Batch 83 runners join Mayon Ultra

Last April 2, 2011, three members of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983 joined and successfully finished the Mayon 360 Ultramarathon.  They are Commander Ruben Fajardo of the Philippine Navy, Bobby Castilla of Promoworks and Vicboy de Lima of First Balfour.

The 80-km route took the runners around Mayon Volcano thru the Municipalities of Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Malilipot and Sto. Domingo, and the Cities of Ligao, Tabaco and Legaspi. This ultra event was organized by the Jaycees International – Legaspi Chapter in coordination with the Provincial Government of Albay.  On hand to provide supervision to the running event was Jovie (The Bald Runner) Narcise.

The 3 Batch 83 runners were assisted by a support team composed of their Bicol-based classmates:  Allen Tolledo and Bodgie Importante. The Ateneo support team showed men for others quality by providing assistance not only to their 3 classmates but also to the other runners including another Atenean (Cesar Abarientos of HS Batch 79) and the oldest participant (56-year old Danilo Lim of Legaspi) in the race. 

Out of the 69 participants, 59 finished the ultra within the prescribed cut-off time of 15 hours.  The winner of the event was 19-year old Kenyan Willie Rotich who crossed the finish line with a time of 6 hours 7 minutes.  Castilla, Fajardo and de Lima finished 19th, 30th, and 45th respectively.   For official results, kindly visit http://baldrunner.com/2011/04/page/2/
Not bad for a bunch of middle-aged weekend warriors who took up distance running less than a year ago.     Batch 83 looks at running as a practical way to foster greater camaraderie and better health among its batch members.

More importantly, the experience was used to raise funds via financial pledges made by friends for every kilometer ran by the Batch 83 runners in the  80-km ultramarathon.  Money generated  this way, together with funds raised from the 4th SECS Cup golf tournament  of Batch 83 last April 7, were utilized to finance the batch’s  outreach activities this summertime.
These community outreach activities are the following:
1. Giving of slippers and feeding program to school children of the Mababang Paaralan ng Lope Manlangit in Apujao Grande Island, Mercedes, Camarines Norte last May 14, 2011.
2. Providing school supplies to  school children of  Cagbunga Elementary School  in Barrio Cagbunga, Pamplona, Camarines Sur in the morning of   May 28, 2011.
3. Brigada eskuwela activities for Mababang Paaralan ng Salay  in San Jose, Buhi Camarines Sur in the afternoon of May 28, 2011.

Truly, running is where runner’s high and helper’s high converge.  For more on the running adventures of Batch 83, kindly visit http://83neanrunners.blogspot.com/