LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Mahigit sa 500 triathletes ang nagpamalas ng lakas, katatagan at determinasyon nitong weekend sa ‘Tigasin Triathlon, ang Tagisan ng mga Tigasin’ ng Northern Cement Corporation.
Tampok sa event ang mga local at foreign participant na kinabilangan ng mga baguhan at elite triathlete.
Kabilang sa event ang isang open water swim noong nakaraang Sabado ng umaga, na pinalitan ng run race dahil sa masamang lagay ng panahon.
“Our primary concern is everybody’s safety. We have been closely monitoring the waters, and with consultation with the Philippine Coast Guard and Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP), we decided not to push through with the open water to ensure everybody’s safety,” pahayag ni Mikey Chua, race director ng Trisports Solutions Inc., ang organizer na may signature ‘trication’ at sport tourism experience provider.
Bukod sa basbas ng TRAP, isa pang nadagdag sa Tigasin Triathlon ngayong taon, na nasa ikaapat na taon na ngayon, ang beach clean-up sa Linga-yen Beach. Nilahukan ng mga atleta, organizer, local at staff ng event sponsors, ang aktibidad na ito ay nagbigay ng pagkakataon para ipanawagan ang pagkakaroon ng kamalayan sa kahalagahan ng pangangalaga sa kapaligiran.
“We’re glad that part of the sport tourism campaign of Tigasin Triathlon is to acknowledge the accountability of our natural resources. It helps both local and foreign tourists have a greater appreciation of our province, and not just to race,” sabi ni Malu Elduayan, senior tourism officer ng Pangasinan. “We actually have a weekly beach clean up activity participated in by the locals, that’s why we are happy to do it with our guests,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa pagsapit ng race day, ang lahat ng kalahok ay handa nang lusubin ang Lingayen para sa sprint at standard distance triathlon event. Sinimulan ang karera sa alas-6 ng umaga sa pamamagitan ng swim leg sa Lingayen Beach. Pinatunayan ng mga triathlete mula sa iba’t ibang age group ang kanilang pagiging ‘certified tigasin’ makaraang matapos ang karera sa gitna ng inaasahang mainit na panahon.
Ang race ay kinabilangan din ng pagdiriwang ng Mother’s Day, dahilan upang ang certified tigasin ay higit na maging personal para sa mga kala-hok, lalo na ang mga nanay na sumali o nagbigay lamang ng suporta. “For us organizers, the next race is always the best race. That’s why we want to make sure that all suggestions from the previous races are taken into consideration,” ani Carlo Sampan, marketing communications head ng Trisports Solutions Inc.
“We congratulate all participants organizers, and we are grateful for the support of the local government units in making the event a success,” paha-yag ni Gladys Taguba mula sa Northern Cement Corporation, na luamhok din sa run event. “They have truly surpassed this challenge, which marks another successful year of celebrating progress and unity through sports,” dagdag ni Taguba. Mahigit sa P500,000 cash prizes ang tinanggap ng mga nagwagi sa race.
Ang Tigasin Triathlon ay handog ng Northern Cement Corporation at suportado ng Provincial Government ng Pangasinan, sa pamumuno ni Gov. Amado Espino III. Marketing partners naman ng event Neptune Actives, ang official Philippine distributor ng Funky Trunks and Funkita; Clara Inter-national Skin and Body Center, provider ng Face of The Race promo winner; Anytime Fitness Cubao and Uptown BGC; Pangil Beach Resort; 2XU Philippines; Light N’ Up Marketing, at media partners ang Multisport.Ph, ABS-CBN, GMA 7, Business Mirror, iOrbit News Online, GNN TV 44 Pampanga, RW 95.1, Flagship Newspaper, Sunstar Pampanga, Sunstar Baguio, Philippines Graphic, PILIPINO Mirror, Health and Fitness at EAST Studios.
