CamSur offers big test in North Face ultra race

MANILA, Philippines - The dormant volcanoes of Mt. Isarog and Mt. Iriga in Camarines Sur serve as the backdrop for the challenges that await trail runners from all over Asia in The North Face 100 Philippines 2011, a two-day lungbusting 100-kilometer ultra marathon firing off on April 30 inside the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC).

“After chilly and high-altitude conditions in our Baguio-Benguet run in last year’s TNF 100, we’ve moved our course to Camarines Sur where the scorching summer heat and taxing terrain will challenge our trail runners to break all boundaries,” said The North Face division manager Jundel Llagas in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

Llagas, who was joined by race director Neville Manaois in the session, said the event is the Philippine leg of the 2011 TNF 100 Asia-Pacific series that has stops in Taiwan, China Australia, Singapore, Japan, with Thailand eyed as a possible addition in next year’s circuit.

The lush, tropical yet trying environment in the province was well-suited for the TNF 100 Philippines, which will also help display the tough, light yet comfortable qualities of the leading American outdoor outfitter’s running gear and footwear, he said.

“We only choose the most challenging, picturesque and unspoiled landscape for our courses, in keeping with our TNF spirit to ‘Never Stop Exploring,’” he added of the ultra-marathon offering close to P300,000 in cash prizes, gift certificates and medals to the winners in the different men’s and women’s categories of the two-day runs.

The men’s and women’s champions in the centerpiece 100-km. contests will each receive P30,000 cash and P10,000 in gift certificates from The North Face for their efforts in the trail running showcase backed by Camarines Sur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte, AXN and Petzel head lamps. 100Plus sports drink is the official hydration beverage.

And similar to other off-road trail runs, the runners will not only race against their peers but also try to beat the sunset in crossing the finish line inside the CWC, which is fast becoming a major hub for extreme sports in the country.

To encourage more local runners to take up the sport, considered one of the fastest growing in the US with close to five million enthusiasts, there will also be races in the 50K, 22K and 11K in both men’s and women’s divisions, Llagas said.