Local running levels up with a first-ever night racing cutting through Manila’s historical sites as the ASICS Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila unwraps Sunday (June 19) at KM 0 with a four-category event lined up in a day-long fun and music running through midnight.
Incoming Mayor Honey Lacuna, the capital city’s first female chief executive, welcomes the more than 5,000 runners in the novel event replete with history, this being held on the 161st birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal and in conjunction with the city’s 450th founding celebrations.
The start and finish will be at the Rizal Park with the race to highlight the city’s heritage sights and landmarks, including the KM 0, Intramuros, National Museum, Manila City Hall, Kartilya ng Katipunan, Mehan Garden, Jones bridge and Chinatown.The 10K and 5K races will be fired off at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., respectively, while the 21K and 42K events will both start at 5 p.m., according to the IRONMAN Group and Rock “n” Roll Running Series, organizers and produces of the event.A wreath-laying ceremony for Dr. Jose Rizal will be held from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
“We have been working on this project the last three years. The Philippines has no marathon of its own in the tradition of city marathons like Berlin, Boston and Chicago and the Filipinos’ love for music, singing and dancing only makes the rock and roll brand perfect for the City of Manila, given its progress and cleanliness,” said Princess Galura, general manager of The IRONMAN Group.
The Covid break, Galura added, also gave them the time to plan and ensure to put up a safe race with precautionary measures in place days before the staging of the blue-ribbon event, the very first Rock ‘n’ Roll series staged in Southeast Asia backed by Asics as title sponsor, Gatorade as official hydration partner and Alaska, Lightwater, Regent and Sante.“We all know the efforts of Manila to make it back as the country’s premier tourism capital and at the same time promote its heritage sites,” said Alex Layos of the Manila Youth Bureau. “With the outdoor activities also now open, this also promotes healthy living among the Manileños.”
The MYB has also tapped the assistance of the concerned barangays and the private sector to guarantee peace and order and the safe conduct of the event supported by the Philippine Star, One Sports, Cignal and Sportograf.com as media partners.
The inaugural ASICS RnR series mixes running and endurance with partying and a concert that will have participants treated to music throughout the route enhanced with themed water stations and a musical bash at the finish that will run through midnight.
Providing music and fun on race routes are DJ Bling One, the Moranos bad, the Gracenote band, Ruejen Lista, himself a running buff, Elmo and Arkin Magalona, the Hardware Syndrome, the Kahilom drumbeaters and Itchyworms, among others.
“We are excited and we can’t wait. A lot of efforts have been poured into this project the past two years and everybody has done a great job,” said Kabir Buxani, Chief Technical Officer of Sonak Corp., the official distributor of ASICS in the Philippines. ”This particular marathon is a very very big step for us, not only to give the Filipinos the opportunity to run again after Covid but also to show the progress of Manila in terms of tourism and cleanliness.”
Meanwhile, the 5K category is a single loop course, starting at KM 0 and heading down south before making the first run around KM 2 on Quirino Ave. Participants head back north for the second turn around just after the 25th street before making another left turn all the way back to Quirino Grandstand for the finish.
Another single loop course, the 10K run also fires off at KM 0 to KM2 on Quirino Ave. before heading back north to Burgos Ave. for the second turn at KM 5 before the National Museum then to Intramuros through Muralla and Real Sts. to Sta. Lucia then to Gen. Luna before heading back to Burgos.
Participants then make a left turn at Roxas Blvd before turning around at the Anda Circle at KM 9 all the way back to the Quirino Grandstand.
The half-marathon (21K) is composed of two loops from KM0 to KM 2 to Burgos Ave. and Oroso for the second turn at KM 5 to the National Museum then to Intramuros through Muralla, Real St. Sta. Lucia and Gen. Luna and back to Burgos.
Back at Roxas Blvd., participants head to Anda Circle at KM 10, then back to KM 0 for the first loop with the second loop to follow the same route all the way to the Quirino Grandstand.
The main category (42K) is comprised of three loops following the same course of the 21K run with the third loop making the turnaround on Quirinio Ave. at KM 30, then heading to Orosa at KM 33, then Quintin Paredes at KM 35, to Intramuros and back to Anda Circle for the final turn at KM 41 before heading to the Quirino Grandstand for the finish line.
