​Bautista is Runner of the Year

OFELIA C. EMPIAN
Staff Writer

BAGUIO’s ultra-marathoner Marcelo Bautista has been chosen Runner of the Year by the Philippine Ultra Runners Association or PAU for garnering the highest total points in all the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners Road and Trail races for the year 2012.

The 34 year-old runner trained for the various races while being a part-time janitor at the Baguio General Hospital.

“Nagulat ako na hindi ko akalain na ako ang mapipili na runner of the year; masaya ako sana makuha ko rin next year ulit (I am surprised that I was chosen as the runner of the year. I am happy that I got the award, hopefully I’ll win it again next year),” Bautista said.

Bautista started his running career in 2004 but his winning streak started and perhaps one of his career highlights began last year.

One of this is the First West Coast 200K Ultramarathon Race last year November. The estimated running time of the 200-kilometer marathon is set at 36 hours but the ultra-marathoner finished the race in a jaw dropping 19 hours 32 minutes and 29 seconds record, having a 5 hours difference from the second placer.

Not slowing down, he jumpstarted the year by making it to the top 15 of the 2013 Vibram Hong Kong 100-kilometer Ultra Trail Run in January along the famous McLehose Trail in Kowloon where he wrote another record for Filipino runners with a time of 12 hours and 8 minutes.

In February, Bautista placed third in the 2013 Pilipinas Akyathlon held in Tinongdan, Itogon where another foreigner ruled the race.

He recently placed second behind Joel Bengtay, another Baguio based ultra-marathon runner in the 5th Bataan Death March 102K Ultra Marathon Race recently.

As of the moment, Bautista is preparing for his upcoming run for the Mayon 360° 2013 80 kilometer ultramarathon slated at Peñaranda Park, Old Albay, Legazpi City on April 6, 2013.*