Ultra marathon set

MANILA, Philippines - To further boost one of Pangasinan province’s major tourist spots, provincial and local government officials together with private groups are staging the inaugural Hundred Islands 100-kilometer International Ultra Marathon slated March 15-16 to and from Alaminos City.

“We want to promote the Hundred Islands not only as a local but also as an international tourist destination, which is the main reason we are organizing this ultra marathon,” said Alaminos 100 president and co-organizer Jones Campos.

Joining Campos in the session presented by Shakey’s, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. were Kate Celeste, representing her father, Alaminos Mayor Arthur Celeste, race director Philip Pacle of RenderFarm Sports, and a spokesperson for Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino.

“We have the full support of Mayor Celeste, Gov. Espino, and the other mayors of Bani, Anda, and Bolinao behind this project because we want Western Pangasinan, Alaminos in particular, to be recognized as a site for world-class sporting events,” said Campos, a veteran public relations and advertising man.

Pacle said the Ultra Marathon is actually a two-in-one event with the 100-km. marathon flagging off Saturday evening from the Lucap wharf of Alaminos, the home of the Hundred Islands, and passing through the towns of Bani, Anda, and Bolinao and back to the wharf.

The other is a 50-kilometer marathon on Sunday (March 16), from Bolinao and to the Lucas wharf, said Pacle, who himself has run the gruelling ultra marathon in 12 hours.

He revealed that among those who have signified their intention to join the 100-km. race, which offers a total pot of P300,000, are 2013 The North Face 100K Challenge champion Arnold Lozano of Baguio City and reigning BDM 100K king Joel Bengtay of La Trinidad, Benguet.

Pacle said also competing are marathon veteran Cresenciano Sabal, who will spearhead the Army team, and “Pinoy-Kenyan” Marcelo Bautisa, whose dusky features has often mistaken him to be from the African country famed for its long-distance runners.

Confirming their participation are some Kenyan runners and another “surprise” elite runner from London, he added.

The men’s and women’s champions in the Hundred Islands Ultra Marathon will receive P100,000 each, the runner’s-up and third placers, P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

In the 50K marathon, the winners will get P20,000 apiece, while the second and third placers get P10,000 and P7,000, respectively.

Registration fee is P3,500 for the ultra marathon and P3,000 for the marathon.

Those interested can register by email at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . Inquiries can be made at 0922-2604201, 0926-7179344 and 0917-8181015, at the website www.Renderfarmtown.com <http://www.renderfarmtown.com/>  and Takbo.ph.