Over 2,400 athletes to prove they are Ironmen in Cebu; bamboo medals ready

Kenneth Cobonpue presents the finisher’s medal he made for the Ironman 2014 (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Over 2,400 athletes, a third of them foreign visitors, are in Cebu for the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, the country’s most prestigious international triathlon.

It’s “all system’s go” tomorrow for the series of endurance races which puts metropolitan Cebu in the spotlight of world sports again, its third year of hosting the “half-Ironman”.

Weathermen forecast cloudy skies and a chance of rain today, when a children’s version called Alaska IronKids starts this morning at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort, and tomorrow, the main event.

”We ironed out last-minute concerns about potholes and road closures,” said Cebu provincial administrator Mark Tolentino.

“Good news to everyone, we’ve covered it, including some minimal permit problems with other local government units.”

He spoke at a press conference with Fred Uytengsu, chief of Sunrise Events as main organizer, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort, where the races begin and end.

A key concern was the road cracks in a Cebu City section of the 90-kilometer bike course. The Department of Public Works and Highways will finish patching the holes tonight, just in time for the cycling race that kicks off at 6 a.m. on Sunday.

Still, athletes were advised to take extra caution about passing through uneven surface portions in the S. Osmeña Road.

The closure of several roads, including the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and half of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge from 5 a.m. to about noon of Sunday for a 90-kilometer bicycle race, will test the patience of Cebuano motorists.

Traffic advisories were issued days ahead of the Ironman 70.3 but the inconvenience to the public is also expected to be offset by enthusiastic cheering by spectators who will stand by the road to catch a glimpse of cyclists and marathon runners, who include Philippine showbiz celebrities, like Piolo Pascual.

BAMBOO MEDALS

Cebuano designer Keven Cobunpue yesterday unveiled nature-inspired designs for the medals of finishers and winners of the Ironman 70.3.

Cut from a section of bamboo, a hollow cylinder forms the base of tiny figures representing the three disciplines in the race.

“I cast three figures – the cyclist, runner and swimmer – finishing their challenges in the medal,” said Cobunpue.

The idea stems from Philippine folklore’s version of the creation of the world with the first man and woman, “Malakas” and “Maganda”, emerging from a bamboo pole that splits into two.

“The Ironman 70.3 stands for a combination of both qualities,” said Cobunpue , “strength (“malakas”) and something beautiful (“maganda”) to remember.”

He said it took a month to finish the final medals that were crafted to epitomize the theme of the race: “Only the extraordinary can outrace themselves.’

Professional elite athletes, including the Philippine’s Monica Torres, were presented in a “Meet the pros” segment at the luxury Mactan resort. Fellow athletes welcomed Pete Jacobs, Australia’s Casey Munro, Cameron Brown of New Zealand and defending women’s pro champion Caroline Steffen.

The race will feature professional, elite athletes, a CEO category, an all male, all female and mixed relay categories.

Filipinos number the most with 1,726 athletes followed by 141 Singaporeans, 56 Americans, 52 Australians, 39 Japanese and 22 British nationals. The rest come from various countries.

SEI project director Princess Galura said organizers were grateful to the hosting coordination of the Cebu provincial government and local governments of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and

Talisay where the races will take place.

“It was very difficult but we made it here. I am very thankful for the great support of Cebu province and the different local governments. It’s not easy to organize a race like this,” said Galura.

The state-owned Pag-asa weather station said the southwest monsoon will bring cloudy skies and some rain in Cebu, conditions reinforced by tropical storm “Halong” blowing in Central Luzon.

Almost 2,500 triathletes from 40 countries will answer the starting gun in a 1.9 kilometer swim off the waters of Shangri-la resort, then climb on racer bikes for a 90-kilometer bike and end with a 21-kilometer marathon.

The total of 70.3 miles is half the distance of the Ironman, the world’s most grueling and prestigious triathlon, which originated in 1978 in Hawaii.

The event in Cebu is among over two dozen Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races held throughout the world where athletes can qualify to later join the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. /With Kristal A. Eduyan, Palompon Institute of Technology intern