Oasis of Love’s Race for Faith set on Sept. 9

BATCH 55 of the Oasis of Love-Cebu hosts a running event on Sept. 9 dubbed 1st Race For Faith starting at the Mantawi Drive, a street in between Parkmall and the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Oasis of Love-Cebu is a Christian religious ogranization that consistently holds spiritual seminars in different places in the province.

Batch 55, headed by director Tonton Maningo, decided to tap veteran race director Joel Juarez and organize a three-distance race that aims to help Batch 56’s upcoming spiritual seminar this October.

“We decided to organize a running event so that we can help batch 56,” said Maningo during the launching of the event at the Scoop Forum yesterday at the Baseline Restaurant. “We chose running because for us, this sport has no religious boundaries. This means everyone can join us regardless of religion.”

The distances will be 14-kilometer, 5k and 3k. The route will be at the Mandaue City area.

As of this writing, organizers said around 500 runners have already signed up. They are hoping to hit their target of 2,000 participants. Organizers are hoping that members of the group in Cebu will join the race as this will be a great way to help them stay fit. It is also their chance to help future members of the group.

“We assure everyone that this event will be fun,” said Maningo.

Registration fee is pegged at P280 for the 14k and P250 for the 5k and 3k categories, inclusive of a race singlet. Those who don’t need a singlet can register for only P150. One free slot will also be given to a group of 10 registrants.

Registration can be done at the RUNNR Ayala Center Cebu and at the Cebu City Sports Center. Deadline for registration is on Sept. 6. Assembly time for the race is at 4 a.m. on race day while gun start for the 14k is at 5:30 a.m.

Champions in the 14k will get P3,000 while second and third placers will receive P2,000 and P1,000, respectively. The 5k champions will walk away with P2,000, second placers get P1,000 while P700 goes to the third placers. The 3k category will have no cash prizes since it will only be considered as a fun run.

The whole race will be aired live over the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN). /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL