Organizers promise better Cebu Marathon race next year

CEBU CITY -- Organizers of the Cebu Marathon promised a smoother and improved event in 2026 as preparations are already underway for what remains one of the country’s biggest footraces.The 2026 edition of the Cebu Marathon set for Jan. 11 was officially launched on Friday, July 18, at the SM Seaside City Cebu with organizers confident it would surpass the previous year’s turnout of 13,000 participants.This year’s Cebu Marathon drew controversy after chaos erupted at the finish line, where runners became unruly and were seen grabbing finisher’s medals in what was described as a looting incident.Some runners also complained of the quality of post-race meals.Organizers from the Cebu Executives Runners Club (CERC) stressed that measures are already in place to prevent these incidents from happening again.“In our 18-year history, it was the first time that ever happened. It wasn’t because of a lack of medals from Suarez Arts, but rather an issue with distribution at the finish line. It happened in the last 15 minutes of the race. We will make sure it will not happen again,” John Pages said.Pages assured that the complaints were not ignored, emphasizing that the negative feedback was taken seriously and used to implement measures aimed at preserving the race’s integrity as Cebu’s premier running event.“We don’t just carry the name of our organization. We carry the name of Cebu, our province, our island. We hope to make everyone proud with the 2026 edition,” Pages said.Pages also defended issues hounding the race’s registration fees.“With the Suarez Arts medals and the merchandise that we will be giving to the runners, aside from being able to join a world-class  event, hopefully we were able to convince the runners that the registration fees are not an issue,” said Pages.For finisher’s medals, CERC has partnered with Suarez Arts while Island Souvenirs was tapped for race apparel.Organizers announced that the 21-kilometer distance has been brought back to replace the  25K category.CERC also announced that the Cebu Marathon’s 42K race has been officially certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).“The distance accuracy matters,” Pages explained. “There are many races that don’t meet the exact 42.195 km. With AIMS measuring our course, Cebu Marathon times can now be used to qualify for world majors. This is a big deal, especially for serious runners.”Cebu landmarks like the South Road Properties (SRP) tunnel and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) will be part of the 42K and 21K routes. The race held every January will also have the 10K and 5K distances.Registration started last Friday with an early bird discount taking effect until Aug. 31.