Cebuana running queen Mary Joy Tabal will be facing some of the fastest runners in the Southeast Asian region as she competes in the Adidas King of the Road (KOTR) today in Petaling, Jaya City, Malaysia.
Tabal will be competing in the 16.8-kilometer category, which she described as a tough and fast-paced race. She will face winners of the Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysian leg.
“The pace will be fast so I will be very cautious during the race because the qualified runners from the different countries here in Southeast Asia are very strong,” Tabal said. “I hope that my training and preparation for this race will pay off.”
Tabal earned her ticket to the international race after she dominated the 16.8k race in the Manila leg last July. Also qualified to join the race is Philippine team member Mary Grace delos Santos, who Tabal beat in the Manila race.
Also representing the Philippines in the men’s side will be veteran runner Eduardo Buenavista, who topped the men’s division of the race in Manila.
Tabal said that she’s been training under the supervision of her triathlete trainer John Philip Dueñas before leaving for Malaysia.
According to Tabal, she is a hundred percent ready for this prestigious race.
“It’s one of the toughest race that I’m going to compete in for this year,” Tabal said. “I’ll do my best even though I know it’s going to be tough.”
Malaysia will be hosting the international race for the third time. Around 11,000 runners will compete in the race, which will offer two distances—the 16.8k and the 10k.