18 long distance runners to join Cebu Southwest ultra race

Eighteen seasoned runners from Visayas and Mindanao have signed up to join the third edition of the Cebu Southwest Ultramarathon slated on July 27 starting at the Santander Municipal Hall and ending at the Plaza Independencia.

Aside from the top local runners, out-of-town participants from Jolo, Sulu and Leyte are also set to join the lung-busting race. The runners will be dealing on a much longer and more demanding route this time as it features a 210-kilometer race distance, longer than the 160K from the previous editions.

From Santander, runners will traverse to the town of Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal to the streets of Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug, Barili, Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Toledo, Balamban and will cross the Transcentral Highway to Cebu City going to the finish line at Plaza Independencia.

"This edition of the race is yet the most challenging. The most ardous part that would really give challenge to the runners is the route in the Transcentral Highway because of its extreme uphill and downhill parts," said race director Edwin Colina.

The race will start at night on July 27, Friday and is expected to end Sunday morning. Runners must finish the race within the 48-hours cut off time.

Participants who will finish within the cut-off time will receive a buckle, dogtag/medal, trophy and shirt, while the first top three finishers will be awarded with a separate podium trophy. —