Run in review: Milestones and mileage in 2009

What do business tycoons Lance Gokongwei, the Zobel De Ayala brothers and socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdes have in common? Aside from belonging to popular and well-to-do families, they are common sights in the local running scene, which are held on a weekly basis, at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and recently, at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Provincial races are also common events nowadays, especially with the nationwide Milo Marathon. Even the Sierra Madre terrain and Corregidor Island are not spared from the runners’ onslaught. Medium-distance races, marathons, trail runs and even ultra marathon competitions for the elite runners—name it, and running enthusiasts organized it. But before 2009 makes its final curtain call, serious runners are in for another treat on Dec. 30 for the Rizal Day Run at Camp Aguinaldo, to commemorate the 113th death anniversary of National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The Rizal Day Run will have participants circling the military base five times or a total of 32 kilometers. Without a doubt, the year that is about to end has seen running events gallop their way to national consciousness with local and foreign competitive runners taking part in five full marathons while weekend warriors invade various terrains.

And even as the country was preparing for the Holidays, Filipino long-distance runners brought home both the men’s and women’s marathon tiaras in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos, courtesy of Eduardo Buenavista and Jho-An Banayag. Filipino athletes experienced moments of brilliance and paces of agony in 2009. Christabel Martes, who was hospitalized a number of times to correct a damaged thigh muscle, is one example of the Pinoy runners’ brilliance Martes was plagued by a left thigh injury that doubted her capability of winning another marathon but proved she can still race when the 29-year-old single mother from Baguio City bested 19,713 participants to rule the women’s side of the 33rd Milo Marathon’s Metro Manila leg at the Quirino Grandstand last July 5. The 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games gold medalist registered a time of two hours, 48 minutes and 58 seconds. She could have topped the Thailand edition but was forced to abandon the 42K event because of the same injury. Martes relegated two-time Milo national winner Banayag (2:52:32) to second place while Ailene Tolentino (3:16:46) placed third. That victory gave Martes a chance to compete in—and rule—the Milo national finals. She won in 3:01:20 defying a Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) ban on athletes competing in the SEA Games. The PATAFA wants its athletes well-rested before the SEA Games at least three months before the biennial event. Banayag and Buenavista heeded the order. Martes was dropped from the RP team roster but was reinstated after several appeals. Like Martes, Milo marathon men's winner Cresenciano Sabal refused to follow PATAFA rules and has opted out of the National team. Without Buenavista and completely outclassing siblings Gerald and Elmer, Sabal ran away with the P75,000 grand prize. Eric Panique placed second in 2:32:56. But Filipino runners were still no match from the visiting Kenyans in the inaugural Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) on Oct. 18, 2nd Subic International Marathon on Oct. 24 and the Philippine International Marathon-Run for Pasig River on Nov. 8. Hillary Kimutai Kipchumba won the men’s division of the QCIM while compatriot Doreen Kitaka ruled the women’s class. The Kenyans swept the top three spots in the race organized by the Quezon City government to commemorate its 70th founding anniversary. Sabal, probably tired after winning the Milo marathon, could only finish fifth while Tolentino placed fourth. The Filipinos continued to lag behind their foreign rivals, who aren't even world champions, in the Subic race and Pasig River contest with Kenyan Vincent Chepsiror topping both races in the men’s division. In the Pasig run, the best Filipino finishers were Panique and Sabal who were seventh and eighth, respectively. Without a Kenyan competitor, Cebuana Miscelle Gilbuena bagged the Pasig River run. Buenavista and Banayag made up for Filipino runners’ failure in international races when they topped the Laos SEA Games. Buenavista was almost unchallenged in the event when he crossed the finish line in 2:21:10.14. The 31-year-old veteran enjoyed a 200-meter lead between him and closest pursuer Indonesia’s Yahusa, the 2007 Thailand meet titlist. Banayag took up the challenge of Thai Sunisa Sailomyen, whom she overtook in the final stretch. Martes was saddled by cramps and could only finish sixth. The Filipinos’ mixed finishes in the marathon tournaments here and abroad showed that Filipinos are still far from being world-class long distance runners. For one, many races are poorly-organized, with runners' complaints ranging from chaotic distribution of race packets (race bib and singlet) to lack of water stations to poor handling of final results. Hopefully, the renewed running explosion in the country will help discover new talents and challenge sponsors and organizers to come out with a schedule that will best serve the Filipino runners. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV