TnF postponed

Ang “Tour ni Frank”, aka, TnF, has been postponed.

Frank Gatdula, a very amiable person I got to know some two decades past, has posted on the TnF FB page about the rescheduling of his event to give way to two events- a duathlon and a MTB event, that is happening on the same March, 2018, weekend.

As far as I know, the organizers of the other event never reached out to Frank to postpone the TnF, it’s just that some middlemen and cyclists asked Frank to consider rescheduling the TNF to allow them to join all three events.

I have written about the TnF extensively, about its humble beginnings, and how it was able to sustain itself in spite cycling being one of the  most difficult sporting events, financially and logistically, to organize.

The TnF should have its 16th edition this coming March, meaning its roots has already taken hold. It’s the longest running multi-stage cycling event, older than the Tour of Matabungkay in Batangas, but the latter, more famous than the TnF, has taken its hiatus. The TnF, as far as I can recall, never took any year off.

So why would an event, which I’d consider an “institution” in local cycling, give way to prima donna’s who can’t choose which event to go to? Why can’t these folks call the organizers of the other events to call if off instead of the TnF? Besides, cycling, mountain biking and duathlons, although they have cycling in common among them, are different disciplines. Again, I’m not blaming in any way the organizers of the other events.

Of course, in an ideal world, I’d prefer events that has at least a week or two between them. But events are scheduled for a reason. You can’t have a Sinulog held on the 4th Sunday of January because some other new-kid-in-town festival is penned on the same date. That’s why no marquee name joins the Maasin City Triathlon in August  because its raced on the same day  as that of the Cebu 70.3 Ironman.

And I think the number one reason why the TnF was postponed was that Frank is too nice to offend anyone. Number two, without a lot of bicycle races to go around, I know he wanted everybody to participate and have fun in both events. I know he had mixed feelings about his decision and deep in his heart, I knew he didn’t want it postponed. I know because he asked my opinion about it and I told him that if it was me, I’d go ahead with it.

Lots of athletes were already preparing for the TnF, I saw how hard folks from Ormoc training for the event on FB. I also did my training for it though I think I’m not making really good progress. It’s a shame that this has to happen but it is what it is.

Finally, a shoutout to my “Tia Naning”, Paterna Caido Araneta! She had a health scare last week but fortunately, she’s on the mend. Tia is now 89yo but although she’s not physically the same anymore, her wits are still as sharp as ever. She and my Dad, who is 85yo, are the only surviving members of their generation in our family.