Running Red Lions: The Bedan Animo Run

The running craze has finally caught up with San Beda College with the successful staging of the Bedan Animo Run last July 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines grounds. As part of the ongoing commemoration of the 110th year of the school, thousands of students, faculty, alumni and guests braved the chilling downpour in a show of unity for a worthy cause.

Races were held over ten, five and three kilometers plus a special 500-meter event for children to raise funds for the San Beda College of Law Legal Aid Bureau, scholars of the San Beda Institutional Community Involvement Center, SBC Benedictine Educational Fund and the varsity Athletics team.

Initially scheduled for a 6:00 AM gun start, the race started more than an hour late after dawn showers prevented the organizers from setting up, including the very crucial timing apparatus. On the eve of the run, the possibility of a cancellation beckoned due to the non-stop rains but apparently only a typhoon would stop things!

The route was very simple, easy and basically flat beginning right beside the CCP Little Theater then to Roxas Boulevard towards Rizal Park with different u-turn slots for the various distances and finally back to the Little Theater. 10K runners had to do an extra loop.

Despite starting late, the morning sun never showed up so the cloudy weather was very conducive to running except of course for the rains that were now reduced to a slight drizzle. Runners also had to avoid some of the puddles along the way. Still, getting one’s shoes, socks and attire wet may contribute to a slower time due to the extra weight being carried from the absorbed rain water.

Hydration was provided by Pocari Sweat. However, the drinks had to be distributed in sealed bottles for sanitary purposes again because of the rain. Runners had to carry the bottles along, sometimes just throwing to waste the unused portion.

One last issue that has to be discussed is the traffic caused by “walkers” mostly from the shorter distances. These walkers must be herded by the marshals to the outside lanes just like slow vehicles on the highway in order to give way to the serious runners. It is tough when one is making the final push towards the finish line only to have one’s momentum stopped by a wall of easy-going walkers.

It is saddening in a way to see a lot of out of shape participants, mostly students half my age or old enough to be my children. I know they are doing this because of some incentives promised by their teachers but hopefully this will spur them to start a fitness regimen. In a recent media release for another sporting event for children, the organizers of the said event hopes to encourage kids to be active as it is observed that they are more into playing computer games or spending hours in front of the television.

Actually, attendance could have been better if not for a similar run staged on the other end of Metro Manila by alumni of San Beda-Alabang that very same hour.

Personally, I can say I did pretty well despite the rains and not having raced competitively in almost two months due to both injury and cancelled races. I was just a minute off my documented personal record for the 10K. By the way, this was my first 10K since last April’s Run For Japan as I am now concentrating on the longer distances. Of course, the important thing is that Sunday’s race was for San Beda.

The buzz is that starting next year the Bedan Animo Run will now become an annual event. Let’s hope the organizers learn from their initial foray towards a bigger and better run done with the patented Bedan excellence!

courtesy: Anthony Servinio [link]