Just 2 weeks ago, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan was hit with a huge typhoon that destroyed several homes and took away thousands of lives. Typhoon Sendong was one of the strongest to ever hit the two places, and they sure weren’t ready for it. In the spirit of bayanihan, everyone else tried to help out by sending donations in cash and kind. Others even experienced going to Mindanao and seeing the damage first hand.
For the running community, it was another run wherein profits would to to the victims of Typhoon Sendong. As our way of helping all the victims, a run was organized in just 9 days wherein everyone involved was a volunteer!
For those who wanted to run, a minimum of 150php donation was asked. As for myself, I thought of volunteering as a marshal for the first time! It was something new that I wanted to experience before the year ended. Somehow try to be on the other side and be the one pushing the runners!
I belonged to the first group of the marshals and we were assigned to stay by the starting/finish line. At first, I got really confused. I felt as if I had to know every bit of detail and I didn’t! Also, our team leader couldn’t make it that day and I was suddenly put in charge. (haha) I was so afraid of accidentally telling runners to go the wrong way and kept discussing with my group mates what our plan was.
Officers in charge! Anybody need rescuing?
Group 1 Marshals!
A few minutes before gun start, we had already agreed on our posts/stations. However, we suddenly changed places as we felt the need for marshals on other parts near our assigned area. I was left near the finish line with one other volunteer.
Each runner was to go around TWICE, and on the second round, they would cross the finish line! So our jobs as marshals were very important as we constantly needed to remind runners where they needed to go. I wonder if they got tired of my repeated line? “2nd round left, 1st round straight!” haha I lost my voice after an hour of screaming that, but it was all worth it! 
I learned to appreciate what the marshals do even more. Though they may not sweat the way we runners do when we run, the job of a marshal is also as tiring and even nerve wrecking!
What I truly appreciated were the runners who passed by me and said “Thanks for volunteering”. Just a simple thank you but it was truly appreciated!
Hands down to Greentennial for being successful in putting together a run in just 9 days!! It was a HUGE HUGE success! Everyone did their part.. from the runners, to the marshals, to the hydration booths, registration partners, baggage counter people, photographers, emcees, etc. You could really see how disciplined everyone was and how happy they all seemed! It was just a small community run but it felt intimate and really sincere! It wasn’t about the PR (personal record), the fame/celebrities or anything else… it was for fun, it was for the cause. As I quote from our Facebook group.. “ALAM MONG RUNNER KA KUNG…GETS MO TO!!!”
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It really gives me goosebumps to think how much can be done when people work together and help each other! Imagine, a run organized in just 9 days? If you were there, you’d know how properly organized it turned out to be!! REALLY REALLY GOOD JOB TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY’S RUN!!!
Perfect way to end 2011!! Tiring but so so worth it!!
Picture courtesty of Runners Toe
Looking forward to more runs like this in the future! HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS!! In behalf of Greentennial and the victims of Sendong, THANK YOU!!!!!
Photo courtesy of Antonio Baga
