Pacquiao breezes through tough morning run

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (in blue) jogs at the Griffith Park in Hollywood, California on Friday morning (US time) as part of his training for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. With an elevation gain of more than 300 meters, only a few elite members of Team Pacquiao, including Pacman the dog can keep up with him. Rem Zamora/INQUIRER

HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao displayed his vaunted speed and stamina with an impressive morning run on the steeper side of his training route at Griffith Park Friday.

His show of power and strength while tackling a harder, tougher course so impressed  chief trainer Freddie Roach, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez that they decided to cancel his scheduled afternoon training at the Wild Card Gym.

The unscheduled rest will also give him more time to prepare for his first 12-round sparring session Saturday going into the homestretch of his buildup for the much-awaited and rich showdown with unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Sprawled on a swivel chair, listening to Visayan songs, and both his feet being massaged gently, Pacquiao later recalled how his morning run went surrounded by friends playing darts.

Pacquiao said his group of accompanying runners decided to deviate  from their usual route and assaulted the steeper portion of Mount Lee and the Santa Monica mountain range.

Based on his account, the group stayed together for the first 10 minutes before the weaker ones lagged behind and eventually dropped out.

Past the halfway mark of the uneven terrain ranging from 350 to over 1,600 feet above sea level,  only former boxers Juanito Rubillar and Reynante Jamili and David Sisson managed to keep up with Pacquiao before the eight-time world champion pulled away in one of the curling upward bends with Sisson giving chase.

After reaching the top towing Sisson, 23-year-old son of American missionaries living in Gen. Santos City, the two went down to their base with Pacquiao clocking 54.48 seconds for the eight-kilometer route. Sisson came a few seconds behind him.

Manila-based reporters and a photographer later chanced upon Pacquiao as he took a break in his house on Plymouth Boulevard. Between bites of kebab slices and salmon belly, he bared some details about his Griffith runs.

Pacquiao said he used to tackle Friday’s course whenever he trains in Los Angeles, but it was the first time in seven years that he finally decided to take on the challenge again.

He said he wanted to find out whether the strength of his legs is as good as before as it will play a key role in his showdown with Mayweather.

While his 36-year-old legs are as speedy and springy as before, Pacquiao said he wanted to do the run again just to be sure.

For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.