2018 Cebu Marathon

Seven days from today, over 5,000 runners will pound the streets of Cebu City. It’s that annual 42.195 km. event called the Cebu Marathon. Now on it’s 11th year, there will be a record number of entries with over 2,200 running the half-marathon (21K) and over 1,800 doing the full marathon (42K). The two other distances offered are 10K and 5K.

Jan. 14, 2018. That’s next Sunday. And this time, the route will be different. Last year, the runners trekked to Mandaue City and climbed the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. The years before that, the South Road Properties and the Tunnel were utilized. Next Sunday, it will be purely in Cebu City with the 42K runners heading north to Talamban and down south to V. Rama.

Start and finish will be at the Cebu Business Park. There will be plenty of hydration stations offering not only water but also entertainment to the motivated but fatigued participants. Dozens of countries involving hundreds of foreign runners will join. The Sinulog beat will be played. Banners will be hung. Dancers will amuse the athletes.

The Expo and Race Claiming activity will run from Wednesday to Saturday. The venue was originally set at the Active Zone of the Ayala Center Cebu. As of this writing, there is no word yet from the mall if Ayala Center can reopen three days from today. If not, the race expo will be at the Vibo Place (beside Cebu Grand Hotel) along Escario St. The latest updates will be broadcasted in the event’s Facebook page.

Tips for the long-distance runners? Pace yourself. Stick to your gameplan. Don’t sprint alongside the fastest runners at the gun start. Walk when you reach every water station. Let your heart rate drop and take some time to recover and inhale. Drink. Drink often, at every station. Run with a buddy or group. You can chat while enduring four or five or six hours on your feet. Pray. Recite the rosary. Take energy gels to alleviate the depletion of your energy. But be sure that you’ll only consume those power gels that you’ve tried before. Don’t try something (shoes, socks, gels) for the first time next Sunday.

Ask your family members to cheer for you. They can be stationed at certain areas of the route and can meet you at the finish. They’ll provide that extra boost and motivation. Get plenty of sleep starting tonight. Hydrate well days leading towards next weekend.

As to the general public? Wake up early to watch and cheer if you can. This happens only once a year (every second Sunday of January). For our fellow motorists, we ask for patience. The Cebu Marathon starts at 3 a.m. and, while most will finish early (6 a.m. for those doing the 21K), there will be 42K runners who’ll extend until 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. Roads will not be fully closed and only half will be used by the runners. Still, there will be some traffic along the route from 3 a.m. until 9 a.m. We ask for patience. We ask that you sympathize with the runners and that you consider the importance of their safety while running on the road.

God speed and good luck to all the Cebu Marathon runners!