Last year, I joined Cebu Fun Run 2023 left and right and decided to take it slow and easy this year. I participated in the Cebu Fun Run 2024 once a month or at most twice when a new event comes up and I like the route or medal because we all know how we runners love our hard-earned reward, plus trying a new Cebu running route is just as rewarding.
Here is the list of Cebu Fun Run 2024 that I participated in, plus my stats, a little review, and how much my running expenses are for each event. You may also see that some of the items here are trail runs in Cebu, Bohol Fun Run, and Camiguin Ultramarathon.
June
Bohol Ultramarathon
Distance: 25km but actual is 27km
Time: 3:32:11
Registration Fee: 3,000.00 PHP
Expenses: 2,245.00 PHP
Nutrition: 3 Gu Gel, 1 crampfix
Rating: 4.5/5
*My lil sis sponsored my run, thus the lower expense. Thanks, dingding.
Point of View:
I have been a fan of the Bohol Ultramarathon event then Tagbilaran Ultramarathon. Not all Philippines fun run are perfect, but this Bohol run is one of the most highly organized ultramarathons I have attended. Enough aid stations, all catered to runners – from Pocari, water, coke, watermelon, bananas, chocolates, hard-boiled eggs, and more. The route is the East Coast side of Bohol – Tagbilaran City to Garcia Hernandez for 55km and Lila to Garcia Hernandez for 25km.
To Improve:
More coordination with race chip companies is needed, especially if the said company will prepare the running entitlements. This will enable all runners to receive their entitlements on time during the event.
May
Tubod Monte Road to Trail (Jagna, Bohol)
Distance: 21KM
Time: 4:08:20
Registration Fee: 1,300.00 PHP
Expenses: 3,060.00 PHP
Nutrition: 2 Gu Gel, 2 Huma Gel, 1 sachet (10tabs) Salt stick
Rating: 4/5
Point of View:
I am excited to join my first Bohol Trail Run (yes, considering this event a Bohol trail run due to its route) especially since it is held in my hometown, Jagna in Bohol which I believe has great Bohol trail run potential grounds. I love the all-terrain route, concrete road, dirt road, uphill mountain, rice field, and a little forest. The aid stations are a bit farther from one another but expected for a trail route, though kudos for having an aid station at one of the highest point Muto Lorenzo.
To Improve:
1. More coordination with marshals. The front runners for 15km did a wrong turn because the marshals told them so. The supposed 32km distance was lacking – only around 29km because one of the turning points (Lonoy Spring) was placed not where it should have been.
2. Proper timekeeping. It is fine if there is no race chip company because we all know how expensive it can be, but it would be nice if there were people who would record your time properly at the finish line itself.
3. Separate gender awarding. As much as we love equality, we all know that men and women have a huge gap in terms of strength, and it would take an extraordinary woman to beat a man’s strength given both have equal training. Recognition matters more to runners than prize money maybe except for a few.
April
Bridge2Bridge by Lupad Sugbo
Distance: 21KM
Time: 2:54:41
Registration Fee: 1,700.00 PHP
Expenses: 1,760.00 PHP
Nutrition: 1 Gu Gel, 1 Huma Gel
Rating: 4.7/5
*My baby cousin from Moimoi Venture sponsored my run, thus the lower expense. Thanks, bb.
Point of View:
Bridge2Bridge Run 2024 will always leave a mark in my heart. It was all perfect until that sad 3km call that made me want to finish the race right away. The people behind Lupad Sugbo, who is the race organizer for this Cebu fun run are seasoned runners and organizers, so they know what Cebu runners need, and they did deliver well. Who would have thought that it was possible to run in two of Cebu’s iconic bridge? I am looking forward to September’s Triple Bridge Run.
To Improve:
Additional people for the post-race meal distribution and finisher shirt distribution areas. Well, maybe because I am in a hurry to go home, that is why I have less patience that day.
March
Camiguin 360 Ultramarathon – Relay (Mambajao, Camiguin)
Distance: 32KM
Time: 4:25:37
Registration Fee: 1,000.00 PHP will be refunded after crossing the finish line
Expenses: 12,784.00 PHP this is for 2 persons (3days and 3 nights – fare, lodging, and food)
Nutrition: 1 Gu Gel, 1 Huma Gel, 1 sachet of sea salt lemon candy
Rating: 5/5
Point of View:
If there is one running event, I would highly recommend to everyone, it would be the Camiguin 360 Ultramarathon in Mambajao, Camiguin. Well-organized from registration, race briefing, carbo-loading, post-race meal, and gun-start to the finish line. The aid stations are on top – barrels of bottled cold soft drinks, energy drinks, and and mineral water. Yes, bottled, not just glass. Aside from bananas and watermelons, there were other food on the table. More than enough marshals, in which we jokingly said in our dialect “kulang nalang kada runner’s mag tagsa hahaha”.
To Improve:
Partner with a more efficient timekeeping or race chip company. I am praying that it will be as great next year.
