Run, Rio, Run
It’s hard to imagine celebrated sportsman Rio dela Cruz in a nine to five job much less sit behind a desk and wait to punch the bundy clock. Given a total of 49 races mapped out all over the country by his own company RunRio Inc. for this year alone and him still joining races outside the country – the most recent was in Vienna last month and the next one in France on September – it’s just too difficult to picture him in your head staying still in a corner unless his is being photographed. But he did, actually.
“After finishing Bachelor of Physical Education, the plan was to go to London to train because I wanted to join the Olympics. But before that I worked for Manila Water while coaching in the University of the Philipines,” reveals Coach Rio while adding, “I tried it for the experience but I realized it’s not my calling. I was stuck in the office, eh I’m an outdoor person, very mobile... so I got bored. Then I thought, why don’t I try organizing fun runs since I have a lot of experience running here and abroad and I already know the basics. After less than a week, I resigned from my job.”
Every runner's gain
MWSS’ loss became every health and sports enthusiasts’ gain. Coach Rio held his first ever fun run in 2007 at the UP grounds with a 1,888 people turn out. It was the first biggest race in the campus and it was dubbed “The Great UP Run.” From then on, Coach Rio’s schedule of races increased from a monthly to a weekly basis until it became difficult for him to handle it alone.
“When I started kasi I was alone. I hired a few people but the planning and everything, it was all me. Ako ‘yung nagkakabit ng pin na may number, ako yung nagpi-print ng barcode, ako ‘yung nagdidikit sa acetate, ako yung nagbabantay sa registration, ako ang naglalagay ng tubig sa water station, ako 'yung naglalagay ng kilometer marker, ako din yung emcee. Sa awarding ako din 'yung usher. Ginawa ko ‘yun lahat!," Coach Rio recalls.
"I think that's one advantage I have over other organizers, because I've been down to the lowest position. Aside from that, I also have a short course in management while I was in UP. My downside would be business kasi wala akong business subject dati."
Despite Coach Rio's admission of his lack of business acumen, he more than made up for his passion and love of the sport. Today, his company is the number one race organizer in the country with over 20 employees. RunRio Inc. is also known in the industry for innovation and technology.
"I've recently hired a general manager to oversee a few things. What I handle now mostly, apart from going to the events and planning them, is the distribution of technology such as RFID timing sheets used by racers," he shares.
Coach Rio goes abroad not only to join races but also to observe how other countries ogranize their races and current technogies that are being used. 10,000 steps ahead ako sa iba but I don't want them to treat me as a competitor because my goal is to sustain the running industry and to do that, I need to partner with other organizers. Ako lang yung nauna but technology has very quick transition. [The important thing is to] keep innovating, search, and hard work, I think 'yun 'yung pinaka-basic, and of course love your work."
Famous trainer
Another facet of Coach Rio's illustrious career is having worked with famous personalities and celebrities who sought him out as their personal trainer. Among them were award-winning actor Piolo Pascual and prominent businessman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
"It's very challenging because of time constraints. Ang hirap mag-schedule ng time nila because they're very busy and most of the time they lack sleep, tapos magte-train sila. Pero masarap din when you see their improvement like when Piolo ran 10K, a lot of old-time runners were surprised that Piolo was able to hit the time that they weren't able to when they were starting. Masipag kasi talaga siya. After taping he works out in the gym and then train even if it's already 10 or 11 in the evening" he shares.
Coach Rio further reveals, "With Zobel naman, parang nakakakaba kasi ina-idolize mo yun, bawal ka magkamali. Every time na may ipapagawa ka sa kanya kailangan alam mong ipaliwanag kung para saan. At ang pinakaimportante, kailangan nakikita yung result."
Accordimg to Coach Rio, first time runners are the best to coach because most of them would get 20 to 25 percent improvement. "Pero kapag dati ka ng nag-train, mga one percent na lang yung ini-improve kasi nagpa-flat yung performance... It means the body is already used to the daily routine and it's time to create a new training program."
Without sounding like a salesman pitching a product, Coach Rio notes the importance of having a trainor: "When you run, it's important that someone is there to supervise you. Kahit ako, I have my own coach. Kasi kapag tumatakbo ka na, you don't really think of your form. With a coach beside you, siya ang magre-remind sa'yo to relax or to go back to basics."
Running barefoot
Always moving forward, literally and figuratively, 27-year-old Coach Rio has a lot of things going on in his life and a whole lot to be grateful for. And like his cousin beauty queen Venus Raj, his rise to fame lifestory has been a major motivation in Coach Rio's determination to succeed.
"I come from a very poor family and my parents separated when I was nine months old. My father took care of all seven of us which prove to be all the more difficult. I used to run barefoot because we didn't have money to buy shoes," Coach Rio recalls of his childhood. He adds, "Growing up in poverty gave me a goal in life. I wanted to finish my studies so I won't have to experience it again and I took running as a stepping stone," he ends. - Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin.
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