Top runners from 15 countries to compete in 2013 Cebu Marathon

FOREIGN runners will once again test their endurance in Cebu when they compete in the upcoming Cebu Marathon on Jan. 13 starting at the Cebu IT Park.
Organizers during yesterday’s press conference at the Mooon’s Cafe at the IT Park said runners from 15 different countries will be joining the race held in line with the celebration of the Sinulog Festival.
Leading the list of foreign runners will be the 17 from Singapore. Other runners will be coming from the USA, Malaysia, Australia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Japan, France, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
The running event is organized by the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC). Present during the press conference were John Pages, Meyric Jacalan and CERC president Roy Trani. Also present were 42k defending champion Mary Grace delos Santos and one of Cebu’s oldest runner Raul Cepeda.
Both Delos Santos and Cepeda were made to show off the 42k race’s newly designed medal, which is based on Cebu’s iconic Puso (hanging rice).
“Puso is very iconic for us Cebuanos and it’s been three years that we used Mango as the design of our medals,” said Pages, who said that the “puso” inspired medal was designed by Jacalan.
Aside from the 42k race, the event will also have 21k and 5k categories.  The 42k has attracted 1,000 runners while the 21k gathered 800. The 5k fun run has 700 participants. But Pages said they are looking to gather around a thousand runners after the scheduled Race Expo from Jan.  9 to 11 at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu.
“Expect a festive mood where music and dancing will be showcased to the runners passing the official route,” said Trani.
Helping the organizers put up this race was the Cebu City Government, which will be shouldering the cash prizes for the winners.
The 42k champions will take home P60,000 while P20,000 will be given to the winners in the 21k category. 5k winners will win P5,000.
Meanwhile, Delos Santos is hoping for a victory to kick start the year. She will then train back in Manila for six months for the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar this year and also for the Hong Kong Marathon.  /correspondent Dale G. Rosal