P2.3 million CamSur marathon to lure 20,000 runners

MANILA, Philippines - The Summit Water CamSur Marathon 2010 hopes to attract 20,000 participants, including foreign entries, when it is staged Sept. 26 at the Camsur Watersports Complex in Camarines Sur, Bicol.

“As part of our continued efforts to pursue nation-building, the CamSur Marathon 2010 aims to be the premiere running event in the country to gather 20,000 participants,” said host Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte in yesterday’s launch at the Dusit Hotel.

Organizers said Kenya’s John Mutai, Joyce Kandie and Simson Limareng, Ethiopia’s Asbnake Fekadu and Dado Firehiwot and Great Britain’s Harrison Susan are competing in the event, dubbed as “Race to Rebuild the Nation,” at one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Asia Brewery executive Hubert Tan, Department of Tourism’s Cynthia Carreon, Smart Communication’s Patrick Gregorio and Sen. Pia Cayetano, a noted triathlete, also graced the launch.

The race, presented by DOT, sponsored by Summit Water and Smart Communications and backed by Timex, 100 Plus, Nature Valley and The Philippine STAR, offers a total prize pot of $50,000 (around P2.3 million), also making it one of the richest running events in the land.

“The race will feature elite runners from all over the world amid the setting mountains and greeneries of our beautiful province,” said Villafuerte.

He added that proceeds of the event, which features 3K, 5K, 10K, 21K and 42K, will go to Gawad Kalinga, Organ Donor Card and K.I.D.S. Foundation.

Also joining to spice up the blue-ribbon event are celebrities Derek Ramsey, Drew Arellano, Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, Iza Calzado and Dyan Castillejo.

The CWC, declared the No. 1 tourist destination in the country last year, also hosted other big events like World and Asian Wakeboarding Championships, Iron Man and International Dragon Boat Festival.

It is also near the world famous Caramoan Islands, venue of franchises from France, Bulgaria, Serbia, Israel, Turkey and Sweden in the long-running reality show, Survivor.

For details, log on to www.camsurmarathon.com.