Amale, the assistant vice president for sales of Aegis PeopleSupport, said that for her, “running is a family thing.” It allows her to spend time with her husband, top triathlete Noy Jopson, and with her children.

DON’T FORCE IT. Triathlete Amale Jopson tells runners gathered at the Sun.Star Cebu newsroom to “listen to your body” when running. “If you feel (aches) don’t force it. It’s just a race. It’s not worth it. It’s not worth hurting yourself,” she said. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY ALEX BADAYOS, USED WITH PERMISSION)

The former competitive triathlete encouraged runners who attended Wednesday night’s Ungo Run, a weekly night run from the Sun.Star Cebu office to the IT Park, to get other members of the family involved in running.

“I run for a lot of reasons. I run because it’s fun. I enjoy it…It’s time I get to spend for myself. I like to run alone but I also like to run with other people. So there’s that enjoyment that I can be alone to think about anything or everything while I run but at the same time it also allows me to socialize with other people. It also allows me to spend time with my husband,” she said.

Amale first joined a fun run when she was 12, when she convinced her sister and her friend to join a 3K run that started near the old Sun.Star Cebu office on Osmeña Blvd. to Baseline. Later, when she became an exchange student in Iowa in the United States, she became part of a cross-country running team. It was during her stint in the team under their principal who also served as cross-country coach that she learned the proper techniques of running and training under all weather conditions. She said that until today, she still hears her coach’s, Mr. Bohy’s, voice in her head especially when running uphill, “take short, choppy steps.”

“I love uphills. Try that next time you run uphill, lean forward a bit and take short, choppy steps and swing your arms up and then you’ll find running uphill is easier,” she said.

She later joined the Ateneo track team. But it was when she ran in college during a fund-raising for Mt. Pinatubo victims that “fate brought me and my husband together.” She said she woke up 10 minutes after the scheduled start of the run but still decided to attend the event because she had already collected the pledges.

“I wanted to run as fast as I could and I did, but ended up dry-heaving,” she said. It was at that point that Noy approached him to offer water.

No coincidence

“This guy comes up to me smiling and giving me water and I thought he was cute. He was talking to me as if I knew him. And then he started inviting me out,” she said.

“I believe there’s no such thing as coincidence. Everything has its purpose. Everything has its time and place,” Amale said of the encounter with Noy.

Noy influenced her to try triathlon and she became competitive at the sport.

But she said her running improved when she underwent training in the United States by a coach whose “workouts took me to the next level.”

“Among the things he taught me was to put in the long runs. A favorite workout of mine is what he called a fast finish long run. For example, you are doing 15K, you do the first 12K at the heart rate or perceived exertion of 80 percent of max heart rate… just keep it controlled and easy and then run the last 3K at race pace. That was one workout I like because it allowed you to train your body to finish strong even when you’re tired,” she said.

FATE (AND RUNNING) BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. Noy and Amale Jopson. They met at a fun run that Amale almost missed because she woke up late. She said fate brought them together, “there’s no such thing as coincidence. Everything has its purpose. Everything has its time and place.” CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE.

Sports is a strong bond that ties Amale and Noy.

“One of the reasons I love to run as well because it’s one of the things I can do and enjoy—spend time with my husband and train,” she said.

But the two competitive athletes were so intent on training for their sport that they decided to postpone their honeymoon because she was preparing for the national championships. But she got injured and looking back, she said, made her think “why did I ever think that I would have to postpone my honeymoon for a race?”

“It’s not my life”

“Triathlon or running is not my life, it is an important part of my life but it’s not my life,” she said.

Jopson quit from competitive triathlon because of a ruptured disc that was affecting her running, her favorite discipline in the multi-event race. But before this was discovered, she was running injured for more than a year.

“The biggest lesson for me was ‘listen to your body.’ If you feel things like that, don’t force it. It’s just a race. It’s not worth it. It’s not worth hurting yourself,” she said.

Jopson said she got back into running last year to lose the weight she gained after her pregnancy. She said she’s now “back for good.” When asked how she balances her running and work, she said it was good that her company has a running team, the Black Panthers.

