THE country’s longest ultra-marathon race, the 250-kilometer South to North or SN250, will kick off today in front of the Santander Municipal Hall in Cebu’s southernmost tip all the way to Bogo City in northern Cebu.
Organized by FrontRunner Magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jonel Mendoza, the running event will be competed by less than a hundred ultra marathoners and will start at 5 a.m.
Participants according to race director Raffy Uytiepo are genuine 100k finishers here in Cebu or in the Bataan Death March in Luzon.
The route will take the runners along the western Cebu coast covering the towns of Ginatilan, Samboan, Malabuyok, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug, Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Toledo City, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan and San Remegio.
The race will have two categories, the solo and team relay with the latter composed of three runners. Both races will have a cut-off time of 48 hours. Solo runners however, must reach the first cut-off point of 141 kilometers in Toledo City Gym within 28 hours or 9 a.m of June 15.
The team cut-off are as follows: 65km (12 hours), 130 km (24 hours), 190km (36 hours) and 250km (48 hours) according to Uytiepo. A buckle instead of a medal awaits the finishers of the solo category, something one can wear and brag about everyday. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL