Philippines to host full Ironman again in 2020

Some of 2019 Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 race participants. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

SUBIC, Zambales—The Philippines is set to once again host the full Ironman triathlon after a one-year absence.

Subic will be hosting the 2020 full Ironman, two years after holding it in 2018. The coastal city will settle for the Ironman 70.3 edition for this year.

Fred Uytengsu, owner of Ironman organizer Sunrise Events, Inc., said the Boardwalk area of Subic will see the start and finish of the triathlon, which is a fitting hosting considering the metropolis was the first Philippine city to host the sport a few decades ago.

“Thank you to all the Pros who come back and grace our events year after year,” said Uytengsu via video message during the press conference Saturday here. “We returned to the Boardwalk where triathlon in the Philippines started many years ago.”

“It should make for an interesting race.”

This year’s half Ironman, though, still attracted 12 Pros and eight Asian elites and nearly 900 more participants from across 41 countries.

The athletes will first swim in a single loop clockwise route in the beach for 1,900 meters then transition to the bike course wherein they will leave Subic’s city proper and travel to Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and back to Boardwalk in a 90-kilometer course.

After the first two disciplines, the participants will then run from Boardwalk, exit Waterfront Road, right to Labitan Street, another right to Dewey Avenue then to Schley Road and on to Argonaut Highway before going back the same route along Waterfront Road to the finish line.

The male professionals and male Asian Elites will first hit the water at 6:20 am then the female professionals and female Asian Elites will follow.

Last to take the course are the age groupers and the relay participants.