Top Dumaguete marathon gives rice for prizes

DUMAGUETE CITY—This may just be the only marathon that gives away sacks of rice as prizes.

But Dumaguete Adventure Marathon (DAM) has been considered among the top marathons in the country because it is well-organized and is well-attended by runners from other countries.

This annual run that started four years ago is held every third Sunday of November. It is a tough mixed road and trail marathon, which starts and ends in Dumaguete City.

But DAM will take the runners on a total ascent of 877 meters in the mountains of neighboring Sibulan and Valencia towns, Negros Oriental.

The DAM is also the only running event that promotes awareness of the rice conservation campaign undertaken by the Asia Rice Foundation and the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

Instead of cash, winners and participants in the DAM receive bags and sacks of rice.

Last year, the DAM received positive comments from runners for its challenging terrain and good organization.

Runners e-mailed the organizers at Foundation University (FU) through the DAM website <www.dumaguetemarathon.com> to say that they were happy over the presence of adequate signages, water stations with bananas and energy drinks barely one kilometer apart, first aid stations, and guides throughout the 42-kilometer trail.

The runners, some of whom flew in from as far as France, Singapore, Japan, Africa and Germany, said they would be back with more fellow runners for the fourth DAM set on Nov. 18, 2012.

It is no surprise that DAM has been adjudged by the “Runners World” magazine as one of the top marathons in the country.

The “Runner’s World” January-March 2012 edition placed the DAM on top of the list of eight Philippine marathons, along with the CamSur International Marathon, Cebu City Marathon, Subic International Marathon, The Bull Runner Dream Marathon, Milo Marathon, Condura Skyway Marathon and the Quezon City International Marathon.

Marie Calica, editor-in-chief of Runner’s World Magazine, said that while the article was not written or voted on in any particular order, “the DAM seems to be an awesome event,” as described to her by ultramarathoner Simon Sandoval, “who had nothing but praises for it.”

Calica said she hoped the article would draw more participants to this year’s race.

Dr. Aparicio Mequi, director of FU’s Institute for Youth Sports and Peace, which organizes this annual race, said he was not surprised to hear of the selection of DAM as one of the country’s top marathons.

“Everyone who ran the DAM knows that the DAM is Numero Uno, and many credible bloggers had posted so in their blogs.”