PANGLAO, Bohol, July 9 (PIA) -- Around 620 elite athletes from 23 countries would be traversing Panglao and Dauis roads on July 10 as Bohol hosts the Sun Life 5150 triathlon and Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint, the region’s first international swim-bike-run race after the pandemic.

Five hundred elite male and female athletes from around the world competing in age-group categories signed up for the 51.50 kilometer race, according to race organizers during a press conference at the Pavillion of the Bellevue Hotel Resort in Panglao.

Happening after a five-year lull, the Bohol Ironman 5150 presents itself as a clear message that Bohol is now fully accepting tourists, as the province’s recovery is clearly sent in the message of the healthy lifestyle and wellness promotion, said Capitol Spokesperson John Maraguinot.

The event also comes in time for the Sandugo, when the Boholanos openly celebrate friendship, brotherhood, and camaraderie.

The Ironman 5150 triathlon comprises of a 1.5-kilometer swim, 4-kilometer bike segment, and 10-kilometer run, a shorter race compared to the 70.3-kilometer full Ironman race.

The 5150 triathlon is the Olympic distance brand of the global mass-entry sports in the world - the Ironman.

On the other hand, around 120 male and female athletes, several of them beginners and returning athletes whose training regimen were contained in indoor gyms during the pandemic, would be joining the sub-category called the Go For Gold-Sunrise Sprint, a race of half the distance of the 51.50 kilometers.

Go-For-Gold Sunrise Sprint features 750 meters open-water swim, 20-km bike and 5-km run, all in the roads of Panglao and Dauis towns.

Currently the shortest entry level race distance in the Philippines, the Go-For-Gold Sunrise Sprint has been the transition race of IronKids who join the age group races for their first tap at competing with the men and women in sports.

Out for the exciting Go-For-Gold Sprint category is Go-For-Gold Vice President and the country’s top elite athlete scout, triathlete Jeremy Go.

Go, whose company is into developing top athletes to comprise the Philippine Team in international competitions, has considered the presence of “a lot of talents in the Visayas and Mindanao,” which the 5150 Triathlon in Bohol can showcase.

In Bohol, the 5150 triathlon rolls off with an ag-group rolling start at 6:30 a.m., with an open water swim going out to sea from Bellevue Resort for 1.5 kms before going back to the beach for the bike transition.

Here, each participant is given an hour to finish the distance to be allowed to the bike transition.

Then, on road or hybrid mountain bikes, the participants go for the 40-km flat course doing two loops and three turnarounds at the Dauis-Panglao road.

Motorists are then advised to clear or at least give way to cyclists racing along Doljo to Panglao Church and then straight to Dauis boundary along the central line between 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

After another loop back to Dauis boundary, cyclists would speed down back to Bellevue for the run transition.

Cyclists who could not make it in three hours and 30 minutes for the 4-kilometer course cannot continue to the run segment.

In the run segment, from Bellevue, athletes will go back to the Doljo to Poblacion Panglao road and turn right to Bil-isan road where a turnabout slot is placed.

Here, expect traffic management authorities manning the Bil-isan Panglao-Doljo highway from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Triathletes are given five hours to complete the entire course.

The sprint event starts at 8:00 a.m. and uses the same roads. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)