Halfway thru the full mary route, as I near yet another hydration station resplendent with bountiful fruits and snacks and the fabled smile of Boholano volunteers, I figured already how the Bicolano Penguin (BP) will write about the 2023 Bohol International Marathon (BIM). I shall write about it by describing it in terms of the B.O.H.O.L. acronym.
Let us proceed.
BEAUTIFUL.
From the moment I arrived at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport to the moment I checked in at the Bohol Sunside Resort (the first resort of 3 resorts I will be checking in for my BIM runcation), the overall impression I got was that Panglao is one beautiful tourist haven of an island. And this was before I got to check in at the expansive BE Grand Resort, the leading sponsor of the 2023 BIM.
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| We are in Paradise. The cool and breathtaking seafront of the BE Grand Resort Bohol. |
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| A mural of All things Bohol at the dining area of Bohol Sunside Resort. |
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| Enjoying the pool at the Azul de Panglao Hotel. |
Truly, Panglao is a beautiful island. Fast becoming a mecca for tourists, both local and foreign. "Panglao is brimming with lush jungle, palm trees and dense forest. It's still so untouched and despite construction and tourism, you still get a sense of originality and authenticity" says Miriam Risager, travel writer behind the Adventurous Miriam blog. I agree with the Danish travel writer, particularly on that sense of authenticity one feels enjoying the tourist offerings of the island.
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| Along Alona Beach in Panglao Isalnd, soaring palm trees reach upwards to the moon (almost Blue Moon). |
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| Enjoying Happy Hour at South Palms Resort the night after the race. 50% off on drinks with 150% smiles. |
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| Crab tacos at Mist Cafe & Restaurant. World class culinary adventure in the island of Panglao. |
And it is not only Panglao but the whole province of Bohol that is beautiful. This province is home to some of the country's most iconic natural attractions including the world famous Chocolate Hills in the municipality of Carmen and the cute Philippine Tarsiers that are located in the forests of Bilar. Just this year, the island of Bohol was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the first and only global geopark in the Philippines. The UNESCO Global Geoparks are unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education, and sustainable development. Bravo Bohol.
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| Choose your favorite Chocolate. First Balfour runners admiring the view that is the Chocolate Hills of Bohol. |
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| a Tarsier and very distant cousins. |
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| Hang time in the Manmade Forest in the border of Bilar and Loboc. |
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| Scorching hot performance at the river cruise in Loay. |
With such a globally-recognized beautiful island/province as the site of the marathon, the experience of running the 2023 BIM was bound to be no less appealing and grand. On that long weekend of Aug 26-28, Panglao Island and the whole province of Bohol was a fiesta island paradise for the runners of 2023 BIM. The BP together with fellow First Balfour runners Nikki, Daniel, Gio and Lance enjoyed the beauty and bounty of Bohol.
And it keeps getting better.
well-ORGANIZED
Simply put, the 2023 BIM is a well-organized marathon. It is a fact, no ifs and buts about it. And that sweet fact is made even more sweeter by another fact: BIM is 100% homegrown. Bohol pride and hospitality at work. Amazing that the 2023 BIM does not have the backing of giant multi-national running and commercial brands, unlike the marquee marathons in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.
Organizing a marathon is easier said than done.
What are the components of a well-organized marathon? I am no expert so I look to others who have experience and actually have written about it. Searching far and wide, there is this comprehensive list prepared by Avani Raj Arora from the biggest democracy in the world. I listed them down here and indicate how 2023 BIM did very well in each one.
1. Administration:
Administration is key to the success of organizing a marathon. There has to be a Race Director, and perhaps a Co-Race Director, who will assign the tasks to all the teams with clearly defined division of roles and responsibilities, and will have the sweet patience to make sure the various teams deliver. For the 2023 BIM, the BP is not able to know who is the Race Director. I did not receive an answer when I sent a question via messenger to the 2023 BIM facebook page.
But there is a saying: "The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating." Surely there must have been a Race Director, supported by a number of specific teams, that made the well-organized running of the 2023 BIM possible. The BP would love to meet that person someday so that I can properly express our thanks for such a job well done, and pick his or her brains for nuggets of running wisdom.
Perhaps it is not one single person but a small group of dedicated local runners who made it all possible. Browsing thru the BIM facebookpage, there is a post that talks about a BIM Core Group.
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| "It takes a village" FB post on the eve of the 2023 BIM. |
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| A trio of 2023 BIM core group members meeting last Dec 2022. If we know them, we would gladly give them a double thumbs up for a great job with the latest edition of the BIM. |
The BIM Core Group surely did its homework and it showed beautifully in the conduct of the running event. It takes a village they say.
