Sports buff Nerez

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

AFTER the very successful staging of the first “PD Marathon” last July 7, our provincial  Police Director Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez is thinking of holding other sports activities in the province like chess, scrabble, martial arts and even a writing contest for children, but most especially Pangasinan’s favorite sport ‘cycling.’

During our dialogue with him in his office last Wednesday with some media men including Jun Velasco, Jaime Aquino and Ronald Allan Sison,  Nerez  confirmed to us that the one-day bikefest dubbed as “PD Cycling Challenge” will be staged on August 26 with P96,000 in cash prizes, trophies and medals up for grabs.

The route of the event will most probably pass the central and western parts of Pangasinan with more than 200 kilometers to be traversed by the participants. I will give you the complete details of this event, which is already approved in principle, next week.

According to Nerez, he’s also contemplating a plan to hold his  marathon projects in the eastern and western parts of  Pangasinan to give a chance to  some foot racers who were not able to compete last July 7.

I was there in Lingayen early morning of July 7 where the more than 300 runners of all ages and from all walks of life (including some scribes) started and finished the footfest.

If not for the rheumatoid arthritis that I’m currently battling, I would have joined the 10-kilometer race. As a cyclist, running, swimming, weightlifting and playing basketball were part of my training during my heydays. And in my self-study efforts including the regular reading of newspapers, I found out that running helped me a lot to bag the three national championships in the past. It improved my chest breathing, especially in the mountain climbing stages.

My personal best in the 10K was 40 minutes and 20 seconds. It was during the 1982 Dagupan half marathon. I had to quit after the halfway mark because as a cyclist, as advised by my personal physician, it would ruin my sprinting prowess in cycling if I do more than 10K. I believed him, of course.

Nerez also said he will organize a martial arts competition tentatively on August 25 in Dagupan City. This will be directed by Ronald Allan Sison, a blackbelter and well-known FM manager and DJ.

So what more can you ask from Sr. Supt. Nerez? He’s a real sports buff and a peace-maker.

This province is lucky to have him together with our new governor Amado Espino, Jr. and PNP Region 1 Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil. These three public servants are really sports lovers. They will prove it to us today and tomorrow especially when the rains are gone. Let’s give them time.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

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