By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter
JUNE 3, 2018 is a red-letter day for the multi-sport community in the country as it will mark the first time that the Philippines is hosting its first full IronMan.
Presented by Sunrise Events, Inc. and title–sponsored by Century Tuna, the first full-distance IronMan in the country is a step up from the IronMan 70.3 events commonly staged here in the last decade, organizers said, and is indicative of how triathlon has exponential grown in the Philippines.
“It has been an issue of wait and see. Wait and see how much critical mass we have developed among Filipino triathletes. For a race like this to be successful, we need to have a large local contingent,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Sunrise Events chairman and CEO, said during the press conference announcing the Century Tuna IronMan Philippines 2018 last Tuesday as he described what prompted them to take on the challenge of mounting a full distance.
“We send hundreds of Filipinos to full-distance races all around the world. We send racers to Melbourne, Barcelona and Arizona in the United States and we are going to send athletes to Austria had we not announced this race. The Philippines has some of the biggest delegations in these races. And having been involved in the sport for over 20 years I see so many new faces and ask them how long have you been involved in this and they say one or two years. This event is evidence of the growth that the sport is enjoying in the country,” Mr. Uytengsu added.
The Century Tuna IronMan Philippines is expected to bring a new challenge for Filipino triathletes right here at home while at the same time affording them an opportunity to accomplish what very few have achieved.
The IronMan will take racers through a 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike ride and 42.2-km run on race day around Subic Bay in Zambales, considered as the “triathlon capital of the Philippines.”
Organizers said they are limiting the number of racers to 1,000 coming from here and abroad so as to ensure the safety of everybody joining. They, however, are not discounting the possibility of having a waiting list.
Registration opened on Aug. 1 and organizers said pickup has been doing well.
Cash prizes and qualifying slots for the Ironman world championship next year await the winners.
Being tapped as title sponsor, Greg Banzon, vice-president and general manager of Century Pacific Food, Inc., said their group is very proud of this latest partnership as it suits their brand well.
“Century Tuna is about promoting a healthy lifestyle and triathlon is one way we are going about it. Events like this have had commercial success for us as they have promoted Century Tuna not only here but also abroad. But part of this as well is having people experience doing the IronMan and crossing the finish line, which is really indescribable. And we hope through it as well we inspire Filipinos to pursue their own fitness journey,” said Mr. Banzon, himself a triathlete who has experienced doing the full distance.
Incidentally, the staging of the Century Tuna Ironman Philippines 2018 will mark the 10th anniversary of the first IronMan 70.3 event in the Philippines, making it special than what it already is.
“Ten years ago, just doing the first race here I thought it was going to be a one-and-done… If you asked me then if we would be here talking about this event (full IronMan) I would say you are crazy. But we are happy to be crazy, We are happy to have dreamt big. And we are excited about next year,” said Mr. Uytengsu.
Those interested in joining the Century Tuna IronMan Philippines may do so over www.ironman.com/philippines and at www.sunriseevents.com.ph.
