Challenge Triathlon Prepares for its PHL Debut in Bataan

Challenge Philippines will hold its maiden triathlon activity in Bataan in February next year

To start off preparations, partners in the event composed of Challenge Philippines, Endurance Entertainment Asia, Ocean Adventure, Camayan Beach Resort, Department of Tourism, Bataan Technology Park and the provincial government of Bataan signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) Thursday.

Dave Voth, Challenge Philippines race chairman; Tim Desmond, president of Ocean Adventure; actor Marvin Agustin of Endurance Entertainment Asia, and Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia with some other stakeholders signed the MOA.

“We chose Bataan for our Philippine debut because it is iconic in terms of tourism and no place in the world has the beauty of Bataan,” said Voth, who is married to a Filipina.

The race chairman, who is also president of Endurance Entertainment Asia, said the race will be a week-long activity that will feature a series of family events like fun run for adults and children, beach party, festivals and concerts for the community and families.

The tri- course spans an area of 113 kilometers with 1.9 km for the swim course, 90 k for the bike course and 21 k for the run course.

Cash prizes worth over P2 million await the winners in the swim, bike, run races.

“Sites in Bataan will excite people,” Voth said.

He said they expected 1,000 participants with 600 who have so far registered for the event.

“I am happy that Challenge chose Bataan which will be good for tourism and the promotion of healthy lifestyle especially for the youth, Garcia said.

The swim course will take athletes to the white sand beaches of the Camayan Beach Resort in the Subic Freeport.

The bike course will be passing tree-lined roads in the moth-balled Bataan Nuclear Power Plant and the Bataan Technology Park, all in Morong, Bataan then through the Subic International Airport and the Ocean Adventure in the Subic Freeport.

In the run course which is the final event in the triathlon, participants will race to the Ilanin Forest Reserve, also in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (PNA)hbc/zst/EBE/ps