This Sunday, to those who’ve enlisted for the mega-event with the slogan, “Race through the Streets and Colors of Cebu,” this is it. After hundreds of kilometers of asphalt-trampling, after months of early morning-rising, after buckets-full of sweat, this is it. It’s five nights of sleep to go. Your training is done. It’s time to fully-charge your body for the street battle up ahead. Here are a few reminders…
Website. Want to verify if you’re registered? Visit www.CebuMarathon.com. Scan through the list. Call or email for questions.
Expo. Claiming of the New Balance shirts is finally near. It’s tomorrow. But, tamper your eagerness. Here’s important news: Only the race packs of the 21K and 42K runners will be released tomorrow, Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, it includes the 5K runners. And, on Saturday, the Active Zone in Ayala Center — the Race Expo venue — will be open for out-of-town registrants.
Don’t rush! With about 2,500 joining the 42K and 21K categories — plus nearly 3,000 for the 5K — be patient. Go on Thursday or Friday, if possible. The expo runs for 33 hours: that’s Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. There’s no rush. Best day to go: Friday.
Late Registrants. Rejoice! Since the Dec. 22 closure of registration, we have been inundated with emails and calls: “Can we still register?” My reply: “Why register only now? We’ve been open for three months!” Anyway, here’s the good part: We will accept late registrants. However, it will be slightly more expensive — and, no more New Balance shirts. Still, this is good news. You can still participate. Visit the Active Zone.
Pasta Party. The Cebu City Marathon is not just a one-Sunday-morning sports program; it’s weeklong. You’ll receive discounts to sporting goods stores this entire week. You’re also invited to the high-class, fun-infested Carbo-Loading activity. That’s 6 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 7, at The Terraces of Ayala Center. Dinner coupons for six prestigious pasta-serving establishments will be offered to all CCM runners at only P150/meal.
RACE DAY REMINDERS…
Cheaters not welcome. To anyone planning to cheat, please do not. Not only is the entire route littered with marshals, CITOM officers, policemen – plus computers to track each runner’s footsteps — what’s worse is if you get caught. How about your name being embarrassed in the newspapers? Or, being “excommunicated” from the Cebu running community? As our Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) motto reads: BE HONEST.
No Race Number, No Entry. The organizers will be strict. Nobody but registered runners wearing official race bibs will be allowed inside the cordoned area for runners. Anybody else attempting to run (bandits, they’re called) will be courteously removed from the route.
No wheeled vehicles. Cars, motorcycles, bikes — any type of wheeled vehicles — are absolutely not allowed inside the runners’ area.
Hydration. There are a total of 13 water stations in the entire route. Each station will have overflowing Summit water plus unlimited 100Plus isotonic drinks. Thanks, Summit Water and 100Plus!
Cheer. We ask the spectators, family members, and friends to cheer along the route. Jane-Jane, Andrew and Nica Ong and Dr. Albert Santos have finished the New York Marathon. What’s makes it special? They say: the 2 million spectators who line the streets to cheer. So, like NYC, let’s go out and shout!
SRP/Tunnel: entirely closed starting 10 p.m. on Saturday until 10 a.m. on Sunday. We ask for the understanding of the Cebuanos. Like in Boston or Houston or London — when one day out of 365 is “marathon day” and thus, major roads are closed for “foot traffic” — it will be the same this January 9. In Hong Kong, for example, their all-important bridges are closed for several hours. We ask for your patience. Best of all, we ask you to join and run!
