Touch Me Not: Noli Run to spice up historic 5150 Dapitan Triathlon

CEBU, Philippines — Before the top triathletes here and abroad will descend on the heritage city of Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte, a special event billed as “Noli Run” will spice up the highly anticipated 5150 Triathlon Dapitan and Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint this weekend.

The four-kilometer Period Costume Fun Run is set to take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday (September 9) at the Punto del Desembarco de Rizal along the city’s panoramic Sunset Boulevard.

The participants will showcase their creativity by wearing costumes depicting the famous characters in Noli Me Tangere, the iconic novel of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the country’s national hero who spent four meaningful years as a political exile in Dapitan during the Spanish colonial period from 1892 to 1896.

Expected to be given life by the runners are the characters of Maria Clara, Ibarra, Sisa, Basilio, and Padre Damaso among others.

For that, the local government headed by mayor Seth Frederick “Bullet” Jalosjos will honor the best in custome for the Ibarra/Crispin (male) and Maria Clara/Clarita (female) categories with P10,000 each.

Aside from paying tribute to Rizal, the Noli Run aims to heighten the festive spirit and engage the local community of the famed Shrine City of the Philippines in their first ever hosting of the 5150 Triathlon under the Ironman Group slated on Sunday, September 10.

The 5150 Dapitan covers an Olympic distance triathlon.

The challenging yet very exciting three-in-one race will start with the 1.5km swim course near the Punto del Desembarco de Rizal, and then followed by the 40km bike stage that will take the cyclists towards Dapitan City Hall and the Dipolog-Oroquieta National Road.

It will finish off with a 10km run where the athletes get to experience the city’s rich culture heritage as they pass by historical landmarks and heritage houses going back to Punto de Desembarco.

Offering a record cash prize amounting to a total of P756,000, the overall champions in the men’s and women’s 5150 will pocket P175,000 each, while those who will reign supreme in Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint will take home P75,000 apiece.