1st Cebu Fun Run of C24/7

1st Cebu Fun Run of C24/7 was held last Sunday April 10, 2011 at the Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.  I believe that C24/7 is a product of Aim Global.  As a 5 k participant of this event, I can say that I regret joining it.  I observed at the start of the race that there were only a few participants and not to mention that there was a light drizzle of rain.   I said to myself "Bati oi", meaning that I am not pleased with it.  I can tell that the event organizer was out of budget.  The audio speakers used was not that big and good in sounds the same also with the host of the event.  Maybe this was because on Saturday night there was the Three Sixty Pharmacy running event which was much more better than this one. The Lincoln Lawyer: A Novel

The Three Sixty Pharmacy run was organized by the Larrazabal Eye Group and there were lot of sponsors to this event.  My colleagues were registrants and participated in the 5 kilometer run and they said that there were lots of giveaways after their run.  When they went home they were like shopping from a grocery store because of the packages given to each of the participants.  It was a worthy one since your money will just be well spent with the singlet, refreshments, snacks and goodies given.

This was unlike the C24/7 run which only a bottle of Nature's Spring mineral water was given after the event.  And when I started to look for a food it was an exact time that the announcer said that food were provided at the kiosk.  I was there at the kiosk and found out that the food that the runners were queing up are just slices of hotdogs which you will be provided with a toothpick and have a pick up to 3 slices and when I was about to go back for more 3 slices there was no more to jumble with.  Although they provided a water station every 1.5 k of this event there were still lacking with it not to mention that compared to the other previous running events they did not provide a snacks or chicherias for the runners commonly in a packets or bags.  There was also mentioned in the Sun Star newspaper that the winners were only given a 500 pesos each.  What about the Kenyans who just flew here in Cebu to won the event since running is their only source of income?  Even our very own Mendel Lopez was also given a winning prize of only 500 pesos?  Oh my, I was paying 300 pesos for the 5 kilometers run and if I was the winner I will gain only 200 pesos for the sweats.  Ha ha ha....lucky for me since I am only a beginner.

It was indeed a runners nightmare when you are practicing the whole day, week and month but will just be awarded with 500 pesos with all your effort.  I hope that they were able to sell the remaining singlets at 160 pesos each so that they can still provide the remaining balances for the prices.  It is better next time to select the kind of running event that you will join.  It is indeed a lesson learned.

Cebu City Marathon 01-09-11

How can I forget the first race that I had joined which is the Cebu City Marathon last January 9, 2011?  I can still recall that I was hesitant at first if I can really finish a 5 kilometer run since I am not in an athletic build and I have no idea what is this running about.  All I had as an experience was that I was jogging or brisk walking a few years ago in our province together with a couple of neighbors with a relative during the dawn at 5 am.  We were just merely walking our barangay street with a matching chitchat up to our town and we were back again at 6 am in our barangay.  

I was joining alone in the 5 kilometer run of the Cebu City Marathon with the only idea in mind to keep fit and healthy after I had made a bone scan and was suggested to take calcium milk and it enlightens me that I have to engage my self in an active lifestyle.  I was thinking that I have to join this Cebu Marathon as a first jump start and will give it a try.  I was amazed during the gun start of the 10 kilometer run since they had their fireworks display and more participants are joining in the category.  During our 5 kilometer gun start, although we don't have the fireworks, I felt excitement and a big question if I can made it to the finish line.  When I was beginning to start the race, all I did was to run with all my might and then I was humping and grunting for breath which signals me to stop a while for a brisk walk.  I find out during this time that if I had to stop running or walking my legs will kind of frozen.  So, my strategy was to keep on walking and running and keep up with the rest of the people who are also doing the same.  I asked someone beside me on where will we be our spot for the u turn of the run since on my mind it is like a lifetime of fast walking and running.  I felt a relief when we finally have the turn to go back which I thought was located just in UP Lahug but in fact it is somewhat near in Golden Peak.  More walking and a little of running was done to finish the race, but I was just amazed that I made it at 43 minutes which I predicted and calculated that I will finish it at about an hour.  I felt joy and excitement after the race since it was my first run which made it the right start for this year in 2011 to be on a healthy lifestyle.  Joining a run race is not only for health which is physical but also for your psychological well being which will be manifested on your will to go on and keep on going despite the physical manifestations.  I admired those people who were still running to finish the race although they are already limping and sweating as you can see that they are already like peeing on their shorts or wearing apparel because of so many sweats specially those joining the full marathon which is 42 kilometer and also those in half marathon which is the 21 kilometer.  They still have the will power and adrenaline rush despite their fatigue and tiredness.  Running  teach me that in this world we are living we must survive.  In life we are like runners, we can quit if we like to but we can keep on going if we want to.  It is a matter of choice for us in either quitting or winning in our own way. 

My Chase (Run for Personal Record)