By Max Limpag on March 10, 2010
When the starting gun was fired during the 2nd Rotary Run last Feb. 21, Joel Garganera followed his race start ritual—he grabbed his wife’s arm and gave her a quick kiss—only to find he had kissed a shocked stranger.
Joel never recovered from the faux pas as he was separated by the mass of runners from his wife, Audrey, who stood shocked a few paces away. He darted off for his 15K run shaking his head and mumbling to himself “buanga (crazy).”
Joel Garganera sprints after his son Federico to the finish line of last Sunday’s Quota 12K Classic run at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu. CLICK TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY MARLEN LIMPAG)
Humor defines Joel Garganera. Whether talking about his reaction upon seeing the grades of his son Federico (pronounced with an Italian diction, nickname—Dodong) or the ecstasy he feels during his regular run or the accomplishment of having finished six marathons in about a year, there’s never a dull moment with him.
When running with Joel, you’re likely to end up with a side stitch—not because the pace is punishing, but because he tells such funny stories in such a humorous way. Joel is one of those runners you want in your long runs because they make the kilometers fly by effortlessly.
Running defines Joel Garganera. Public service may be his vocation—he became, at 21 years old, the youngest person to be elected a barangay captain in Cebu City—but running is his avocation.
Continue reading “Joel, serial marathoner”
Posted in Feature | Tagged Joel Garganera, Ramsey Quijano
By Max Limpag on March 2, 2010
“What was in those beans?” I chuckled to myself on my first pass by the Cansaga Bay Bridge on my way to Liloan early this morning.
John Pages, the person responsible for my addiction to running, sent me a coffee brewing set because he wanted me to try preparing one using a French Press. I brewed one cup as soon as I woke up yesterday morning and proceeded to suit up to run for work.
My day had already been planned: I was to run to work, write my column piece on Joel Garganera, perform my news desk duties, meet with the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) staff for lunch to discuss a fun run they were planning, and run back home at night.
I had formulated my lead for the Garganera column piece in my head but I felt something was amiss. I felt I knew Garganera based on the several occasions that I interviewed him, many times while on the run, but I was anxious I was incapable of doing justice to his story.
Continue reading “Running an unplanned marathon”
Posted in Feature | Tagged Cansaga Bay Bridge, Joel Garganera, John Pages, Liloan, marathon, Michelle So
By Max Limpag on February 26, 2010
Three-time Philippine National Triathlon champion Arland Macasieb will be conducting a free clinic entitled “Optimal Running Technique” on March 5 and 6 at the 2nd level of the Active Zone in Ayala Center Cebu.
The clinic is sponsored by Newton Running, Runnr Academy and Ayala Center Cebu.
Macasieb is an exercise physiologist and holds a masters degree on exercise sciences from the Montclair State University. He was the Philippine National Triathlon chapion in 2001, 2005 and 2006. He is also a 6-time Ironman finisher.
Continue reading “Triathlete champ to hold free clinic on optimal running technique in Cebu”
Posted in Announcement, News, Tips | Tagged Active Zone, Arland Macasieb, Ayala Center Cebu, Newton Running, Optimal Running Technique, Runnr Academy, Toby Claudio
By Max Limpag on February 23, 2010
Old men will be the death of me.
In last Sunday’s 2nd Rotary Run 15K race, I marked as target for overtaking a stocky man who appeared to be in his late fifties or early sixties. I spotted him running with a friend in Lahug after I passed a group of about five men whom I have been tailing starting at the old Social Security System building.
PRINCE PAQUIBOT on his way to finishing a 47-minute 7K in last Sunday’s 2nd Rotary Run. (PHOTO BY MARLEN LIMPAG)
When I saw him, my secondary goal of finishing 15K in 1 hour and 25 minutes had grown bleaker by the meter. Before I even reached the turning point near the PLDT office on Osmena Blvd., I had given up on trying to finish the distance in 1:20, my main let’s-see-if-I-can-do-it goal for that day. Nearing the UP campus, I was worried I couldn’t even meet my secondary finishing time target.
Until I saw him.
Continue reading “What was left unsaid”
Posted in Feature, News | Tagged 2nd Rotary Run, Cleofas Quijano, Ireneo "Rening" Ylaya, Jet Neric, Kenneth Casquejo, Prince Paquibot
By Max Limpag on February 16, 2010
Think again.
On Feb. 9, 2009, I couldn’t run one kilometer. On Feb. 9, 2010, I ran 34.34 kilometers to celebrate my 34th birthday. I did it barely two days after running a grueling 21.7-kilometer Condura Run that passed a steep mountain called Skyway in Metro Manila.
The idea to run one kilometer for each year of my life occurred to me in the typically nostalgic days leading to my birthday. When I told John Pages, the person mainly responsible for my—and that of a thousand other Cebuanos’—addiction to running, he was very cautious. I had doubts, myself. It was too soon after a 21K race and I wouldn’t have time to recover. My wife, who is also my running partner, was just as cautious.
But there’s something about milestones that can unstopper an internal reservoir of valor and craziness. The birthday run became, for me, a blister that wouldn’t go away.
Having never run longer than 23 kilometers, I decided to split my birthday run in two legs—a 19-kilometer route to work in the morning and a 15-kilometer stretch to run home from work in the evening.
