Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Pages: After 17 years, it’s time Cebu runs 42.195 kms By John Pages Matchpoint
Running. Is it safe?
I posed this question to my good friend Dr. Vic Verallo, who’s been pounding his running shoes at the Cebu asphalt the past 12 years. Are our streets safe? For running? Unlike in America, for example, where running paths sit beside highways, here in Cebu, you run, as the saying goes, “at your own risk.”
We don’t own jogging paths. Jeepney operators? They swerve left, twist right, sprint forward, then screech to a stop. Habal-habal drivers? They zoom at speeds past 78 kph, brake, then skid to a halt two feet from where your heart beats. Is running safe?
“All things considered,” answered Dr. Verallo, “running is safe. When I was training for my first attempt to run a marathon, I was told by a friend to have a 20k run during weekdays. Since I had to be back home by 5:30 a.m., I started running, at the very latest, around 3:30. I never encountered a road problem! The drivers are usually considerate and make sure to give ample space for a runner to run. Of course, you have to exercise a lot of prudence.”
Running isn’t the only “road” sport of Dr. V. “I’m also in love with biking. The first affair with it was in the mid-80’s. Coincidentally, that was when I met my wife, Susan. But that would be another story. Back then, I used to ride a road bike, a.k.a. racer. In 2003, I resumed biking. This time I opted to use a mountain bike. I do cross-train but not for the purpose that other people do. I bike to maintain fun in my exercise. When I feel bored with running, I bike, and vice versa.”
Dr. Vic Verallo is part of the group called the Cebu Executive Runners Club. “Way back in ‘97, after the Tri-City run, Raffy Uytiepo, an icon in RP sports, together with two others, Dr. Abe Manlawi and Joe Abellanosa (deceased), approached me to form a new running club. Raffy envisioned the new club to cater to professionals and executives. He named it the ‘Cebu Executive Runners Club.’ Being the founder, Raffy became the first president. He went on to have the longest term of the club’s history. Today, the president is Roel Militar, a virtual work horse who’s a professor at the USJ-R. Roel has kept the club literally running!
“We have regular Sunday runs. Some of the members include Judge Gabby Englis, Ombudsman Ed Canton, Oscar Lopez of the Philippine Ports Authority, Billy Tan of Herbalife, businessmen Jesse Taborada and Serge Amora, Steve Ferraren of Southgate Express Mktg., Ronaldo Biagan of St. Joseph Funeral Parlor. Raffy has always been there to have a watchful eye on his ‘baby.’”
How many races, I asked Dr. Verallo, have you finished?
“While I was cleaning up my closet, I was surprised to discover that the number of singlets given me for joining a run filled up nearly two big plastic bags. I have lost count of the number of races I’ve joined. I have never been a competitive runner and have always looked at running from the enjoyment perspective. I have never topped a race. The fastest 10k that I ran was 53 minutes and that is NOT an achievement from a runners’ view. It’s all about fun. If ever running should cease to be a fun thing for me, then I will quit.”
The upcoming Sinulog Marathon. Are you joining? I asked.
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Verallo answered, “being a member of the club organizing the 1st Cebu Sinulog Marathon, I will not be joining the marathon. We need all the manpower we can get. I actually made three attempts to run a marathon. The first attempt was in 2002. Unfortunately, it was a solo attempt in training and after more than a month, I lost interest. I made my second attempt last year. But in the midst of training, I had my bike accident. My friends call it a ‘cellphone accident!’ I really thought I would not be granted this one wish in my life… and that is to run a marathon before turning 50.
“Last November 2005, the group I run with decided to join the 42K Pasig Marathon. This was held last Feb. 26, 2006. That was the very first (and only… so far) marathon that I ran. It was a very exhausting run but just like in everything, it was for the fun of it. It was never an attempt to establish a record or something. There were six of us in our group and we talked and told jokes most of the way!”
It’s been 17 years since Cebu held it’s last marathon. Think about it. Seventeen loooong years.
“This will be an historic event as well as a possible tourist attraction,” said Dr. Verallo of the 42.195 km. run this January. “If this will be successful, we hope to continue the tradition every year. This will attract both foreign and domestic tourists since it is held just a week from Cebu’s biggest yearly celebration: the Sinulog. Balikbayans, for sure, will have another reason to visit Cebu. Non-running Balikbayans will also be introduced to the sport of running. We hope that it will grow to be an internationally-recognized marathon some day and people will start to come to Cebu not only for the Sinulog, but also for the marathon.”
I can’t wait. No, not to run. But to cheer at the sidelines, extend a plastic water cup to the runners, clap, shout, and pat Dr. V and his fellow organizers at the back and say, “Yes! You’ve done it!”
