Tag Archives: Ungo runners

Doc Willie Estepa: From heavy smoker, drinker to ultra-runner

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In late October of 2009, Toledo Assistant City Veterinarian Wilfredo “Willie” Estepa applied for the renewal of his driver’s license at the Land Transportation Office. He sat on a bench at the LTO lounge along with several people waiting for their names to be called.

All of a sudden, he felt dizzy, weak and nauseous. He also started feeling tingling pains on his neck. A friend saw him nearly fall from the bench and quickly brought him to the hospital, which was located just a few blocks away. Estepa said he was too weak to respond and thank the friend.

Estepa had suffered a mild stroke, his years of excesses finally catching up with him.
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Yes, Rey, running is also fit for fat people

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Rey Ferdinand Maribao made fun of Ungo Runners and fat people in a post on Facebook and stirred up a storm in the local running online community.

“Ayaw join ungo oi,” he wrote as comment in a post of one Facebook member, “Jog and walk ra ba na sila…FRC gyud ta..wa man gani ta mo join nila para unique group gyud na…way tambok na kuyog…hahaha.” (Don’t join the Ungo Runners. They just jog and walk. We’re FRC. We decided not to join them because we are a unique group. We don’t run with fat people.)

Appalled by his comment, officers of Fit Runners Club or FRC met and instituted disciplinary measures on Maribao. He won’t be wearing that FRC singlet anytime soon. The club also clarified that they do not discriminate against fat people, instead, they encourage them to get fit by taking up the sport.

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Ungo Runners to meet during Midnight Run

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This week’s Ungo Run will be timed with the Midnight Run on Saturday night. While the run will start at midnight, Ungo Runners will meet two hours earlier, at 10 p.m. at the venue in the City Sports Club to discuss updates on our Christmas party on Dec. 19 and to pick new names for our manito-manita.

Ungo Runners who can’t attend are requested to arrange for someone to drop their names and to pick names for them.

Ungo Runners are asked to wear their Ungo Shirts for the run. If you have the black shirt with reflectorized print, please wear it. Please feel free to run in costumes, organizers will be handing out a prize for the runners wearing the best costumes.

Registration for the Midnight Run is still ongoing in Runnr. But Ungo Runners can register using the form below and just pay at the venue. Please register ASAP so that I can submit the names to the race organizer later today. Thanks and see you!

Ungo Runners registration for Cebu City Marathon clinic

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The Cebu Executive Runners Club, Runner’s World Magazine and Ayala Center Cebu will be holding a clinic for participants of the Cebu City Marathon on Jan. 9, 2010. The clinic will be held on Dec. 18 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Active Zone in Ayala Center Cebu. The clinic will discuss tapering techniques and preparing for the race. The first 150 registrants to the clinic will get free copies of Men’s Health, Women’s Health or Runner’s World magazines. Organizers have requested Ungo Runners to register as a group so that they can set aside our free magazines in advance.

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Notes to a 50-kilometer “fun run”

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HOW do you run 50 kilometers in the challenging terrain of Balamban? You don’t. That’s a lesson runners learned Saturday in the historic 1st Cebu Ultramarathon 50K. It wasn’t so much the distance as the terrain and heat that knocked the wind out of many runners.

The elevation data gathered by GPS watches participants used during the race looks like a linear representation of a mountain range. We were, after all, running on the mountains. At the start, the elevation was 971 meters, at the finish line it was a mere 30 meters.

Those that practiced running the route earlier knew that unless you were among the elite runners and in top physical condition, you shouldn’t try running the very steep C Highway in Barangay Cansumoroy.

CRAMPS. Dr. Willie Estepa falls after suffering leg cramps near the Ungo aid station in Barangay Busay. Fellow Ungo Runners Michelle So, Sun.Star executive editor, and Federico Garganera rush to his aid. CLICK TO ENLARGE (PHOTO BY ALLAN DEFENSOR OF SUN.STAR CEBU)

The race started with a short ceremony at about 5:30 a.m. near the bust of former president Ramon Magsaysay on Mt. Manunggal. Frontrunner publisher Jonel Mendoza, race organizer Raffy Uytiepo, Balamban Councilor Dave Karamihan and Philippine ultrarunning icon Jovie “Bald Runner” Narcise gave short talks before the 180 plus runners assembled near the cottage about 200 meters away for the start of the race.

At gun start, the elite runners darted off like they were running a mere 10K. The rest of us mortals stayed behind, enjoying the fantastic view in Manunggal.

Oath of office

I ran with serial marathoner Joel Garganera, who was legally bound to finish the race—the Tinago barangay councilor had arranged to take his oath of office before runner Judge Ester Veloso at the finish line in Capitol. Days before the ultra-marathon, he said he told Judge Veloso to be there from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. I told him it was a contempt order waiting to happen. He later said he texted Judge Veloso to be there later.

At several points of the race we ran with Jonel Mendoza, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino manager Hembler Mendoza, Be Resorts Mactan general manager Garry Garcia, ultra-marathoner Haide Acuña, former congressional candidate Atan Guardo, Jeson Guardo and Ironwoman Annie Neric.

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