Every year since 2018, we’ve been organizing a sporting event here called the Dumaguete Triathlon — which has gained traction among fun-loving and serious swimmers-bikers-runners in the country and even abroad.
We started hosting this in the third week of November along Escaño Beach in barangay Bantayan, as one of the major activites of the Dumaguete fiesta.
In 2022, the City government, which officially sponsored the event, moved the date to April, and changed as well the venue to the Pantawan to accommodate more athletes.
Since it’s inception six years ago, the popularity of organizing triathlons in Dumaguete has grown, and more and more triathletes from other regions of the Philippines, and from other countries would come to join the race.
In 2019, Dumaguete was awarded ‘Organizer of the Year’ in the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. Our City was also a runner up in the ‘Sports Destination of the Year’ category. Afterall, the City was also hosting the Dragon Boat Challenge, the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour, the National Frisbee Championship, the Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy, and the Philippine Super Liga Spike, to name just a few.
The past well-organized triathlon events here have been spearheaded by Race Director Recardo Cordova, Coach Niño Pinero, with the support of the Larga Biya team. It was a topnotch event that hired Chiqui Reyes, a sought-after announcer of the Philippine Basketball Association games, and the voice of Philippine Ironman.
Athletes would feel welcome as soon as they arrived at the airport, at the pier, or at the bus terminal. They also got special discounts at hotels around the City. Restaurants were never empty during the race weekend, and the resorts as far as Dauin were always fully-booked, since not a few among the participants would bring along their families on the ‘runcation’ (fitness holidays combining an official running/sporting event into a vacation/travelling). And so the local tourist spots would also experience an influx of visitors.
When the Dumaguete Triathlon was moved to the new Pantawan 2 in 2022, about 500 triathletes from all over the Philippines registered, including foreign nationals. (Our goal then was only about 250 triathletes for management purposes.)
The Dumaguete Triathlon race consists of a 1.5-kilometer open water swim, a 40-kilometer bike ride, and a 10-kilometer run.
The swim part would start at Pantawan 2 as they walk down the ramp and into the open water, swimming a triangular course marked with bouys. The Philippine Coast Guard would always be on hand to secure the swimmers’ safety.
Pantawan 2 has also proven to be a good venue for the spectators as they can cheer from the breakwater.
As the triathletes complete their swim, they run toward the walkway where they pick up their respective bikes neatly hanging from metal rails, and move on for their bike ride.
The bike course is a two- loop course then uphill to J. Romero Road to Valencia, making a left turn at the Diversion Road, until they reach the turn-around near the RUSI tracks. They repeat the loop and return to the boulevard upon comleting the 40-kilometer course.
Then they rack their bikes, and continue the race with a 10-kilometer run along Hibbard Ave. for a two loop course, finishing at Burgos Street.
As members of the organizing committee, we’re not only involved in the planning and monitoring of the race course on Race Day. It takes us months of preparations and regular meetings, working closely with the City Tourism Office, and some members of local government to make sure we meet all the requirements and expectations needed to make the event successful.
With the Dumaguete Triathlon, even the barangay officials along the race course, with the backing of the Police department, are involved to ensure peace and order, and the safety of the athletes.
All the roads along the race course are free from vehicular traffic. The LTO is responsible for the unhampered flow of traffic, through clear-cut detours.
All the four hospitals nearest Dumaguete are on alert for any emergencies; as ambulances and EMS personnel are on stand-by at different points. Personnel from the Fire Department are also on stand-by.
The entire workforce of the local government unit are given the responsibility for the safety and other contingency plans to make sure all grounds are covered.
The City Tourism Office, through the City Information Ofice, is the key to get the official word out to the public at least four months before the event (December, in this case), and to set up the registration details. The office also shares in the responsibilities for securing the medals, trophies, prizes, shirts, and other freebies that go in the race packet.
The local team Larga Biya designs the race course, provides race marshalls and volunteers.
There was never a shortage of food and hydration to feed all 500 athletes before, during, or after the race. Prestigious caterers provided the pre-race carbo-loading to make sure athletes were properly nourished during the race briefing/race packet pick-up at the Negros Oriental Convention Hall.
Everyone involved contributed a significant piece of their expertise/resources for the hosting of a successful race; including the company that collects the official race time and other data for each athlete.
All these concerted effort from all avenues of the local government and the local Larga Biya team involves money, including generous sponsors from different businesses, with the LGU shelling out a big chunk of the expenses.
The return of investment is definitely invaluable, and can only be measured by the goodwill the City cultivates with the sporting communities as it hosts huge events like the Dumaguete Triathlon.
Lest we forget, hosting popular sporting events provides the City a platform where local tourism can flourish, business revenues in restaurants, hotels, transportation are improved; and its status as a City espousing an active healthy lifestyle is elevated.
This we know: triathletes from all over who travel all the way here to race in the Dumaguete Triathlon don’t just come for the event itself; more than that, they come with their families to experience the various natural beauty that is Dumaguete.
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Author’s email: Ironmandario@gmail.com
