A few days
before April 21, I received via email this cool poster from our classmate
Bitoy, who works abroad. It showed
superimposed on the 2012 Mayon 360 poster five 83nean runners: Bob Castilla, Ruben “Fards” Fajardo, Ernie
Badong, Bicolano Penguin (me) and Ed Balcueva.
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| Mayon 360 poster revised by Bitoy |
Sadly for me, it
was not meant for the Bicolano Penguin to run the 2nd edition of the
Mayon 360 AlbayUltramarathon (80 kms).
Given conflict of the schedule with family responsibilities this weekend
of April 21-22, I had to inform my fellow 83nean ultra runners that I would not
be able join them in my beloved Legaspi City for the premier ultramarathon
event in Bicol. I requested our
Naga-based classmate Ric Lozano to take my place in the Mayon 360.
One thing about
my batchmates of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983, they are
reliable and resilient. So, after
informing me that they would be missing me before, during and after the run,
they buttoned down to work preparing for the living accommodations in Legaspi City and the support vehicles provisions for the
ultramarathon around Mayon Volcano.
Fards, in
particular, stepped up to be the team leader for the Mayon Ultra adventure. He
gave the assurance that all five 83neans
would successfully finish.
So it was, come late
afternoon of April 21, I received the
news from Fards that all 5 of the 83neans that started the race crossed the
finish line safely and smiling in the confident knowledge that they finished
within the cut off time of 15 hours.
The order of
finish, among 83neans, is as follows:
Bob
Fards
Ernie
Ed
Ric
(official time
to follow)
The strong
finish of Bob is of no surprise to us all, given that he is the most
accomplished ultra runner among the 83neans.
It is Ed’s performance that is a revelation. In his first ultramarathon, he finished in
less than 13 hours , a few minutes back of Ernie, who is a strong runner. Here are a few pictures, courtesy of Noel
“Ghibz” Guevara.
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| Ed and Ric at Km 40 |
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| Fards and Ernie at Km 42 |
 |
| Bob at Km 45 |
The feat of
these 83neans was even more impressive considering that they ran the long and
hot route of 80 kms around Mayon without support vehicles. The race organizers, in an effort to curb
cheating from the ultra proceedings, prohibited their use. Too bad, considering
that the 83neans had at their disposal 2 support vehicles. Thanks to the solidarity of our classmates
Jobel Belarmino, Bodgie Importante, Lino Boncodin, Allen Tolledo and Ghibz. Jobel
and Lino lent their vehicles :
Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan X Trail.
Allen and Bodgie, who are both based in Bicol, and Ghibz, who came all
the way from Manila, were the volunteer drivers.
Noteworthy also was
the generosity of Epok Dacudao who provided room accommodations for the 83neans at the
Sampaguita hotel in Legaspi City.
Congratulations
to our 83nean runners in the 2012 Mayon 360 Albay Ultramarathon! With Ed and Ric finishing their first-ever
ultra event, Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983 has now 6 ultra
runners.
I can safely say
that no other high school batch in Ateneo de Naga has more ultra runners. Truly, we are the runningest batch of our
alma mater.
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