"on a shoestring"

After a month of silence (hiatus), I wanna share with you another interview I had with a Cebuano. I got to meet him at DailyMile and was happy to see that running is also a “boom” in Cebu.

I was surprised when he ran an “unofficial” ultramarathon first before he did his marathon. Crazy cool guy, huh?

Anyway, here’s an addition to my runner’s profile collection

July Runner's Profile: Katol Villagante

Name: Richie Al B. Villagante aka Katol

Age: 34

Training Ground: KSRP (Kilid sa South Road Properties) for road runs and Cebu City Sports Center for oval hamster mode training

Years into Running: 1 year and 4 months

Favorite Race(s): Cebu City Marathon 2010. That started it all. And of course, the Coast to Coast 65K Ultramarathon.

Half-marathon PR: 2:27 and I was pacing with my running partner. She too got a new PR for her Pikermi.

Marathon PR: Leon Kilat’s Retreat (An Ungo Exclusive Full Marathon): 6:10:45

How many marathons have you finished: 2

Fave running shoes: My VFFs. loved them both (KSO Trek and Flow). I even named them: Spock for my Trek and Phalangging for my Flow.

(VFF fan here too, Katol, now I think I have to buy a new KSO.)

Running gears: NB 749, VFFs (KSO Trek and Flow), 2 compression tights, 2 visors, Nathan 4-bottle hydration belt, Ungo, TTB, TG Official Singlets; Halo headband.

Unforgettable Moment(s) in Running: My first full marathon when I paced with Agatha from start to finish (Cebu Marathon 2011) & crossing the finish line during the Labor Day Coast to Coast 65K Ultramarathon!

Why do you run? I run for Life. I run for the people who have helped me to become a better person –my family especially my Mom and my PR partner

Fave Running Quote: I Eat. I Drink. I Run. Haha!

Worst injury: No running injury yet. Thank God!

(Good for you, stay healthy and run safe!)

Post-race food: Pungko-pungko food (especially ginabot and utok) and of course RH (red horse beer)

Tell me more of Cebu and your thoughts of running there.

Cebu is now the “Capitol Support Crew of the Philippines”; I joined a 10K race at the Bonifacio  Global City last year but nothing compares when you are running in your local ground especially when you finish your first full marathon and ultramarathon in your hometown!

Here are the additional things I learned from Katol…

James: If there is one tip that you want to share to newbie runners what will it be?

Katol: Just be YOURSELF when you run. You don’t need to be fast to get to the finish line. Train hard and train well. Follow the running basics and I’m sure you’ll be injury-free. Make sure to get a life outside running  but  give your 100% when you run!

James: What do you do when you are not running?

Katol: I am a couch potato. When I am bored, I just switch the TV on and I can watch movies all day.

James: Do you do any crosstraining?

Katol: I joined a mini-triathlon early this year and it made me realize that cross-training helps me strengthen my endurance and performance. I will do swimming and biking… soon!

Thanks again Katol for aswering these questions. Hope to see you when I visit the Queen City of the South sometime this year. Let’s run!