MANILA, Philippines - Registration for the first Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) starts Sept. 11, setting into high gear an event expected to generate an estimated 10,000 entries in four race categories. The big running event, offering more than P3 million in prizes, will fire off Oct. 18 serving as the highlight of the 70th founding anniversary of Quezon City. It features a 42.195-km full marathon and 5k, 10k and 21k runs.
Runners may register at any of the stores of Timex such as the SM branches at North EDSA, Megamall, Southmall and Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, Makati and in Cebu. Other registration centers include the Nike Park, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City, and Second Wind, Teachers Village, Diliman Quezon City.
Online registration is likewise open through QCIM@finishline.ph and www.runnex.org/qcim2009.
Registration fees are pegged at P300 for the 5-K and 10-K runs, and P500 and P650 for the 21-K and the full 42-K marathon, respectively. Race kit includes singlet, race chip and champion chip instruction flyer to be given during registration.
The QCIM will start and end at the Quezon Memorial Circle with the full marathon route covering the UP Diliman campus, Commonwealth and Don Mariano Avenues, Batasan Road, La Mesa Eco-Park and Ayala Techno-Park.
The QCIM is expected to bring together not only the country’s top marathoners but also those from other countries. QCIM invitations are being sent to runners’ organizations in Southeast Asia as well as to those in the sister cities of Quezon City, such as Daly City, California, USA, and Nanjing, China.
Organized by the Quezon City government, the QCIM is aimed at helping reinforce the city’s reputation as among the fast-emerging premier cities in Asia. The marathon is being managed by the Executive Runners Club Philippines Inc. (Runnex), which has more than 26 years experience in long distance running and organizing road races.
To help prospective participants prepare for the QCIM races, Runnex is holding a free running clinic at the UP Academic Oval at the school’s Diliman Campus, every Sunday starting at 5:30 a.m., with assembly in front of the UP Abelardo Hall. Race registrants will also be entertained during the clinic’s sessions.