RP runners, Kenyans vie in ultra marathon

MANILA, Philippines - The beauty and blight of Laguna de Bay and its surroundings come into focus when the Laguna Lake Challenge takes off on Saturday with close to 30 teams seeing action during the grueling two-day, 207-kilometer ultra marathon event.

“We are encouraged by the turnout of participants for the Laguna Lake Ultra Marathon Challenge, which we hope will raise public awareness for this vital water body,” Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Edgar Manda said.

Manda said that thus far 18 teams have confirmed to compete in the team relay event organized by the Laguna de Bay Conservation Foundation in cooperation with Team Ventures Inc. and backed by the Laguna and Rizal provincial governments, Maynilad Water, Manila Water Company, San Miguel Corp. and Nestle Phils.

Manda disclosed that Army will have four entries, the Philippine National Police two, while Air Force, Coast Guard, UPLB Mountaineering, LLDA Taytay, Antipolo, Metropolitan Mountaineering Society, McDonald’s-Sta. Cruz, Run4Change, Flash Forward, Lake Dashers, Maynilad Water and Team Sagul will field one squad each.

“In the end we are looking forward to at least close to 30 teams vying in the event,” said Manda, adding that the competition is meant for the benefit of the Galalan Community Bamboo Forest Project in Pangil, Laguna and the livelihood projects of the Laguna de Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council.

To boost interest in the race is the participation of national athletes and the powerhouse Kenyan runners, whose names will be announced shortly in the race also supported by Pagcor, PCSO, GMA Kapuso Network, Ortigas and Company and Suunto watches.

Race director Thumbie Remigio said these runners will be seeded to the different teams to level the playing field in the event likewise backed by Rotary Club Makati Central, Unilever, Sogo Hotels, Petron, NCA, and CBK Power Company Ltd.

Up for grabs is total cash pot of over P800,000, with P350,000 going to the grand champion of the grueling relay The opening day will be a rolling 92.39-km. trek of five-stages - the longest being the19.26-km. Muntinlupa to Sta. Rosa, Laguna leg - starting from Tiendesitas in Pasig City and winding up in front of the provincial capital building in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

The runners return the next day to complete the ultra marathon with the longer 114.82-km., five-stage stretch kicking off from the Laguna provincial capitol and also ending at Tiendesitas, highlighted by the 29.9-km. Mabitac, Laguna to Jala-jala, Rizal run.

“At each stop, we aim to focus on a facet of Laguna Lake so that Metro Manila, Laguna and Rizal residents will realize how important this major watershed is so that we can preserve and conserve it,” Manda said.

With a total land area of 91,136 hectares and with a shoreline of 285 kilometers, Laguna de Bay is the country’s largest lake and the second-biggest in Southeast Asia, providing livelihood to thousands of shoreline dwellers, majority of them small fishermen.

The lake also contributes 20.5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, Manda said.