Limpag: Tribute

Max T. Limpag

On the run

WHEN Atty. Froilan Quijano Sr. could no longer run, his son did it for him.

Last Sunday, lawyer Ramsey Quijano and his wife, Renee, completed their first-ever full marathon by running the 42K Condura Marathon route that passed the grueling Skyway in Metro Manila in honor of his father, who died last September.

Froilan Sr. was one of the pioneers of the Cebu Runners Club, an older club that had no connection to the Cebu Executive Runners Club, along with Drs. Mike Mancao and Jovy Lee, architect Taling Salazar Atty. Vir Lapinid and Vic Chiongbian.

“My dad ran four or five times a week until his heart disease set in. As I witnessed my dad fiercely battle heart failure, I committed myself to run in his honor. I told myself that if he can’t anymore run, I’ll do it for him,” Ramsey told Sun.Star Cebu.

Ramsey started running in July; Renee, in August.

“As it is every runner’s dream to run a marathon, I was looking for one to run as my tribute to my dad. In a curious stroke of fate, Condura was scheduled on Feb 7, 2010 which was exactly my dad’s birthday. My wife and I saw it as the most fitting tribute and birthday gift we could ever give him—to run our first marathon together on his birthday,” Ramsey said.

The couple trained hard for the Condura run, running four times a week and hitting the roads frequently to build mileage. They ran a couple of 30Ks and Ramsey did two half-marathons: in Singapore and during the Cebu City Marathon last January.

“Surprisingly, Condura turned out easy for me and the only explanation I can give is because I run to honor my father. My wife too had an easy run. Coincidentally, I ran alongside Dr. Pete Mancao, whose father was my dad’s running buddy,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey finished with an official marathon time of 5:31:29; Renee, 5:48:30.

“While I was running, thoughts of my dad kept flashing back like a montage. At times, I felt that he was by my side, cheering me on. I crossed the finish line, a proud son who gave everything humanly possible to honor his father, mentor and fellow runner,” he said.

CEBU RUNNERS. There were several Cebuano and Cebu-based runners who joined Condura. Top runner Madelyn Carter finished 5th in the Women’s category with a time of 3:23:12, a sharp improvement. She did not take home any price, however, because Condura only handed out prizes to the top three finishers.

Dr. Yong Larrazabal finished in 4:16:49, his 3rd best time after the Macau International Marathon and the Cebu City Marathon, with coach Harthy Satina. Satina said he told Yong “to take it easy and to treat the event as a regular long run in preparation for an international marathon.”

US military 1st Lt. Kenneth Tenebro finished in 4:31:18 with race founder Patrick Concepcion. Holiday Gym and Spa’s Annie Neric finished in 4:47:42 despite suffering a sidestitch. She was paced by Bro. Carlo Bacalla who finished in 4:47:41.

Kenneth Casquejo, meanwhile, finished in 5:38:44. Ian Baguio and Arnold Palma finished in 4:31:42; Borgs Hapin, Dr. Mancao and James Abilla in 5:31:20.

Barangay Tinago Councilor Joel Garganera, a serial marathoner, finished in 5:07:29.

21K RUNNERS. In the 21K event, Elmer Bartolo was 9th with a time of 1:17:38. Speedy Millette Chiongbian blazed through the course in 1:45:58, finishing fourth among the women. Speedster Steve Ferraren finished 44th overall with a time of 1:48:13. Michelle Discaya finished the race in 2:00:43, just two seconds ahead of Jane-Jane Ong. Andrew Ong finished in 2:04:59 while Veronica Ong logged 2:05:03.

I finished the race in 2:08:39 while Marlen, Sun.Star Network Exchange managing editor, finished her run in 2:31:07. Joe France Cañizares finished his run in 2:12:42 while Dr. Eleanor Casquejo, Kenneth’s wife, finished her first 21K in 3:07:01.

(maxlimpag@gmail.com/ www.ceburunning.com)

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