Running comeback 2.0
They say the best thing about the new year is it offers everyone a fresh start to get things right.
For me, it gives me a chance for a do-over after having miserably failed in my 2013 resolve to get back into running and train for 2014 Cebu Marathon. But that doesn’t mean I will be missing Cebu’s biggest running event of the year as I signed up for the next best thing — the half marathon – during this Sunday’s CCM.
You see, the crucial first steps to starting over are: 1) Acknowledge your failure and ask yourself why you failed; 2) Quickly get over it; and 3) Move on to the next goal or target. Having already done the first two, I am now seriously training in earnest for the 3rd All-Women Ultramarathon 50K on March 8, which also happens to be the International Women’s Day.
AWUM is one of its kind as it is the only ultramarathon in the world exclusively for women. In this race, women runners avoid the sun by starting the race at 10 p.m. and run a 50K course traversing the streets of Cebu, crossing the three bridges of Mandaue City and ending in one of the famed beach resorts of Mactan.
AWUM is organized by the Think Tank group from Cebu Ultrarunners Club and is widely supported by almost all running clubs in Cebu who provide volunteer marshalls, entertainment, support and free hydration and nutrition stations every two kilometers.
With a cut-off time of 10 hours, AWUM is one of the most beginner friendly ultramarathons I know. This year, I want to challenge myself by turning it into a race against the sunrise. This means I have to cross AWUM’s beachfront finish line before the sun rises at 6:08 in the morning of March 9 (see www.timeanddate.com). That’s a target finish time of 8 hours and 8 minutes – doable even for a now delinquent runner looking for a comeback race.
There are only 250 slots for this year’s edition. Registration starts tomorrow, January 8 and ends on January 15 or until all the slots are filled, whichever comes first. Registration sites include Runnr in Ayala and Clinica Melgar at Doña Luisa Bldg., Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City. The registration fee is pegged at P1,500.
Out of the 250 slots, 70 have been reserved for women runners from outside Cebu. Out of town runners may send their registration fee via Western Union, M. Lhuiller, or Palawan Express and address it to Dr. Wilfredo B. Estepa, Talamban, Cebu City. Don’t forget to send the reference number to 09163621010. Organizers will confirm receipt of your payment registration via SMS.
Race Calendar for the 1st Quarter of 2014
January 12 – Cebu City Marathon
January 25 – RUN UP High (21K – P600, 12K – P400, 6K, P350)
January 26 – Altra King of the Trail Challenge (50K – P1500, 20K – P1,250)
January 31- H1 100-Mile Ultramarathon (160K – P3,500)
February 2 –Silver Run, Ayala Terraces (25K – P500, 10K – P400, 5K- P300)
February 9 –Takbo Para sa Isang Libro, Compostela, Cebu (21K- P650, 10K– P500, 6K- P400, 3K-P300)
February 9 – 2nd Don Bosco Semi Trail Run (16K – P350, 6K- P300)
February 16 – SM2SM Run (21K/12K/6K)
February 16 – Cebu Grand Prix Triathlon, Pinamungajan, Cebu (P2,500)
February 22 – Rose Pharmacy Run (10K-P350, 5K-P300, 3K-P250)
February 22 – 1st Iloilo Ultramarathon (50K- P1500)
March 2 – 1st SRP Midnight Marathon (42K-P1,200, 21K-P700, 5K-P350)
March 08 – 3rd All-Women Ultramarathon (50K – P1,500)
March 15 – Xterra Triathlon / Trail Run
March 23 – 3rd Kawasan Falls Marathon (42K- P1,100, 21K-P900, 12K -P700).