2. On Ground Activity/Branding:
A key on ground activity for organizing a marathon or any running event for that matter is coordinating and getting the necessary permits from the relevant government offices and local administrative bodies. Evidently, the organizers of the 2023 BIM did a more than sufficient job on this key ground activity.
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| Coordination meeting in August of the Provincial Government of Bohol to discuss the BIM |
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| Courtesy call of the 2023 BIM core group to Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap |
Ambulances with health personnel were visible on standby during the race. Policemen and barangay security personnel were busy manning key intersections so that the runners are safe. The Bohol provincial government enthusiastically extended its support. Likewise, the Pansol and Daois LGUs too.
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| Race staff at one of the hydration station providing assistance to a 2023 BIM runner |
Branding in running is the process of giving a meaning to the marathon or running event by creating and shaping a brand (a recognizable identity) in the runners' minds as well as that of the general public. The organizers made an exemplary effort to create a recognizable identity for the 2023 BIM. That identity is "2023 Bohol International Marathon - The LIFE Run." To quote the organizers: "Äfter surviving a world lockdown, we return to our roots. We simplify, we go organic, we go green." Indeed, an excellent way to thank for the gift of life (surviving the covid pandemic which claimed millions of lives all over the world) is to celebrate life with a festive running event.
Anchoring that brand identity is the official logo - the Flower of Life. The BIM core group tasked a group of designers, who are international award-winning inter-disciplinary but proudly local artists, to come up with the concept . And the designers did their assignment quite well, getting inspiration from Sacred Geometry The Flower of Life is a symbol of creation and it is created by forming a circle then moving to the edge of that circle and forming another one. This official logo was very much visible in the event shirt, finish shirt, medal, and other merchandise related to the 2023 BIM.
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| The official logo of the 2023 BIM was derived from the Flower of Life. |
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| The Flower of Life logo in the event shirt and finisher medal |
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| The official logo was visible in all the visual displays of 2023 BIM |
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| The 2023 BIM sponsors top billed by BE Grand Resort Bohol and included local resorts and restaurants in Bohol plus well-known brands. |
With the brand established for the 2023 BIM, the core group set about getting sponsors. And they had a bounty of generous and energetic sponsors ranging from resorts, restaurants, cafes, and local businesses plus a sprinkling of nationally-recognized brands. The spirit of collaboration was very much evident between the organizers and sponsors.
3. Information Dispensation:
People must be made aware of the event. And for the 2023 BIM, the organizers did a splendid job. There was an abundance of information about the 2023 BIM in many channels (mainstream media & social media), starting in late 2022 to the month (Aug) of the event itself, and even until Sep 2023. The level of information dispensation of 2023 BIM is comparable to that of Singapore Marathon, the only international marathon the BP has joined, back in 2011.
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| The 2023 BIM organizers were busy with helpful announcements and advisories from Dec 2022 to race day in Aug 2023. |
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| Route maps were made available in social media posts and were visible in posters and tarps. |
Compared to other local marathons, the 2023 BIM was more diligent in informing the runners and the general public of key information (e.g. route map, traffic advisory, number hydration stations) and developments (e.g. Start & End of Early Bird registration, Promo availability from resort partners). Even on the time of the availability of the carbo loading meal , this was texted and emailed to runner-participants like me. Just an example of the attention to details and care for the runners that the 2023 BIM organizers exhibited consistently.
4. Food and Beverage Preparation:
The great Napoleon Bonaparte once said "Än ärmy marches on its stomach". So too do runners. We need all the hydration and sustenance we could get our hands on as we munched and nibbled thru the 42 kilometers that make up a full marathon. And on this point of F&B, the 2023 BIM deserves 5-stars. All in all, the 2023 BIM had 23 stations most of them fully stacked with all sorts of food, fruits and refreshments. More on that in the section below dealing with Över sa Lechon."
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| One of the lechons in 2023 BIM presented ala hotel buffet. |
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| Runners enjoying the buffet-like atmosphere in one of the 2023 BIM stations in the early morning hours of race day. |
5. Community Building/Partners:
There is wisdom in organizers of a running event associating with the right communities, and influencers/celebrities that would do justice not just to the brand but also to the public at large that is participating. On the part of the 2023 BIM, given its branding of the "LIFE Run", it identified a handful of influencers that ranged from beauty queens (Nicole Borromeo & Maureen Montagne), a leading running blogger (Pinoy Fitness) and a local Dragon Boat team (Bohol Masters).
