Mactan, Cebu—Children studying at Mactan public schools, as well as competitors of the 2018 Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, joined a run out from Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa to the Mactan Shrine yesterday Friday, August 3.
The run out gave the 2018 Alaska IRONKIDS Triathlon Cebu a meaningful start through the Dagan ug Sayaw, which started with the run out and culminated with a 90-minute Zumba exercise.
Participants of the race—including 2016 world champion Tim Reed, three-time world titlist Craig Alexander and former XTERRA world champion and this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 Davao winner Mauricio Mendez—led the run out of students from Punta Engano High School and the Marigondon Elementary School as well as their parents, teachers and others who also joined the Zumba Exercises later in the morning.
“Alaska Milk is all about developing a healthy lifestyle. I am glad these children joined the run out and hope that they also get the chance to join the Alaska IRONKIDS. I hope that one day they could aspire to be world champions like Craig Alexander,” said Sunrise Events President and CEO as well as Alaska Milk Chairman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu as he led the Alaska Milk Toast.
The 2018 Alaska IRONKIDS Triathlon Cebu is the culmination of a year-long calendar of triathlon activities for young boys and girls who are six to 14 years old. The event had a modest start with about 60 participants and has grown to almost 400 participants in the Cebu IRONKIDS with the organizers expecting more to join before the actual race which starts today, Saturday.
More than just a race, Alaska IRONKIDS has become a venue for families to bond with parents showing their children that being physically fit and healthy is more fun. It also fosters the importance of starting the day right with a combination of exercise and proper nutrition.
“I think it started with kids who like swimming biking and running. They got to see their parents who competed in the triathlon. Because these parents were triathletes, they encouraged their kids to try the sport. The children start with the play category. When they grow up, they then try to race,” said Alaska Associate Brand Manager Diane Guerta.
The Alaska IRONKIDS Triathlon Cebu teaches children to drop their video game consoles, cell phones, stop watching TV inside their living rooms and instead go out to swim, bike and run. It provides boys and girls a year-long calendar of fun and exciting races.