|
As the DAVAO SUNDAY RUNNERS CLUB INC. celebrates
its 22nd year, the question that lingers into the minds of each and every
member is: "How did SUNRUN originated?" The accounts that are
narrated are what the writer can recall as compiled from the records.
Sometime
in June 1982, two (2) doctors, Dr. Rolando A. Chiu and Dr. Oscar Escudero started running as a form of exercise in Ecoland. In Belisario
subdivision were Dr. Manolo Ongchangco,
the late Atty. Dave Pelayo and Dr. Bert Santos.
Thereafter, other doctors were invited to run on a Sunday. Breakfast was
normally served after the run. The only nondoctor
then was the late Atty. Dave Pelayo, who loves to
drink a bottle of beer after the run.
Dr. Rizal
Aportadera started running when he was requested
to host a breakfast run in his residence at San Pedro Village.
In October 1982, Dr. Oca Escudero organized a running
group which was later called "DAVAO ROAD RUNNERS CLUB". The other
doctors continued their regular Sunday run.
On the last Sunday of October
1982, Albert Aportadera and Tony Delefia first joined the Sunday run of the doctors at
the residence of Dr. Ting Tiongco at Lanang. They participated the
run upon the invitation of Dr. Rizal Aportadera. Those present were Dr. Ting Tiongco, Dr. Totoy Hernandez,
Dr. Rizal Aportadera,
Dr. Crispin Go, Dr. Dante Escelante; a certain
Dr. Art and his companion from Davao Medical
Center and the late Atty. Dave Pelayo. There were
others who were present but their names could not be recalled. The practice
before everybody started to run was to drink two (2) glasses of water.
There were no water stops then.
As the Sunday run continued,
there were other nondoctors who joined. Every
Sunday run had a breakfast host. The reminder of the Sunday run was done by
Albert Aportadera every Friday. The route of the
run was made by the host.
In 1983, the member of Sunday
Runner averaged from ten (10) to fifteen (15) runners. Informal running
clinics were made explaining the benefits of running. Lawyers and other
professionals eventually joined in the Sunday run. Among them were the late
Atty. Berting Sarenas,
Atty. Primo de los Reyes, Atty. Jong Castafia, the late Vince
Mitra, Jr., the late Joe Canlas,
Nanding Obrero and
Larry Sabio.
The Sunday Runners were an informal
group whose aim was to run for fun and for health. Members of the family of
the group eventually joined in the Sunday run.
The decision to finally
organize the DAVAO
SUNDAY RUNNER CLUB was done after the Sunday run last August 7, 1983.
The August 7, 1983 Sunday run
was at the Aportadera Farm at Catalunan
Pequefio. This run was participated
by the members of the Davao Road Runners Club.
After the breakfast the Davao Road Runners club,
through Dr. Oca Escudero
invited the members to join their club. However, the Sunday Runners members
were happy being an informal group. This was the time the Davao Road Runner Club Inc. and the Sunday Runners
indirectly decided to have their separate Sunday Run.
Peter Carriedo
II, then suggested to the Sunday Runners to hold
their own marathon. He volunteered to host the venue of the launching of
the training for the marathon with a 21k run.
The Sunday Runners, not having
experienced running a marathon agreed to organize and run a marathon in
1984. The 1st organized 21k was held on September 18, 1983 at the Carriedo Compound at Bo. Obrero,
Davao
City. The race and
route Director was the late Vicente Mitra, Jr.
The water vehicle of the group was the ever reliable Kombi of Dr. Rizal Aportadera whose driver
then was "NONG NARDO".
A carboloading
was held on September 16, 1983 at Peter Carriedo
II place. There, the group finalized the preparation of the 21k run. The
late Vince Mitra, Jr. designed the 21k route.
The September 18, 1983 21k run
was participated by more than 40 runners from the Sunday Runners and the Davao Road Runners Club Inc. The 15121 k run was a
success. Everybody felt happy and satisfied having finished their first
organized long run. The 1 sl Finishers Marathon
was finally launched off.
The regular Sunday breakfast
run continued. The Volkswagon Kombi of Dr. Rizal D. Aportadera was the
regular water stop vehicle. Moreover, Dr. Rizal
D. Aporatdera was made President by the group.
Among the members who regularly
hosted the breakfast after the Sunday Run in 1983 were Dr. Rizal D. Aportadera, Dr.
Roberto Alabado, Dr. Dante Escalante, Dr. Rolly Chiu, Dr. Ting Tiongco,
Dr. Lesley Mangaoil, Dr. Bert Santos, Dr. Manolo Ongchangco, Dr. Crispin
Go, Dr. Totoy Hernandez, Dr. Gerry Pangan, Albert Aportadera,
Tony Delefia, Peter Carriedo
II, the late Vince Mitra
|