All of these influencers shared and exuded a zest for life. All of these influencers figured prominently in the social media platform of 2023 BIM and were physically present and/or participating in the actual running. There was credibility in the brand.
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| Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 Nicole Borromeo at the gun start ceremony for the 2023 BIM. She also ran in the 21kms. |
As for the beneficaries of the 2023 BIM, the organizers picked Bohol Animal Rescue & Kindness - BARK, INC as one. Inspiring to know that a week before the running of the marathon, BARK, INC. made a public appeal to all pet owners along the 42-km route to leash their dogs. Bayanihan spirit in action.
6. Recognition:
The extraordinary effort invested by runners in a marathon demands appreciation and recognition. It is an extraordinary and awesome achievement that is earned through consistent training, usually 3 to 5 months. It is essential to acknowledge all the successful finishers in a full mary, and giving out medals for each finisher is a great way to do it. The 2023 BIM showed great class with its beautiful finisher medal.
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| Getting a taste of the 2023 BIM Finisher Medal at the finish line. |
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| Thru the years,finisher medals of long distance running events have progressed in size and in design. |
In addition, each finisher received a good looking green finisher shirt, emblossomed with the official logo. There were some more treats waiting for finishers at the convention area of the BE Resort, like a post-race meal and a post-race massage from the local Nuat Thai massage shop.
For the podium finishers in the full mary and other distances, there was an awarding ceremony. No less than the Bohol governor was present to give the awards. The 2023 BIM core group do have some gravitas to have the highest official of the land around on a Sunday morning.
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| Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado handing over the award to the 2023 BIM 1st place finisher (women's) - Kay Cundangan of Cebu who ran the 42 km distance with a time of 3 hrs, 17 mins and 40 secs. |
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| Governor Aumentado with 2023 BIM 1st place finisher (men's) Girma Tilahun of Ethiopia with a time of 2 hrs, 35 mins and 34 secs for the 42km distance. |
And there was an abundance of photographers, from outfits like MOTUS Photo & Paksit Photos throughout the 42-km route to capture the moment for the runners and supporters.
So there you have it in terms of being well-organized. The 2023 BIM ticks all the boxes for the components of a well-organized marathon. I dare say, with my decade-long running experience finishing 18 full marys and 29 ultras, that the Bohol International Marathon is the most organized local long distance running event I have even participated in, thus far.
HOSPITABLE
No surprise. Bohol is very much known for its hospitality. Just look at our Philippine history: Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu in 1521 and Lapu Lapu killed him in the Battle of Mactan; Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Bohol in 1565 and Sikatuna warmly welcomed him with a Blood Compact. Fast forward to the 21st Century and foreign travelers continue to experience the friendly welcome from Boholanos. Take the case of tavel blogger There is Cory who wrote: "Bohol is the friendliest place I experienced in the Philippines. The hospitality and friendliness of the people was far above the hospitality of other places that I have visited."
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| BP with Bohol runners Jigs Calimbayan and Evelyn Du at the starting line. Exhibiting warm hospitality, Jigs offered to drive around BP in beautiful tourist destinations in Bohol. |
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| BP in a crazy photo with his fellow FB runners in the Chocolate Hills area. The ATV tour guide took the initiative to coach us in coming up with the photo. The tour guides of Bohol do the extra mile to make the tourists'experience a cool and memorable one. |
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| An appreciation post by Azul de Panglao Hotel. Gestures like this make our stay in the cute little hotel ever more special. |
Not surprisingly, the 2023 BIM runner-participants, including me, enjoyed thoroughly the fabled hospitality of the people of Bohol. Enjoyed it during the day of the marathon and in the surrounding days of the event. Thanks to the attentiveness of the race staff, the claiming of the race kits was hassle free. The race volunteers at the various hydration stations always have ready smiles for the weary runners. The yellow-shirted tour drivers are both knowledgeable and proactively helpful. The staff at the resorts and the restaurants are all very accommodating. My fellow First Balfour runners and I have the blessed fortune of experiencing the great service in Azul de Panglao Hotel, particularly its owner who was generous with her tips on the cool places to go in Panglao.
OVER sa LECHON
What caught me and perhaps many among the runners of 2023 BIM, by surprise is the abundance of lechon along the 42km route. Not one. Not two. Not three. But eight lechons, by my count. Eight lechons of the delicious pig variety along the full marathon route makes it an average of one lechon per 5 kms. Plus there was a lechon baka being roasted in the early morning hour as the runners passed the Panglao International Airport.
I enjoyed the lechon and judging from the smiles of the other runners as they partake of the porcine and bovine culinary treats, so did many.
