All set for Mizuno-Shell Sinulog 21K race

With Eugene and Joel Delposo, Mendel Lopez and Liezl Getaruelas, joining the race, the 2008 Mizuno-Shell Sinulog 21k Marathon promises to be a blockbuster sideshow to this year’s Sinulog festival.

Slated on January 19 - the day before the street parade takes place - the race will start and finish at Asiatown I.T. Park in Lahug, with Vice Mayor Mike Rama invited to fire the starting gun.

The Cebu Executive Runners Club and ASAP Advertising,  the organizers of the event, said during the press conference at Moon Café, that they are expecting more than 1,000 runners to participate in the race including out-of-town runners from Iloilo City, Talisay City (Bacolod), Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Manila. 

Aside from the 21k marathon, there is a special 5k race to spice up the event.

Organizers also said that the marathon has been endorsed by Sinulog Foundation executive director Ricky Ballesteros and is the only race in Cebu that had the blessing of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

Raffy Uytiepo, race director, explained that because PATAFA had sanctioned the marathon, the times submitted by runners might as well be considered the record for the 21k because there is no existing Philippine record in the distance. The existing record of 1:02.30, set by Barcelona Olympian Herman Suizo, is for a shorter distance of 20k. 

Meyrick Jacalan of ASAP Advertising further said that this marathon will be different from other races because of some improvements they will implement to assist the runners.

One of these is the setting up of water stations every two kilometers from the customary distance of every 2.5 kilometers. 

The other will be streamers with encouraging words, such as, “You can do it!” “Go, Runner go!” “See you at the finish line!” among others, that will hang along the course to give runners the extra boost.

Runners will also enjoy refreshments of bananas, sweets, and other supplement, in at least six Shell stations, along the route.

Jesse Taborada, president of the Cebu Executive Runners Club has assured the participants that everything is in place for a great race.       

“All is set for the 21k marathon, the first in Cebu to be sanctioned by PATAFA, and held as part of Sinulog celebration; so definitely it is one running event to beat!” he said. 

The champion in the men’s division will go home with P20,000, the first runner-up gets P12,000, second runner-up receives P8,000, the fourth placer is assured of P5,000 while the fifth placer gains P3,000. The sixth to tenth placers will receive P1,000 each.

In the women’s division, the champion will receive P15,000, the second placer bags P10,000, third placer pockets P5,000, the fourth place finisher gets P3,000 and the fifth placer receives P2,000. The sixth to tenth finishers will get P300 each.

In the 5k run, the purse is equal. The champions in the both the men and women divisions will receive P3,000, the second placers P2,000, third placers get P1,000, fourth placers bag P700, fifth placers P500 and the sixth to tenth placers get P300 each.

Aside from Mizuno and Shell, other companies like Mazda, Burlington, Alcordo Advertising, Holiday Gym and Spa, Infinity Colors and Adrenaline X are supporting the race.

The media partners are The FREEMAN, Sun Star, Cebu Daily News, Y101 and RCTV36.

Registration fee is P250 for the 21k, P150 for the 5k, inclusive of running singlets and race number. Students who will join the race get a discounted registration fee of only P95 for both 21k and 5k events.

Registration is now going on at the Cebu City Sports Center, Mizuno shops in the north wing of SM and Banilad Town Center, Holiday Gym and Spa and Sug-angan Restaurant at J. Lorente St.

For inquiries, one may call Jesse Taborada at 254-48096 and Meyrick Jacalan at 232-8518 to 19.