3rd Great Lapu-Lapu Run 2011

ORGANIZERS of the upcoming 3rd Great Lapu-Lapu Run promised a better staging of the race this April 17 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Race chairman Hembler Mendoza admitted some lapses in last year’s race but made sure that those were to be corrected this year.

One of the changes made was the hiring of a new race director in Joel Baring of the Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts (SAFE).

"We admit that we have a lot of glitches last year,” Mendoza said. “But this year, we promise that it won't happen again." 

Since the route was one of the problems last year, Baring said they’ve prepared an entirely new route for this year’s race. He said the route starts at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall and will pass through the Mactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Also, Mendoza tapped the services of the Sprint Race Timing Systems, which handled Cebu Marathon 2011 last January.

The race was launched yesterday session hall of the Lapu-Lapu City Hall. Joining Mendoza and Baring in the launching was chairman of the tourism committee and Lapu-Lapu City Councilor, Harry Radaza.

The race will have 21-kilometer, 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer categories.

Prizes at stake for the champions in the 21k race will be an all-expense-paid trip to Singapore to join the annual Standard Chartered Marathon. 

The race is one of many sporting events lined up by the Lapu-Lapu government to promote its sports tourism. The others include the Speedo National Age Group Triathlon set also next month, the Olanggo Challenge, National Cycling Competition and the Tri-Lapu-Lapu 113 Triathlon.

Registration fee for the Great Lapu-Lapu Run is pegged at P450 for the 21k and P250 for the 10k and 5k races. Registration areas are at the Lapu-Lapu City tourism office and at the RUNNR in Ayala Center Cebu.