Philip Duenas – hot in cold Hongkong

Cebu’s John Philip Duenas claimed the third podium spot in the 21K competition at the Standard Chartered Hongkong Marathon last Sunday.

Duenas clocked 1:13:18 to finish third behind Japanese Koyama Yuta (1:08.38) and Kenyan Thomas Kiprotich (1:11.49).

In a message to Cebu Daily News, relayed through his runner-girlfriend Mary Joy Tabal, Duenas expressed both disbelief and elation over his feat. “I never expected this but I am very thankful to God. I am so happy for my achievement and I really enjoyed this race a lot because this is my first time and it’s freezing here,” said Duenas.

Incidentally, Duenas and Tabal are recipients of special citations for exemplary performance in the sport of running at the 31st SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards in March this year.

PH 7th in 14th Asian Marathon Championship

The Philippines, represented by Cebu’s Mary Grace Delos Santos, finished 7th at the 14th Asian Marathon Championships held simultaneously last Sunday with the Standard Chartered Hongkong Marathon.

Delos Santos clocked 2:56:39 and landed 7th in a field of 14 elite women marathoners from all over Asia, including countries from the former Soviet Republic. Delos Santos, who was crowned Milo Marathon queen two years in a row last year will be awarded for her achievements in the sport of running at the 31st SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards next month.

Meanwhile, the winners of the 14th Asian Marathon Championship include Kim Kum Ok in 2:32:21, Kumi Ogura followed in 2:35:02 and Andreeva Luliia of Kirghizistan finished in 2:39:49 to make the top three podium finishers of the women’s category. The men’s marathon was led by Bat Ochir Ser Od of Mongolia (2:17:56), Anoley Petrov of Uzbekistan (2:20:24), Kenzo Kawabata of Japan (2:22:22).

Ungo runners mark 3rd year

It only seemed like yesterday when in 2010, a group of nocturnal, mostly newbie runners started to meet every Friday night to run from P. Del Rosario St. to the Cebu I.T. Park. The runners, led by Sun Star Cebu’s Max Limpag, called themselves ungo, first, because they loved to run the city streets of Cebu at night, and second, because they’ve become “ungo sa dagan” or rabid fans of the sport of running.

Fast forward to 2013, Ungo has grown by the hundreds and its members have gone on to become accomplished ultramarathoners and even triathletes. From newbie runners, its core group of leaders mostly from the Cebu Ultrarunners Club sub-group, had moved on to the more daunting task of organizing races themselves such as the the CUC 100K Trilogy and the first and only one of its kind – All Women Ultramarathon 50K (AWUM), which will be on its second year next month.

But more than all that, the name “Ungo Runners” have become synonymous with support crew, free hydration and nutrition for runners (whether members of the group or not) during 42Ks and ultramarathon races. The group, as a collective, has made Cebu’s running community a shining example of camaraderie and selfless giving on the road. Just ask any of the runners from out of town who had taken part in marathons and ultramarathon races in Cebu.

I’m lucky to be a part of this happy bunch of road warriors. Happy 3rd year Ungo!

2013 BDM 102

Good luck to the Cebu contingent to the 2013 Bataan Death March 102 Ultramarathon Race on March 2-3. This year, Garry Garcia, Juliet Amazona, Lyra Valles, Janet Kikai Legaspi and Ryan Lauren will run 102 kilometers in 18 hours or less from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando Pampanga tracing the route of the infamous Bataan Death March.

BDM is the country’s pioneer and still remains as the most prestigious road ultramarathon in the country. Its 100-miler (160 KM) category held in January this year took runners from Mariveles, Bataan all the way to Capas, Tarlac.