Bigger NatGeo Earth Day Run fires off April 10

MANILA, Philippines - The NatGeo Earth Day Run (EDR) gets going April 10 at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig with the field tipped to double last year’s inaugural turnout featuring professionals, students, health buffs, celebrities, weekend runners and athletes.

A 21K run has been added into this year’s race, making it a four-category event aimed at creating awareness about caring for the planet and helping save the environment. It includes the 3K and 5K fun runs and the 10K competition.

“We were encouraged by last year’s huge turnout that’s why we are putting up the 21K race,” said Jude Turcuato, Fox International Channels territory director. “It looks like we are going to double the 5,000 runners who took part last year as more and more people are taking running as a sport.”

The NatGeo EDR, however, stands out among the other fun runs since it will not only help in urging the people to care about their health but also “to show our planet we care about its health.”

On-line listup is available at www.natgeorun.com <http://www.natgeorun.com> until March 27 while on-site registration is ongoing at the NatGeo EDR booth at the left wing ground floor of Greenbelt 3 in Makati City until April 3. Fees are pegged at P600 (3K), P700 (5K), P900 (10K) and P1,150 (21K), inclusive of a NatGeo EDR limited edition technical shirt.

The NatGeo EDR also plans to help bring a constellation of stars in the Mind Museum’s Universe Gallery by asking NatGeo EDR on-line registrants to sponsor a star. Details and mechanics can be found through the EDR website.

Sponsors will receive electronic “donors certificate” and a sponsorship badge that they can post on Facebook with their names to be posted at the Mind Museum website.

Irineo Raquin topped last year’s centerpiece 10K run, clocking 33:52 to edge Elmer Saba;’s 33:58 time and Willy Rotich’s 34:11 clacking. While Jujet de Asis ruled the 5K event in 16:40, beating Gerald Sabal (16:45) and Jonathan Kiptanui (17:05). Milbert Nabu-Ab took the 3K title in 10:09, outsprinting Abundio Coral Jr. (10:57) and Jowel Taguinod (11:26).