It was one wacky and fun atmosphere at last Sunday’s Philippine International Marathon (Run For The Pasig River) where thousands of runners, joggers and walkers invaded Roxas Boulevard, getting together for one noble cause–the clean-up of the Pasig River to bring it back to life.

I had registered for the 10k about 2 weeks ago at a Van Heusen Store in Gateway Mall, Cubao but was told to pick up my race kit one day before the race (Saturday evening) at the ABS-CBN Foundation offices in Quezon City. Earlier that Saturday morning, i was asked by Runnex Chair Art Disini to get from the office of Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte about 50 complimentary PIM race packets and to give it to those who might be interested to run in any of the race categories (3k,5k,10k or 42k). Having already registered myself beforehand, i called up friends who may be interested in joining.

To my dismay (and that of the others) who were with me waiting at Q.C. Hall for the race packets to arrive, we discovered that the packets had no race numbers on it and instead, a generic bib with just the words, “Kapit Bisig Para Sa Pasig” written on it. Although the packets contained the free singlets, the runners were therefore not going to be officially registered for this race and therefore will run as “fun runners!” Embarrassed, i apologized to those who were expecting to be registered, specially those running the 42k marathon.

The race was reminiscent of previous Milo elimination races held every year in Manila wherein students from the different schools in Metro Manila and elsewhere were asked to participate as fun runners thereby flooding the race to about 12,000 to 15,000 participants. It’s the ballyhooed “Biscocho Magic” of race director Rudy Biscocho in getting hordes of participants to join his events.

The 42k run started at exactly 4:30am, just as when we were about to reach Rizal Park. Saw running friends like James, Doc T, Mar, Gab, Roselle and a host of others.

The 10k run started at 6:00am with former President Fidel V. Ramos firing the starting gun. I thought it was the largest 10k run i had participated in as running buddy June Santiago and myself started to push with the crowd at a moderate pace of 7:00mins/km. The crowd started to thin out only when we ran up the Buendia Flyover at the 4 km mark. We reach the turn-around halfway mark at about 32 mins.

While the first half of our run was continuously flowing, our way back was chaotic as we tried to sidestep on the 5k and 3k runners, weaving and zigzagging our way out to avoid bumping into these students who were walking and mostly in groups! Before reaching the U.S. Embassy, we were able to get out of the maze when we saw an opening and transferred into the other lane but we still had to maneuver ourselves up to the finish line. June and i were laughing when we try to sprint towards the finish. Our time was 1:06 and we had to contend with a surly middle-aged lady who seemed uncomfortable in dealing with the large crowd as she got the cut-out bottom of my race bib.

The early morning crowd

TJ Manotoc and Nina Corpuz doing the hosting chores for TV

Early risers woke up to find the race "live" on tv

At the start

June, wearing the "improvised" fun run 10k bib

A week early for Piolo

The lady above was ready to run and asking where Piolo was. When we told her that Piolo won’t be running until next week, she wouldn’t believe us. She said that she had registered already with some friends and they will be running with him during the first 2 kilometers. Only when we told her that this race was the Run for Pasig and that Piolo’s run would be held next week at The Fort did she realize her mistake. When we proposed that she run with Rio instead who might be running this race, her terse reply was, “Who’s he?”

With 4th place finisher, Cris Sabal

With Ailene Tolentino

with Jhun Bautista, Mr. Meekrunner

With the Rexona Ladies

Over-all the conduct of the 10k race was satisfactory, with adequate drinking water and a host of marching bands playing along the route. But what’s more significant is the running community’s contributing role in helping raise funds to rehabilitate and transform the Pasig River into a scenic spot where people can play, engage in water sports, cultivate aquatic life and unclog it of garbage and other toxic wastes and restore it to its former glory.