Ultra marathoner Marcelo Bautista was recognized by the City of Baguio during the City’s flag ceremony last week for his top three finish in the People’s City Eco Adventure 100 Kilometer Run held in San Fernando City, La Union last June 30.
According the organizer’s Facebook post, Bautista finished third in the 100K Road to Trail Ultra category. Based on the race results as tabulated by raceyaya.com, Bautista finished the race with a clock of 16:15:22.
Only Cleto Caluza with a time of 15:06:58 and Francis Domingo with a clock of 15:40:40 were faster to the finish line than Bautista.
Fletcher Cuyaman, who clocked 17:44:53, and Randolf Camalig, who crossed the finish line at the 18:40:31 mark round up the top 5 finishers of the category.
Bautista’s best claim of fame in the running community was his winning in the Vibram Hongkong 100K Ultra Trail Run, Waikiki Marathon and Xterra World Championships, both in Hawaii, and the 42 kilometer Honolulu, Hawaii Marathon. The last one enabled him to qualify for the famous Boston Marathon in 2018.
Allan Cheng topped the 50K Road to Trail Ultra category, outrunning Allison Tellias who finished second.
Cheng clocked 5:51:21 to nip Tellias by just under three minutes. Tellias crossed the line at the 5:54:00 mark.
Dexter Barian, with a time of 6:10:06, Mar Bruce Perez, with a time of 6:43:29, and Ronie Domingo, who clocked 8:01:28, round out the top five for the category.
The People’s City Eco-Adventure Run 2019, a road to trail running event that showcased the superb mountain views of La Union and the majestic Tangadan Falls of San Gabriel, was held with the aim to increase awareness of the environment, live harmoniously with it, and protect it.
It was organized by the La Union Sanggunian’s Committee on Environment, in cooperation with the La Union Trail Running Association (LUTRA), with the intention to also promote interest in fitness.
According to the organizers’ Facebook page, the run gathered sports enthusiasts who shared the best environmental practices and knowledge about the benefits of running to one’s health and outlook of life.
The Committee on Environment, with the assistance of LUTRA, intends to make the run a yearly event, where participants will run, walk, and trek through different terrains and surfaces like, mountains, hills, rocks, sand, trails, grass, among trees, and concrete paths in the City of San Fernando and neighbor towns.
The Committee is hoping the Run will remind and encourage people, especially residents of La Union, to value nature and the environment, and preserve them for future generations; and (b) to have active lifestyles.
By Armando M. Bolislis
MARATHONER RECOGNIZED – Ultra marathoner Marcelo Bautista proudly shows off his finisher award in the People’s City Eco Adventure 100 Kilometer Run held in San Fernando City, La Union last June 30 during City hall flag raising ceremony. By Bong Cayabyab.