Organizers expect 13,000 participants in Condura Skyway Marathon: Run for the Mangroves

Condura Skyway Marathon chief organizing offider Ton Concepcion
(center), and Patrick Concepcion (second from left), Condura
Skyway running ambassador, pose with (from left) Au
Rubenecia of Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation,
Baby Lorenzo, Asics marketing manager, and race director
Neville Jay Manaois as they display the finishers’ shirts
during the launch of the Condura Skyway Marathon:
Run for the Mangroves, set Feb. 3, 2013, at the PSA
Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.

Organizers of the Condura Skyway Marathon: Run for the Mangroves expect a bigger staging for its next edition in February next year with 2,500 runners projected in the long-busting 42k distance.

"So far, after only three days of registration, 1,000 runners have already registered for the 42k. We expect 2,500 full marathoners overall, so this will be one of the largest full marathon events in the country," said Ton Concepcion, chief organizing officer of Skyway Marathon during yesterday's PSA Forum at Shakey's Malate.

Concepcion said the entire field in the event, set Feb. 3, 2013, will be limited to 13,000 runners overall, who will try to "conquer the Skyway and build a mangrove forest" in the 42K, 21K, and 10K races as well as the new 6K and 3.8K distances, which replace the previous 5K and 3K runs, respectively.

Condura Skyway running ambassador Patrick Concepcion (left) 

discusses the mechanics of the Condura Skyway Marathon: 

Run for the Mangroves set Feb. 3, 2013 during the 

event launch at the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate 

on Tuesday. With him is Ton Concepcion, chief 

organizing officer of Condura Skyway Marathon.

"We're looking at 13,000 runners and the interesting thing is, we expect to continue the trend of seeing more participants in the longer distances, the 21K and 42K, than the previous editions," he said when he graced the forum along with running ambassador Patrick Concepcion, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation's An Rubenecia, race director Neville Manaois, and Asics' representative Baby Lorenzo.

Registration is ongoing until Dec. 23, at the Asics Registration Center in Greenbelt 3 Ayala Mall in Makati City.

The Condura Skyway Marathon, Run for the Mangroves 2013, co-title sponsored by Skyway and presented by sports apparel and shoe sponsor Asics, hydration partners 100 Plus and Summit Water and venue sponsor Filinvest City, will also serve as the kickoff of next year’s running events.

For race details and the event’s advocacy, visit the official website www.conduraskywaymarathon.com or the official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/conduraskywaymarathon.

Other backers of the event are Century Tuna, 100 Plus, Coors Light, Century Tuna, Dole, Magnolia Fresh Chicken, Monterey, Selecta, Magnolia Brown Eggs, Clear, LBC, Soleus, Rexona, Pond’s, Master and Crimson, Acacia, Bellevue, AsiaTravel.com as hotel and travel partners and The Philippine Star, Men’s Health Magazine, Runner’s World, UNO Magazine, Women’s Health and Solar Sports as media partners.

On its sixth edition, the 2013 Condura Skyway Marathon: Run for the Mangroves will flag off at Filinvest City in Alabang, taking the runners in all distances through the Skyway, where they can expect an exclusive, traffic-free, clean and well-lit race environment.

"The route is difficult and challenging. First is the weather, participants will be running at 12 a.m. There's also lots of false flats, some uphill climb, and since it's elevated, there will be strong winds coming from Laguna de Bay," said Manaois.

More than a premier running event, the Condura Skyway Marathon makes participants a partner in its advocacy of helping with the reforestation of the Mangroves in Zamboanga de Sibugay in partnership with PTFCF.

Upon registration, each runner will get to donate three mangrove seedlings to be planted in his/her name.

"In 2012, the runners planted 39,000 mangroves and we expect more next year. This will benefit the new generation. Not only will it protect the environment, it will also generate livelihood for the area," Concepcion said.

In addition, participants can give pledges to advocacy groups ICanServe Foundation – Breast Cancer Support Network; Bike for the Philippines; Hero Foundation; and Liter of Light Foundation during the event.

Registration is ongoing until December 23, 2012, at the Asics Registration Center in Greenbelt 3 Ayala Mall in Makati City.

Interested runners can register for free in any race category upon buying a pair of ASICS running shoes.

Each participant will receive, as part of the registration, an “I RAN FOR THE MANGROVES” quick-dry shirt designed for the event by Team Manila.

A cool Finisher's Medal is also in store for each runner who completed his chosen distance as the Condura Skyway Marathon considers every finisher a winner.

For full marathon finishers, an “I CONQUERED THE SKYWAY” finisher’s shirt exclusively designed by Team Manila awaits.