SMDC-QC int’l marathon starts early

MANILA, Philippines - Organizers of the SMDC-Quezon City International Marathon have set an early start for the full marathon on Sunday at the QC Memorial Circle to ensure the safety of participants and motorists alike.   

Executive Runners Club of the Phils. chairman and president Francisco Cayetano Jr. said that the 42K starting time has been moved back from 4 a.m. to 3 a.m., although the 21K (4:30 a.m.), 10K (5:50 a.m.) and 5K (6 a.m.) races will have the same times.

“We would like to have our runners racing in safe and secure surroundings, which is why we moved back the full marathon by an hour. We also want to clear the streets earlier for motorists and commuters to avoid traffic congestion in the area,” Cayetano said.

He added that the routes mapped out for all four races promise to be just as challenging with the event co-presented by SM Development Corp. and supported by BPI, Meralco, SSS, Manila North Tollways, AGC, Isuzu, Chris Sports, Maynilad, Manila Water, Summit, Gatorade, Salonpas, Fonterra and Maxima Machineries.

The event is jointly organized by Runnex and the QC government headed by Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte with AKTV, The Philippine Star, Aksyon Sports, PTV-Auto Review, FrontRunner, Multi-Sport, Total Fitness, Manila Broadcasting Company, PBS-DZSR & DWBR as media partners. 

The runners will run through a relatively flat out-and-back course starting from the Quezon City Hall.   

Besides Commonwealth Ave., the widest roadway in the country, the route highlights some of Quezon City’s major landmarks such as the UP Diliman campus and La Mesa Water Dam Eco-Park.

The route for the QCIM’s 5-K run will initially pass the vicinity of Philcoa onward to Commonwealth, proceeding past its junction with Tandang Sora and Katipunan. Before reaching the Tandang Sora Flyover, the runners will turn around for the finish at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

The 10K course follows the same route but proceeds farther along Commonwealth to its turnaround point in the vicinity of the Don Antonio Sports Complex past the Diliman preparatory school and traces the same length back to the start/finish area. 

The 21K route goes beyond the initial leg of the 10K distance and proceeds onward along Commonwealth Avenue to the La Mesa Eco-Park through Marlboro St. The turnaround is at the park’s gate for the return leg to the finish line.

The 42K course likewise passes in front of Philcoa and then takes a tour of the UP Diliman Campus via University Avenue and E. de los Santos, Kalaw, Pardo de Tavera, C.P. Garcia, Velasquez, and E. Ma. Guerrero streets before exiting to Commonwealth via Magsaysay Ave.  

The race proceeds to the La Mesa Eco-Park also through Marlboro Road and takes the same Commonwealth–UP Diliman route back to the finish grounds at the Memorial Circle.

 Motorists bound to these areas on race day are advised to take alternative streets, or they can join the QCIM’s car-free day initiated for those living in the Fairview/Commonwealth/UP Diliman districts. 

This voluntary campaign encourages the residents to defer using their vehicles on Dec. w from 12 midnight to 12 noon not only to give way to runners in the SMDC-QC International Marathon but also to contribute curbing air pollution.