Bicolano Penguin: BAYBAY CITY MARATHON: Q & A with a Passionate Baybayanon

It is more fun to run in the provinces.

This aphorism is getting to be truer for every long distance event I get to participate in the many provinces our beloved country has. This is indubitable with my Pagudpud experience. Factual from Digos City to Davao City. Kosher too with my Negros Oriental century run and Mayon 360 series. Come December 11, the Bicolano Penguin will have again another chance to experience this truism at the Baybay City Marathon (BCM) , in the western part of the province of Leyte.

First heard of this full marathon when I received an invite last October from Doreen Danas, one of the leaders organizing the BCM.

Doreen (center) with fellow Team BCRunners.

To know more about the Baybay City Marathon, I got to interview her. Here is our Q&A:

BP: Why organize the BCM?

Doreen: The BCM is a running event organized by Baybay City Runners (Team BCRunners), a fast growing running community with over 30 runners and counting. The event is one of the highlights for the upcoming City Fiesta of Baybay. The mission is for the BCRunners to create one of the best running experiences that ignite passion in runners and connect communities through the transformative power of sports. Our vision is to be recognized as one of the country's best running experience celebrating all that is Baybay - a place of discovery, beauty and serenity with happy, friendly and hospitable Baybayanons. Our sports objective is give amateurs the opportunity to improve and professional the chance to compete. Our fitness objective is to encourage healthy living through running events. Our tourism objective is to promote sports tourism in Baybay City.

BP: Is the BCM the first ever 42km marathon race in Baybay City?

Doreen: Yes. It is the first organized full marathon in Baybay.

BP: Is the BCM a fund-raising activity? If yes, what charity will be the beneficiary of the BCM?

Doreen: Yes. It's for a cause to create/develop a training center for running and providing running shoes and other running essentials to kids in the grassroots who want to excel in running. Actually, even before the Dec 11 event, we have started our good cause already with a free running clinic by Coach Noel Tillor last Oct 22-23.

The running clinic last Oct 23.

BP: For BCM participants coming from far places, what are your recommendations for hotel accommodations in Baybay City?

Doreen: My most recommended accommodation will be at Visayas State University (VSU) but it is 8kms from the starting area, though we will provide rides to fetch the runners during the race day. There are also hotels within our small city, roughly walking distance from the starting area. The hotels are Palermo Hotel, Baybay City Hotel and Novotel.

BP: What are the tourist spots in Baybay City?

Doreen: Our tourist spots include the Linta-On Peak which overlooks Baybay. There are caves and falls. Other tourist spots are the Pomponan Church, Bakwitan Falls, the Visayas State University campus and several ancestral houses. At the neighboring towns, 25 kms from Baybay there is Hindang Cave, and another 20kms more there's Canigao Island and Quatro Islas.

The manner by which Doreen promptly answered my questions gave me an indication that she is passionate about spreading the gospel of running. Plus, her pride for her homecity of Baybay was very much evident. The Bicolano Penguin was therefore hooked and registered online in no time. I also got to encourage a handful of my running buddies in First Balfour to join the fun in Baybay come the Dec 10-11 weekend. We are all excited about the experience to run and tour Baybay City.

We wish good luck and more power to the organizers of the BCM, most especially the officers of Team BCRunners.