Second edition of Naga 21K Uphill Rush slated September 4

CEBU, Philippines - The local government of Naga City, Cebu will once again hold the 21K Uphill Rush on September 4 from the Baywalk in Poblacion to Barangay Cantao-an, a hilly village.

Organized by running group Team Kombati, part of the run’s proceeds will be donated to the local government to fund the needs of Naga’s student-athletes.

The race is also in line with the celebration of the 9th Charter Day Anniversary of the city on September 5.

One lane of the national highway from the Poblacion to Barangay Tuyan will be closed to vehicular traffic for the race at 4:30 a.m. and will be opened at 10 a.m., said Senior Insp. Jose Rovic Villarin, City of Naga deputy police chief.

A total of 29 police officers, 77 village tanods and 30 police interns will be deployed to secure the athletes and man the traffic on during the race, Villarin added.

Clint Chiong of Team Kombati said they were overwhelmed by the impressive turnout of runners and health buffs who joined the run last year, as this exceeded their targeted number of registrants. He is hoping that this year’s event will also successful.

Categories for the uphill run are 21K, 12K and 5K. The 21K will start at 5 a.m., the 12K at 5:15 a.m., and the 5K at 5:30 a.m.

Registration fee  is P750 for the 21K, P550 for the 12K at P550 and P350 for the 5K. All registered participants will get a free singlet, a race bib and breakfast. All finishers will get a free t-shirt.

The first male and female runner for 21K who will reach the turning point uphill (10.5K) will be declared King and Queen of the mountain and each will get a pair of Oakley sunglasses.

All finishers for 21K and 12K will get a medal each.

The winners in the 21K division will get P10,000, while the next two runners will get P7,500 and P5,000, respectively.

In the 12K, the first placer will go home with P5,000, with the next two earning P3,500 and P2,000. The winner in the 5K category will get P2,000, while the next two placers will get P1,500 and P1,000.

The run is supported by Runnr, Cemex Philippines, Kepco SPC, the Professional Academy of the Philippines and the Carcar Amateur Radio Communicators Inc. (Carcom). Registration forms are available at Runnr in Ayala and at the City Hall of Naga. (FREEMAN)