Weekend runners can finish marathons, Dr. Mancao assures newbies

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Heart surgeon Dr. Peter Mancao ran in college. But then he stopped.

About two years ago, however, he started feeling out of breath when going up the flight of stairs to the operating room of Cebu Doctors’ Hospital.

That prompted him to go back running. Mancao said he took to the web for help on how to start running and found that online, you can get an “instant coach.”

HEART SURGEON Dr. Peter Mancao talks to newbie runners on how to start running. Mancao was the guest in last Friday’s night run with the CebuRunning community. SUN.STAR PHOTO/ALEX BADAYOS

Mancao told more than 70 runners gathered in the Sun.Star Cebu central newsroom for last Friday’s night run that in the operating room, surgeons had a rule of thumb: if the patient is under 40 years old, there is no need for medical clearance.

Mancao said that was a good rule of thumb to apply to running. He said that if someone who is over 40 years old wants to start running, he or she should get a comprehensive medical checkup and a doctor’s clearance.

To start running, you should get proper equipment—a good pair of running shoes and a stop watch.

Mancao said that when he started running, he followed a program that guided his transition from walking to running.

FRIDAY NIGHT RUN. Dr. Peter Mancao with the ungo runners, an informal group that runs every Friday night from the Sun.Star Cebu office on P. del Rosario St. to the Banilad Town Center and IT Park. (SUN.STAR PHOTO/ALEX BADAYOS)

He said he ran his first 5K in 45 minutes.

If you can run a 5K, then you can run a 10K; if you can run a 10K, then you can run a 21K; if you can run a 21K, then you can run a 42K; then you should stop there, Mancao told the runners. He joked that ultramarathons are “pang-Haide” (referring to broadcaster, columnist and ultra-runner Haide Acuna).

Mancao said he wanted to prove that regular weekend runners can run a marathon and he was able to complete a marathon with just 5K runs three times a week in Abellana and a weekend long run of 10K. He said he was able to do it by taking regular walk breaks.

Mancao was the guest in last Friday’s night run with CebuRunning community members, which had a special focus on newbie runners.

  • mps

    Great writing, Max!

  • http://mysundaespecial.blogspot.com ling

    I actually like Dr. Mancao’s pacing! Very poised and relax. He highly recommends doing the Galloway method, which I usually advise to my Father.

  • http://www.ceburunning.com/members/jack/ Jack

    and pacing ne Dr. Mancao is simple ra kaayo and very relaxing…nagsunod jud ko neh doc. para masundog nako iyaha pace…:)

  • abby

    dr. mancao is one runner who really helps newbies! i have experienced his generosity and kindness on so many runs na. the latest of which was last CCM when he pulled me over after the torture that was SRP and said,” EAT abby EAT! “. he then shared his team’s provisions with me . such a kind kind soul.