Bold Ironman bidders brace for grueling race

MANILA, Philippines — While the elite pros are expected to finish it in over eight hours or so, the bulk of the brave 1,268 bidders from 47 countries brace for a grueling race that could stretch into the night when the first Century Tuna Full Ironman is fired off Sunday in Subic.

In fact, the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. has set a two-hour, 20-minute cutoff in the 3.8km swim leg; a 10-hour, 30-minute limit in the 180km bike stage; and a 17-hour deadline to finish the 42.95km closing run, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free staging of the most demanding endurance challenge ever to be held here.

Seven each in the men’s and women’s sides will slug it out for the coveted crown in the centerpiece Pro division while two in each category are vying in the Asian Elite. But focus will also be on the 11 age group divisions, which drew the bulk of the full Ironman participants.

Two hundred ninety-nine are entered in the 40-44 age class, including 266 in the men’s side, while 280, including 257 in the men’s, are entered in the 45-49 category. The 35-39 group has 248 entries while the 30-34 and 50-54 classes drew 151 and 122 casts, respectively.

“Everybody’s got that mixed feelings rush heading to the event – thrilled yet wary. But it will certainly be a unique feeling for every full Ironman finisher, a combination of relief, fatigue, joy, this being the first full Ironman to be staged here,” said SEI general manager Princess Galura.

Century Tuna, after successfully holding three 5150 and 70.3 races, is putting up the first full Ironman in partnership with SEI, the country’s producer and organizer of triathlon, which incidentally is celebrating a decade of Ironman staging here.