IBTOR Challenge held in Rosales

A UNIQUE triathlon race coined in Rosales, Pangasinan as a major part of the town’s sports festival held annually for the 5th time and challenged by more than a hundred athletes teamed into twos to make it more exciting.

“Ibtor” a local expression meaning endurance is used to give more stress on the grueling undertakings of the participants.

This year the challenges comprised of a modified 500 meter swim at San Angel Dam where both teammate using a banana trunk as a floater and must bring the trunk at the end of the swim leg to make it to the next leg.

Then, a 15-kilometers trail runs follows at the Rosales Ecotourism Park that features 250 steps of stairs along the park’s Aviary.

The 20-kilometers bike leg had a twist; athletes used Pedi cab, a bicycle with a sidecar commonly used as a mean of transportation, traversing through some rough interior roads of Rosales.

To finish the race, teams should tie themselves hand in hand and run the 15-kilometers pavement going to the town proper.

National team triathletes, runners, adventure-lovers and health buffs join this event not just for the prize money or part of their training or just for the fun of it, but also to put their name engraved on the IBTOR wall of survivors.

Rosales town Mayor Ricardo Revita is deep on his intentions in developing this event to make Rosales known for IBTOR Challenge not just locally but also in international triathlon communities. (Jojo Rinoza)