“Ilang tulog na lang!”

Final preparations are being reviewed to ensure the smooth holding of the first-ever Dumaguete Adventure Marathon at 5:30 a.m. this coming Sunday, Nov. 22.

Dr. Aparicio Mequi, director of the Institute of Youth Spots for Peace (IYSPeace) at Foundation University, which is spearheading this event, said many runners from other parts of the country have already signified their intention to run on Sunday, which will bring the number of runners at about 3,000.

“This promises to be a fun event,” Mequi said in a final briefing before teachers and administrators of Foundation University last Friday.

Mequi said this marathon will be different from the other marathons being held in the country. ” Unlike marathons that are run on flat urban roads, the participants of the adventure marathon will see scenic spots from Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard to the elevated barangay Calabnugan in Sibulan town, and barangays Balili and Palinpinon in Valencia town before heading back to Dumaguete, ending at the Sidlakang Negros Village.
“Marathoners have become tired of running on flat surfaces. We’re now giving them a different kind of marathon,” Mequi, who is the Dumaguete Adventure Marathon’s prime mover, said.

The Dumaguete Adventure Marathon takes off from some of the famous adventure marathons held in the Great Wall of China, the Polar Circle and the African wilderness.

The marathon, which has a maximum distance of 28.3 kilometers, also gives runners the option to run only three, five or ten kilometers.Though slightly over the distance of a half-marathon, the intrepid road runner and adventure seeker will be challenged by a 3-kilometer uphill ascent to Barangay Balili starting at 110 meters above sea level and up to 390 meters above sea level. Coming down, the runners will be treated to natural scenic sights and views of the famous Cuernos de Negros (Horns of Negros) and the islands of Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor across the Mindanao Sea.

With technical support of the Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club and with the support of the local government units of Dumaguete City, Sibulan, Valencia and even Bayawan City, the annual event has now seen the participation of professionals, students, as well as children with disabilities (CWDs).

Interested participants may learn more about the Dumaguete Adventure Marathon by calling Foundation Unviersity at (6335) 4229167 local 55, or by logging on to the Dumaguetemarathon.com website.