LET THE GRANDEST SPORTS EVENT UNFOLD!

MAKING A SPLASH. Participants of the Alaska IronKids Triathlon take to the waters to start the grueling three-event race. (CDN PHOTOS/LITO TECSON)

Months of rigid preparations and planning come down to the most anticipated Sunday in Philippine sports as the country hosts thousands of blue chip triathletes including former world champions in the 2016 Cobra IronMan 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship today.

The event, which attracted a record field of 2,967 triathletes from 43 countries, unfolds at the scenic Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

With the “race safely” reminder from organizer Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) big boss Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, competitors launch their quest for a share of the US$75,000 pot money as they tackle a grueling race course that features a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90k bike and 21k run spanning four cities.

Forecasters’ warning of a rainy and windy Sunday are seen as an additional challenge to an already daunting race course.

“If you expect an easy race tomorrow (today) then you signed up with the wrong race, better play golf instead. I just want to remind all of you to eat the pain and enjoy the race,” Uytengsu told the participants during last night’s Race Briefing at Shangri-La’s Grand Ballroom.

Aside from the cash prize, also being dangled are slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The briefing also included a 15-minute instructional video about the rules and regulations of the race.

Historic

Cebu’s fifth hosting of the Cobra Ironman is historic as it marks the first time that the Asia-Pacific Championship will be held outside of Australia and New Zealand.

And SEI and the event’s other stakeholders are not about to botch this golden opportunity to showcase the Filipinos’ capacity to host such a mammoth international sports event and spice it up with a fiesta-like atmosphere.

“After 11 months of planning and consultations, Cebu is ready,” declared SEI General Manager Princess Galura.

“We have covered everything there is just to make this race perfect, but there are things that are beyond our control so they have to be extra careful so that they will enjoy the experience especially the first-timers. Safety first and listen to your body,” Galura added.

Beyond triathlon

Now on its fifth year, Cebu’s hosting of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Triathlon has consistently drawn the admiration of even the most jaded triathletes with its colorful side events and the warm welcome and support from Cebuanos.

They have always raved about the thousands of cheering locals lining up the race course to egg them on.

Men’s Pro Elite defending champion Tim Reed of Australia and 2014 winner Brent McMahon of Canada said that the people lining up along the streets and cheering them on give them extra motivation to finish the race.

“The race is very tough and you’re always on the verge of giving up. But you see those smiles and cheers and you just have to keep pushing on. There’s no place on earth where you can see so many people cheering for you,” Reed said.

Reed and Caroline Steffen will defend their men and women’s titles today.

The swim course will also be adorned with hundreds of colorful vintas while cheer dancers from Lapu-Lapu City’s high schools provide extra life and vibe on the streets.

Bayanihan

The Cobra Ironman is also a showcase of the rare Filipino bayanihan spirit as proven by the strong cooperation among the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay, and various sectors which have pooled around 5,000 volunteers from tanods to enlisted personnel from the PNP, AFP, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard and various medical teams.

“This is the largest field of triathletes ever assembled here and most of them are first-timers so it’s crucial to make this race safe and memorable for everyone,” Galura said.

Celebrities like Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, Matteo Guidicelli and Gretchen Fullido will also add star power to the already star-studded event.

There will also be a livestreaming available online provided by Globe Telecom.