AMONG the pioneers of running in Cebu are two doctors who have been very influential in increasing the popularity of the sport in the island—Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III and Dr. Peter Mancao. The two have been running marathons all over the world together and started local running events to help jumpstart the then fledgling sport.
In tonight’s Friday Night Run, Dr. Mancao will be talking about how to start running and make it a habit. To join the run, be at the Sun.Star Cebu office on P. del Rosario St. before 10 p.m. Just tell the guard you are looking for Max Limpag.
DR. PETER MANCAO during the Cebu City Marathon. CLICK TO ENLARGE.Today’s night run with the ungo runners, an informal group of runners who run every Friday night, will focus on newbies and people who still have to start running. Members of the group have been encouraged to bring along a newbie in tonight’s run.
The route for tonight’s run will still be the same for regular ungo runners (interactive route map found at the end of this article)—a 7 kilometer route from Sun.Star Cebu to the Banilad Town Center then to the IT Park.
But since there will be a lot of newbies tonight, we will have a shorter 4 kilometer route that will take the new runners directly to the IT Park from the usual water stop at the Petron gasoline station on Juan Luna Ave.
If tonight is your first time to join an ungo run, here are a few tips:
1.) Park your car at the IT Park. We won’t be going back to the Sun.Star office after the run.
2.) Don’t bring any valuables with you. Just bring enough money for cab fare (if you DNF—runnerspeak for did not finish) and coffee and snacks after the run.
3.) If you have reflectors or blinkers, use them.
4.) Find a pace group or partner. We will be assigning different runners to serve as marshals and guides during the run, find one running at your comfortable pace.
Here’s an interactive map of the run. The red line indicates the route for newbie runners.
View 9th Friday Night Run ungo runners ♥ newbies in a larger map