MORE THAN A THOUSAND JOINED THE FIRST SCPS FUN RUN

By: Norberto Betita

Warm-up exercises

Days before the scheduled date three of my grandchildren were already excited to participate in the Surigao City Pilot School’s (SCPS) first ever fun run on December 14, 2014. Even when I told them that it’s a Sabbath Day and they are not supposed to take part in such activity, they reasoned that it is to be done very early in the morning while our scheduled Sunday services are in the afternoon. Besides, this is only for once during the entire school year and for a personal history before they will leave the portals of their elementary school---the SCPS. They thought perhaps that it would be just wonderful to write in their journals that they are among those hundreds of pupils and runners who participated during the first SCPS fun run in Surigao City. Two of my grandsons---Rulon Asher and Craig Kirby registered for a one kilometer run, and my granddaughter---Keeshia, who is the president of the SCPS Pupil Government, and who felt it a duty to participate, registered for a three kilometer run. 

At the start and finish lines

The fun run was purposely made to raise funds for the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of the Surigao City Pilot School which is headed by incumbent City Councilor Engr. Baltazar “Batang” Abian as elected President. While the parents were eager to support the PTA initiative, it also aroused the interests of children to experience for the first time in running a race. This experience as it may be expected will be a catalyst for each child to one day build an interest in athletics and sports. Although I do not have part in the activity I went with my grandchildren and their parents. I am so excited to see their reactions and feedbacks after the run.

As early as 5:00 o’clock in the morning hundreds of students and parents were already in the assembly area at McDonalds. Children seemed to be very excited to run. I enjoyed seeing my grandchildren meeting with friends and talking about how they would run the race. There were a lot of flashes of cameras as pictures were taken for remembrances with parents, friends and classmates with tarpaulin fun run banners as backdrops. Everybody seemed to enjoy even before the run was started. Each group of runners for five, three, and one kilometer runs were required to have warm-up exercises which all so excitedly participated. 

My granddaughter Keeshia

When it was time for my granddaughter Keeshia to run the three-kilometer race, her mother tried to follow and check for her from each corner of the route. Then she sent a message to my son to check on Keeshia as she was reported to have been short of breath for a possible hyper ventilation attack and was possibly brought to the nearest hospital. Good that before my son left, he told me about the warning and I informed him that Keeshia already crossed the finish line with friends and was physically fine. When it was my grandsons’---Rulon Asher and Craig Kirby--- turn to run, Rulon Asher’s father took pictures at the starting line and then rush to take his motorcycle to find a corner where he can take pictures of the children actually running in the middle of the race only to find that before he could reach a corner the boys were already at the finish line. The experience was truly fun and the activity joyful. Much as I would want them to have a treat a McDonalds the store was filled to overflowing and so we went home and just have a special homemade burgers and fried bananas for breakfast prepared by their aunt. 

My grandchildren after the run

The following school day, Monday, my granddaughter Keeshia had to be absent due to muscle pains. One of my grandsons, Craig Kirby also experience severe muscular pains, but he managed to go to school. My grandson Rulon Asher did not as even have any physical disturbance a day after the run. When he arrived home from school he announced that most of his classmates who participated in the fun run were complaining about bodily pains, but he proudly told me that he felt nothing painful. Her physical body seemed to have been prepared for such an activity.

When I was diagnosed as having asthma a friend and colleague advised me to start a daily run. I was then a young 19-year old security guard. My first run was with him for a four kilometer uphill route and my lungs seemed to burst as we reached the summit. The following day I could hardly walk due to muscle pains. Hence, I made my succeeding runs on a shorter and a plainer route. Since then and for more than twenty five years I truly enjoyed running as an antidote for my asthmatic condition which I have been able to overcome as a result of my daily run. At the Surigao Vasquez Athletic field I would run five to ten laps a day followed by a 15-minute rope jumping. During Saturdays and declared holidays I would run from twenty to thirty five laps and sometimes run the 12 kilometers distance from Surigao City to Ana-aon, my hometown for a visit with my parents. Although my running was purely for physical conditioning and not for any contests, I had since love to recite the poem of an unknown author entitled “Champion” while running:

Preparing for the 1-kilometer run

The average runner runs
until the breath in him is gone,
But the champion has the iron will
that makes him carry on.

For the rest the average runner begs
when limp his muscles grow,
But the champion runs on leaden legs,
his courage makes him go.

The average man's complacent
when he's done his best to score,
But the champion does his best,
and then he does a little more.

I have since considered myself a running champion for triumphantly winning my race against asthma which until now no longer had stirred an asthmatic attack. I missed those long distance runs, but ageing and afflictions already made my feet plodding and faltering. 

Neighborhood friends and schoolmates joining the fun run

The more than a thousand participants in the first SCPS fun run surely enjoyed the community activity and perhaps would be so willing to again support the same and succeeding family fun action in the future. We should be grateful for the organizers and sponsors who made the fun run possible. Arousing the interest of children and adults in fun athletics and sports activities such as this will be a boost for a healthy community life. However, as we are to keep our lives in balance it would be such a fitting suggestion for the organizers to schedule the activities on regular holidays other than Sundays for everyone to have the chance to participate without necessarily sacrificing their observance and spiritual enhancing interests on the Lord’s Day.

WE EXPRESS OUR HEARTFELT THANKS AND WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SURIGAO CITY PILOT SCHOOL AND THE SCPS PARENTS AND TEACHERS ASSOCIATION TOGETHER WITH THE SURIGAO RUNNER’S CLUB AND THE REST OF THE SPONSORS FOR SPEARHEADING THIS FUN AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ACTIVITY AND FOR THE JOB WELL DONE! TINUOD GAJOD NA MARAJAW KARAJAW SA SURIGAO!