A record 13 thousand runners participated in the Premier running event of the Philippines, the Condura Skyway Marathon held last Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Filinvest, Alabang. Now on its 5th year, this is the only marathon that goes through the elevated Skyway system and advocates the protection of the marine environment.
This year, in partnership with the Philippine Tropical Forest Corporation, 3 mangroves per runner translating to 39,000 seedlings will be planted to build a mangrove forest in Zamboaga de Sibugay. Mangroves serve as a breeding ground of life, protect coastal communities and generate livelihood opportunities for generations to come. As a testament to this commitment, runners painted on a 100-foot mangrove wall installed in the Condura Skyway Village.
“My vision is to put the Philippines on the map as a sports tourism destination. What better way to spend a vacation than to run a World Class marathon and then go to the place that you ran for like Bohol. Our vision is to grow the race to 30 thousand runners in 5 years time and establish the Condura Skyway Marathon as the Premier Running event in the Asia Pacific Region”, enthuses Mr. Ton Concepcion, Condura President.
Indeed this vision is fast becoming reality. From 2,000 runners in 2008 the race has grown almost 7 fold with runners flying in from difference parts of the Philippines and 18 different countries around the world to join the marathon. The Condura Skyway Marathon is the biggest full marathon and half marathon event in the country today. The race was made even more exciting this year with the introduction of the first Midnight marathon in the country and the 3k and 5k race categories running up the Skyway for the first time.
“We would not be able to mount this race without the Skyway and Operations Management Corporation headed by its President Mr. Ramon Borromeo and it Head of Operations Mr. Ed Nepomuceno, our Venue Host, Filinvest and our presenting sponsors, Summit Water and Asics. This is the team that has the vision to put the Philippines on the map!” shares Mr. Concepcion.
The Condura Skyway marathon is an annual event that is held every first Sunday of February.