PATAFA Grand Prix Road Race 2nd Leg - I Had Roxas Boulevard For My Own

Philippine Amateur Track & Field Association (PATAFA) conducted today July 1, 2012 the 2^nd Leg of PATAFA Road Race Grand Prix.

I arrived at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park at around 5:10am and was worried on parking availability and safety at the venue. To my surprise I was able to enter and park just opposite of the Grandstand as there were only a handful of cars. Considering that the gun start for the 10k event was scheduled at 5:35am there were not so many crowd. A short while later, I found out that the 21k event has not yet been gun started so I was wondering how this event was going to transpire.

I was approached by a foreign participant and was asked if it was the norm locally that race scheduled are late as he was entered for the 21k event and it was already 5:30 and still awaiting for their start. I was embarassed to reply that it is not so and that local races do start on time and I just do not have any idea why this race was running late. Anyways, at about 5:45am the 21k event was gun started and to my surprised I saw that there were no more than thirty (30) participants all in all for the 21k event.

At 5:51am the 10k event was started and again there were no more than 30 participants in our group. About 2 km from the starting line, although I felt bad that there were so little participants, I could not complaint as the route was well supported by hydration, marshals and police force to ensure the safety of the route. From the Cultural Center of the Philippines all the way to the Japanese embassy (the turning point) marshals have strictly enforced that only registered runners are on the road. This was something new to me. I have no traffic and have the road all by myself. I could even close my eyes and not worry to trip or bump on something. No bad.

From the Cultural Center until back to Quirino Grandstand although the road was primarily for runners, non registered runners and bicyle enthusiasts were as well using the route. I do not mind sharing the road with them as the atmosphere was pleasant and encouraging.

01h23m47s I crossed the finished line on my race walk mode. It was a very pleasant workout with the route all by myself.

To PATAFA it was a good event, but, I hope they could have marketed the event more as they could have made more runners happy . Other than the late start things were well handled and managed. I shall support you again on the 3^rd leg and hope that you will be able to generate a bigger crowd.

PATAFA - National Open Invitational Championships

Most if not all of the readers of this blog are avid followers of running and/or racewalking so much so that we all share the passion, love, dedication, beauty and magical touch that the sport has touched our individual lives.

However, running and racewalking are but only two of the so many disciplines that the sport TRACK AND FIELD covers. To name a few are pole vault, high jump, long jump, relay, hurdles, hammer throw, javelin throw, discus throw, shot put, and the different events in running such as sprint, middle distance, long distance and all the way to the marathon distance.

In the Philippines our love for running falls under the jurisdiction of Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association PATAFA who shall have its National Open Championships for this year held at Lingayen Pangasinan from May 10-12, 2009 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC).

It is a GREAT PITY that little to barely minimal media exposure has been provided to this yearly event which is the showcase and breeding ground of upcoming sports elite in the various disciplines of track and field events.

Not only athletes from the different parts of the Philippines shall congregate for the sports fest but the event shall also be attended by foreign athletic teams from Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Brunei, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Hongkong, Singapore to name but a few.

In the field of Racewalking I have four (4) friends who are participating namely;

Saturnino Salazar – 20km walk
Michael Embuedo – 20km walk
Milbert Mabuab – 20km walk
Christian Dalida – 10km walk


(L-R Saturnino Salazar, myself, Milbert Mabuab, Christian Dalida not in the picture is Michael Embuedo)

Three of them will be leaving for Lingayen Pangasinan by noon of 08May09. Saturnino Salazar will only follow in the afternoon of 10May09 as he still has to provide logistical support to the elite runners of Bald Running Team who will be participating in the Botak 42k. This Botak 42K will be a great race being the first full marathon for the year. (You can check details of the event on my 01Apr09 blog Link is herewith provided http://reinier6666.blogspot.com/2009/04/paa-tibayan-takbo-42k-and-takbo-100k.html

These guys have the God given TALENT and DISCIPLINE in the sport they have chosen. But, in the field of sports talent and discipline are but only two of the three components for success. The base of the triangle is SUPPORT both moral and financial in forms. It is in this triangular equation of sports success that most athletes fall short of. On this issue of shortage, much can be done by some of us who are blessed with the means for the base component of the triangle.But at this time I would rather not deal on the subject as the same is varied and complicated.

For now, what we can offer these friends are our prayers best wishes for their success. This is one time the saying “GOD SPEED” is meant by us to you literally.