Running on the same road everyday or every weekend can be boring. Some months back the thought of doing ultra trail runs never attracted me. I thought it was risky and that injury was inevitable. But after my Nuvali Trail Run this year, I realized why many runners enjoy doing trail runs. Running on soft terrain is so much relaxing to the feet.
BROD CARLO. The author runs on part of the the route of the Summit 60k Ultra Challenge. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE.
(This article was written by Bro. Carlo Bacalla, an ultra-marathoner who placed 17th in this year’s Bataan Death March 102-kilometer ultra-marathon.)
I just recently came back from a meeting in Bangkok and Vientiane (Laos). In Laos I had the chance to see the stadium where the 2009 SEA Games were held. It brought back to mind that bad image of the Philippines sending two separate delegations of athletes from two warring groups named PSC and POC. We know the victims when conflicts exist among our sports officials.
This is my take on the controversy brought about by one sports headline which reads “Two major runs in Cebu in 1 day.” At first I was excited that Pilipinas International Marathon (PIM) is being organized in Cebu. I thought it’s a revival of a famous foot race in Manila in the 80s. I ran 4 times in the Pilipinas Marathon between 1988 to 1992. But it was a standard 42.195 km. I posted my personal best time of 3:45 in one of these races. But my excitement turned sour when I realized it’s a sub-standard 25 km race scheduled on August 15, the same day of the University Run which was announced and posted in the Facebook prior to the PIM.
So where to run when 2 runs happen in 1 day?