Fair Play: Chasing John Pages and Haide Acuna
I SURVIVED my second 5K run.
Unlike the first one, when it took me a couple of weeks to take a step without feeling any pain, I wasn’t hobbled after joining the 5K division of the Press Freedom Run.
Last Sept. 26, over 100 media workers took to the streets of the Cebu Business Park for the run, one of two running events that day at Ayala.
Most were first timers. All had fun.
Some walked most of the route, some made their own route.
A few started at the Press Freedom Run and somehow found their way to the finish line of the Eco-Dash Run of Ayala.
As expected, veteran runner and columnist John Pages topped the 5K division, while reporter Edri K. Aznar, who arrived late, got second. He later told colleagues that he was afraid of getting lost—since he didn’t catch the route briefing—that he just decided to follow somebody else, which turned out to be John.
Broadcaster Haide Acuña, topped the women’s division over Marlen Limpag, while Superbalita sports editor Jun Migallen, who once topped a running event straight off from a drinking session, and Irenelou Llego won the 3K division.
At first, I planned to catch up with Haide, hoping to be just behind her when the ABS-CBN camera crew passed by. But she was already on her way back from the first turn, while I was still crawling my way there.
I was hoping to catch her so I would be “in frame” the moment ABS-CBN took a video of her in her effortless stride. Then some executive from a thirst-quenching company would see the video, have an “aha” moment and tap me to be their “before guy” in their ad.
But I guess my moment will have to wait.
Running with fellow media workers was also a great exercise.
Because the event was exclusive, there was no chance that you’d be embarrassed by getting overtaken by a toddler or a guy on a cane—which happened to me in the Sinulog Run.
And since most of the participants were first-timers, it was understood that you’d mostly be walking in the Run.
Runners like John and Haide are the exception.
John has already joined a couple of marathons, while Haide, who started running seriously just this year, eats 10Ks for breakfast and 5Ks for dessert.
There were a couple of funny incidents, too, like the guy who started at the Press Freedom Run and finished at Eco-Dash, or those who sprinted off at the start, as if they were joining the 100-meter dash.
The sports staff of Cebu Daily News, this year’s lead convenor, led by editor Rick Gabuya, Calvin Cordova and Kelvin Cañizares, was also on hand to help ensure the event ran smoothly.
When we assembled at the starting line, Calvin and Rick were busy lining up the cups of water, when a few moments later, thirsty runners were devouring them.
“Nakurat ko, bag-o pa lang gani start naa na man dayun ni-inum,” Calvin later told me.
It turned out guys from the Eco-Dash run thought it was for them but the CDN staff didn’t stop them and let them have their fill.
A few of us met for breakfast and there were talks of joining and organizing more runs. Aside from the midnight run, there are also talks of a “Halloween Run,” at Cem Park, at night, complete with costumes.
Hmmm, I wonder if someone would dare break away from the pack in the Halloween Run.
Unlike the first one, when it took me a couple of weeks to take a step without feeling any pain, I wasn’t hobbled after joining the 5K division of the Press Freedom Run.
Last Sept. 26, over 100 media workers took to the streets of the Cebu Business Park for the run, one of two running events that day at Ayala.
Most were first timers. All had fun.
Some walked most of the route, some made their own route.
A few started at the Press Freedom Run and somehow found their way to the finish line of the Eco-Dash Run of Ayala.
As expected, veteran runner and columnist John Pages topped the 5K division, while reporter Edri K. Aznar, who arrived late, got second. He later told colleagues that he was afraid of getting lost—since he didn’t catch the route briefing—that he just decided to follow somebody else, which turned out to be John.
Broadcaster Haide Acuña, topped the women’s division over Marlen Limpag, while Superbalita sports editor Jun Migallen, who once topped a running event straight off from a drinking session, and Irenelou Llego won the 3K division.
At first, I planned to catch up with Haide, hoping to be just behind her when the ABS-CBN camera crew passed by. But she was already on her way back from the first turn, while I was still crawling my way there.
I was hoping to catch her so I would be “in frame” the moment ABS-CBN took a video of her in her effortless stride. Then some executive from a thirst-quenching company would see the video, have an “aha” moment and tap me to be their “before guy” in their ad.
But I guess my moment will have to wait.
Running with fellow media workers was also a great exercise.
Because the event was exclusive, there was no chance that you’d be embarrassed by getting overtaken by a toddler or a guy on a cane—which happened to me in the Sinulog Run.
And since most of the participants were first-timers, it was understood that you’d mostly be walking in the Run.
Runners like John and Haide are the exception.
John has already joined a couple of marathons, while Haide, who started running seriously just this year, eats 10Ks for breakfast and 5Ks for dessert.
There were a couple of funny incidents, too, like the guy who started at the Press Freedom Run and finished at Eco-Dash, or those who sprinted off at the start, as if they were joining the 100-meter dash.
The sports staff of Cebu Daily News, this year’s lead convenor, led by editor Rick Gabuya, Calvin Cordova and Kelvin Cañizares, was also on hand to help ensure the event ran smoothly.
When we assembled at the starting line, Calvin and Rick were busy lining up the cups of water, when a few moments later, thirsty runners were devouring them.
“Nakurat ko, bag-o pa lang gani start naa na man dayun ni-inum,” Calvin later told me.
It turned out guys from the Eco-Dash run thought it was for them but the CDN staff didn’t stop them and let them have their fill.
A few of us met for breakfast and there were talks of joining and organizing more runs. Aside from the midnight run, there are also talks of a “Halloween Run,” at Cem Park, at night, complete with costumes.
Hmmm, I wonder if someone would dare break away from the pack in the Halloween Run.
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