Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra-Marathon

Last year's participants joined runners from
different towns and cities traversing the Death
March trail to honor WWII Heroes.

The 27th edition of the longest and oldest tribute run for WW II heroes dubbed as Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra-Marathon continues this April 9 to 10, 2012.

Traversing the infamous 1942 Death March Trail, the tribute run will start at the Kilometer Post 0 Marker of the Death March Trail in Mariveles, Bataan.

This unique historic ultra-marathon event started with just 29 runners from  San Fernando Runners Unlimited, Inc. (SAFER RUN) almost two months after the historic People Power EDSA Revolution in 1986 that toppled the dictatorship of the human right violator Ferdinand Marcos.

Run With the Masters

Davao City - Run with the Masters 2012, now co-presented by Castrol Phils, Inc. with Vantage Sports Promotions, is set on April 15 at the out-and-back course of the  Davao Crocodile Park in Maa.

“This is in celebration of our company’s fourth year anniversary. But of course it is also our tribute to my late father (Vic Sai),” said organizer and VSP president Kenneth Sai during the recent SCOOP forum held at the Zoofari Kids Adventure in Bacaca.

51.5 Durianman Triathlon

Davao City - The  Triathlon Association of Davao (Triad) is organizing and staging the first 51.5 Durianman Triathlon on April 15 at the Queensland’s Baywalk in Matina Aplaya, according to SCOOP Davao in their facebook page.

“This is the first triathlon in Davao with an Olympic distance,” said Triad president Jason Yap during a SCOOP forum held at the Zoofari Kids Adventure in Bacaca.

The event was earlier set last year but was cancelled due to the road construction in the area by the government.

The Durianman Triathlon will have a total of 51.5 kilometers with a 1.5 kilometer swim, 40KM bike and 10K run for individual and team relay for two or three members.

Medals and gift items will be awarded to the top three over-all male and female finishers, top three relay teams, top three male age-groups (16-19 years old, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 and 60 and above) and the top three female age-groups (16-20, 21-30, 31-40 and 41 and above).

The entry fees are P1,000 for the individual and P2,500 for the relay team composed of either two or three members.

The entry fee is inclusive of the race packet, post-race meal, finisher’s medal and souvenir t-shirt. Registration is on-going at the Sports Depot located at the ground floor, Victoria Plaza Mall.

The race briefing and race packet distribution will be held at the Lechon King at Torres St. The event, which is supported by The Lead Pack, is sponsored by Sports Depot, Lechon King, Edge Outdoors, Anobei Food Products, Swimzone, Blue Gem Water Refilling Station, Shalimar Sports International, Pocari Sweats, Sorongon Mills, Dole, Everflex Electricals, 1st Trubank, Transition One Multi Sport, Indukem and Angel Funeral Homes.

Elite triathletes to see action in XTERRA Cebu

Some of the most respected triathletes from around the world will converge in Liloan, Cebu on March 17-18 to take part at the Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend, the second leg in the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series.

According to organizers, the two-day event serves as a qualifier to the highly-competitive XTERRA World Championship in Oahu and Maui, Hawaii.

Among the A-list triathletes in the roster include 4-time XTERRA European Tour Champion Renata Bucher of Switzerland, 3-time XTERRA European Tour Champion Oliver Marceau also of Switzerland, 2011 XTERRA South Africa Champion Carina Wasle of Austria, 2011 XTERRA Brazil Champion Ben Allen of Australia and 2008 ITU World Cup Subic Bay Champion Matt O' Halloran of Canada.

Three-time Philippine National Open champion, 2-time SEA Games medalist and 15-time Ironman finisher Arland Macasieb is expected to represent the country in the elite event.

