Chasing champions in Corregidor
MANILA, Philippines - It’s that time of the year again when the table is laden with sweets and treats. Christmas is coming and you start feeling that all the fitness goals you have achieved throughout the year are going to waste in one month: December — when the party invites are piling up in your mailbox and the Sunday races are getting monotonous.
If you have been running all year round at The Fort, MOA, Roxas Boulevard, Ultra, and UP Campus, perhaps it’s time for a change of scenery— and a more challenging route.
On Dec. 10, the second Corregidor International Half-Marathon (CIHM) will be held on the famed island of conflict and heroism.
Race director Edward Kho, a veteran of many marathons here (Milo, Condura Skyway) and abroad (The Hague, Rome and Toronto), says this year’s CIHM is still tough — but also forgiving to those who feel they are not ready for a 21k, because the second CIHM has a 10k category.
So, yes, CIHM will have two distances: 10k and 21k, both starting at the Lorcha Dock, from where McArthur escaped the Japanese forces during World War II to go to Australia (saying, of course, that he “shall return” — well, the dude actually did, albeit after Manila was already bombed and destroyed and thousands had perished during the Death March). But anyway….
What’s tough about Corregidor is the elevation. You may start relatively flat, but by the end of the 21k, you will have gained a total elevation of over 200 feet. What’s great about it is the scenic route — sea, mountains, historic ruins (including the mile-long barracks), cannons and other artillery, a tunnel that served as a 1,000-bed hospital during World War II (it had one toilet, by the way) — and just the sense that you are on the trail of heroes past.
The second CIHM is dubbed “Chasing Champions” as last year proved to be a great testing ground of grit and determination and this year is your chance to best those champs. The King and Queen of the Rock were awarded for finishing first in their categories: The Philippine National Police’s Dindo Bumahit at 1:19, and De La Salle faculty member of the Counseling and Educational Psychology Dept. Michelle Estuar at 1:47.
Race director Kho designed the route with 40 percent of it being trail with the goal that it would become a destination race as tough as Boston Marathon.
After the 1st CIHM, Michelle transitioned into triathlon and ultra, completing the Speedo National Triathlon and finishing third in her category at the 50k Cagayan de Oro Dahilayan Ultra Marathon.
Last year’s race proved to be a lot of fun. Celebrities, familiar and new faces bravely ran the route — including the community’s biggest personality, coach Rio dela Cruz, who finished second, actors Tuesday Vargas and Bearwin Maley, and entrepreneur Illac Diaz. The after-race lunch got together runners for an easy afternoon of camaraderie and exchanging their favorite parts of the race. For Illac, it was running into the dark Malinta Tunnel and coming out to blinding light on the other side. Sixty-seven years ago, this same tunnel was where Filipino and American soldiers hid during the bombing of Corregidor. During the race, it was literally running and seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
This year’s edition of CIHM should prove to be more exciting and give runners a chance to get a better finish time.
Registration fee is P2,500 until Nov. 20, late registration is P3,000 (from Nov. 21 to Dec. 4). The fee includes roundtrip ferry to and from Corregidor Island, full lunch buffet on race day, race bib with RFID timing chip, CIHM race singlet, sling bag, finisher’s medallion for the 21k or achiever’s medal for the 10k, finisher’s certificate, ROX runners briefing on Dec. 3 and 4, and admission to the Champions Party featuring a top band back-to-back with a rave party on Dec. 10, after the race.
Runners may register online at www.corregidor21.runningmate.ph (ongoing until Dec. 4) or at ROX in Bonifacio High Street (from Nov. 21 to Dec. 4, from 1 to 8 p.m.
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The 2nd Corregidor International Marathon is sponsored by Sun Cruises, Corregidor Foundation, Philippine STAR, Toby’s, ROX, Runnr, Total Fitness Magazine, Mellow 94.7, and Soleus.
