Makiling Challenge

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1 The Race Organizers
2 The History of the Makiling Challenge
3 The Club's Objectives
4 External links

[edit] The Race Organizers

Inspired by its members in the late 80’s, the Makiling Campus Runners (MACRunners) was revived in 2001, spearheaded by Prof. Myra Luz Abueg together with UPLB students Karen Macalincag and Rey Oronan. Thus, it shares with the history of its predecessor, which was founded in 1978. Originally the Makiling Runners Club (MARC), it went through several changes in name but retained its reputation for being active and competitive in well known running events until it became the Makiling Campus Runners.

With its recognition as a UPLB student organization in 2001, the Makiling Campus Runners took in members from the UPLB Track and Field Varsity and was reorganized, together with the veterans of the organization as advisers. The members became active in participating in road races, as well as officiating in athletic meets. Its legacy though is the Makiling Challenge, a 5 kilometer fun run and 10 kilometer competitive race along the slopes of Mt. Makiling. First held in 2002 as the organization’s major project, it became an annual event hosted by the Makiling Campus Runners.

[edit] The History of the Makiling Challenge

In its initial staging in 2002, the Makiling Challenge was conceptualized to promote local tourism by presenting Los Baños as a venue for hosting road races and to provide a distinctive race route to running enthusiasts. It drew in some 250 runners from many places, but most were from Metro Manila. It was pioneered by Rey Oronan, Karen Macalincag and Myra Luz Abueg.

The second edition of the Makiling Challenge in 2003 saw its rise in popularity among race runners due to the challenging route that it offered. Around 450 runners participated in the race, some coming from as far as Pampanga. The race was sponsored then by the Municipal Government of Los Baños as an event in the celebration of the science and nature city’s 388th foundation: Bañamos.

The 3rd Makiling Challenge tested the organizational skills of the Makiling Campus Runners. It was primarily financed through fund raising activities and solicitations from people close to the members of the organization. Despite the hurdles that the organization had to overcome, the race was successfully held on September 12, 2004 joined by about 350 runners from different parts of Luzon, even from Baguio City.

In line with the event’s tradition, the Makiling Challenge 4 offered tougher routes, rougher roads, safe and scenic views of Mount Makiling. The sponsorship that the organization acquired contributed to the successful staging of the race. More than 380 runners partook in the competition, with its major sponsor: C-Lium Fibre, a health product by Garsworth Marketing; together with McDonald’s – Vega Centre, Los Baños and Powerbar.

[edit] The Club's Objectives

The Makiling Campus Runners (MACRunners) aims to promote aerobic exercises, specifically running as an affordable means to attain fitness, to present Los Baños as a venue for sports events, to encourage students and fitness enthusiasts to engage in running activities and to support students and promising runners from the organization in their endeavors as well as to train leaders from its members.