The country’s only pro-environment race will hold its biggest campaign yet as it joins the global call to ban harmful plastic items during the 10th Earth Day Run on April 14 at Mall of Asia grounds.
Presented by National Geographic, the race is expecting at least 15,000 participants in the 21-kilometer, 10 km, 5 km, 3 km and 500-meter Doggie categories.
Even paper cups are banned to avoid littering. Instead, organizers encourage runners to bring their own containers or the reusable water bottles included in the race kits.
Studies show that Asia accounts for more plastic waste leakage than the rest of the world. Yearly, oceans end up absorbing nine million tons of plastic wastes that, according to marine experts, take 450 years to disintegrate.
Previous race beneficiaries include the Worldwide Fund for Nature, Abuan watershed in Isabela, victims of SuperTyphoon “Yolanda” and the Tawbuid Mangyan tribes in Mindoro.
Andrew Neri of race organizer RunRio said the Doggie run, the final category that starts 7 a.m., is limited to 300 slots and will allow humans to bring puppies no younger than four months. Vaccination records must be presented. —ROMINA S. AUSTRIA