The sun was already up that day when Bikik neared the University of the Philippines-Visayas Cebu College. The heat was stifling for Bikik, who runs in long sleeves and jogging pants to shield her fair skin. She was no longer running on the street, but on the sidewalk. By the time Bikik was near UP, the race route had long been open to traffic.

HER FIRST 15K. Bikik Besavilla runs the last 100 meters to the finish line of the 15-kilometer Kapamilya Run accompanied and cheered on by friends. Shown in photo is Superbalita editor-in-chief and Ungo Runners muse Michelle So telling the technical staff to let her finish and not to remove the finishline arch just yet. (PHOTO TAKEN FROM BIKIK BESAVILLA’S FACEBOOK PAGE)

I’ll complete this race no matter how long it will take me to reach the finish line, Bikik told me then. I had gone back the route to check on friends and decided to accompany her in the last few kilometers.

Anyway, I had people weld the finish line arc to make sure organizers can’t remove it before I cross the line, she deadpanned.

The photo of her finishing the race is classic—in it, you could see fellow runners signaling the guard to remove the railings. Bikik crossed the finish line amid loud applause and her usual scream of joy.

Bikik finds such joy in running saying the sport has allowed her to gain confidence, make new friends and lose “a lot of weight.”

She continues to be involved in the sport despite being sidelined by injury. She is the all-present cheerleader of the Ungo Runners, a group that runs every Friday night from Sun.Star Cebu to the IT Park. During the Milo Marathon, she was a key volunteer that provided much-needed water and energy drinks to Ungo Runners and even non-members.

It is that joy that Bikik wants to share with others. Bikik and her batch mates with the St. Theresa’s College (STC) high school batch of 1987 decided to organize a run to helpe race funds for the Antonia de Oviedo center of the The Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer, a religious congregation working with women victimized by sexual abuse or hooked to drugs and children who are at risk.

Money raised from the run will be spent for the center’s educational services.

JOY IN RUNNING. Bikik finds such joy in running she wants to share it with other people. She and her STC high school batch of 1987 are organizing a run this Sunday to raise funds for the educational services of Antonia de Oviedo center. (CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

The group is staging the Glamour Run, a one-of-a-kind race at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu on Sunday, Sept. 19. The race has the regular 3K, 5K and 10K distances. It also has a 1.6K Glamour Run distance for walkers and running newbies.

For the first time, a race will have “retouch” stations for women to redo their make-ups and fix themselves so that they can look their best when they cross the finish line.

The race will also be handing out awards to glamorous runners.

And to show that running and glamour go together, Bikik said top women runners will be staging a fashion show after the event wearing athletic wear.

“We are encouraging people to make exercise part of their daily routine in order to keep fit. By being fit, one can have glamour and beauty,” said Bikik.

Garganera pointed out that not only are Cebu City streets not friendly to runners, they are also generally not safe for children. Look, we don’t even have sidewalks, he gesticulated while running sideways.

KAPAMILYA RUNNERS ON THE ROAD. Close to 2,000 runners joined last Sunday’s 10th dyAB KApamilya Run. Above, the runners occupy one lane of Gorordo Ave. near the UP Cebu College. (PHOTO BY TEDDY ESPINUEVA)

At the end of the run, he proposed a novel idea to get more people off their couches and running on the street: close Osmeña Blvd. for a few hours every Sunday and limit it to walkers, joggers, runners and bikers.

Garganera had wanted to pursue it as part of his political agenda in his failed City Council bid.

During the post-run breakfast in last Sunday’s Kapamilya Run, Garganera raised the idea again and got the support of ultra-runner Bro. Carlo Bacalla. But Garganera was preaching to the converted. What is needed is for the converted to start preaching to those in power.

It’s unlikely to happen, what with the implications on traffic and commerce in an area with two malls, three hospitals and at least two churches.

But City Hall would do well to try it. What’s a few hours of inconvenience on a slow Sunday morning to the potential health benefits you can give your constituents? The more people you get walking, jogging, running and biking, the more of your constituents start adopting a healthy lifestyle.

KAPAMILYA RUN

I took a shower on V. Rama Ave. in last Sunday’s 10th dyAB Kapamilya Run. The race, which was organized by the RunCheck team of Kenneth Casquejo and Annie Neric, paid car wash boys on V. Rama Ave. to train their water sprayers on runners.

It was a novel touch and a very welcome respite from the early morning heat.

Most runners I talked to loved that part of the race. The 10th Kapamilya Run was, by all accounts, a well-organized and successful run. It got the basics right: ample water supply and exact race distance. It scored points with runners on the V. Rama water spray. If there was anything that could be improved, it would be the segregation of runners at the starting line.

ACTIVEPHOTOS.PH. A new group of mainly Cebu-based photographers now takes photographs of runners for a fee during fun runs. To be photographed by members of Activephotos.ph, you need to register with the group and wear a special ribbon that will alert its photographers that you have commissioned their service. Above, Activephotos.ph lensman Teddy Espinueva takes a photo of me near UP Cebu College. (PHOTO BY TEDDY ESPINUEVA)

Last Sunday was also the first outing of Activephotos.ph, a group of photographers who take photos of athletic events like running and sell these to the participants.

Among the key members of the group are Casquejo, award-winning blogger and photographer Estan Cabigas, and running and photography love team Teddy and Belle Espinueva. I’ve seen several of their shots and they look great.

To get photographed by the Activephotos.ph team, you just need to sign up in races that they have been commissioned. You will then get a ribbon to wear, which alerts members of the team to take photos of you.

But it’s a double-edged sword, this idea of commissioning someone to take photos of you while on the run. Chances are you’d look ugly running—out of breath and grimacing.

Only Donna Cruz-Larrazabal looks pretty crossing the finish line.