IRONMAN 70.3 Davao returns with new course, stronger support

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte (second from right) poses with (from left) Davao City asst. City Administrator Atty. Tristan Domingo; RLC Residences Trade and Events officer Jackie Lou Tolentino; RLC Residences Brand Management head Dan Carlos Torres; and Princess Galura, general manager of the organizing IRONMAN Group Philippinesm, during the launch of IRONMAN 70.3 Davao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — With an exciting new course, new backers and full support from the host city, the IRONMAN 70.3 Davao Philippines promises to surpass all previous editions of this premier endurance race in terms of participation, prestige and challenge when it is held on August 11.

"The event has proven to be very successful in the past three stagings, not only for the city government but also for the business sector. We truly value hosting the event and will give our full support," said Davao City Assistant City Administrator Atty. Tristan Domingo. "As the athletes are doing their training, the team in the city government is also preparing to be in top shape for the event."

Aboitiz Power will be the event's presenting sponsor, following the signing of a three-year contract in Davao City. Ion+ Advanced Electrolyte Drink joins as another new partner, along with the continuing support of RLC Residences for IRONKIDS Davao and 2GO for the Gwapa Dabawenya event. This strong backing is expected to attract a banner field across various age categories.

A highlight of this year's race is the brand-new course along the new Davao City Coastal Road. Athletes will face a new challenge as they swim 1.9km parallel to the coast, bike 90km towards the MacArthur Highway, and return to the coastal road for the 21.1km run to the finish line.

Since its inception in 2018, IRONMAN 70.3 Davao has been well-supported by the local community. The city comes alive with cultural shows, festivities and a competitive team spirit, attracting athletes from all over the Philippines and other countries. In fact, Davao City was recently recognized as the second safest city in Southeast Asia in the Numbeo Southeast Asia Safety Index for 2023, making it an ideal destination for global events like this.

"We have been here in Davao for 78 years. We are proud sponsors of many events and efforts of the city, and we thank Davao for their forward-thinking and promotion of a healthy lifestyle," said Jokin Aboitiz, Deputy COO of AboitizPower Distribution Utilities. AboitizPower, an energy solutions company providing reliable and affordable power across the country, champions sustainability initiatives that improve the quality of life through the positive impact of sports and a healthy lifestyle.

The official inclusion of Ion+ Advanced Electrolyte Drink in the IRONMAN Group Philippines events this year will greatly benefit the athletes. Ikigai Nutri Sciences Inc., the distributor of Ion+ in the Philippines, will provide hydration for athletes, ensuring they achieve their goals with a balanced mix of sodium, glucose, and other essential electrolytes like magnesium, potassium, and zinc.

Adding excitement to the event is IRONKIDS on Aug. 10, a duathlon featuring a run-bike-run competition for athletes aged 6-15 years old. A special IRONKIDS run will also be held, with a 1km course for kids aged 6-10 and a 3km course for those aged 11-15.

The 2GO Gwapa Dabawenya Run on Aug. 9 will kick off the big IRONMAN weekend. This 5k fun run has already drawn an impressive 2,000 participants just three days after registration opened.

Meanwhile, listup for the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Davao powered by Aboitiz and the RLC IRONKIDS Davao is ongoing. For details, visit ironman.com/im703-davao-philippines.

Backers of the event, organized by The IRONMAN Group, are VinFast, Active, HOKA, ROKA and Breitling (global premier partners); Athletic Brewing Co., FulGaz, Hyperice, Qatar Airways, Santini, AG1 and Wahoo (global technical partners); Always Advancing, Compressport, Ekoi and Nirvana (Asia supplier partners); and media partners Outside+ and Sportograf. TMT