University Run or Pilipinas International Marathon?

Posted on by

(This article was written by Bro. Carlo Bacalla, an ultra-marathoner who placed 17th in this year’s Bataan Death March 102-kilometer ultra-marathon.)

I just recently came back from a meeting in Bangkok and Vientiane (Laos). In Laos I had the chance to see the stadium where the 2009 SEA Games were held. It brought back to mind that bad image of the Philippines sending two separate delegations of athletes from two warring groups named PSC and POC. We know the victims when conflicts exist among our sports officials.

This is my take on the controversy brought about by one sports headline which reads “Two major runs in Cebu in 1 day.” At first I was excited that Pilipinas International Marathon (PIM) is being organized in Cebu. I thought it’s a revival of a famous foot race in Manila in the 80s. I ran 4 times in the Pilipinas Marathon between 1988 to 1992. But it was a standard 42.195 km. I posted my personal best time of 3:45 in one of these races. But my excitement turned sour when I realized it’s a sub-standard 25 km race scheduled on August 15, the same day of the University Run which was announced and posted in the Facebook prior to the PIM.

So where to run when 2 runs happen in 1 day?

Definitely you won’t see me in the 25 km Pilipinas International Marathon. My reasons?

1. A 25 km international marathon is non-existent. It exists ONLY in the minds of the organizers of this race. Why call it an international marathon? A 42 km Marathon and 21 km Half-Marathon, yes! And why on earth will Patafa sanction a sub-standard race like this one?

2. It is divisive. It destroys the spirit of camaraderie or bonding among runners. It does not promote unity within Cebu’s running community. It creates a bad image of Cebu as the running capital of the Visayas infront of foreign runners when two races are organized here in our city on the same day, at the same time.

3. First come, first run. What i know is that the University Run has made the announcement before this Pilipinas International Marathon. Moreover, another group is coming up with the Aboitiz run which features a standard 21 km run the week after. This too was made known within the running community long before this controversial Pilipinas International Marathon.

I recall Joe Deresas, the race director of this controversial race, did something similar when he organized the ECO run on October 4, 2009. The San Carlos Seminary has scheduled its 4th Seminary Fund Run with the intention of raising funds for the seminary’s projects but the runners were divided because the two races were held simultaneously. Both runs had noble causes but were spoiled because of poor coordination and lack of sensitivity. I’m sure Deresas knew of the seminary run since it was its 4th annual event.

Why divide and create conflicts within the running community? As a fun runner, a sports enthusiast, a religious, and an educationalist, I won’t support this Pilipinas International Marathon. Let’s send a strong message that Cebuanos don’t just love running but we support the values that go with it like, courtesy, coordination, standard, camaraderie, and a noble cause. I was informed that its organizers will not move their race to another date since they have already spent money for it. But running is not just about money. There are values that runners and race organizers should uphold. This makes running more enjoyable, educative, and worth running.

But there is the other side of this race being a marketing promotion for IPI’s launching of their business event. Tito de la Merced of IPI said that IPI has other marketing-related activities after August 15. I wonder if the management of IPI will see this race as a good marketing act. Certainly this is bad publicity. There is still time for the sponsors to rethink about the date of this race. Pushing it on this conflicting date at all cost might be disastrous.

Surely, the elite runners will get attracted to the Pilipinas Marathon for its more juicy cash prizes. But the running community in Cebu knows that there is more to the money that running offers. Let the elites make their choice but to the few runners who want to join the Pilipinas Marathon, this is my advice: Bring your own water with you during the race!

As for me, the choice is not hard. See you at the north reclamation area on August 15!

