiaboi there was Mendel Lopez. This 25-year old Geodetic Engineering graduate from University of Southern Philippines was unbeatable and dominated most of the local road races in Cebu, except when he was not racing or away in Manila as part of the training pool for the Philippine athletics team.

Then all of sudden in November last year Simon Losiaboi from Kenya showed up and shook up the status quo of the local running scene. Since then, Lopez has played second best to Losiaboi who then became an instant hit in the local running circuit.

For a while Cebuanos stood in awe and were thrilled at watching the Kenyan with his sinewy legs and long strides win races week after week after week. Except for the Cebu City Marathon where Losiaboi lost to another Kenyan runner, it seemed as if we running mortals were resigned to seeing Losiaboi win all the races. It was as if there was no contest as to who would get the top prize. Without a real challenger, the Simon show became boring.

(Photo from Pabolfc.blogspot. L-R: Elmer Bartolo, Simon Losiaboi and Mendel Lopez)

This until Lopez changed race strategies and started skipping some of the weekend races to make time for more intense training and more importantly, to give his muscles much needed time for recovery, which is just as crucial as racking up the miles.

The first time Lopez beat Losiaboi was by technicality, after Losiaboi who ran using someone else’s race bib was disqualified at the Rotary Run in February. Lopez went home with the winner’s trophy, but to a truly competitive runner this win doesn’t count. It wasn’t on the merits.

Then on March 20, Lopez beat Losiaboi in a face-off at the Mt. Manungal climbathon – a 17-kilometer trail and road run challenge. Lopez clocked 1:07:25; while Losiaboi was light years away at 1:12:45 “Perfect weather condition, perfect body condition, finally beat Kenyan runner Simon Losiaboi fair and square during the Manunggal run!” posted Lopez in his Facebook account.

Then as if to prove that his win at the Manungal climbathon was no fluke, Lopez, in less then 24 hours, again beat Losiaboi at the Run to the Clouds – an 8-kilometer uphill challenge. Lopez was practically unchallenged as he led all the way up the relentless hills of Barangays Busay and Malubog 600 meters above sea level, beating Losiaboi by 2 minutes and 18 seconds – an eternity in competitive road racing standards.

This got local runners buzzing. The local Kenyan running sensation, was not invincible after all!

The real test however, will be when Losiaboi and Lopez face off at the long and flat 21-K course of the Great Lapu-Lapu Run on April 18 and Lopez knows this. “I won’t be racing between now and April 18. Lapu-Lapu will be my next big race. Dili lang ko mag-target ug time. Paningkamutan lang nako nga ako ang mag champion,” Lopez tells the Marathon Foodie.

If we go by personal records, Mendel Lopez’s personal best for 21K is 1:11:11 – a far cry from Simon Losiaboi’s reported personal best of 1:03. But as a proud Cebuano, I’m rooting for our local boy Mendel, statistical and historical data be damned.

Summer Sportscapade

If you’re looking for a race that is more than the usual and an excuse to wear a bikini in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island on Holy Week and not get sued by Gov. Gwen Garcia, then the Summer Sportscapade is for you.

There will be sprint (750m Swim - 20km Bike - 5km Run) and standard distance (1.5km Swim - 40km Bike - 10km Run) triathlon on March 31; duathlon (2.5km Run - 20km Bike - 2.5km Run) on April 1; and oceanman (200m Run - 200m Swim all x 4 laps) on April 2.

Summer Sportscapade will be held at Mac’s Hideaway Beach Resort on the pristine beaches of Santa Fe . Registration is pegged at P350 for each event but you can opt to join as many as you want by signing up for the race-all-you-can fee at P500 which is payable on or before race day at the race site. Registration deadline is on race day itself.

Citirun

Good luck to all runners joining Citirun at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Be safe, race well and seize the road!

Running in March

The race calendar for the month of March provides the most varied choices for runners in terms of route, course distance and degree of difficulty. Except for March 14, when all the world will stand still to watch the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight, runners will be kept busy with one road race every Sunday of March.

Quota International 12 K Classic

This run organized by the Quota International Cebu South and directed by Raffy Uytiepo will start and end at The Terraces in Ayala. To cover the 12K distance, runners will traverse San Jose Dela Montana, Salinas Drive, Gorordo Avenue, Escario Street, Capitol, Fuente, B. Rodriguez Street (Espina Village) then down to Osmena Boulevard where runners will turn around at corner R.R. Landon Street on the way back to Cebu Business Park via Gen. Maxilom Avenue and Gorordo Avenue.

This route has been done countless times before. In fact, the route is so familiar that runners can run this route “with their eyes closed” and still know where the exact point the road will rise in Escario St. and Mango Avenue. Race director Raffy Uytiepo increased the distances in order to challenge runners used to the usual 5K and 10K runs.

Run to the Clouds

(Click poster to enlarge)

But if you’re really up for a new challenge and willing to run more than the usual and defy your limits, then Run to the Clouds, which will be held on March 21 at 6 AM may just be the kind of road race you’re looking for.

This race organized by Sugbu Triathlon promises to be "doable enough for beginners and challenging enough for seasoned runners". This 8KM foot race will start at the foot of Nivel Hills just outside The Outpost and end at the Zipline in Barangay Malubog. It’s never been done before, so it may be a bit daunting at first, but I promise you, it really gets better as you go up towards the finish line.

The first-time the Marathon Foodie road-tested the Run to the Clouds race route I made the mistake of running the first 2K at my usual 10K road racing pace of 6 minutes per kilometer. By the time I reached KM 5, I was only brisk walking and could not run up the hills. On my second attempt, I figured that the key to finishing the Run to the Clouds route is to start slowly. Think negative split. Brisk-walk the first two kilometers in Nivel Hills and two of the steepest inclines at Château de Busay and La Tegola.

But boy oh boy there’s nothing like running in Busay. The spectacular birds-eye view of Metro Cebu on your right and the rolling hills covered with rows and rows of cut-flowers towards your left side are the real rewards for braving this race route. Plus, it is never hot and humid up there even if you’re running way past seven in the morning. The cool mountain air will make you say -- “El Nino who?”.

After the race, all registered runners will be treated to a bowl of Arroz Caldo. A shuttle bus will make multiple trips and take the runners back to J.Y. Square.

For more details and to view the race route interactive map visit www.sugbutriathlon.com.

Citi Run
(Click poster to enlarge)

With 4KM, 6KM and 12KM as race distances I’ve fondly nicknamed Citi Run as the B-Complex vitamins run. The race route is very similar to the Quota International 12K challenge, except that this race will start and end at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.

I’ve really high expectations from the organizers of this run simply because it’s organized by Waterfront Hotel and Citigym, which is the only 24/7 gym in Cebu. To boost the fun factor of this race (as if running isn’t fun enough) post-race activities include raffle, games, and photo sessions at the Citi Run photo wall.

Citi Run is directed by Joel Baring.

Runners' Central

Registration for all these races is on-going at Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu. You can pick one out of the three or even run all three of them, just make sure to make course-specific training.

Rules

By this time, you must have heard about the disqualification of local Kenyan star Simon Losiaboi from winning the top prize during last Sunday’s Rotary Run. I fully support the organizers adherence to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) Competition Rules in settling disputes like this, even if the race was not exactly IAAF sanctioned and even if it was primarily a fun run. Adherence to rules ensures orderliness even in running a fun run. And these rules are not merely for elite runners like Simon. Defying these rules have consequences even for ordinary running mortals like us. What are they? That’s for another column, another day. In the meantime, set your running goals, train well and run injury free.

Seize the road!