Organizers expect at least 1,500 runners to join the 2nd Rotary Run on Feb. 21 that will kick off the annual celebration of the Rotary Week. The run will feature 3-kilometer, 7K and 15K races.

The run will also have a 200-meter sprint for 7-year-olds and below and 400-meter race for 8-year-olds to 12-year-olds. The races for children will be held inside the SM City Cebu compound.

The Rotary Run will start and end at the old v-hire terminal near the Northwing of SM City Cebu. (Interactive map found at the end of this article)

ROTARY RUN. Rotary PR Chair Lilu Aliño answers a reporter’s question during the press briefing for the 2nd Rotary Run. Among those who attended this afternoon’s press conference are (from right) Jet Neric, Me’Anne Alcordo and Rotary Run chair Kenneth Casquejo. The run is directed by Raffy Uytiepo (extreme left).

“On top of promoting Rotary and a healthy lifestyle, joining the race is an opportunity to contribute to the End Polio Now, a program of the Rotary Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide,” said race co-organizer Kenneth Casquejo.

“Running is a good way and a very cheap way to be healthy,” said Casquejo.

Co-organizer Jet Neric said that apart from promoting a healthy lifestyle, running also encourages family bonding. He said organizers hope Rotarians “will develop a running lifestyle.”

Casquejo said the 1st placer in the men’s and women’s categories of the 15K race will get P8,000, 2nd placers will get P5,000 and 3rd placers will get P3,000. The 4th to 6th placers will get P500 and the 7th to 10th placers will get P300. All the winners will get medals.

In the 7K race, the 1st placers will get P5,000; 2nd placers will het P3,000; and 3rd placers will get P2,000.

The registration fee for the race is P150, which is inclusive of a race singlet, race bib and a Jollibee snack. The registration center is at the Philippine Sports Commission office in the Cebu City Sports Center. Casquejo said registration will no longer be allowed on race day.

The top-seeds for the run are Mary Grace delos Santos, the top female runner in Cebu, and Kenyan Simon Losiaboi.

ROTARIANS, TOP RUNNERS. Top runners based in Cebu pose with Rotary officials during the launch of the Rotary Run. Among the top runners who attended yesterday are (back row, starting 3rd from left) Kenyan Simon Losiaboi, elite triathlete Noy Jopson, tope female runner Mary Grace delos Santos and her trainer, Sherwin Managil.

Race director Raffy Uytiepo said that although some runners have complained against Losiaboi, the “presence of top runners also make you fast.”

“If you want to win or to beat me, just train hard,” Losiaboi said yesterday. He told the press conference that he doesn’t do anything special and that he trains hard with local runners. He said he is thankful with the warm welcome of Cebuanos.

Asia Brewery Inc., one of the sponsors of the race, pledged ample water supply and said 100 Plus isotonic sports drink will be distributed in the finish line.

Casquejo said they have coordinated with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) to make the race route secure for runners. He said they will be fielding enough marshals to help secure the routes.

Since the race is in February, organizers said they will be giving awards to the top running couple. They said the couple need not be married and they only need to finish together. They said they will not discriminate and same-sex couples are welcome to join the couples’ race.

Uytiepo also said pacers and bikers will not be allowed on the race route. He said the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation will be providing medical support for runners.

Below is an interactive virtual map of the race route based on data given by the organizers.