Running and the benefits
_On May 16 2011 I got
surprised by an article in the Gold Star Daily about a report
concerning an upcoming running event June 5
2011, accidentally the same
date of our monthly first Sundays
"Out of City Runs" organized by
the Oro Sunday Runners Club, the most active running club in
organizing running events for every running lover in CDO.
_The article handles about the second Freedom Run called the
LimKetKai Freedom Run, obvious where the run will start and end,(the
first one was held in June last year).
It's about a memorandum of agreement between Circle
Productions and LimKetKai Centre last May 11 2011.
I will duplicate the last half of this report:
"A major addition for this year's
race will be the use of a fully automated timing system to
efficiently record each runners time.
Another breakthrough is that 5 km runners will also have a
timing chip fort the first time here in CDO.
All of this will be made possible because of a partnership
between Circle Productions Inc. and RUNRIO.Inc the leading race
organizer and timing system provider in the country headed by
Coach Rio de la Cruz."
_So far, nothing wrong with
this all, we Oro Sunday Runners, and I think lots of (in some
way) running Cagayanons like to run in a well organized running
event.
As a representative, the vice president of the Oro Sunday
Runners Club, I like to speak out my
doubts because of the high entrance fee.
Lately, we were surprised with quit a lot of 'runs for a
cause', starting in 2010, and they all generate a high entrance
fee, including jerseys.
_Now we have a Fun Run and it will be even more costly
because of the running chip, what is only useful for the few
fastest and the more serious running athletes, still we do not
know if the distance is correct measured!
A big well placed marathon clock is enough for runners to notice
their finish time!
_This
June 5 run is called Freedom Run or let’s say a 'Run for
Freedom', but I do have the feeling that the meaning of an event
like this is more a 'Run for the MONEY'.
_Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with
organizations which try to earn money, we all need an income in
a successful and satisfying way as much as possible.
Circle productions is just a business organization specialized
in organizing big events, I wish them success!
RUNRIO.Inc is also a business company and of course I like them
to be successful in the interest of their employees!
_BUT, we have a conflict
here, because I noticed in many occasions how often good and
fast runners of all ages will stay at the sideline because they
cannot afford themselves such an entrance fee like 400 pesos!
A lot of them have a hard time to find the pesos in these
economically hard times for food and education for children who
will soon enroll again for the next school year.
Even these runners have no money enough to buy good running
shoes.
_So, what kind of sportsmen and women will show up in
running events like this?
Correct, not the less wealthy or poor ones, but the ones who
like to show themselves with nice good looking running shoes and
other running outfit, even when they are not well trained or
good runners.
_I doubt the motives of
the organizers, are they in favor of the ordinary well running
Cagayanons with a small income, let’s say the running sport in
general, or do they favor indeed their own pocket more?
_To take
notice what the Oro
Sunday Runners Club is doing for their members and also
all the running Cagayanons in an every month run
(until November 2011),
have a look at the
rest of this website.
_To
give an example how much the money is involved these days, I
remember the Mayors run, organized by the city government (the
last one on August 2005)
for an affordable entrance fee, so many athletes were able to
join, including a Mayor Runs T shirt, I do
still have as an
remembrance.
Many volunteers from City Hall and some
people related to City Hall were
helping to make the runs (Saturday evening and Sunday morning) a
success, it was all from the cities Fiesta budget.
Times have changed, because now City
Hall is hiring an organizer of events and
such an organization has to make
profit.
Result is a too much high entrance fee for
the ordinary run enthusiastic!
_A
second example is the facelift and renewal of the Pelaez Sports
Centre in this city.
Before the rubberizing of the oval took place,
all kinds of runners and other sports lovers were free to enter
the oval and do their training, or exercise.
For runners especially, it was the main meeting place, to see
each other, to train together and share information about
everything concerning running in general.
After reopening the Sport centre, everyone has to pay for
entering the sport facilities, it is not abnormal and
justifiable.
And even 30 pesos is probably not so much money when you are
having a good income and not too many expenses, but for ordinary
citizens with few income, it is too much.
_That was the reason I
requested the Provincial Governor Oscar Moreno to offer us, a
running club, a special arrangement to help our club members in
entering the oval for less or whatever arrangement and stimulate
the running sport in general.
The Governor forwarded the request to the manager of the Pelaez
Sports centre.
The manager could not decide and played it back to the Governor.
_Then I had the chance during
another run for a cause in 2010 to
speak shortly to Governor Moreno and he was aware of the request
but was too much concerned about the effect it will cause to
other people, they would also like to have the same benefits?
BUT he promised that it has his attention, soooo………. nothing
happened so far.
_What I like to suggest to the
Provincial Governor Moreno:
"If you are truly sports minded (I heard you
are!) and aware of the benefits for the sportsmen and
women who are serious enough to join a running club, why not
give these clubs a few times of the week the oval for free at
some less convenient time, or think of something yourself?"
_About what is this all going?
About the money of course, the benefits!
But not for the ordinary (poor)
sportsmen and runners, how sad!
Note:
_For the record:
It is for the athletes and the running clubs much better when
THEY get sponsored and not only the running events as one time
events organized by money making companies.
A strong running club can do much more for their members and
other contestants in their events, because they do not truly
need to make money, just keep their costs as low as possible to
make an affordable entrance fee!
Running club members are sporting and running for their hobby, they
need and will find volunteers to
help in organizing, so they will make their events as cheap as
possible for the interest of all sports and running enthusiasts
in and around Cagayan de Oro.
Redactie:
C.S.
Rijskamp
Cagayan de Oro,
May 18, 2011
