Filipino marathoner eyes world record

Cesar Guarin is expected to run on Friday which will start at the Oryx Roundabout on the Corniche from 6am to 6:30am joined by some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Then he will run solo going to Al Khor from 7-10am. He will resume at 3-7pm to complete an eight-hour run. He will be joined by his handler and journalists from the Philippines.

Culture attaché Richard Billedo said that Guarin’s run in Qatar is part of his 30-day Middle East segment which included Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

This leg, a total 1,265kms, is one of the most difficult part of his 15-stage global quest since he has to deal with possible harsh weather conditions.

The embassy and various Filipino organisations in Doha have vowed to fully support to Guarin, known as the first Filipino global runner and “father of ultra-marathon” in the Philippines.

Billedo said the marathoner is expected to arrive on Wednesday and will pay a courtesy call to the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Philippine embassy in the afternoon.

“He will be coming from Bahrain and then here in Qatar. Then he will go to Kuwait after,” he added.

Guarin also paid a courtesy visit to the secretary general of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, HE Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah, a member of the Bahrain royal Family.

In earlier reports, Guarin admitted that the solo run is hard and difficult compared to the usual marathon. He said boredom and loneliness usually set in while running along alone a seemingly endless road.

“You don’t have someone to talk during the run unlike when you are many,” he said.

Solo running may seem tiring, but Guarin stressed that knowing the sacrifices of millions of overseas Filipinos has inspired him to finish the journey.

One of his goals was to win the first Olympic gold medal for his country. But an injury prevented him from qualifying to the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He also suffered from an injury during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. But despite his age, he still believes that it is not yet too late to attain his dream.

The embassy has also invited various organisations to watch the 4th GCC All Filipino Basketball Club Championship on April 18-19 at the Al Gharafa Sports Club.

Four Filipino teams – Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar – have qualified for the prestigious international competition.

It also asked OFWs to join the weekly “Qataerobics” on the Corniche at 6:30am, right after Guarin’s run in the area.