ALMOST P400,000 total cash prize awaits top three finishers in the bigger and grander 7-Eleven Run 2020 Davao Leg held in an out-and-back course from SM City Davao grounds on February 1 and February 2.

New category 42K mixed relay offers P40,000 to the champion team, while the next two placers will pocket P24,000 and P16,000 even as the 42K individual race stakes P25,000, P20,000 and P15,000 to the first, second and third finishers, respectively.

The top three Filipino male and female 21K, 32K and 42K categories as well as the overall 21K relay and 42K relay champions will also be sent to an international marathon in Asia.

Davao leg technical coordinator Tomas Tan, in a media launch at Philippine Seven Corporation building along Mamay Road yesterday afternoon, January 10, said the 42K races will start at 11 p.m. of February 1 and will end the following day, February 2, where the rest of the categories including 3K, 5K, 5K buddy run, 10K, 16K, 21K, 21K relay and 32K will kick off.

"Shortened route this year, dati may inner loop. For the 42K, from SM City Davao, route will pass through Quimpo Boulevard, Quirino Avenue then turn left to J.P. Laurel Avenue passing Victoria Plaza Mall, Abreeza, SM Lanang and turning around to corner R. Castillo Street passing Tropika Hotel and back to origin," Tan said, adding that all categories have identified transition points.

7-Eleven Run Series project head Michelle Saludes also said, "A mixed relay team shall be camposed of either three females and one male or three males and one female." She also said that a whopping prize of P500,000 will be given to whoever breaks the current Philippine 42K record.

Michelle Santillan of the race operation team, meanwhile, said they expect more participants this year than last year. "We expect some 7,500 runners this year compared to last year's 5,000 entries. We understand that the run was still on its introductory stage last year," Santillan said.

In 2019, a total of about 30,000 participants joined the races in Davao, Manila and Cebu.

Santillan also said, "The turnout increases every year."

Freebies and loot bags await registrants and finishers. Finishers will also receive shirts.

Organizers have started releasing race kits Friday, January 10.