From left, Race.ph’s Paul Ouano and Aaron Yap, CERC president Kenneth Casquejo, 2XU Philippines’ Arleine dela Cruz and CERC’s John Pages and Meyric Jacalan pose after the launching of the 2018 Cebu Marathon.
/GLENDALE G. ROSAL
THE CEBU Executives Runners Club (CERC) will be taking charge of organizing the 2018 edition of the annual Cebu Marathon.
This was revealed by officials of CERC during a press conference yesterday at the Mooon Cafe Ayala Centre Cebu branch.
In the past four years, the Cebu Marathon, held every January in line with the celebration of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, was organized by the Manila-based Run Rio.
“Balik na sa bisaya,” said past CERC president John Pages during the press conference. (It’s back to the bisaya.)
Before Run Rio took over the organizing team four years ago, it was CERC which was tasked at handling the prestigious race.
“We at CERC handled the marathon for six years (before Run Rio took over),” said Pages, who was joined in the press conference by current CERC president Kenneth Casquejo and fellow organizer Meyric Jacalan.
Pages said it is just right that Cebuanos handle the race because the Cebu Marathon was founded by Cebuanos for the Cebuanos.
For the 2018 edition, the race will be getting support from two major sporting brands, 2XU and New Balance.
Early registration for the race will be starting today until July 30 at the Ayala Active Zone.
Interested runners can also register online via www.race.ph/cebumarathon2018 or cebumarathon.ph.
Fee for the early registration is P1,400 for the 42-kilometer race and P1,100 for the 21K.
Early registrants will get a commemorative 2XU shirt with a Cebu City Marathon-inspired print. The shirts, however, will not be given right away. It will be distributed during the race expo before race day.
The shirt costs more than P2,000 but will be given out for free to the early registrants. Aside from that, 2XU will also be giving a 50-percent discount on its products while New Balance will be giving a P500 coupon.
“This time, we would like to have the race be accessible to all, not just for the Cebuanos but to all running enthusiasts and athletes from all over domestic and international,” said Casquejo. “We will also address the concerns of our participants like food and water, we will make sure we can provide them both during the race.”
He added that the registration will be inclusive of the official race tee, finisher’s medal, sling bag and timing chips.