On the run in the beautiful island
Posts tagged Donna Cruz-Larrazabal
5th University Run offers personalized race bibs for first 500 registrants
Jul 22nd
The first 500 registrants to the Cebu Doctors’ University’s (CDU) flagship race, the University Run, on August 15 will get personalized race bibs, organizers announced in a press conference Tuesday night.
This is the first time that a race in Cebu, even possibly in the country, will allow registrants to specify what is printed in their race bibs.
PERSONALIZED RACE BIB. Organizer Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III with a sample of the personalized race bib that will be assigned to the first 500 registrants of the 5th University Run on August 15. CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE (PHOTO BY MAX LIMPAG)Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III, a marathoner who has been recognized by the Sportswriters Association of Cebu for his contribution to running, said the first 500 people to register for the run can specify what combination of letters and numerals would be printed in their race bibs. Larrazabal said the bib has room for 6 letters or digits.
He said that in races abroad, personalized race bibs are only reserved for elite runners.
If you still haven’t registered, however, you should do it now because there were already about 100 registrants on Tuesday night. Registration fee is P250 but students need only to pay P200. Registration areas are in Larrazabal’s Center for Sight clinic in Cebu Doctors’ Hospital, Nike Athletic Club in the Banilad Town Center and CDU.
The race distances are 3K, 5K and 10K. There are separate categories for students and CDU alumni.
Running together can strengthen a couple’s relationship: Yong
May 15th
Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III started running four years ago to deal with work stress. The successful eye surgeon worked daily from early morning to late in the evening—a schedule he described as very stressful.
“Mamatay ta ani ug sayo,” he told runners in the Sun.Star Cebu newsroom last night.
He started playing basketball until he injured one of his fingers. That spurred him to take up another sport—running.
RUNNING COUPLE. Max Limpag (left) briefs runners on the route of the 10th Friday Night Run from the Sun.Star Cebu office to the BTC and IT Park. At right are running couple Dr. Yong Larrazabal and Donna Cruz-Larrazabal. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARLEN D. LIMPAG)Since then, the doctor has run 11 full marathons or 42-kilometer races and countless races in shorter distances. He has run a full marathon monthly since December.
Larrazabal also helped spur the current running boom in Cebu with his annual University Run and monthly Run for Sight series, which he organized when there were still very few running events in Cebu. For that, he was awarded by the Sportswriters’ Association of Cebu.
Larrazabal was the speaker in last night’s ungo run, a weekly Friday night run from the Sun.Star Cebu office to the Banilad Town Center and the IT Park.
Yong: a doctor on the run
Mar 31st
He speaks in a whisper, barely discernible in the cacophony of the football matchplay commentator and the groups of people in nearby tables.
“It’s a sport that anybody can join. All you have to do is wear rubber shoes and have the determination to just do it,” Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III told a group of reporters two days after he ran yet another personal best—a 3:47:22 full marathon in the 2010 Seoul International Marathon.
11 SO FAR. Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III shortly after completing his 11th full marathon in the 2010 Seoul International Marathon. CLICK TO ENLARGE (CONTRIBUTED FOTO)Determination is something Larrazabal understands.
The eye surgeon just finished his 11th full marathon, running a 42-kilometer race at least monthly for the past few months, and set a personal record.
Larrazabal went to South Korea with no marathon training. When you say marathon training, you typically mean months of programmed long runs, speed work and cross-training. He had none of that.
Yong, Donna Cruz top Valentine’s Day couples run
Feb 14th
Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III and Donna Cruz-Larrazabal won this morning’s couple’s run edition of the Run With a Smile at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu.
Yong and Donna finished the 10K race together in 54 minutes and 11 seconds to top a field of about a dozen couples who joined the run. The Escasinas couple finished second with a time of 57:28. Noy and Amale Jopson were third with a time of 58:06.
Yong said it was the “best birthday gift” for Donna, who celebrates her birthday today, Valentine’s Day.
After setting personal record, Yong Larrazabal sets sights on Boston
Dec 9th
After breaking four hours for a marathon, Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III is now plotting his race schedule next year with the ultimate goal of attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Larrazabal just finished the Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon in 3 hours, 49 minutes and 48 seconds. In an interview with reporters last night, Larrazabal said he set out for the Macau marathon last Sunday with the goal of finishing the race in 3:55.
MARATHON COUPLE. Donna Cruz-Larrazabal and Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III recount to reporters their experience in the Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon. (Photo by Max Limpag)Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, meanwhile, finished her first marathon in style, breaking five hours by coming in at 4:49:47.
Donna, however, said she nearly gave up and was in tears in the last few kilometers. She injured her left foot and it started hurting at the 22-kilometer point. She said she was walking in parts of the race but persevered, telling herself that she should finish before the five-hour cutoff time because “ayaw ko’ng mapahiya.”
Donna later told reporters that had she known that the route would pass the 2.2km Ponte de Sai Van bridge not once but four times, she wouldn’t have signed up for the full marathon.
Yong Larrazabal posts PR in Macau, Donna breaks 5 hours in 1st marathon
Dec 6th
Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III broke his personal record by finishing the Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon in a blistering three hours, 49 minutes and 48 seconds. His trainer Harthy Satina finished 5 seconds later.
Mykhaylo Iveruk of Ukraine narrowly won yesterday’s marathon in Macau, China with a time of 2:17:45. He was followed by Micah Kipserem Chuma of Kenya, who finished in 2:17:51. Another Kenyan, Jusius Kibet Mebur, was at third place, finishing in 2:17:58.
IN MACAU. (From left) Harthy Satina, Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, and Dr. Yong Larrazabal at the Macau marathon. CLICK TO ENLARGE (Photo from Dr. Yong Larrazabal’s Facebook page)The revelation, however, was Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, who broke five hours in her first full marathon, finishing in 4:49:47.
The Macau race is the 8th marathon for Yong Larrazabal, who is targeting to finish 33 marathons in his lifetime. Before yesterday, Larrazabal’s best time was 4:19 in the Hong Kong marathon.
