Danao City to host International Ultra Trail in January 2024

The event organizers posed for a photo after the media launch of Danao City’s 1st International Ultra Trail on Wednesday, October 25. | CDN File Photo by Niña Mae Oliverio

CEBU CITY, Philippines — An international event is coming to Danao City in January 2024.

The local government of Danao City will be hosting the 1st international Ultra Trail, which will take place on January 27 and 28 next year.

The event was launched on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, where city officials and the event’s organizers presented the details on what the participants could expect in the said event.

The participants of this event will have the chance to see and experience the city’s four captivating peaks: Licos Peak, Manghilao Peak, Mt. Lantauan, and Mt. Mago.

Marites Bitbit, the event’s organizer, is a renowned mountain biker and a member of the Philippine National Cycling Team for 16 years. She is also a Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) gold medalist in 2005 and 2007.

Bitbit said that she was ‘groomed’ in Danao City in 1997, where she first joined the National Mountain Bike, and ended in third place.

Having been familiar and close to Danao City, Bitbit takes the international event here not as a cyclist but as an organizer.

To those who would want to join the race, they could choose their preferred distance of race: 15 kilometers, 30 kilometers, 50 kilometers, and 100 kilometers.

The race is open for Filipinos and foreign participants aged 19 years old and above.

According to Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark “Mix” Durano, the event would be an opportunity to boost the local government’s tourism and a chance for economic impact.

Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano, city councilor and chairperson for the Committee on Tourism, said the event would also promote sports adventure tourism.

“It is not just a race. It’s an exploration of our city’s hidden gems where athletes will push their limits against the backdrop of our breathtaking scenery,” Ivy said.

The event organizers are targeting at least 400 participants but they are also expecting more to register, especially next year.

Danao Ultra Trail Registration

The early registration begins from October 25 to November 30, while the regular date of registration is from December 1, 2023 to January 10, 2024.

Foreign participants can join the 50-10-kilometer distance, while the Filipinos can join the 15-100 km distance.

For early registrants, these are the rates:

Filipino participants

• 15km – P2,000
• 30km – P2,400
• 50km – P2,800
• 100km – P3,200

Foreign participants

• 50km – USD80
• 100km – USD120

For those who register on the regular dates, these are the following rates:

Filipino participants

• 15km – P2,400
• 30km – P2,800
• 50km – P2,200
• 100km – P3,500

Foreign participants

• 50km – USD100
• 100km – USD150

Those who want to register on-site in Cebu, they can proceed to ROX Cebu stores in Ayala Center Cebu and SM Seaside, and Rudy Project store in SM City Cebu. They could also register online through this link: click here.

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