Larrazabal eyes 11th 42K

RUNNING enthusiast Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III is off for the 2010 Seoul International Marathon this Sunday in South Korea.

This will be Dr. Larrazabal’s 11th marathon since 2007 and fourth in four months.

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Last December, Larrazabal joined the Macau International Marathon and a month later, ran in the Cebu City Marathon. He also joined the Condura Run last month.

Larrazabal, who has joined the New York Marathon and aims to qualify for the prestigious Boston race, aims to complete 33 42-kilometer races in his lifetime.

Larrazabal said he didn’t undergo any special training to prepare himself for this Sunday’s run because he believes the regular events he joined served as his training.

“However, I heard that it is very cold there, it’s four degrees (Celsius), so it’s a very different experience from the previous international marathons I had,” said Larrazabal, who is one of the awardees for running in last week’s Sportswriters Association of Cebu-San Miguel Brewery Sports Awards.

Larrazabal was feted for helping the sport grow in Cebu and for organizing various runs.

“I am happy that I was able to encourage a lot of people to run,” said Dr. Larrazabal.

He was also able to encourage his wife, former singer-actress Donna Cruz, to take up the sport as well. Donna Cruz, who ran with him in Macau, won’t be joining him since she will be joining an event in Manila.

Larrazabal’s last race was in the Condura Run last February in Taguig, where he took the 10th spot after clocking three hours and 48 minutes.

“After this, I will take two months off from long -distance running,” he said.