For almost three years now, there had been an uncomfortable pause in competitive sports of triathlon and distance running here in the Philippines.
The beauty of the lockdowns and the curfew hours, however, is that our local athletes didn’t really have to stop with their routines of swimming, biking, and running even when there were no real races to train for, except for virtual races.
Being active was just their way of life, or a lifestyle that they had gotten accustomed to, for years and years of competing in all sorts of endurance races.
For many local triathletes, the fun regimen would be an open water swim before sunrise every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Bacong. Then group runs and cycling would complete the training the rest of the week, including a long run and a long bike ride on weekends.
So whenever a virtual race is suddenly marketed online, there is no hesitation of joining the bandwagon of virtual racers doing different distances and challenges ranging from 5K fun runs to multi-day events covering longer distances, up to running 50 kilometers.
Earlier this year when it was announced that the races that had been canceled due to the pandemic were being “resurrected”, there was a slight switch in mindset of just doing everyday exercises. It was time to get serious with training once again.
A more structured training and readiness are now part of the plan for the upcoming races.
The Dumaguete City Tourism Office, together with Larga Biya, have once again teamed up for the 3rd Dumaguete Triathlon scheduled on April 10.
This will be a standard distance of swimming 1.5 meters, 40K cycling, and 10K run.
This Dumaguete Triathlon usually gets a lot of attention among triathlon communities in different parts of the country for its reputation of always putting up a well- organized race, and for expertly showcasing the City of Gentle People as a tourist spot for the triathletes’ families as well.
Soon after the race announcement was uploaded on social media, the news spread like wildfire, and registration for about 400 triathletes closed in about six weeks — two months before the event as it had reached the maximum athletes allowed.
One of the come-ons this time is the return of the “voice of sporting events’, TV/radio sports commentator Chiqui Reyes, who will serve again as events host.
The start and finish line will be staged in Pantawan 2.
Earlier on Feb. 27, the City of Bayawan organized and hosted the highly-successful Bayawan Tawo Tawo Triathlon, the first to be contested in our Province with Sprint and Standard distances.
Dumaguete’s Larga Biya team was well-represented in the Bayawan, about 103 kilometers south of Dumaguete. Mind you, they took home quite a few awards in the different age groups. A week after that, on March 6, the Ironman Subic 70.3 Triathlon — a 1.9K swim, 90K bike, and 21K run was held in Subic Bay, where local athlete Ian Dumalag Rusiana bagged 3rd place in the 35-39 age group, qualifying him to compete in the 70.3 World Championship. What a feat!
Mountain bike (MTB) races have also been popping up in various parts of Negros Oriental since last year. Since there are more MTB riders nowadays, there is a tremendous demand for races in that category.
Finally, an official running race made a comeback last week in Tanjay City in the 5K and 11K Fun Run.
Dumaguete was also very well-represented in Tanjay, about 30 kilometers north of Dumaguete, with a large group of runners who ventured for an early morning start.
After three years of no road races, it was a refreshing experience to run in a race once again, and to feel that competitive feeling running with friends and strangers in one race.
The start and finish was held near Tanjay City Hall where the runners took the streets around a relatively flat course around Tanjay’s back roads, which resulted some fast times led by a Spectrum Team runner from Cebu.
Ultramarathon racing is also making a comeback. The Leon Kilat 50K is scheduled this weekend (cut-off Sunday, March 20), with limited entry, where the endurance runners run from Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay, going south to the town of San Jose, and outback to Camp Leon Kilat.
Strict health guidelines continues to be strictly enforced, and only fully-vaccinated individuals (booster shots required) are allowed to sign up for all these races.
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Author’s email: Ironmandario@gmail.com
