More than 120 runners will participate in the 2nd Negros Oriental 103-kilometer ultra-marathon, 5 p.m. today in Dumaguete City until 5 p.m. the next day in Bayawan City.

Race director Paultom Paras, head of the Negros Oriental Sports Development Program, said in a Kapihan sa PIA forum, that the activity is one of the sports-tourism events to help promote Negros Oriental in Asia, and the participants are serious distance runners from Manila, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga Sibugay, Malaysia, and Dumaguete City, and Negros Oriental.

Ninety-seven runners, including five husband-wife teams, will run the entire route of 103 kilometers. About three barefoot runners will join the barefoot category, and 26 in relay teams of 25K and 50K. The oldest solo runner is 63-year-old Franco Divino from Sibulan, who finished 102 kilometers in 13 hours in the first 102K Ultra last year.

The event is organized by NOSDEP, the Dumaguete Adventure Runners and Striders, and the Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club, and supported by the provincial government of Negros Oriental.

Overnight security along the route will be provided by the Philippine National Police Provincial Office, headed by Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., and the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army, led by Col. Allan Martin. Communications support will be facilitated by the Dumaguete Radio Emergency Communication Operation Network Dragon 7, headed by Boy Balcoberro.

Medical assistance will be managed by One Rescue EMS stationed in Dumaguete, with orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Daryll Aplaon, leading the team as medical director, and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mark Aranas, and Dr. Santiago Tiongson will serve as assistant medical directors.

Others providing mobile medical assistance along the route are the Army Mobile Medical Team, the ambulances of the health units in Bacong, Dauin, Zamboanguita, Siaton, and Sta. Catalina, and the Bayawan Risk-Reduction Management Council Rescue Team.

New York-based running coach and personal trainer, Dario Endozo, lauded the efforts of the local running teams in Dumaguete that he said, have ‘leveled up’ since he first conducted a running clinic for the newbie running teams in 2011.*IP

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