Bautista is 2013 ultramarathon runner of the year

INDEED a fruitful year for running, Baguio’s Marcelo Bautista eight running wins last year made him the hands down winner of the Philippine Ultra Runners Association Runner of the year plum.

From a mere competitor to an accomplished runner, the hospital cleaner came into the limelight after winning long distances races not only in the Summer capital but also from other parts of Luzon.

"For having garnered the highest total points in all the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners Road and Trail races for the year 2012, Bautista is presented the 2012 Ultra Runner of the Year award," the plaque said.

“Masaya ako kasi di ko akalain na may ganitong award. Kahit natalo ako sa huling takbo ko eh proud pa rin ako sa naging accomplishments ko,” said Bautista.

His first win in the ultra-marathon racing circuit include topping the 50-kilometer (50K) Ilocos Challenge Ultra Marathon where he finished first with a time of four hours and one minute in June followed by the July 17 Rosario to Rosario run, the Fort Magsaysay Challenge and the Milo Marathon qualifying round last year.

He also won in the Guimaras 110K ultra marathon last September 15-16, the 200K West Coast Run, and the Mt. Pinatubo 50K trail challenge held in Capaz, Tarlac last October 21.

Bautista also made it to the top 15 of the 2013 Vibram Hong Kong 100-kilometer (100K) Ultra Trail Run along the famous McLehose Trail in Kowloon where he wrote another record for Filipino runners with a time of 12 hours and 8 minutes.

In February, Bautista placed third in the 2013 Pilipinas Akyathlon held in Tinongdan, Itogon where another foreigner ruled the race.

He recently placed second behind Joel Bengtay, another Baguio based ultra-marathon runner in the 5th Bataan Death March 102K Ultra Marathon Race recently. (Roderick Osis)