Get set for Run United Philippine Marathon

MANILA, Philippines - Run United Philippine Marathon (RUPM), the third and last leg of the RunRio Trilogy, is even more in demand than its inaugural run last year. Only slots for Ceelin 500m dash are available, the rest are full.

“Demand for this race is really high. The half and full marathon slots (21km and 42km) got full five and three weeks, respectively, before race date (Oct. 6). Most of our participants belong to the “progressive set” —runners who have been continuously challenging themselves with longer distances or better PR,” says Alex Panlilio, head of Unilab Active Health (ULAH).

RUPM, now in its second year, will feature four race categories, namely: Ceelin 500m, Hydrite 10km, Alaxan FR 21km and Enervon Activ 42km.

“RUPM is also much awaited as it wraps up our run races for the year. The runners are also excited to finally complete their United medal for Run United 1, 2, and RUPM,” adds Panlilio

42-year-old Ly Nary of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is among those hoping to finish strong at RUPM. “I hope to finish among the top three females in the 42km foreign category with a target of three hours and 30 minutes.”

Nary was a finisher of Paris Marathon. Her participation at RUPM is supported by the United Pharma company in Phnom Penh. “I am excited to see the Filipino running community and to explore the Philippines after the race. I really look forward to this great experience with the United Filipinos!”

20th-time Ironman finisher Dan Brown has also followed a regimen in preparation for RUPM. Brown, also one of the Unilab Active Health ambassadors, considers physical and mental preparation as key to achieving an excellent race. “I am preparing by doing a short period of specific run overload. I have been increasing my weekly run distance by around 30% over the past month or so,” says Brown.

The completed United medal from the 2013 Run United Trilogy series (21-21-21, 21-32-21, 21-32-42) fits together with the RUPM finisher’s medal. According to Unilab Active Health, securing all these medals is a testament of the runners’ commitment to continuously exceed themselves in the field of running.

The 3,000 Enervon Activ 42km runners and finishers will get a VIP treatment — before, during, and after the race. First off, they will be among the first to try and taste Active Health’s latest offering in its sports nutrition line — the Active Health Sports Gel, which will be launched at Run United Philippine Marathon. On top of Gatorade, ION Energy Drink, water, sponges, and bananas will be given out at certain points of the routes.

This year, the red-carpet finish for the 42km finishers will be right inside the Active Health Village, through a short tunnel carved underneath the main stage. The runners’ companions can cheer at the cordoned-off spectators’ waiting area, and at the main stage audience area. All 42km finishers will be given an ice-cold glass of Enervon HP Recovery Drink while a grooming station complete with staff will be on standby to make sure that they will look their best in the photo-ops at the finish line.

After all the picture-taking and finish-line moments, runners can start their rest and recovery routines by attending a post-race talk and stretching at the Enervon Activ Marathoners’ Lounge where they will get limited-edition RUPM commemorative slippers. The University of Santo Tomas College of Rehabilitation Sciences will provide physical therapy and stretching services inside the Active Health Village. 

All categories, except for 42km, will have the start and finish line at the SM Mall of Asia; the 42km category will start at Bonifacio Global City and finish at SM Mall of Asia. Gun starts are as follows: 500m dash at 7 a.m.; 10K at 5:30 a.m.; 21K at 4 a.m.; and 42K at 3 a.m.

 According to RunRio’s Rio Dela Cruz, “We have been offering the 42K category for only two years and we are happy that we have established a good reputation. RUPM has its own following now. It has become the last big run race for most runners for the year. We are looking forward to celebrating yet another successful running year with our loyal participants.”

RunRio will hold a special awards’ night for participants who registered and finished the 21km category in Run United 1, 32km category in Run United 2 as well as the 42km category in RUPM. Awards will be given to the top three overall winners (women and men) in all distance categories.

Besides gifts and certificates from Unilab and other sponsors, the top three male and female RUPM winners will also receive cash prizes: for 10km winners, (P4,000/P5,000/P6,000) and for 21km winners (P6,500/P7,500/8,500). There will be two categories for the 42km categories, Filipinos and non-Filipinos. The top three winners in each category will get P25,000/P18,000/P12,000 respectively.

RUPM participants and their companions can avail themselves of activities, games, free product samples in various sponsors’ booths at the Unilab Active Health Village. Alaxan FR PBA legends will also be around for photo-ops. Entertainment will be provided by True Faith and Evedancel of Sugarfree.

Two more events are up ahead in ULAH’s active calendar — Tri United 3 and the Enervon Activ 226 Bohol Triathlon. Registration for both is still ongoing.

Tri United 3 Elite and Age Group Championship in Subic will feature standard distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) for elite and age-groupers triathletes. It will also accommodate teen triathletes with age categories 15-16 and 17-19 years old.

Enervon Activ 226 Bohol Triathlon, sponsored by Enervon Activ and organized by Bikeking, is slated for December 7. The 3.8km swim-180km bike-42km run triathlon will be held in Anda, Bohol. 

For more race information and results, interested parties may visit ULAH’s official website at unilabactivehealth.com as well as its Facebook and Twitter accounts.