In last night’s weekly Friday Night Run, the ungo runners of CebuRunning decided to hold its first ever long slow distance (LSD) group run tomorrow passing the three bridges of Metro Cebu: the old Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge and the newly-opened Cansaga Bay Bridge.

As with regular ungo runs, there are two distances, to accommodate newbies who are still not able to cover the distance of the main route. These are 30K and 12K (but with option to extend a few more kilometers for the latter). Interactive map available at the end of this article.

MACTAN BRIDGE. Tomorrow, ungo runners will run the 3 bridges in Metro Cebu including the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge (above). (CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE FLICKR PAGE OF STORM CRYPT)

The 30K group will be led by Kenneth Casquejo and will start from the Capitol at exactly 4 a.m. They will head to Mandaue City and the 3 bridges through Escario St., Archbishop Reyes Ave. then to A.S. Fortuna St. If you’re late, try catching up with them at those locations.

The 30K group will end its run at the Asiatown IT Park. If you’re driving, it’s best that you park there.

The 12K group will be led by ungo runners and Sun.Star Running Club muse Mitch So, the Sun.Star Cebu executive editor and Sun.Star Superbalita editor in chief, and company. The assembly area is at the Shell gasoline station on A.C. Cortes Ave., near the University of Cebu campus. We will start and end at the Shell station. Assembly time is at 4:30 a.m.

The 30K group will rendezvous with the 12K group at the Shell station.

12K runners who want to drive to the assembly might be able to park at Shell. I did not ask the gas attendants ahead but they seem to have ample parking space and we’ll be buying a lot of snack items from them anyway.

If you want to run a longer route, you have the option of extending your run to 15K by going to the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge all the way to the Lapu-Lapu side a second time and then coming back to finish at the Shell station.

Here are a few reminders on the first-ever Sunday long run of the ungo runners:

1.) Keep road safety in mind. Run on the lane opposing vehicle traffic so that you can see vehicles approaching you. Always be aware of your surroundings.

2.) Leave your music players at home. Listening to music while running on the road, especially Philippine roads, is dangerous.

3.) Bring money and change for a.) water and sports drinks, b.) snacks, c.) taxi fare in case you’re not able to complete the run, d.) the highlight of the run—-breakfast.

4.) Bring identification. If you have a RoadID or sports band, wear it.

5.) Run or walk at your own pace. You can find a pace partner at the assembly area.

6.) Put on sunscreen.

7.) If you have a portable point-and-shoot camera, bring it with you. Ungo runs are known for its extensive “documentation.”

Here’s an interactive virtual map of the route. The route I plotted here is only for the shorter 12K run. Kenneth will be briefing 30K runners on the route at the assembly area. Click on the markers on the map for more information.

Related posts:

  1. Ungo runners registration
  2. Cebu Lakandula Lions Club to hold 3K, 10K races
  3. Final 42K route interactive map now available; SRP test run scheduled on Sunday
  4. Transcend limits, ultra-marathoner Jonel Mendoza tells Cebu runners
  5. Dr. Peter Mancao to talk during Friday Night Run; route map, final instructions now out