Several firsts for Cebu’s premier running event

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu’s premier running event, the AIA Vitality Cebu Marathon may be on its 17th edition on January 14, 2024 at SM Seaside City-Cebu via the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway yet, there are several firsts that are being laid down by the organizers.

Cebu City Sports Commission chairman John Pages, who is part of the organizing Cebu Executive Runners’ Club (CERC), bares several firsts for the 2024 edition during the event’s launch at SM Seaside City yesterday, including its distances, giveaways and more.

Next year’s edition will feature four race distances –42, 24, 12 and 6-kilometer.

Yes, instead of a half marathon distance, organizers will make it 24 symbolic for 2024.

This will be the first time that they will be having such distance and even in local races here.

Instead of the 10 and 5-km race, they have also added an extra challenge to the short distance runners.

The event organizers will also be giving out souvenir shirts from one of Cebu’s top local brands, Salt+Fin.

For the finishers of the 42-kilometer action, instead of the finisher’s shirt, they will be receiving for the first time, an event towel instead.

Meyrick Jacalan added that they are able to infuse new things and make it more exciting for the runners as they are also able to establish early engagement with their presenter AIA.

Aside from the launch, AIA represented by Kats Cajucom and CERC led by its president Jesse Taborada also had a MOA signing yesterday as event partner SM Seaside City also pledges to give its all-out support for the runners.

With the event launch, organizers also announced that for the first time, the race route has been published already on its website ahead of time so runners will be able to train well for the race.

The organizers of the event along with the event’s major sponsors all agreed that being well-preparation also makes a good finish.

To help the runners in their preparations especially the newbies, CERC is looking at holding a running clinic while saying that they will be fielding in pacers in the race proper again.

Registration for the event online begins on July 22 with the first 1,024 combined in the 24 and 42-kilometer distances to get a limited edition visor.