New Clark City (NCC), eyed to become the premier sports epicenter for training and racing events in the country, staged its first duathlon race on 17 July 2022.
Jointly organized by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the GoClark Sports and Events, the multi-sports event was participated in by around 650 enthusiasts who tested their individual strength, endurance and grit.
GoClark race director Jumbo Tayag explained, “Itong duathlon is actually encouraging people—kahit regular athletes, kahit couch potato—pwede pong gawin ito para po ma-encourage sila na maging active ‘yung lifestyle nila, at para kung sakali man na may pinaghahandaan silang ibang events. Maganda rin po ito para sa kalusugan nila.”
The NCC Duathlon is the second major sports event held at the New Clark City this year, after the sports facility reopened last May from a series of lockdowns, stricter border regulations, and restrictions in mobility brought about by the two-year pandemic.
This event also marked as first for GoClark in NCC this year, following the successful New Clark City Triathlon it co-hosted with BCDA in October 2019.
BCDA Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Arrey Perez thanked GoClark for holding the duathlon at the New Clark City.
“Ito ang kagandahan. We have the private sector that supports our advocacies particularly in promoting wellness and sports development of the country. ‘Yung mga katulad ni Jumbo with Go Clark, they hold a lot of events dito sa Clark – the Clark Zone and the New Clark City,” SVP Perez emphasized.
Atty. Roseller Rodriguez, mayor of Capas, Tarlac, extended his warm welcome to the race participants, and expressed pride and gratitude to the event organizers for choosing New Clark City as its sporting destination.
The mayor added, “We take pride in hosting another exciting athletic event for our race enthusiasts—New Clark City Duathlon. Hats off to the organizers for the hard work that goes into coordinating this meticulously detailed event. To the participants, we sincerely admire the focus and discipline.”
The NCC Duathlon had three race categories: NCC Long, is a 12 kilometer (km) run, a 50 km bike and a 6 km race; NCC Short, which covers a 6 km run, a 25 km bike, and a 3 km run; and NCC Long Two-Person Relay covering a distance of 12 km run, 50 km bike, and 6 km run, with an all-male, all-female and mixed divisions.
NCC Long and NCC Short are competed in different age brackets.
During the run course, race participants toured around the whole National Government Administrative Center and took the River Park and the New Clark City Athletics Stadium. On the other hand, the bike course covered the New Clark City to Clark International Airport, and the New Clark City to Subic-Clark Expressway access roads.
Upcoming Races
Aside from the NCC Duathlon, two more sporting events are being scheduled by GoClark in the New Clark City within the year. The Clark Cycling Classic is set on August 27 and 28, featuring individual and team trial and gravel race. The New Clark City Triathlon, on the other hand, is expected to take place on September 24 and 25, marking the return of triathlon activities, and would feature adult and kids aquathlon.
Delighted racers
Meanwhile, duathlon participants, professionals and amateurs alike, expressed satisfaction in the way the event was handled, as well as their delight in using the facilities of the New Clark City.
“Nagagamit po ang lahat ng mga facilities. Napakalinis at napaka-world class ng New Clark City,” remarked Liam James David who ranked 2nd in the NCC Short Junior Elite Men category.
“The event is so awesome. It was my first race and it was so beautiful. Ang ganda ng pagka-organize,” said Andrew Lloyd Alomarde, a first-time duathlete under the NCC Short race. (BCDA, with photos from GoClark)
