Run in Peril (rip) SPORTS EYE

The running community was shocked the other week when news  screaming the death of a runner in the 7-Eleven 2023 Marathon, hit the headlines.  Police officer Lee Radrocks Carbonilla, collapsed at the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) and didn’t reach the hospital alive.  Cause of death, “accute decompensated heart failure”, he was 31 . His unit, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), said he was physically fit and has been joining races for five years now.  Well, this is not news, there have been numerous runners who died while running.  In fact, the first casualty in the Olympics was in 1912 when marathoner Francisco Lazaro of Portugal, died after suffering heat stroke.  However, we might include the legendary Phedipippes,  the Greek messenger who ran from the Field of Marathon to Athens (about 40 kilometers), to announce that the Greeks repulsed the strong Persian army, then died, probably of dehydration.   All major marathons in the world have their share of casualties, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Spain to mention a few.  The Philippines is no exemption, there were deaths in the Milo Marathon, Condura Skyway, CamSur Triathlon and the 70.3 Ironman in Cebu.  (I will write more of marathon deaths in my next column). I’ve been running for almost 40 years and I’ve organized  and directed some 600 running events from the 3K fun run to the grueling ultramarathon and several triathlons and duathlons.  Thanks God i never experienced a runner dying in my races, although there have been hospitalizations, mostly dehydration and they always recover.  Before a race, I always brief the runners that if one feels bad, stop, there’s races every week.  He who runs and stops when feeling ill, will get to run another race.  Some quarters blame the organizers or the race director but one must be prepared and that he has trained to tackle the distance, in fact, there’s a a waiver in  entry  forms that frees the organizers of any responsibility in any on-toward event.

First ultramarathon

I remember when Jonel Mendoza  and I  introduced the ultramarathon (50K or above) in Cebu, we have to screen and reject several runners who we believe are uncapable of finishing the race.  In the South to North (250km) Ultramarathon from Santander to Daanbantayan, we only accepted those who have completed 100 kilometers.  I’ll write on the causes of death in a marathon and what to do to prevent it in my next column.

Ilongga finishes completes the world marathon challenge

Nancy  Uychiat from Negros Occidental became the first Filipina and fastest Filipino to finish the Word Marathon Challenge, a race where a participant run a marathon on each of the seven continents in just seven days.  Uychiat, who is based in America will run for the benefit of Kalipay Negrense Foundation Inc., a non-profit foundation working for homeless, abandoned, neglected, malnourished and abused youth of Negros Occidental. 

Here’s Julie’s Record

Day 1-Antartica-4:43 (4th place),

Day 2-Africa-4:02 (3rd place),

Day 3-Australia-3:46 (2nd place),

Day 4-Asia-3:37 (1st place)

Day 5-Europe-3:32 (1st place),

Day 6-South America-3:51 (1st place) and

Day 7-North America-3:40 (1st place).

Congrats Julie you made us proud, Aton Ini!

Our very own Cebuano Dr. Yong Larrazabal also completed the World Marathon Challenge a few years back.

Happy Valentine’s to all!