Due to Pepito, Sunday fun runs in NCR canceled, except for UP

MANILA, Philippines – The potential impact of Super Typhoon Pepito in Metro Manila has forced the postponement of two fun runs originally scheduled on Sunday, November 17, but not The Great UP Run.

The annual activity, mounted by event organizer Runrio in partnership with the University of the Philippines Office for Athletics and Sports Development, is still pushing through in Quezon City, according to its 2 pm advisory on Saturday November 16, despite contrary advice from the local government.

“The Great UP Run 2024 is still scheduled for tomorrow, November 17 (Sunday). We’re closely monitoring the latest Severe Weather Bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours and will provide hourly updates on the race status until 3 AM on November 17,” it said in a statement.

“Despite the potential impact of inclement weather, we’re committed to ensuring your safety and a memorable running experience,” it added.

Organizers’ decision to wait it out until early Sunday morning has caused anxiety and frustration among some runners, with some expressing their concerns on the Facebook page of the event.

“Not all runners are from the National Capital Region, and not everyone has a car to handle a last-minute cancellation,” JP Manzon, who would be traveling from Bulacan, said. “Kindly reconsider.”

“The chance that intense torrential rains, as forecasted by PAGASA, happening after the run! Do they not care how we will travel back home two to four hours or more, with the risk of getting stranded in flooded areas or even not staying dry for lack of public transport?” Vive de Guzman, who would be coming from Cavite, added.

According to the 11 am advisory of the state weather bureau, Metro Manila is already placed under Signal Number 1, indicating that strong winds were already being felt in the region. Heavy to intense rains are expected from Sunday to Monday noon, November 18.

Other runs scheduled this weekend, such as Garmin Run in Muntinlupa and Takbo para sa Kalikasan – Earth Run Edition, have made the decision to postpone days prior.

“We’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the Garmin Run Asia Series: Philippines,” Garmin Philippines announced on November 14. “Your safety is our top priority.”

“The safety and well-being of our participants, volunteers, and staff are our top priorities, and the current weather conditions make it unsafe to proceed as planned,” organizers of the Takbo para sa Kalikasan said in a statement on Friday morning, November 15.

Rappler has reached out to the Facebook pages of Runrio, the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs, and the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development, for their reactions. We will update this story once they reply.

Runrio is also the organizer of the HOKA Trilogy Run. In September, amid the threat posed by Typhoon Julian, it canceled its Baguio leg less than 12 hours before the event, upon advice by the city government.

The late notice, however, frustrated some runners who were already in Baguio when the decision was made.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has advised The Great UP Run organizers against pushing through with the fun run.

“We told Chancellor [Edgardo] Vistan that we recommend strongly that they postpone,” she said in a text message to Rappler. – Rappler.com