Huge field ready to endure Xterra Off-road triathlon

MANILA, Philippines - Over 300 runners, athletes, sports enthusiasts and adventure seekers are expected to take the challenge posted by the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series – conquer your limits – in three exciting race events this year.

Considered the world’s premier off-road triathlon event, the series will test participants in the Pang Rave Run on Feb. 26 in San Mateo, Rizal; the XTERRA Weekend, highlighted by world-class competition in ocean swim-mountain bike trail ride-trail run, on March 17-18 in scenic Liloan, Cebu; and Putik Pare, a race on mud, in Clark on Nov. 18.

According to Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr., president of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., the presence of a crop of top-notch pros from abroad will raise the level of competition in the centerpiece XTERRA Philippines Championship in Cebu.

“This is the only sport in the world where local athletes will be able to test their level against world-class athletes,” said Uytengsu during the launch that was also attended by Unilever managing director for skin care, oral care and deos Gilbert Simpao and brand manager Jonathan Pua yesterday at Dusit Thani.

Leading the foreign charge are Swiss Oliver Marceau, a three-time XTERRA European Tour champion; Australian Ben Allen, the 2011 XTERRA Brazil titlist; and seasoned campaigners Cedric Lassonde of France, Doug Hall, Adam York and Graham Wadsworth of the UK; Takahiro Ogasawara of Japan and Branden Rakita of the US.

Favorite in the distaff side is Swiss Renata Bucher, a four-time Euro Tour winner, who placed second in last year’s XTERRA Phl Championships, with competition from British Daz Parker and Jacqui Slack, and Austrian Carina Wasle.

“We will be holding three legs this year and this will be a prelude to the Ironman (70.3) which will also be staged in Cebu later on,” said Uytengsu.

He also thanked the entry of men’s skin care brand Vaseline Men as title sponsor and partner of the Series for the next three years.

The Pang Rave Run will kick off the hostilities, testing runners in a demanding trail run (22, 10, and 5K categories) amid the magnificent views of Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal.

The series then goes to Liloan, Cebu for the main event, the Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend. This two-day gig is headlined by the XTERRA Phl Championship Triathlon and Trail Run, where 40 tickets to the XTERRA Off-Road triathlon world championship slated October in Maui, Hawaii, to the and XTERRA Trail Run world championship in December in Oahu, Hawaii, will be up for grabs.

Capping the series will be the Putik Pare, which will see participants in a duathlon relay, going through a trail run and mountain bike ride ending with now famous Putik Pit.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is also sponsored by Alaska, Timex, Gatorade, Summit Water, David’s Salon, LBC, AirPhil Express, Prudentil Guarantee, 2XU, Dusit Thani Manila and media partners The Philippine STAR, Multisport, SBR, and Studio 23.