SM2SM Run
Distance: 21KM
Time: 2:29:30
Registration Fee: 999.00
Expenses: 3,998.00 this is for 2 persons (registration, pre-race meal and post-race meal)
Nutrition: 2 Gu Gel, 1 Huma Gel
Rating: 3.5/5
Point of View:
We were not supposed to join the SM2SM run this year but during the Cebu City Marathon race kit claiming their registration booth was peeking as if calling us, and so we did, hahaha. Another good reason is to run for the raffles. SM Run is known for its raffle prizes (5000 worth of SM GC’s, mobile phones, TV’s, and a car for the grand raffle winner). You can barely run in the last 4km due to the many participants. Just treat this event as purely a Cebu fun run and do not think of doing or hitting a PR or time. The event shirt has shrunk. I thought I was getting bigger, but it is the same with other runners I know.
To Improve:
Too many participants. I cannot think of anything, on how to solve this concern. Maybe just have some fun running and forget your time.
February
Waterfront to Waterfront Run
Distance: 32KM
Time: 4:49:56
Registration Fee: 1,800.00
Expenses: 1,800
Nutrition: 2 Gu Gel, 2 Huma Gel, 1 sachet sea salt lemon candy
Rating: 3.7/5
Point of View:
This Cebu fun run is the second Cebu running event that I and my sister attended and ran together. The aid stations are strategically placed with an alternate station for water, Pocari, and food. Maybe I had been expecting so much at the turning point, which was the Waterfront Mactan in front of the Airport, that when I arrived, it felt flat and lonely. I thought there would be a spread of food and drinks like an aid station but sadly, there is none. We have a little leftover lechon with no staff manning it, NO water, and no one greeting the runners.
To Improve:
• Marshals – Instead of standing on the side, I wish they would be more proactive in making sure runners are safe.
• More fun at Waterfront Mactan. Well, this is just me hehehe
January
Danao City International Ultra Trail 2024
Distance: 30KM
Time: 7:52:39
Registration Fee: 2,400.00
Expenses: 2,650.00 (registration and post-race meal)
Nutrition: 2 Gu Gel, 2 Huma Gel, 1 sachet Gu Chewable, 1 sachet sea salt lemon candy
Rating: 4.8/5
Point of View:
My first 30km Trail Run Cebu. My longest trail run to date, and I am glad that I finished within my desired time safely. The route is crazily great. Challenging, but doable. The aid stations are overflowing with food and drinks. I can feel the support of the community and the government during this Cebu trail run event. There is an instance where I was off the 30km course, and that will be another blog story here.
To Improve:
Partner with a reputable and trusted Race Director. All the not-so-good parts during this Cebu trail run happened because of the latter. As mentioned, read more about Danao City International Ultra Trail 2024 here.
Cebu City Marathon 2024
Distance: 24KM
Time: 3:58:49
Registration Fee: 2,299.00
Expenses: 4,487.00 (registration, lodging, pre-race meal, and post-race meal at Vikings SM)
Nutrition: 2 Gu Gel, 2 Huma Gel, 1 sachet Gu Chewable, 1 sachet sea salt lemon candy
Rating: 4.5/5
Point of View:
The start of my little siszt running era hahaha. I am the happiest to be able to run with my younger sister. Sedentary no more and now running Cebu half marathons. I am proud of the time, effort, and training she has put into being able to run easily and happily this day. As always, the Cebu City Marathon is packed with people flying in from different parts of the country to join one of the Philippines biggest fun run. I am happy to be able to see friends from Luzon and Mindanao and I am glad that they enjoyed the race and the route. Aid stations were packed, and I had to wait for water and electrolytes. On another note, I love this year’s Cebu City Marathon’s event shirt and finisher shirt. A huge improvement from previous years. As a bonus, finisher towels were also given.
To Improve:
A running event or Cebu fun run as big as CCM will have so many participants and I will have to deal with it. I wish that there would be more manpower to help with the distribution of finisher shirts and post-race meals plus a system for handling the finisher shirts to avoid wrong sizes and not enough sizes.
As much as I wanted to join more Cebu fun run I had to choose among the hundreds of Cebu running events available because 1. Joining running events requires time and training, and 2. Joining Cebu running events is costly. Check my next blog on How Much I Spend on Running from January 2024 to June 2024 – Half of the Year Running Expenses Report.
Here are some of the notable Cebu running events and Cebu Fun Run that I missed and said no to: HOKA Trilogy Run Asia Cebu, Pinoy Fitness Sub1 10K Challenge Cebu, Hunat Sugbo, Minglanilla Trail Run, Pamutan Trail Fest, and so much more. I hope that these running events will still be available in the coming years so that I can try them.
They said that the Philippines is in its running era, and I say hell yeah! I am glad that a lot of people are interested in running because I can’t stress enough the benefits this simple exercise gives us. I hope and pray that this running era will last that long and that running will be just as normal as walking in the future. If you have been running or exercising, let’s be friends on Strava hehehe.
Have you entered your running era? What is the Cebu fun run you have joined? Have you participated in any of the mentioned Cebu running events? How did it go? Share it in the comment below.
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