Surigao Runners Club (SRC): Creating New Wave in CARAGA Region

Surigao Runners Club: Caraga’s trendsetter in running and other sports

AVA MARIE ACEBEDO VILLAREAL
in Surigao City

They say the best runners come from Kenya. if that’s the case, a place that aspires to become a prime spot for running, triathlon, and other related sports should lure in dark- skinned, long-legged, skinny professional Kenyan runners.

Caraga, a region known for its mountainous and rolling hills and landscapes, has a way to do that. Surigao Runners Club was founded last October 17, 2012 with Atty. Ingemar P. Macarine as its founding president. SRC, as it is popularly known, aims to promote running as a sport and to encourage healthy lifestyle practices among the people in Surigao Del Norte and its nearby areas.

The club is currently composed of 50 members who come from different fields and professional backgrounds yet unified by one common interest: the love for running.

A year later, SRC has successfully organized several runs that had caught the attention of runners from larger cities such as Cebu and Manila. The region’s unique terrain of sloping mountains, challenging trails, and the picturesque scenery brought about by its pristine beaches is truly a sought-after experience for runners and running enthusiasts.

Some of the runs organized by SRC were RedTieRun1“ARun for AIDS A wareness” for people to understand the need for social action to prevent AIDS proliferation. Another was the Surigao Silangan Marathon, a half marathon that aims to protect the Surigao River from extinction. Proceeds of the run went to reforestation along the banks of the Surigao River.

(The Surigao Runners Club (SRC) in partnership with McDonalds Surigao held a gift-giving activity for orphans at the Residential Center for Streetchildren in Brgy. Anomar, this city after it was able to generate support in the July 28 McDonalds Run for the Orphans-Surigao. Photo courtesy of src)

The third run was the McDonald’s family fun run whose proceeds helped provide 26 orphans in the Brgy . Anomar , Surigao City orphanage some of their basic necessities.

These runs are expected to continue year after year, supporting these various causes, with SRC in total control.

In fact, SRC is currently on the planning and preparation stage for the Red Tie Run 2 which will be held on December 1, World AIDS Day.

The club is also preparing for what could be another first for the region: Caraga’s first full marathon 42K race in May 2014. This is SRC’s way of showcasing Surigao del Norte’s potential to become a running capital in the south.

When asked about the club’s long term goals, Atty . Macarine replied: “SRC aims for Surigao del Norte to become a prime spot for running and triathlon events and to make it at par with Davao and Bukidnon and even Cebu.”

With SRC’s founding, a couple of other clubs were formed in the region — the Butuan Runners Club and the Tandag Runners Club. “We set the trend for running in the region since we have seen the real potential of the place for the pursuit of running and even other sports. We have already proven it in terms of surfing,” Dr. Jaimenito Go, the club vice-president quipped.

SRC is also the mother club for Caraga’s first triathlon group, the Surigao Multi Sports. The group is primarily composed of Surigaonon triathletes.

Both SRC and the Surigao Multi Sports intend to provide an avenue for sports enthusiasts to pursue their passion and interest.

With this, it’s not for long till Kenyans would be able to appreciate Surigao and Caraga’s terrain and warm welcome.

Ava Marie is a Surigaonon writer, poet, traveler, running enthusiast, and an online entrepreneur. She runs an online company with an American partner. She also aspires to become a triathlete someday.

 

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A little backgrounder: We were workmates years ago in a publishing company. She was a writer / editor. I was in the customer relations. She always appears to me as the intellectual type over the sporty type. So it was a big surprise when I saw a pic of her running a 3K fun run, then she was running everywhere until she came to Cebu for the BE Warrior Ultramarathon. Thus, I was able to catch up with her, and bugged her for the above article.

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Posted by:

Rose Buenconsejo. A runner who runs after runners, and their stories, and her dream to become a NEDBANK.
Promo Girl, runroo.com
View her aktib race calendar >>

 

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