Tag Archives: Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III

Dr. Peter Mancao to talk during Friday Night Run; route map, final instructions now out

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AMONG the pioneers of running in Cebu are two doctors who have been very influential in increasing the popularity of the sport in the island—Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III and Dr. Peter Mancao. The two have been running marathons all over the world together and started local running events to help jumpstart the then fledgling sport.

In tonight’s Friday Night Run, Dr. Mancao will be talking about how to start running and make it a habit. To join the run, be at the Sun.Star Cebu office on P. del Rosario St. before 10 p.m. Just tell the guard you are looking for Max Limpag.

DR. PETER MANCAO during the Cebu City Marathon. CLICK TO ENLARGE.

Today’s night run with the ungo runners, an informal group of runners who run every Friday night, will focus on newbies and people who still have to start running. Members of the group have been encouraged to bring along a newbie in tonight’s run.

The route for tonight’s run will still be the same for regular ungo runners (interactive route map found at the end of this article)—a 7 kilometer route from Sun.Star Cebu to the Banilad Town Center then to the IT Park.

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Yong: a doctor on the run

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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.

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You don’t think you can run?

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Think again.

On Feb. 9, 2009, I couldn’t run one kilometer. On Feb. 9, 2010, I ran 34.34 kilometers to celebrate my 34th birthday. I did it barely two days after running a grueling 21.7-kilometer Condura Run that passed a steep mountain called Skyway in Metro Manila.

The idea to run one kilometer for each year of my life occurred to me in the typically nostalgic days leading to my birthday. When I told John Pages, the person mainly responsible for my—and that of a thousand other Cebuanos’—addiction to running, he was very cautious. I had doubts, myself. It was too soon after a 21K race and I wouldn’t have time to recover. My wife, who is also my running partner, was just as cautious.

But there’s something about milestones that can unstopper an internal reservoir of valor and craziness. The birthday run became, for me, a blister that wouldn’t go away.

Having never run longer than 23 kilometers, I decided to split my birthday run in two legs—a 19-kilometer route to work in the morning and a 15-kilometer stretch to run home from work in the evening.

Still tired and sore from the Condura run, I was prepared for hell.

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Yong, Donna Cruz top Valentine’s Day couples run

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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.

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After setting personal record, Yong Larrazabal sets sights on Boston

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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.

Donna Cruz-Larrazabal and Yong LarrazabalMARATHON 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.

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