http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2012/02/20/tabuelan-host-first-triathlon-event-tune-cobra-ironman-207135Tabuelan to host first triathlon event as tune-up for Cobra Ironman
By Iste S. Leopoldo
Monday, February 20, 2012
A MAYOR’S newfound love for triathlon is paying dividends for the sport.
After Mayor Rex Gerona got bitten by the triathlon bug and had his fill in the age group division of the Summit Triathlon Team Championship series in Siquijor early this month, the Tabuelan mayor decided to host his own race in his town on June 17.
The event, dubbed the Tabuelan 111 Triathlon, is co-organized by Sugbu triathlon and Tagghap Tri Club (TTC).
Over-all organizer Junki Flores of the Tagghap Tri Club said that the race will serve as a tune-up event for the Cobra Ironman 70.3 on Aug. 5 in Shangrila, Mactan.
The Cobra Ironman 70.3, which was staged in Camarines Sur in previous years, is considered the biggest and most prestigious triathlon event in the country and is expected to gather hundreds of participants from the Philippines and abroad.
“We intend to design the race like the 70.3 Ironman distance race, which will have a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90K bike and 21.1K run,” Flores told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview.
He is optimistic that a lot of triathletes, especially the newbies, will be joining the race.
“We are also introducing the sport to the people of Tabuelan as we will be conducting trainings and we will provide technical assistance for the whole summer,” Flores said.
The race is not only one of the highlights of the fiesta celebration of Tabuelan but is also part of their advocacy in promoting health and wellness.
“We are very assertive in promoting good health and change of lifestyle into becoming more active,” Flores said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 21, 2012.