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| The lechon(s) at the 2023 BIM are finger-licking good. |
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| A minute to spare for a marathoner to have a bite of the lechon in one of the hydration stations |
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| To run or to roast? That is the question for a 2023 BIM runner faced with the Lechon Baka, with all its succulence and flavor. |
Lechon is one of the most popular dishes in the Philippines, particularly during special occasions and celebrations. It is often said that the serving of lechon in a gathering makes the gathering special. Lechon is valued and enjoyed as it has become to symbolize the bond between communities when it comes to fiestas and also symbolizes the joyfulness of gathering.
Thus, more than the sustenance value, the abundance of lechon at the 2023 BIM conveyed to the public that this event is extra special and that the runner-participants are valued by the organizers. I certainly did feel valued in the 2023 BIM.
Overall, the 2023 BIM is one for the books, in my book. The 2023 BIM is a marathon with so many to like.
But how about the other participants? What did they like about the running event? No way about it but to go ask them. Which the BP did. Here are a sample of reply to the question: What you like very much about the 2023 BIM?
Ricky D Francisco (Bib#4261)
"From race kit claiming. Well Organized. Then the marathon itself. Very organized from the start to finish line, with lots of aid stations and support of LGU, from the volunteers, PNP, medical staff, barangay, and the support of the Panglao community."
Jean Nelyn Solis (Bib#4613)
"For me, very organized. Dami marshals, every 2 kms meron. Dami pa food, water, Pocari and may palitson. Happy and enjoy ang mga runners. Satisfied sa BIM 2023. Sana gayahin din ng ibang organizers. Very supportive and govt. Kudos to the organizer. 100% thumbs up."
ED Son (Bib#4171)
"The aid stations - with the overflowing drinks, food, and lechons, a first in my experience. The fiesta-like and eat-all-you-can vibe at every aid station is BIM's greatest edge when compared with other local races. Also, it was well-organized and supported by select owners and the LGUs."
Eden Alde-Ty (Bib#2034)
"I love BIM hospitality. Too much food and being able to run with lots of hydration stations and of curz no hills. Traveling for 15 hours from our province Eastern Samar to Bohol is no regrets. I will definitely go back to BIM 2024."
Menette Sideco (Bib#4606)
This is my 12th marathon and first race in the Philippines. Among the 11 marathons, nothing compares to this event...I love the hydration and the food station, recovery, salt, vaseline. The volunteers did amazing.
"Amazing food station and constant supply of water, electrolytes and energy gels. The course was beautiful and flat for the most part. As a Boholano and running enthusiast, I am very proud and exhilarated that Bohol can successfully host an international marathon. Not only does it provide the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the island but it also encourages locals to live an active lifestyle."
Well said indeed by these happy runner-participants. Of special note are the words of Jig, the local Bohol runner who pointed out sports tourism and active exercise lifestyle, which 2023 effectively promoted.
CONGRATULATIONS to all those who crossed the finish line: 42kms (658 finishers); 21kms (1,064 finishers); 10kms (339 finishers); and 5kms (146 finishers). THANK YOU to the organizers, sponsors and volunteers for making the 2023 BIM happen. Already the good news is out that there is the 2024 BIM coming up and that registration has started.
MABUHAY ang mga taga-Bohol. BALIK sa BOHOL.
P.S. Shout Out to new running friends I met at the 2023 BIM. They are the following:
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| Farah Agunod (Bib#4009) is a Bicolana who got married to a Boholano. The 2023 BIM was her first full marathon. She ran to accompany a younger cousin. |
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| For Faye Magugat (Bib#4413), Aug 27 is a special day. It is her birthday and on that day she ran the 2023 BIM, hoping to experience a range of emotion from happy, sad, tired, hungry and motivated. Her cute smile at the finish line tells the story. It helped that her loving BF was with her all thru those 42 kms and change. |
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| While enjoying the cool seafront of the BE Grand Resort after the race, I met Jude Krishnar (Bib#2041) and wife Jill (Bib#2040). The Cebu-based couple ran the half marathon, finishing almost at the same time. Walang iwanan. Brings new meaning to the wedding vow: In sickness or in health or in a race, till death do us part. |
Photo Credits: Danica Pelgrino Baranda, Joy Pecdaen, ED Son, Jean Nelyn Solis, Ricky Francisco, Menette Sideco, Eden Alde-Ty, Jigs Calimbayan, Giovanni Losloso Paksit Photos, Gov Erico Aris Aumentado, Bohol International Marathon, MOTUS Photo
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