Green and White Sunday

It's been two months since I started preparing for this and it finally arrived -- One Run, One Family, One La Salle -- the fun run organized by La Salle Cares and the De La Salle Alumni Association.

Mama Ting's Runners were spread out over two events -- the 5K and the 16K races. Too bad Mama Ting was sidelined by injury and was told by her doctor not to run. Well, she became our official photographer instead and she came prepared -- instead of running, she brought her bike!!! Good time to test out her new bike carrier!! (Shucks!!! we forgot to take a picture of her bike and bike carrier!!!).

I woke up at 4:30am and got to the Fort by around 5:30ish and the place was already packed. There were long queues getting into the different parking lots. A friend of mine commented that we need to add parking management to the list of things to do when you organize a La Salle event!! ha! ha! But, this was brought about the sheer number of participants to the event -- 5,800 plus -- as the official barker kept repeating throughout the event. Maybe not as big as those in U.S events but definitely one of the biggest in town so far.

So, I got my car parked, took off my jacket and put on my hat and started towards the race venue -- and the place was packed -- all around it was Green and White!!! All the Lasallian campuses near Manila sent huge delegations that were bussed in early this morning. I understand that all the varsity athletes were required to join the 16K run!!!

Good thing I quickly caught sight of familiar faces -- Mike Navarette (who will leave for Halifax permanently by the end of July), Dave de Leon and Jorge Buenaventura were already there at the starting line. Soon I saw Mama Ting and we had our first pictures taken with my camera (didn't forget it this time).

The early birds among us -- Mike Navarette, Dave de Leon, Mama Ting Pascual and Jorge Buenaventura -- flashing the 16 sign -- to signify his running 16K but also telling us that his close friends (i.e. Mike and Dave), decided to drop him and renege on their commitment to run 16K also.

That's me 2nd from left with the yellow hat

From right -- Ed Francisco, Rico Ibana and his son who is with the DLS Zobel Soccer team -- all running 16K

That's Peter Coyiuto joining the gang before the start of the race

Dante with our ultramarathoner Oca and his dog Scottie

Like the doting mother that she is, Mama Ting went to look for all her "alagas" (wards in English) to make sure they're all accounted for and pictures taken. Mama Ting has been bitten by the blogging bug big time as well -- except she still wants me to run this blog.

Pretty soon, the 16K race was off (5 minutes early according to my watch but what's plus or minus 5 minutes anyway in the Philippines?)! Looked like a good start although there were several runners who came in late and ran off to chase the pack. Next came the 5K runners. We were a lot!!! Since Mike, Dave and me were already beside the starting line, we quietly slipped into start of the pack --- and, we're off and running. At this point, the skies opened up and rain started pouring down. We got wet but it help cool us down.

There's Ed starting his 16K run partially obscured by that Big Guy in White!!

Me with Tony Atayde, Jr. of Nike Philippines and Henry Atayde, his uncle and another officer of the De La Salle Alumni Association

Mike, Dave and me, sneaking into the 5K starting line up front

I'm off but I had to reset my watch!! I had to scramble to start timing my run!

The route was new to me -- it skirted around the streets of Bonifacio High Street where all the shops were. Good thing Krispy Kreme was still closed --- he! he! Focus, Johnny, my boy, focus!!!

As we rounded the 32nd Street corner going towards St. Luke's Hospital, I started hearing sounds of heavy breathing and panting -- I knew many of the participants were first time racers and the breathing patterns showed all the stress!! I'm grateful for the two months preparation that I had undertaken -- while still breathing hard, I was not in the same bad shape as many of the runners were.

At the corner of 5th Avenue, the first signs of problems started to show. There were no marshalls and the signs were not prominently shown. I saw 16K runners turning into 5th Avenue, which they shouldn't and I saw some other 16K runners make a U-turn to also run after the other 16K runners. I wonder where the Marshalls were.

We then ventured up Rizal Avenue and turned into 26th Street. At the junction of 5th Avenue and 26th St., again no marshalls. I thought I remembered that 5K runners were supposed to go up 5th Avenue towards McKinley -- but, all the runners were running forward instead of turning right -- and the security guard manning the intersection was no help at all!!

That's me, like the Flash, running by in a blurr!! Wish I was really running that fast!

Oca with his dog Scottie, traversing the 3K race route.

Rico's son easily taking care of business on the 16K race. What do you expect, he's a soccer player and young!

Rico, our triathlete in training, waving to Mama Ting -- easy run so far.

Peter Coyiuto, with a winning gesture, although it's not even half-way yet!

There goes Ed, with a big smile to boot!!

I thought there was a rerouting -- so, I joined the crowd. To my surprise, everyone turned the corner towards the finish line!!! I ended my run a little over 20 minutes -- fastest 5K I ever ran but I knew something was wrong -- we ended up running only 3K!! To top it all, there was a long queue at the finish line -- shades of the Mizuno Rush to Infinity Run. Another screw-up.

Well, I got my bib tag taken cared off and went searching for the run organizers and I told them about the problems. It was only then that I was told we had a bigger problem -- it seems that our race event organizer was nowhere in sight!! I can only speculate as to why, but definitely, we were left high and dry by a noshow events organizer!!

Somehow, the rain helped dampened some of the angst that was beginning to brew among the frustrated runners. I guess since many were first time runners, they didn't notice anything wrong at all -- many of the more experienced runners were the ones more vocal about it. Sigh!!! I'm sad that such a potentially great event would be marred by the irresponsibility of the race event organizer on race day itself!!

I pity our hardworking organizing committee who have been preparing for this event for the last 3 months -- only to see the end game tarnished. It was only the Animo spirit of the Lasallians collectively that save the day -- yes there were mistakes, miscues and even missing marshalls and organizers. In the end, it was for fun and for a good cause -- we still ended up being One La Salle and we thank everyone who participated -- including those who were not from La Salle and those who came from the other school down Katipunan -- he! he! Hello all you Blue Eagles!! On behalf of the Lasallian community and the De La Salle Alumni Association, we apologize for the unfortunate poor race management and vow to come back stronger in the next run. We eat humbly pie now and hope you'll work with us again for a better race in the future.

Dante finished ahead of me in the 5K but also made a wrong turn, actually finishing only 3K.

A contented and tired Rico, finishing the 16K in good time

Peter Coyiuto with a strong finishing kick!

Ed and Rico are weary but contented 16K finishers.

The biking Mama Ting who became mobile this race to take all these photos.

Anyway, while the festivities, awarding and picture taking were ongoing, Mama Ting's runners decided to head off to Pancake House for breakfast. Unfortunately, Pancake House was jampacked. We went, instead, back to Dayrits next door.

Well, after a race, we always reward ourselves with breakfast fit for a king --- a fat king!! Breakfast talk was all about the unfortunately screw up -- I felt like cringing. Good thing there was the apple pie ala mode -- that brought a smile to everyone.

Yes, breakfast!! After a good run -- it's corned beef with egg!!! Yummy!

Mama Ting is fresh and smiling -- anticipating her Tapsilog!!!

Here's a group picture before the best part of breakfast!

Dessert --- Apple Pie ala Mode!!!

As Rico said, somehow, despite the growing popularity of running in the Philippines, he still has to attend one that went smoothly from start to finish. Oh well, we'll get there somehow, someday!!