2008 Subic Bay Marathon

Mayor Bong Gordon led the opening of the 2008 Subic Bay Marathon last January 20 at Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).

More than 6,000 runners from all over the country as well as professional contenders from Australia, Canada, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and United States joined the international running event.

Starting off with the 3-kilometer and 5-kilometer runs in Olongapo, the marathon proceeded with the 21-kilometer and 42-kilometer race where the route took the runners to the different landmarks in the SBFZ, including the Spanish Gate, Ocean Adventure Marine Park, Zoobic Safari and Subic Botanical Garden.

Nelson Kirwa, a Kenyan national won the 42-K run (male category) in just two hours and sixteen minutes (2:16) and took home a $5,000 cash prize.

Meanwhile, according to Police Chief Supt. Samson Tucay, head organizer and race director of the Subic Marathon International Organization Inc., the 2008 Subic Bay Marathon was one of the biggest international marathons to be held in the country. It was also the only marathon event in the Philippines to be accredited by the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races, a sports organization of more than 230 leading marathon and distance races in the world