‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ marathon set next month
Published by Casey McGuire March 31st, 2008 in Trail Running News
THE oldest and longest-running tribute run for World War II Veterans will be on the highways of Central Luzon again for its 23rd staging this coming April 8 and 9, 2008.
Billed as the Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra-Marathon, the 102-kilometer retracing of the 1942 infamous Death March Trail, from Mariveles,
The annual event first hit the dreaded route in 1986, more than a month after the first Edsa People Power Revolution happened.
The living heroes and local residents of the town, led by Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion and Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Post Commander Abraham Regala will traverse a 10-meter walk down memory lane for a fitting send-off for the modern-day marchers.
The transfer of a symbolic torch from Regala to founding organizer Ed Paez will start the actual relay-run.
The runners will carry the torch, the Philippine tri-colors, American Spangled Banner and
Passing through nine towns of Bataan, the group, composed of runners from the Runners Confederation of the Philippines, Inc. (RUNCPI), Philippine Army Special Services Unit, PA Light Armor Division, Philippine National Police Recom 3, Muay Association, The Fort Striders, City of Sta. Rosa Runners, Tarlac City RC, Safer Run and others, will be spending the night at the Lubao Gymnasium in Pampanga with Mayor Dennis Pineda and his mother, former Board Member Lilia Pineda, rolling the red carpet.
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Weird, I thought Comrades was the oldest tribute marathon. Certainly not to the veterans, but to the fallen, though.
“Thus when peace was declared in 1918, Clapham felt that all those who had fallen in this catastrophic war should be remembered and honoured in a unique way, where an individuals physical frailties could be put to the test and overcome.”
“The first Comrades Marathon took place on 24th May 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners.”