Cagayan de Oro city, Mindanao, Philippines
Sunday June 10 2007, 5.25 AM

This run was organized by:

• Republic of the Philippines Department of the Interior and Local Government,
• Philippine Public Safety College,
• police National Training Institute,
• REGIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL 10,
  9000 6th Division Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.

ORO SUNDOWNERS 2000, Inc.
Running & Athletic Club, Cagayan de Oro City

Meaning a run for P.E.A.C.E (but it was not clear to me what about that peace?)
(An open / Invitational Half Marathon / Fun Run and Walk Event)
21 km men / 15 km Women / Invitational half marathon and 10 km / 5 km / 3 km fun run an walk.

_In my submitting form was well announced that the run would start strictly at 5 AM!!
As follows:
"Race will start promptly at 5.00 AM to take advance of the anticipated cooler weather conditions of early morning and its benefits to your marathon time.
Please give way to faster runners especially prior to the start of the race.
This will allow participants to start running without stumbling over slower runners.
Allow at least 2 to 3 strides before cutting in front of the other runners", etc, etc.

_Supposedly we should start at 5.00, but no sign for that at all, we did at 5.20+!
At five, first a speech from some guy and then we had to do some stretching together and at least there had to be taken some pictures with the streamer from the event.
The traffic was already increasing and also the temperature would soon start to go higher again.
In my opinion, too much bad, because my plan was to run 21 km, but we lost almost half an hour.

Jean Paul Congob, Earl Piquero, Felix Lucariza, Ricardo Fabe, (unknown), Adriano Salering, Joey Pajo

_So, the officials felt again more important than the athletes.
Anyway, once started and on my way I would decide how far I should run.
But before 5 km point I knew already it should be too hot for me and I decided to run 15 km doing the track for the women.
_I was prepared with lots of petroleum jelly, and special prepared water with salt tablets, because of my extremely sweating, but still I had to take a wise decision, also there was no wind at all for extra cooling.

7 km to go along the highway
_I ended in the finish line for 15 km but my number showed a 21 km runner, hehehe.
Very confused officials but I had to say it several times, "I RUN ONLY 15 KM!!". My time on my own watch was  1.22.30.
Who else from the Oro-runners were running?
Only Paul Congob was doing 21 km, Patrick Congob was running for 10 km, Barcy Valerio 10 km (1), Joey Pajo 5 km, Adriano Salering 3 km, Bonachita Benigno 3 km, Jaecel Umas-As 10 km. but I'm not sure of that.
Next month again, a run organised by Adidas, a 3 and 5 km run omly, we'll see!
In August Mayors run and September the Milo run.

Redactie: c.s. rijskamp
Cagayan de Oro, June 12 2007

 

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