Race director Joel Baring (left to right), Mary Joy Tabal, John Philip Dueñas and SM City Cebu assistant mall manager Michael Manlangit show the singlets and finishers medal for next month’s SM2SM Run at the SM City Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/GLENDALE G. ROSAL)
The number seven will be the highlight in the seventh edition of one of the country’s premier footrace, the SM2SM Run slated on February 19, starting and ending at the SM City Cebu.
Bigger cash prizes are at stake as from P60,000, the top finishers in the 21-kilometer men’s and women’s division will now bring home P70,000 each.
From 6,000 last year, organizers are targeting 7,000 participants for this year’s race.
The race will no longer feature a 6k race and will instead have a 7k category to with the 21k, 12k and 3k events.
Aside from the cash prizes from the podium finishers, non-winners will also get a chance to win exciting prizes during the raffle draws which will be held during the awarding ceremonies at the SM City Cebu North Wing atrium.
The route of the race will still pass through the South Road Properties (SRP) but it will only utilize the seaside portion of the road.
Organizers also decided that they will not include SM Seaside City’s huge complex as part of the route. The 21k’s turning point will be near the Gaisano Capital SRP, while the 12k turning point will be at the intersection at the Mambaling road entrance of the SRP.
“Aside from the changes in the distance, cash prizes and the target number of runners, everything’s the same for this year’s SM2SM Run. The same excitement and fun but we decided to use the seaside portion of the road in SRP to prevent any traffic during the race. We will provide fruits, energy drinks and medical teams in every water stations along the route,” said race director Joel Baring in a press conference yesterday.
Learn from the best
No less than Mary Joy Tabal, the first Filipina to compete in the women’s marathon of the Olympics, will be joining the 21k race.
Tabal and her trainer John Philip Dueñas will hold a free four-session running clinic for the first 1,700 registered participants.
“We want to let the runners feel that they accomplished something in joining this race that’s why we teamed up with SM City Cebu to hold a running clinic leading to the race day,” said Tabal, who is the defending champion in the 21k race.
Dueñas said that the four-session running clinic will kick off on January 21 where the first three sessions will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The last session will be held at the SM City Cebu parking area.
“The four sessions will be about self evaluation, training, conditioning, preparations, nutrition and other important topics about running. Me and Joy want to share what we have learned in the races that we joined abroad to our fellow runners,” said Dueñas.
The first 100 registrants of the clinic will avail of a free shirt from Tabal and Dueñas’ JPD Coaching.
Registration is still going on at the SM City Cebu North Wing atrium. It will last until February 15. Registration fee for the 21k is pegged at P950, P750 for the 12k, P650 for the 7k and P550 for the 3k inclusive of a race singlet, bib, timing chip and refreshments.
Medals will be given to 12k and 21k finishers.