Coast to coast 65k

Labor Day is just a few winks away and to commemorate this day, over 100 ultrarunners "labored" last Sunday when they participated in the grueling 3rd Labor Day Coast to Coast Ultramarathon which started at the Cebu Provincial Capitol while ending at the Barba Gym in Toledo City. With Ultraruns mushrooming around the country, the C2C Ultra had a counterpart in Bohol on the same day. I don't know why some people stick their events on the same day on already established runs when there are so many days in a month. Barely two weeks ago, there was the TNF 100k in Baguio City while last week, there was a Puerto Princessa Palawan 50K Ultra. During the "running boom" in Cebu where we had 3 races on a Sunday, I was already afraid that the runners will either get injured or burned out. True enough, running is on the downtrend. Gone are the big races and what's left are the "pipitsugins". Well, going back on last Sunday's race, the event was a big success despite problems brought about by the nearing election. Mayor Rudy Espinosa still gave his big support by allowing the use of the gym as our finish line, complete with giant electric fans and by providing ambulances and traffic police. Salamat gid Mayor! Short distance perennial top three placer Robert Daang sent strong notice that he will be a force to reckon with in longer races including ultras in the future when he ruled the event in 6 hours 31 minutes, 01 seconds in only in his first try. Silay City's Herman Quanico was a distant second in 6:57:20 while Jimmy Yu bucked blisters to wound up third in 7:31:25. In the women's division, CUC 100K champion Rhoda Oporto, emerged the top finisher after she clocked 8:36:55. Rising ultra runner Frejie Laude, took second in 9:11:42 while Joy Crimard salvaged third in 10:31:15. Daang and Oporto are members of A Runner's Circle (ARC) Running Club. In the relay competition, last year's C2C champion Noel Tillor took it easy as he teamed with another veteran , Mo Sherwin Manangil to win the title in 6:31:01, Tillor and Manangil are also stalwarts of ARC making it a sweep on the 3 divisions. Siblings Jonhrell and Saturnino Goles were second in 8:12:39 with Melanie Mares and June Ocana pocketing third in 8:27:40. We would also like to thank the Cebu Provincial Capitol under acting governor Agnes Magpale through provincial administrator Ed Habin for allowing us to use the Capitol grounds as our take off piont.

Elvis impersonator

For a while I got scared when the FBI announced that the suspect who sent President Barack Obama a poison letter, is an Elvis Impersonator. My "kumpare" Relly Mercado said I might be included as a suspect. Updated reports however say that the FBI has already arrested and detained James Dutschke, an ex-martial arts instructor and is now behind bars in a Mississippi jail. Speaking of Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll will be in a variety show to mark Mother's Day on May 18 at the Robinsons Fuente Activity Center. The show dubbed "Elvis and Company Seranade the Moms" also features Dos Gwapos, a stand up comedy tandem of Sam Costanilla and Max Andrino, Ate Ging Montesclaros, host of the TV show Two For The Road Plus One, Jun Villahermosa the Frank Sinatra of Cebu and Chokolet magician-comedian. The show is for free and starts at 5:00pm. See you there!

Notes: The Sugbo Island Ultramarathon will now be a 250km affair instead of 228. This, after BE Resorts GM Garry Garcia made an actual survey of the route. The relay will now consist of 3 runners. The race, the longest in the country, is set on June 14-16 and will start in Santander while finishing in Bogo City. Please watch out for details.