THE runners and fitness enthusiasts will kick off their Sinulog week with a fun run on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, as the streets turn into a festive mode in celebration of the annual Sinulog Festival.
Cebu Marathon, one of the longest-running running events in the Queen City of the South, will stage its 13th edition with thousands of local and international runners flocking the streets of Cebu.
John Pages of Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), the group behind the race, said among the highlights this year is the run’s return to the South Road Properties (SRP) and the two tunnels for the 42-kilometer participants.
“For the first time, the 42K runners will pass two tunnels—the Mambaling tunnel and the SRP tunnel. Of course, the Mambaling tunnel was completed only last year so this is something new for runners,” said Pages. “Everyone is also excited to run in SRP again.”
Pages said they will make sure the participants will feel the Sinulog fever with entertainment, bands and music along the route.
As of Jan. 10, 2020, there were 1,240 registered runners in the full marathon, 1,628 in the 21K and 370 in the 5K. The 5K registration is still open until Saturday. More than 20 nationalities will be represented when the race fires off at 3 a.m at the Cebu Business Park.
With more than 3,000 runners on the road, the organizers are making sure the traffic and safety of the participants are in check, tapping a total of about 600 personnel, medical staff and volunteers.
As for traffic, Joel Juarez of CERC is asking the motorist to bear with them. He said the traffic will be a stop-and-go and there will be traffic personnel assigned in every intersection.
Patience
“We have already made public advisories regarding the traffic. For the devotees of Sto. Nino, we advise them that there will be runners passing by at the back of the Basilica, the road going to City Hall, at around 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.,” he said.
Juarez said that by 9 a.m. SRP will be opened and there will be no more runners allowed.
“We have sweepers that will be designated at SRP. If runners are still inside the SRP at 9 a.m. we have no choice but to pull them out. This is for safety since SRP will be opened at that time,” he explained.
The Cebu Marathon is one of the activities of the Sinulog Festival, which culminates with a Grand Mardi Gras on Jan. 19. (RSC)