1st Phl Int'l Sky Race set in Benguet

ITOGON, Benguet ,Philippines  – Hundreds of athletes from all over the country as well as international runners are set to scale a 2,150-meter high mountain for the first Philippine International Sky Race on Feb. 18.

Organized by the Philippine Skyrunning Association (PSA), the race dubbed “Pilipinas Akyathlon” is a 33-kilometer out and back race in Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet all the way up to Mt. Ugo and is part of the 2012 Skyrunner World Series Trials.

“This is the first of its kind in the country and we are grateful that the province of Benguet and Itogon town accepted the hosting of this event,” said PSA president Nina Dacanay.

It will be the first international sporting event, which the town of Itogon and the province of Benguet are hosting.

“We are expecting close to 150 runners and right now, we have already some 50 registrants that include foreigners who will be tested by Mt. Ugo’s scale of 2,150 meters above sea level at its peak,” said PSA vice president Ramon Marchan.

Marchan, also the race director of the event, said the race is patterned after the popular Mt. Kinabalu race which has been going on for the last 25 years.

Benguet, particularly Itogon, was chosen because of its accessibility, logistics, accommodations and the support they are getting from the local government.

The backbreaking uphill 33-kilometer run is set to give trophies and valuable outdoor prizes for the top three overall winners in both the male and female categories of the race.

Medals and valuable prizes will also be given to the top three male and female runners in the 18 to 19, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and the 60 and above age groups. The event is held in partnership with Rope Access Services and Consulting Inc. and High Angle Rescue Team of the Philippines.

Registration is now ongoing through e-mail [email protected] with registration fee pegged at P2,000 for local runners who list up by Jan. 31.

Online registration will end on Feb. 17, with registration fee of P2,500 for local runners who register after Jan. 31. Payment may be made through BPI current account 3191-0473-02 of the PSA Inc. Registration fee for foreign runners is $50.

Part of the proceeds of the event will go to the Cordillera Conservation Trust, which seeks to provide relevant practical and sustainable solutions to environmental problems arising in the Cordilleras.