3,500 runners expected to participate in St. Ignatius Run this October

St. Ignatius Run organizers headed by Engineer Joe France Cañizares (fifth from left), the running event’s chairman, and Engineer Philip Maynard Ortega (fourth from left), Sacred Heart School-Batch 1998 president, along with fellow alumni officials and Joel Juarez (third from right), race director of Coco Running posing for a group photo during its press launching. | Glendale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Some 3,500 runners are expected to join the annual St. Ignatius Run 2023, which returns next month as a face-to-face event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers said that the last edition of the St. Ignatius Run was in 2021 which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 health restrictions.

The Sacred Heart School (SHS) Batch 1998 alumni members will host the running event to celebrate their silver Jubilee year. 

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Runners can choose 5 distances

In a press conference on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the organizers headed by the running event’s chairman, Joe France Cañizares, promises the Cebuano running community a lung-busting but fun-filled running event that features five distances.

These distances are 16-kilometer, 10k, 5k, 3k, and 1k which are open for everyone. 

“Part of the events lined up for us as Jubilarians is the St. Ignatius Run. Also, we have various activities early this year such as our medical mission in Barangay Canduman. We have series of events until December,” said Cañizares during the presser at the G Mall of Cebu.

“This run is one of our events, this will be the first face-to-face run since the pandemic.”

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More medals for finishers

Joining him during the presser was their alumni president, Philip Maynard Ortega; alumni officers; and race director, Joel Juarez of Coco Running.

Cash prizes awaits the top three male and female finishers in the 16k, 10k, and 5k, while the shorter distances of 3k and 1k will not be a competitive race. 

Meanwhile, the first 100 finishers in the 5k and 10k categories will receive a finisher’s medal. 

According to Cañizares, they are hopeful to add more medals to award all finishers in these categories. 

Besides the open categories, there will be an SHS Alumni and student categories which will award the top five finishers with trophies. 

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Raise funds for scholarship program

Similar to its previous editions, the upcoming St. Ignatius Run 2023 aims to raise funds to sustain their scholarship program for the SHS-AdC and the SHS-AdC Alumni Association. 

“It’s a good opportunity for us to host this running event after the pandemic. So, hopefully we can invite everyone, it’s open to all, it’s a morning full of fun activities and a good time to bond with families and friends. It’s a mini reunion for students, alumni members, and parents,” said Cañizares.

The St. Ignatius Run 2023 will be held at the G Mall in the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.

There is a registration fee for those who will join and onsite registration is available at the RUNNR and Cabana in Ayala Center Cebu, Holiday Gym & Spa, Ecyy Sports Hub Cebu, Kuofu – Chong Hua Mandaue, UNBOX Cebu – Central Bloc IT Park, and at the Shs-Adc Alumni Office.

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