1,000 runners compete in vertical marathon

MANILA, Philippines – A banner field is expected to see action in the Vertical Marathon, dubbed the RACE or Run and Climb for the Environment, slated Saturday at the Bonifacio E-Services Building inside the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City.

Jacque Ruby, head of the organizing group and local representative of Discovery Channel, yesterday said the roster has already reached the 1,000 mark, more than double of their target field of 300-400,

“We were really surprised we’ve drawn more or less a thousand participants, which is way more than we initially targeted,” said Ruby during yesterday’s press launch at the Gerry’s Grill in Quezon City.

Also gracing the event was Cristalle Belo Henares, one of the ambassadors of Discovery Channel-ran race, also staged to promote environmental awareness while providing help to some charitable institutions like Gawad Kalinga.

Open to local and foreign participants, the race, held in cooperation with Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., will have two divisions – the century run where runners would need to cover 2,180 meters of slope run, 1,414 steps of vertical run and 704 meters of horizontal running and half-century run where they would have to run 512 meters on horizontal plane, 1,090 meters of slope and 707 steps of staircase.   – Joey Villar

The winner of the century run will get P25,000 while the second and third placers receiving P15,000 and P10,000, respectively. The top Filipino finishers will represent the country in the 2011 Swiss Hotel Vertical Marathon slated in Singapore, an all-expense paid stint by Discovery Channel.

“Discovery Channel does not only educate and provide quality entertainment to Filipinos but we also recognize our role in inspiring individuals to support their community,” said Kevin Dickie, senior vice president and general manager of Southeast Asia, Discovery Channel Asia-Pacific.

The event is held in partnership with BGC, Boni High Street and Market! Market!, Sketchers, Run Less Run More, Chevrolet, Yakult, Gold’s Gym, UST Sports Science Dept., MMC, Bussiness World and 89.1 with Listerine, BDO, Burlington, Columbia Time, Prudential Guarantee, GE, Gaggia, Vitwater, Life Mineral Water, Phiten, Regency Lagoon, Innovatronix, Raymundo’s Trophies, PCSO, Bamboo Bikes, Havaianas, Shick, Krispy Kreme and NCA Labs as the chief backers.