Br. Carlo Bacalla, sdb

  • markin gomez

    I dunno why there’s much fuzz about this “controversy”. So what if two races fell on the same day? NO big deal. I have huge respect for the author but i think that whichever side you’re in, it all boils down to what the runners will choose. 2 races in one day should be a lot of fun. And Cebu needs to get used to this kay for sure dili lang jud ni mao ang first time nga mahitabo ni. Naa pay daghan. *sigh* Although i say i’d go for the IPI sponsored one because they’ve been making really gorgeous floats every sinulog parade so i think it’s kinda my way of giving back to them the pride that they made me feel as a cebuano. Well we all have reasons which event to choose and again, there should be no complications. Just continue to do what we do best guys: running! Peace! ^^

  • ricmangubat

    to all die hard runners let us unite and join the sponsored IPI 25 K run. let us consider this as our sunday long run, once in a blue moon ra jud ni. but joking aside if you ask me what is my take on this: we should blame the media, kadtong mga sports columnist and i dont have to mention which local daily are responsible for all the fuss about this controversy. also give the old man( joe deresas) a chance to redeemed his past sins( joke).
    mga cebuano tang tanan dili ta mag away tungod lang sa fun run..PAGKA TOYTOY!!!

  • admin

    “Ricmangubat”,

    I think the issues raised against the Pilipinas International “Marathon” are very valid. I do not know if you’ve had dealings with Joe Deresas personally, but I did. And that’s saying much :-)

    Anyway, it is obvious that you are referring to Sun.Star Cebu, the paper I work for. It is being discussed in the paper because it is a valid issue. And it’s not just Sun.Star, it was also mentioned in one other paper and was the subject of a column there.

    The only reason one other paper is not discussing the issue is NOT BECAUSE they don’t think it is worthy to be discussed but because a key person in the controversy is BANNED there for as long as I could remember. Suffice it to say that I know the reason.

  • Charles Cullen

    “ricmangubat”

    Give the old man ( Joe Deresas) a chance to redeem himself??? Why??? I don’t know the man and personally I could care less to know him. It’s a fact that his previous runs were poorly organized and the lack of hydration raises the red flag for me.

    I know for sure that we Cebuanos do not want another death happening. It happened during the Milo marathon in Manila if you didn’t know or recall it. Hydration is VERY important during a run and if there is a lack thereof then shame on the organizer. There is nobody else to blame, period!

    Now, Give Joe a chance, with my life at stake? I think not… I’m just one voice here but I think many will think the same way if they know of the past failures of his previous “organized” runs.

    Take a look at the other side now… The 5th University Run, the organizer has always held very good races.. Never heard of any complaints and I have nothing to complain regarding their runs either. Cold water for hydration, gatorade available as well and not at the finish line but at the water station itself! No traffic to bother the runners, many race marshals, ambulances on standby for runners. In my humble opinion you can’t get any safer than that.

    If you are just in it for the “long run” there is the Aboitiz run that has a half marathon and also the Milo marathon in September. Those 2 runs are scheduled pretty close to each other and in my book are more important to me.

    At the end of the day each person has their own opinion. I just hope that everybody joining the “25k marathon” knows what to expect.

  • ktblanco

    I think it is unfair that the blame is placed upon the race organizer such as IPI. They might have not known really there was another run that day. It was very well-said in John’s column today about the case of the 2 runs that there is really no rule that no 2 runs can co-exist. And if IPI says they can no longer move their schedule due to some marketing activities, then at least respect it. no one is forced to join their run anyway, it is an open invitation. I also understand the “financial” aspect of moving a race too late because it indeed is true. Let this be their prerogative. IPI is also a very committed supporter or races. They have sponsored a lot of them sans making their own till today. Let us not discourage them with this very partial view by bluntly saying that their race is not worth attending. Let’s be fair.

    If it is no big deal for both organizers to do it on the same day, so why BOTHER?

    P.S. I agree about Joe Deresas’ dark past. We were victims too. But I’m speaking in all fairness to the organizer who’s got nothing to do with it.

  • BENCH

    WILL NOT RUN IN ANY EVENT…… RUNNING IS LIKE BADMINTON FAD 4 YEARS AGO… ELITE RUNNERS WILL RUN TO WIN MONEY MONEY MONEY.

  • [email protected]

    why should we choose running at cdu’s unpaved roads?
    why should we choose to run with IPI with the posibility of dehydration?
    if i were to select, i can buy gallons of water, i cant risk my feet and my running shoes.

  • JBUngab

    Got hold of the PIM Official Race Course just today. And the way I see it, the advice of Br. Carlo Bacalla to the runners to bring with them thier own water during the race is worth considering as there are only 4 water stations along the route for the 25K division situated in km5, km12.5, km17.5 and km22.5.