Safe, secure Cebu Marathon

CEBU, Philippines – The organizers of the 10th Cebu Marathon have assured of a safe and secure race that is expected to draw close to 4,000 runners this Sunday starting and ending at the Cebu Business Park.

Joel Juarez of the Cebu Executive Runners Club said in a press conference yesterday at Shaka Resto in Cebu IT Park that most of the route in Cebu City will be closed to traffic and the inner lanes for those in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

Thousands of orange cones will also be put up by Run Rio to help ease out the traffic, separating the runners from the commuters.

As for the security measures, the CERC has sought the help of the Philippine Air Force and Army and the Philippine National Police to secure the area. Around 300 marshals will be spread throughout the course plus 50 communicators to help secure the runners.

CERC's John Pages, on the other hand, egged on the support of the Cebuanos for the event.

“We are asking for the patience of the motorists on this period and instead, cheer for the runners. Go out and cheer, put up a sound system and wave banners,” said Pages.

To boost the runners' moral, CERC president Kenneth Casquejo said all hydration areas will have their own entertainment.

“It’s going to be a very festive mood.Hydration areas will have their own entertainment for the runners,” said Casquejo.

A total of 159 runners from 30 countries have registered for full marathon distance, majority of which come from Japan with 31, United States with 21 and Singapore with 16.

Aside from host Philippines, the other nations represented are American Samoa, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Pitcairn Islands, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine and United Kingdom.

The 42-kilometer battle will have the foreign/open and the all-Filipino division to give the Pinoys a chance to shine after shying away from the event for some time since it has always been dominated by foreign entries.

Close to P200,000 in cash prize will be given away to the top performers, with the male and female division winners receive the same amount.

The champion in both the open and all-Filipino classes will pocket P15,000, while the second and third will receive P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Only the locals will get cash prize in the 21K with the top three going home P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000 richer. The top 3 will get P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000 for the 10K and P3,000, P2,000 and P1,500 for the 5K. Caecent N-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN)