The 5th edition of Team Malaya’s Rice Terraces Marathon is up this June 3, 2018 at Hunduan, Ifugao. The marathon will serve as Leg 1 of Team Malaya’s Cordillera Series of 2018.
The event still features a 42K, with a new route, and 21K runs but now adds a vertical run.
The new 42K run will feature a fresh haven for trail runners at the back of the North East mountain, still featuring the grandeur of the rice terraces, two hotsprings (Gulon and Bogyah) then looping to Hapao rice terraces, giving participants a true rice terraces experience
The 21K category will still go through Poblacion, Hapao Rice Terraces, Bogyah Hot Spring, Baang rice terraces and back to the finish line.
The vertical run, a new innovation this year, will feature a route that will give runners a chance to see the Balentimol and Munkilat falls.
According to Race director Stephen Lopez Felices, participants of this event will explore and discover Hungduan, Ifugao by running through the Spider web Rice Terraces (UNESCO World Heritage), Hapao Rice Terraces, Waterfalls, HotSpring, Coldspring, Spanish Trail, and Panique rice field.
He also noted that this year’s edition is going international, making event an even tougher one for the local and Baguio runners. He also said participation from Metro Manila runners is expected.
Evelyn Botin, Argie Cabrera, and Gail Madrilejos grabbed three of the four golds at stake during last year’s edition to score the dominance of the visitors. Only Ivan Buyayo of Ifugao carried the fight for the locals by grabbing the other gold.
The Vertical Run is scheduled on June 2, Saturday while the 21KM and 42KM Runs will be on June 3, 2018 Sunday.
Bib claiming for the vertical run starts at 6:00 AM while the gunstart time is scheduled at 7:00 AM of June 2.
Finally, runners competing is a 21K and 42K distance categories will assemble at 5:00AM before testing themselves against the routes upon sounding of the 6:00 AM gun start.
Runners completing the course will be treated a post-run meal starting at 10:00AM at the Heritigae Village, Hungduan, the start and finish point.
This year’s edition has a 7-hour cut-off time for the 21K category and 14-hour for the 42K category.
Felices described the host place as a pathway. “The name of Hungduan came from the word ‘Hungdu’. It means ‘to traverse through.’ This word means a place where a person traverses through on their way to another place. In ancient times, the place serves as the portal from one municipality to another like a place in Ifugao to Benguet.” he said.
Registration fees for the 21K distance P1,500.00 and P2,500 for the 42K distance while the Vertical Run is pegged at P950 that already includes the environmental fee. Participants will be receiving personalized BIB, certificates, carboloading, breakfast on race day, and the post-run meal. Finishers will also receive a medal and a finisher’s shirt while the top finishers get special tokens.
Felices advised the registrants to bring their own tent/ sleeping bags because they are to experience the best of nature. He said accommodation in the area are very limited, the nearest are in Barangay Hapao, some 8 kilometers away from the start / finish line.
Accomodation in Barangay Hapao is, however, available to interested runners.
The event originally included a 50 mile category but was replaced by the Vertical Race. Runners who registered for the 50-miles category may opt to run in different category.
Orientation and carboloading will be provided for the registrants of the 42K and 21K on June 2 at 5:00 PM. Awarding of tokens is set at 11:00 AM of June 3.
Registration to this event is still open until May 26, 2018. Interested participants may inquire at teammalaya.org, the organization’s website, or at their Facebook page.
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
