Meet Jojo. Jojo came down to Legazpi from Manila to compete in the Mayon 360 50-Mile Run ultra-marathon. (That’s 80 kilometers!) It’s called 360 I believe because the route goes entirely around the base of Mayon Volcano. I set off on my bicycle the other day to ride the 80 kilometers around the volcano and I gave up because it was too far. Jojo – and 210 other runners from around the Philippines and around the world – RAN around it. Of the 210 competitors, 193 completed the race. I believe the fastest time was about 6 hours. I was at the festival last evening, and I saw the last of the runners arriving after about 16 hours! Those who completed the course got a medal, a certificate, and this finishers T-shirt. I think the first place finisher also won P30,000 ($750). Jojo finished the race. After he told me, I said that I had to shake the hand of a man who could run 80 kilometers around one of the most active volcanoes in the world in this kind of summer heat.

Tags: Legazpi, Mayon Volcano, Meet Jojo, Philippines Bike Trip 2013, RAN