Running “is a lifestyle that I love to live,” Jopson said, “I hope to continue running until I’m old.”

Losiaboi finished the 12K route in a blistering 00:39:15.01. Jobert Carolino finished second a full minute later, clocking 00:40:39.50. Veteran runner Reprinel Banzon completed the top three by finishing third with a time of 00:40:48.58.

DOMINANT. Mary Grace delos Santos sprints with trainer Mosherwin Managil to win the women’s 12K category in the Citygym Citirun held in Waterfront Hotel Cebu City early today. CLICK ON PHOTO TO VIEW LARGER IMAGE (Photo by Max Limpag)

Completing the men’s 12K top 10 are 4th John Philip Duenas (00:41:23.49); 5th Riez Enriquez (00:42:09.84); 6th Paul James Zafico (00:43:52.95); 7th Noel Tillor (00:43:55.39); 8th Alvirg Busa (00:44:39.52); 9th Roger Saldo (00:46:25.97); and 10th Renvie Gabuya (0:48:11:117).

Losiaboi just came from two successive defeats Mendel Lopez.

In the women’s 12K, delos Santos finished first with a time of 00:45:37.17. Madelyn Carter was second with a time of 00:49:27.63 while Joeyry Lee finished third by clocking in 00:52:56.95.

Completing the women’s 12K top 10 are 4th Peris Poywo (00:56:32.86); 5th Girlie Rose Baylon (00:58:37.63); 6th Emily Rosas (01:00:13.73); 7th Amale Jopson (01:00:47.91); 8th Ma. Milagros Tanudtanud (01:01:55.47); 9th Michelle Discaya (01:01:59.82); and Florence Mata (01:04:56.19).

Among Citygym clients, Dr. Reynald Ramiro placed first with a time of 01:10:21.36; Milvic Chua was second by clocking in 01:10:57.00 while Michael Paquibot was third with a time of 01:11:35.38.

6K category

Joel Delposo, meanwhile, dominated the men’s 6K category with his 00:21:02.270 time. Roland Montebon was second at 00:21:22.950 while veteran Ruth Banzon placed third by clocking in 00:24:25.120.

Completing the top 10 are 4th Fernando Berbesada (00:25;12.36); 5th Lino Galindo (00:27:01.090); 6th Vinson Mahawan (00:27:11.980); 7th Errold Alipio (00:27:25.610); 8th Florencio Herminio (00:27:40.470); 9th Jose Luis Tiongko (00:29:19.140); and 10th Diomedes Seque (00:30:11.850).

In the women’s category, Mary Joy Tabal topped the 6K race with a time of 00:24:18.130. Aiza Suaybaguio was second with her time of 00:26:21.060 while Marlyn Alin was third with her time of 00:27:33.830.

Completing the 10 best times are 4th Haziel Retavale (00:29:08.960); 5th Gretchen Niere (00:32:12.210); 6th Mary Aimee Aranaydo (00:32:59.350); 7th Lorelie Abella (00:33:09.560); 8th Ma. Lirio Omolon (00:33:38.680); 9th Emeralde Hermocilla (00:34:28.690); and 10th Corrine Nillas (00:34:52.200).

Among its clients, Joe France Cañizares topped the 6K race with his time of 00:32:59.890; Karen Gonzales was second with her time of 00:33:03.130 while Francisco Gomos Jr. was third with his time of 00:36:39.270.

Among Citigym employees, Chadwick Mabanta finished first in the 6K race with a time of 00:35:06.470, Daniel Carino was third with a time of 00:35:59.850 while Arnulfo Abatayo was third with a time of 00:37:41.260.

Robert Daan topped the male 4K race with a time of 00:14:50.55. Jerry Laroya was second at 00:16:12.79 while Gabby Lariosa was third with a time of 00:19:27.84.

In the women’s 4K, Mizraym Capangpangan finished first in 00:26:30.60. Ana Moldes was second with her time of 00:26:45.71 while Jade Garzoa was third with a time of 00:26:56.21.

To view photographs we took of the race, be a fan of the CebuRunning page in Facebook. We uploaded close to 200 photos there.