1,000 slots taken minutes after Cobra Ironman registration opened

Brent McMahon of Canada celebrates after reaching the finish line to win the pro division of this year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines. Registration for next year’s edition has started. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

Slots for next year’s Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines are selling like hotcakes.

Just 27 minutes after the online registration opened yesterday, one thousand slots were already taken for the grand event slated August 2 at the posh Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Apart from the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines, registrations for the other Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI)-organized events have already started. These events include the XTerra Offroad Triathlon in Legazpi City, Albay on February 8, Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Subic Bay, Zambales on March 8, Regent Foods 5150 in Subic also on June 7 and Safeguard 5150 in Panglao, Bohol on November 8.

Last year, all slots for Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines were taken just a few days after the registration started. This prompted SEI to add a hundred more slots to accommodate those who failed to register on time.

The previous edition attracted a total of 2,400 triathletes coming from seven continents.

Some sectors are hoping that Cebu will be hosting the triathlon for three more years. But SEI has urged that road conditions be improved for the event to stay in Cebu.

“Right now, we are trusting the word from the provincial government. If the roads won’t be repaired next year, then we have other options,” said SEI project director Princess Galura.

Those who want to join the country’s biggest triathlon event will have to shell out extra bucks.

The race that offers a 1.9k swim, 90k bike and 21k run pegged an individual registration fee of $275.00 both for foreign and local participants.

For the team relay, registration fee is pegged at $350.00.

The CEO category, exclusive only for participants who are chief executive officers, presidents or managing directors of companies that earn $5 million in annual revenue, has a registration fee of $1,500.

SEI is expected to offer more slots. Additional slots, however, will be more expensive.

SEI puts up a community slot for the late enlistees with a $550 fee for the individual race and $650 for the relay division.

SEI officials said that part of the registration fees will be used for charity works that the group will choose.

After this year’s race, SEI officials and professional foreign triathletes went to Bantayan Island to unveil the race’s adopted Gawad Kalinga Village named Ironman Village intended for the typhoon Yolanda victims.

To register, visit the race’s official website at ironman703phil.com/cebu2013/registration.

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