MAJOR changes will mark next year’s Cebu Marathon, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
For the first time, the race, which will be held on January 8, will be featuring four distances, the 42-kilometer, 21k, 10k and 5k races.
From the Cebu IT Park, the race is also moving to the Cebu Business Park ground as it venue.
The 42k and 21k races will also have new routes that will now cover the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
Participants in the 42k and 21k races will now have to pass the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
John Pages, one of the organizers from the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), said they are trying to revive the concept used by one of Cebu’s iconic running events in the past dubbed as the “Tri City Marathon”.
“We want to bring back that concept of the Tri City Marathon because it became one of Cebu’s icons, and we are happy that we will be covering three cities in this race because it’s something new to the participants,” said Pages in a press conference yesterday at the Mooon Café in Cebu IT Park.
Organizers have also decided to change the race’s icon from a Sinulog festival-inspired theme to a simpler concept art with the Marcelo Fernan Bridge as its centerpiece.
CERC has also decided to bring back the awarding of the mango-shaped finishers medal.
“We’re bringing back the mango shaped medal, which was used during the first year of the marathon, but now it comes with a bigger size and a new design,” said CERC official Meyric Jacalan.
Organizers added they will be providing more food and hydration to the participants along the race route and at the finish line.
The race will also feature a new design of the race shirt and finishers’ shirt.
“Although the run’s fee is quite expensive, we will do our best to give value of the participants’ money. We will provide them a very well-organized race,” added Jacalan, who was recently elected as the Vice President of CERC.
CERC’s new president is fun run organizer Kenneth Casquejo. Also present in yesterday’s press conference were former CERC presidents Jesse Taborada, Steve Ferraren, Jacalan, Joel Juarez and Casquejo.
The online registration kicked off last September 26 while the on-site registration will be on Monday at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu.
Early registration fee for the 42k is P1,800, P1,500 for the 21k, P900 for the 10k and P650 for the 5k, Early registration is until October 31.
Registration fee after October 31 will be pegged at P2,100 for the 42k, P1,800 for the 21k, P1,100 for the 10k and P750 for the 5k.