Red Cross Humanity Race routes shorter than announced

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When you run in tomorrow’s 1st Red Cross Youth Cebu Humanity Race, keep in mind that it is a charity event. You’re running to help an important organization that has been at the forefront of providing medical assistance throughout the world.

If you’re running to set a personal record, you’ll be disappointed.

The routes of the Red Cross Humanity Race are shorter than what have been announced. The 5K race route as indicated in the map that came with the registration form is actually just 4 kilometers, based on Google Maps data (see image). The 10K route is just 7.6 kilometers.

Measuring Red Cross Humanity Race route using Google Maps NOT 10K. The “10K” route of tomorrow’s Red Cross Humanity Race is actually just 7.6 kilometers, according to Google Maps data. CLICK TO ENLARGE.

If you’re using a GPS device in tomorrow’s run, I’d appreciate feedback on the actual distance of the routes. (Update: Runner Joe France Rodriguez Cañizares said his Garmin GPS watch indicated the 10K route to be only 8.89K.)

It may sound nitpicking—all this fuss on the actual distance of the routes for a charity run—but exact measurements of race courses are very important. Most runners do not compete with other runners, they compete with themselves. They want to continually set personal records. But to be able to gauge whether they have gone faster, they should be told the correct distance of the races they are running.

You cannot announce a 10K race and then plot a 7.6K route.

The Red Cross Humanity Race route map indicated that the routes were surveyed and measured by Marathon Organizer of Central Visayas. I searched through news archives and it seems race organizer Joe Deresas is involved with the group. I have nothing against Joe Deresas, who is such an amiable man, but he was involved in the two most problematic races that I’ve joined this year—Go for Green Tourism Eco-Fun Run and The Great Lapu-Lapu Run.

The Go for Green Tourism Eco-Fun Run was not only marred by chaotic timekeeping and awarding, it’s routes were also short by at least half a kilometer.

There is no excuse to get your race route measurements wrong in these days of GPS watches and Google Maps. With tools like the distance calculator in Google Maps, you no longer even have to go out to actually measure your route.

Below is the map of tomorrow’s Red Cross Run:

  • http://asphalteater.wordpress.com Kenneth Casquejo

    Now that’s a blunder! Never shortchange the Runners!

  • Bong Espina

    PNRC fun run organizers apparently read this article because the race route/distance was increased.I joined the run but judging from my running time the distance still fell short of the announced 10K.

  • Juan Manuel

    Tnx for the info, now for those wearing Garmin GPS watches dont get disappointed, PUT YOUR 12,000 pesos watch to use if you’re really aiming for 10k then turn at where your expensive watch says 5k, That is if your that serious in running and not in prizes (money…) PS. dont forget to grab that straw thing they give out on turning point, they might say u cheated.

  • http://ling2xabella.blogspot.com Ling

    good thing i did not join the race, although i was the one who first announced it.!

  • matchstick

    as part of the organizing team…we are very sorry to all…but honestly…it was sir joe deresas n his group who measured and said that the measurement was exact…yes we were the organizing team but sir joe’s group is the technical team…so in behalf of their shortcomings…and as organizers…sorry to all…by next time we will make sure that you’ll be running exact distance.