Likewise hoping to make their presence felt are 2011 XTERRA Mexico Championship 3rd placer Will Kelsay of the USA; 2011 XTERRA European Tour Championship 14th placer Cedric Lassondre of France; 2011 XTERRA Saipan Championship 2nd placer Takahiro "Oga-san" Ogasawara of Japan; 2011 XTERRA Philippines Championship 4th placer Darrelle "Daz" Parker of the UK; 2011 XTERRA Mexico Championship 2nd placer Branden Rakita of the USA; 2011 XTERRA Italy Championship 4th placer Jacqui Slack of the UK and 2011 XTERRA European Tour Championship 10th placer Graham Wadsworth of the UK.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend in Cebu kicks off with a demanding trail run on March 17.  Featuring 21, 10 and 5 kilometer categories, top male and female finishers will take home cash prizes.

Most importantly, top age group finishers for the 21K trail will qualify for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championships slated in Oahu, Hawaii this year.

Capping off the Vaseline Men XTERRA Weekend are two triathlon events on March 18 with the XTERRA Lite and the XTERRA Philippines Championship.

The XTERRA Lite involves a 500-meter swim, 30-kilometer bike and a 5-kilometer run.  On the other hand, the XTERRA Philippines Championship involves a more grueling challenge with a 1.5-kilometer swim, 30-kilometer bike and a 10-kilometer run.

Apart from winning exciting cash prizes (total pro prize money is US$15,000), the top age group finishers now vie for 40 slots to the XTERRA World Championships in Maui, Hawaii.

After the exciting, world-class triathlon action in Cebu, the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series moves to Clark, Pampanga for the Putik Pare leg slated on November 18.  It's a duathlon relay involving a trail run and mountain bike that promises to provide an exciting challenge.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is sponsored by Alaska, Timex, Gatorade, Summit Water, David's Salon, LBC, AirPhil Express, Prudential Guarantee, 2XU, Dusit Thani Manila and media partners The Philippine Star, Multisport, SBR and Studio 23.  Host venues for this year are Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, and Amara, Porter Marina, and Papa Kit's in Liloan Cebu.

Unabia, Jaro win Araw ng Dabaw marathon

ATHLETIC coach Arnold Unabia of Tangub City and Davao's newest sensation Cynthia Jaro finally earned their first 42K crown yesterday in the Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon held in an out-and-back course at the Roxas Avenue, this city.

THE CHAMPION. Arnold Unabia (center) of Tangub City receives his P30,000 cash prize for winning the men's 42K footrace in the 2012 Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon held Sunday in an out-and-back course at Roxas Avenue in Davao City. Beside him is Debbie Uy of Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Inc. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)

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According to sportswriter Lito Delos Reyes, Unabia, 32, who handles the Tangub City running team, broke away from the lead pack in the last five kilometers and never looked back to bag the men's title with a time of two hours, 43 minutes and 12 seconds.

Fantilaga, Jopson tops Xterra Rave Run

Carlito Fantilaga and Joyette Jopson proved to have greater endurance and steadier legs as they topped the 22K men's and women's divisions, respectively, in the recent Vaseline Men XTERRA Pang Rave Run, the organizers said in a press statement recently.

Held at Timberland Heights in San Mateo, Rizal, the first leg of the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series attracted more than 500 participants, who all enjoyed challenging 22K, 10K and 5K races that offered stunning views.

Fantilaga finished the race in 1:40:56 and was followed by William Robinson with a time of 2:10:25 and Felix Abuel with a time of 2:12:15.  In the women's division, Jopson (2:28:55)  was trailed by Olive Cortez with a time of 2:33:01 with Pen Nepomuceno rounding out the top 3 with a time of 2:37:48.

No Kenyans in Phoenix Marathon

Kenyans  will not be seeing action in this year’s Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Marathon: Takbo Para sa KinaBO-OKasan on March 11.

“We have not accepted the entries of the Kenyans for we want our local runners the chance to win,” said Neb Bulaclac of the organizing Phoenix Petroleum Phils. Inc. in the recent SCOOP at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

At least 15 Kenyans, who are based in Manila had earlier wanted to join the race which offers more than P300,000 in cash and other prizes for the winners, Davao-based Lito delos Reyes posted in SCOOP Davao Chapter's Facebook Page.