Ironman 70.3 to be held in Puerto Princesa this November
Princess Galura, the general manager of Ironman Philippines Group, and Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron hold the Ironman logo during the launching of the launching of the Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa. | Photo from Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa Facebook page.
CEBU CITY, Philippines —Triathletes have something big to look forward to this year after the Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa was officially launched on Monday, March 28, 2022, marking the international triathlon race’s fifth destination in the Philippines.
The Ironman Philippines Group headed by its president and general manager Princess Galura officially launched the upcoming race slated on November 13, 2022, on Monday in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
They were hosted by the city government headed by Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron during the launching.
Similar to the grand Ironman 70.3 race happening in Mactan Island, Cebu annually, the race features a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90k bike, and 21k run.
It’s one of the major triathlon races happening in the Philippines two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this month, the Ironman Philippines Group of Galura staged the full-distance Ironman race (3.8k swim, 180k bike, and 42k run) in Subic Bay, Zambales. It was the first Ironman triathlon race held in the country since the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
Petr Lukosz of the Czech Republic was the first to finish the grueling race.
Meanwhile, during the press launching, Galura said that they had been working very hard to put up the upcoming race in Puerto Princesa, given the situation brought by the pandemic.
She said that the race was supposedly scheduled in 2020, but was moved to 2021, and ultimately in 2022 due to the changing quarantine restrictions.
“Matagal namin tong pinagtrabahuhan. Dapat 2020 pa ito, naging 2021, ngayon 2022,” said Galura.
(It took us a long time to work on this. It should have been held in 2020, then it became 2021, and now its 2022.)
“Baka nga po blessing in disguise kasi ito pong unang karera na ni launch namin sa Asia na bagong destination after the pandemic and ngayon po na maraming tao ang hindi nakapagkarera ng dalawang taon I’m sure lahat po sila gustong-gusto magkarera na,” she said.
(Perhaps, this is a blessing in disguise because this is the first race that we launched in Asia in a new destination after the pandemic, and now this happened with many people who had not raced for two years that I’m sure all of them wanted to join the race.)
For his part, Bayron looks forward to welcome the triathletes from all over the world to their city which is one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations.
Puerto Princesa is popularly known worldwide for its subterranean river national park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven New Wonders of Nature. It’s also popular for its white sand beaches and a preferred jumping point to Palawan’s other tourist destinations.
“We’re looking forward to welcome you warmly and sincerely here in the city of Puerto Princesa,” said Bayron.
The Puerto Princesa race which is the fifth destination of the Ironman Philippines is foreseen to draw 1,600 triathletes from all over the world.
Galura said that they were aiming to make this race the biggest new race in Asia.
“This is a global launching of Ironman’s newest race in Asia. We will open the registration on March 30, 2022. We are trying to go for 1,600 slots, the biggest number for any new race here in Asia, yan po ang target namin (that is our target),” she said.
The other Ironman race destinations in the Philippines aside from Cebu, Subic and Puerto Princesa are Camarines Sur and Davao.
Moreover, Galura also teased that there would be big news and good developments to be announced soon for the Ironman 70.3 Cebu.
RELATED STORIES
Ironman race in Subic Bay boosts local tourism
Fisherman’s son from Danao makes waves in nat’l triathlon
Ironman 70.3 rescheduled again due to COVID concerns
43 swimmers of Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group to compete in Pinamungajan’s open water race
43 swimmers of Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group to compete in Pinamungajan’s open water race
Remolino, triathlon coach: Cebu’s triathletes’ shine brightly in NAGT in Subic
/dbs
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
