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A runner clad in Igorot traditional wear

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Upon arriving in Cebu, I immediately went to CDU to shoot the 5th University Run where many of my ungo and TTB runner friends participated, reaching the venue at the nick of time, a few minutes before the race started.

Frankly, the race is quite chaotic and it was frustrating for runners as, coinciding with the intramurals of CDU, students who participated were just walking in rows that racers were zigzagging and evading people at the front. Some parts of the road have potholes that one runner friend got injured. Because of the confusing route, there were some who decided not to finish the race as they got lost.

Anyway, it was an opportunity to meet the runners that I’ve befriended online through dailymile.com. Until the next run.

Bro. Carlo Bacalla, SDB, spoke about ultrarunning and his experiences at last Friday night's run. CLICK TO ENLARGE.

I made it a point to join the usual Friday night run with the ungo runners as I was in Cebu last week. As always, its fun and a good opportunity to touch base with Cebu based run enthusiasts.

The number wasn’t as much as I expected (some scheduled an LSD the following morning) and there were several new faces and familiar ones that I have seen only on dailymile.com and Facebook.

Guest speaker was Bro. Carlo Bacalla, SDB, who spoke about his experiences, joining ultramarathons, the preparations and the mindset, this, peppered with witty quotes that made his presentation engaging and interesting.

Below are the few images during the run. These will also be uploaded to Fit and Run facebook page later.

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Runners preparing for the morning run.

Route map. CLICK FOR LARGER MAP

Running through the twin bridges of Mandaue and Mactan was an experience! The views and seascapes were just so amazing that I can’t help but remember my Macau run. Unfortunately, because of the rains and drizzle before we started, I decided to just leave my camera.

It’s my first time to join this early morning run with the ungo runners, a welcome change from the usual Friday nights  that the informal group have. Initially, the planned route is 13KM distance that might have taken us to the three bridges, including the newly opened Cansaga Bay Bridge going to Liloan. However, since we started late, around 30 minutes because of the rains, we cut it short and just decided to do a 7KM loop (see map). There were just about 10 of us as many joined the Fitness First race.

How was it? At first, I was daunted with the ascent and descent of the two bridges but in reality , the gradual inclination is good and not as taxing as I thought it would be. However, after a few meters from the descent, my lower shins were hurting that I have to walk for a few minutes so that it will subside. When I also ran along the cement sidewalk, it wasn’t also good since my shins were also in pain due to the harder surface.

I didn’t join the rest when they headed to the market as I was still planning to shoot the Fitness First race and just did the loop above.

I was able to join the 11th Ungo run last Friday!

It’s good to be back in Cebu again and that only mean one thing: Friday night runs with the ungo runners! I’ve really been addicted now with running and its much more fun if you have a bunch pounding the pavement from the Sun-Star office near USC to either Asiatown IT Park or Banilsad Town Center, a distance of between 5 – 9 kilometers.

Another treat is that before the runs, there is usually an invited speaker who will talk about running or their experiences or give tips and advice. Last Friday, runner/blogger/triathlete Reel Bontol and Kenneth Casquejo of Runcheck gave a talk on road safety while running.

One thing that I’ve really observed each time I join is that the group is now growing. Several new faces and in the FB page of Ceburunning.com there are several who post asking if they can run with the group even if they are newbies and this says much about the burgeoning running community in Cebu, a good development.

For last Friday, we just followed the traditional route which starts at the Sun Star office, turn left at R. Landon, turn right at Jones, on to Fuente Osmena, the Capitol, veer right to Escario St. then left at Gorordo Ave., JY Square, Salinas Drive and ended at Asiatown IT Park. This was also the route we took during my first ungo run.

The photo gallery of this night run has been uploaded.

11th Ungo night run gallery now up!

Gallery here

Check out the latest ungo Friday night run images taken last 21 May with the runner/blogger Dr. Reel Bontol and Kenneth Casquejo giving the talk to the participants. Route was from Sun-Star office to Asiatown IT Park via Jones – Escario – Gorordo – Salinas Drive.

Photos now uploaded at Fit and Run Facebook page.