Monday, Sept. 12, 2016
The University of San Jose-Recoletos, through its Alumni Association Inc., successfully organized its 3rd Recoletos Run early dawn yesterday.
Hundreds of Josenians and running enthusiasts converged in front of Fort San Pedro in Plaza Independencia, where the start and finish line is located, to take part in the 3K, 6K and 12K categories of the fun run.
“The novel thing for this year’s fun run is that it is all organized by the alumni,” USJ-R President Rev. Fr. Cristopher Maspara, OAR said. “They did not employ an event organizer and for a first-timer in fun run organizing, it was really good.”
The race, which started at 5 in the morning after a 30-minute warm up exercises through Zumba dancing, was meant not only to promote physical fitness among the Josenian Community but also to raise funds for the scholars of the alumni association.
“The USJ-R Alumni Association Inc. sends students to college, and through initiatives like this we meant to add more scholars into the program,” said Mr. Brian Maningo, chief of the university’s Safety and Security Department and vice president for the internal affairs of the alumni association.
Passing through Malacañang sa Sugbo, runners headed toward the South Road Properties using the seaside carriage way. Runners in the 3K category turned around at Pasil Bridge across the Pasil fish port while 6K runners turned around at the SM Seaside.
Runners in 16K category reached as far as the Parilya Restaurant at IL Corso, City Di Mare before turning back to the finish line.
Twelve-year-old Clarisse Claire Encarnacion, a grade 7 student of Pajo National High School in Lapu-Lapu City, came in first in the 3K open female category.
Her friend Stephanie Conde came in second. Conde was also recognized for being the youngest participant at 10 years old. She is a grade 5 pupil of Pusok Elementary School, also in Lapu-Lapu.
Both runners preached constant practice as the reason behind their success. Encarnacion, who jogs every day at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu, said fatigue is all in the mind.
“Keep running even if you’re tired,” Encarnacion said.
Conde, winner of four previous running competitions, gave a valuable insight on the importance of pacing in running.
“During the run, I pace myself. I make it a point not to be too far behind from the leading runner so that during the championship lap, I usually surprise them with my finishing speed,” she said.
The fourth Recoletos Run also attracted foreign runners. Douglas Mwiti, a 34-year-old runner from Kenya, came in second place in the 6K male open category.
He said that he enjoyed the fourth Recoletos Run because he was given an opportunity to meet new friends. He said it also united people and encouraged them to live a healthy lifestyle.
He also praised the Filipino determination as exemplified by Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal, the first Filipino marathon runner to qualify and compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The fun run was made safe and secure by the Adelante Life Emergency Rescue Team, Josenian provider of pre-medical first aid services, who flaunt their new ambulances courtesy of the alumni association.
Text and photos by IPA
