Cebu City Marathon gets underway

CEBU, Philippines – Close to 4,000 runners will hit the road early morning today as the 2016 edition of the annual Cebu City Marathon gets underway at the Cebu IT Park in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

A total of 3,800 footracers have already signed up as of this writing yesterday, but the number is expected to go higher as the organizers decided to accommodate onsite registration for all categories.

Hundreds of foreign entries from 36 countries will spice up the race. Aside from the Kenyans, the biggest foreign contingents are from Germany (13), Malaysia  (18), United States (16) and Japan (22).

There will also be participants from Croatia, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Singapore, American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Sweden, United Kingdom and France.

Aside from the full marathon, there's also the 21K and 5K for beginners and those who just want to do a short distance run.

Those running under the full marathon have a cut-off time of seven hours, four hours for the 21K and one hour and 30 minutes for the 5K.

Cash prizes and exciting freebies will be given away to the top performers of this RunRio–organized event. Special award will be handed out to the participant with the most attractive and creative costume.

Meanwhile, the public are adviced that on race day, the entire SRP Tunnel will be closed from 12 midnight until 8:30 a.m.

Those runners who have yet to exit the SRP Tunnel by 8:30 a.m. (five and half hours after the 3 a.m. start) will be asked to ride the “sweeper” bus. The 42K cut-off time at the finish line is 10 a.m. or seven hours after gun start.

Only the SRP Tunnel and the road after the tunnel leading to the SRP Mambaling intersection will be closed to vehicular traffic from 12 midnight until 9 a.m. The rest of the marathon route (along Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street, Gorordo Avenue Salinas Drive) will be open to vehicles. (FREEMAN)