Still tired and sore from the Condura run, I was prepared for hell.
Continue reading “You don’t think you can run?”
Posted in Feature | Tagged Condura Run, John Pages, Meyrick Jacalan, Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, Ramsey Quijano
By Max Limpag on February 14, 2010
Organizers of the Great Lapu-Lapu Run will be using timing chips for the 21K and 10K races that will be held in Lapu-Lapu City on April 18. The run will also have 5K and 3K races but only 21K and 10K participants will use the timing chips.
The race is organized by the Lapu-Lapu City Government and the Lapu Lapu City Tourism Cultural and Historical Commission.
This year’s edition of the race is being organized by elite triathlete Noy Jopson and veteran runner and race director Raffy Uytiepo.
GREAT LAPU-LAPU RUN. The Great Lapu-Lapu Run will be using RFID chips to time runners of its 21K and 10K races. The website printed above, however, is still not live.
Continue reading “Great Lapu-Lapu Run to use timing chips for 21K, 10K races; winners to be sent to Hong Kong”
Posted in Fun runs, News | Tagged Great Lapu-Lapu Run, Hembler Mendoza, Lapu Lapu City, Noy Jopson, Raffy Uytiepo, RFID chip, Rio de la Cruz, timing chip
By Max Limpag on February 14, 2010
Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III and Donna Cruz-Larrazabal won this morning’s couple’s run edition of the Run With a Smile at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu.
Yong and Donna finished the 10K race together in 54 minutes and 11 seconds to top a field of about a dozen couples who joined the run. The Escasinas couple finished second with a time of 57:28. Noy and Amale Jopson were third with a time of 58:06.
Yong said it was the “best birthday gift” for Donna, who celebrates her birthday today, Valentine’s Day.
Continue reading “Yong, Donna Cruz top Valentine’s Day couples run”
Posted in Fun runs, News | Tagged Amale Mendezona-Jopson, Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, Eugene Esteban, Jobert Carolino, Mary Grace delos Santos, Mary Joy Tabal, Noy Jopson, Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III, Rafael Tan, Ramon Carsido, Roland Batiancila, Run with a Smile, Simon Losiaboi
By Max Limpag on February 12, 2010
A women’s civic group in Cebu is organizing a fun run to raise funds for children with hearing, speech and sight impairments.
Quota International-Cebu South will be staging a 12-kilometer and 6-kilometer race on March 7 at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu. (Interactive race map available at the end of this article.)
Continue reading “Quota International to hold 12K, 6K races”
Posted in Fun runs, News | Tagged 12K, 6K, Ayala Center Cebu, Humility Igaña, June Chiongbian, Quota International, Raffy Uytiepo
By Max Limpag on February 11, 2010
Organizers expect at least 1,500 runners to join the 2nd Rotary Run on Feb. 21 that will kick off the annual celebration of the Rotary Week. The run will feature 3-kilometer, 7K and 15K races.
The run will also have a 200-meter sprint for 7-year-olds and below and 400-meter race for 8-year-olds to 12-year-olds. The races for children will be held inside the SM City Cebu compound.
The Rotary Run will start and end at the old v-hire terminal near the Northwing of SM City Cebu. (Interactive map found at the end of this article)
ROTARY RUN. Rotary PR Chair Lilu Aliño answers a reporter’s question during the press briefing for the 2nd Rotary Run. Among those who attended this afternoon’s press conference are (from right) Jet Neric, Me’Anne Alcordo and Rotary Run chair Kenneth Casquejo. The run is directed by Raffy Uytiepo (extreme left).
“On top of promoting Rotary and a healthy lifestyle, joining the race is an opportunity to contribute to the End Polio Now, a program of the Rotary Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide,” said race co-organizer Kenneth Casquejo.
“Running is a good way and a very cheap way to be healthy,” said Casquejo.
Co-organizer Jet Neric said that apart from promoting a healthy lifestyle, running also encourages family bonding. He said organizers hope Rotarians “will develop a running lifestyle.”
Continue reading “2nd Rotary Run targets at least 1,500 runners; virtual race map now out”
Posted in Fun runs, News | Tagged 2nd Rotary Run, Jet Neric, Kenneth Casquejo, Mary Grace delos Santos, Noy Jopson, Rotary, Sherwin Managil, Simon Losiaboi
By Max Limpag on February 3, 2010
Sugbu Triathlon, an online community of runners, swimmers, bikers and triathletes, is organizing an 8-kilometer run that will start at The Outpost in Nivel Hills and end at the Zipline in Busay, Cebu City.
The “Run to the Clouds” race will be held on March 21, the group said in an announcement posted in its website.
The group said the 8-kilometer route (see interactive map at the end of this article) “is doable enough for newbie runners and challenging enough for intermediate and advanced runners looking for a new road racing experience.”
Continue reading “Cebu triathlon community organizes Busay 8K run”
Posted in Fun runs, News | Tagged Busay, Run to the Clouds, Sugbu Triathlon, Zipline
Joel Garganera sprints after his son Federico to the finish line of last Sunday’s Quota 12K Classic run at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu. CLICK TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY MARLEN LIMPAG)
