New-look Condura run up at Skyway

MANILA, Philippines - A new look, new concept and new category are expected to spice up the fourth edition of the annual Condura Run two months from now at the Bonifacio Global City.

Now dubbed “Condura Skyway Marathon”, the Feb. 6 event will utilize the timing system employed in the New York marathon and for the first time, is introducing the 10-miler or the 16K run.

Participants, expected to reach the 15,000 mark, are also going to be provided with special edition dri-fit technical t-shirts.

“With re-branding comes a lot of improvements that will benefit our runners,” said Ton Concepcion, founder and chief event officer of the racefest being staged for the benefit and protection of dolphins of Baclayon, Bohol.

Joined by fellow run organizer Raul Patrick Concepcion, vice president of Concepcion Industries, and Asia Brewery Inc. marketing manager Abe Cipriano, Ton Concepcion appeared in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Ave. to expound on the changes being adopted for the 2012 staging of the race, which he hopes would be lined up as among the premier marathon events in the Asia-Pacific region.

As usual, the 42K run serves as the centerpiece event of the meet, with similar races to be held at 21K and 10K, respectively. Also on tap are the 3K and 5K side events.

The novelty 16K run is also being held for the first time for “runners who can easily do 10K, but are not yet confident of completing their first marathon,” stressed Concepcion.

Anticipating the big number of entries, organizers have set two starting lines on Ayala Ave. and at the Bonifacio Global City.

For the first time, too, 10K and 16K runners, along with those seeing action in the half marathon, will get a taste of running the Skyway through a point-to-point course that starts at Ayala and ends at Bonifacio Global City.

Incidentally, the event will be held on Feb. 6 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Jose Concepcion Sr., founder of Concepcion Industries Inc.

Registration is ongoing at Greenbelt 3 in front of Asics store. Deadline for listup is on Jan. 31, 2011. For details and on-line list up, visit www.conduraskywaymarathon.com.

The Condura Skyway Marathon 2011- Run for the Dolphins is presented by Skyway, Asics and 100 Plus. Also supporting the event are: Hershey’s, Air 21, Alo Green Tea, Cenovis Joint Guard, Century Tuna, Clear, Coors Light, Intel, Nature Valley, Pond’s, RFM Corp., Soleus, Team Manila, Unilab Active Health and Woman by Lactacyd. The event media partners: The Philippine Star, National Geographic Channel, Front Runner, Multisport and Juice.ph.

Like in the previous Condura runs, this year’s version will have the marine environment for a cause with the organizers hoping to generate awareness to help preserve the dolphins in Baclayon, Bohol - the Dolphin capital of the Philippines.