THREE days after this year’s edition of Cobra Ironman 70.3, a memorial run will be held in
honor of a competitor who died three years ago.
“R399: Live Your Dream” kicks off at 5 a.m., Aug. 5 at Sumilon Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, its lead organizer Dr. Humility Igaña said yesterday.
Dr. Igaña’s husband Ramon “Ramie” Igaña died of acute pulmonary embolism. He fell from his bike during the Cobra Ironman event in 2012.
“He lived his dreams. He did what he loved to do till the end of his life,” she said.
Dr. Igaña recalled that she was hesitant to organize the memorial run two years ago.
Shared love
But race director Joel Baring motivated her to organize the event. She said she and her husband bonded due to their shared love for running.
Dr. Igaña said R399 was their race number during the Ironman 70.3 in 2012.
It was their first time to join the Cobra Ironman 70.3, and they were part of a relay team named TTB-Extreme with Dr. Benjamin Balaoro who swam during the race.
Ramon, a fitness enthusiast in his teenage years, did the 90-kilometer bike segment while
Humility was supposed to continue with a 21-km run in Lapu-Lapu City.
Ramon was the lone fatality in the day-long competition, which had 1,700 Filipino and foreign athletes swim, bike and run 70.3 miles through four cities of Metro Cebu.
Recovery run
The first memorial run in 2013 drew 1,900 participants and one year later, took in 1,500 participants.
“The memorial run happens a week after the Ironman so that more people can participate. This serves also as a recovery run for those who join the Ironman event a week prior,” Dr. Igaña said.
The event is divided into the 3K, 6K, and 12K categories. Registration fees are at P350 (3K), P400 (6K) and P500 (12K).
The registration inclusions are finisher’s medal, shirt and refreshments.
“All the finishers will be given medals to encourage everyone especially children and neophytes to join,” Dr. Igaña said.
Proceeds from the memorial run will be given to the Little Lamb Center, Missionaries of the Poor in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City.