A consortium of educators, professionals, business sector, government institutions and sports enthusiasts are running a 42-kilometer marathon on 10 March this year to raise funds to invest in the country’s future by saving the environment and providing better education to the youth.

The Clark Global City, Bases Conversion Development Authority, Tata Consultancy Services, Smart, Nepo Center, Cherifer Premium, CMCS Inc, Pampanga’s Best, Genesis Transport, and NLEX Corp., have banded together for the 10th TCS Clark Animo International Marathon. The Marathon is organized by the The De La Salle Alumni Association Pampanga Chapter.

“For this year, we are targeting 10,000 runners to join the event,” Atty. Melvin Panlilio, President of DLSAA—Pampanga, said at a press conference. “We initially had 600 participants on our first year. But our runners and members of DLSAA-P gradually grew through the years, giving us the opportunity to give back to more beneficiaries.”

Proceeds of the run will be used to fund DLSAA-P’s environmental and community projects like tree planting, maintenance of the Angeles City Watershed, support for the La Salle Botanical Gardens in Alviera, Porac, Pampanga, as well as the Yellow Boat Foundation for the marginal school children of coastal Pampanga.

In addition, Panlilio said they are eyeing to set the first system school in the Pampanga region to provide better education to students in the region.

The event, which will feature a 42.2 km marathon, a half marathon, as well as 10 km, five km, and 2.5 km courses, promises a more fun and exhilarating run to this year’s event with internationally certified courses and special activities.

“We’re likewise proud to announce that for 2019, our courses have been given international certification by the International Association of Athletic Federations and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races,” Panlilio added.

“The TCS Clark Animo International Marathon and associated races are all conducted on IAAF-AIMS Certified Courses. This provides a guarantee to runners that they have run the correct distance and, therefore, their recorded time are valid and will be recognized internationally for qualifying and rankings purposes. This is not only particularly important for runners who aim to join international races like the Boston Marathon, it is for all runners participating in this event. It is never a good outcome to train for a race like a marathon only to discover, after completing the event, that the course they finished did not have the correct distance and their time invalid,” Jumbo Tayag, race director, explained.

To make Animo Run’s 10th year more exciting, cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third placers of the five km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km distances in the men’s and women’s categories. A special incentive will also be given to runners with the best costume. One runner each from the adult (18 years old and above) and kiddie (17 years old and below) categories will likewise receive cash prizes.

This year’s races will see 1,200 participants from Tata Consultancy Services, one of the biggest call center companies in Clark, and a sponsor of the event as well.

Other sponsors are Go Express, New Balance, Inbox & Inbook, Cenmidis, Balipure, Colorsteel, Ederm Centers, Paolo Feliciano Photography, Bale Capampangan, Quest Hotels, Kenny Rogers Roaster, and Clark Water.

Gun start for the 42 km distance will be at 2 a.m.; 4:30 a.m. for the 21 km; 5:30 a.m. for the 10 km; 5:45 a.m. for the 2.5 km; and 6 a.m. for the 2.5 km. Runners are expected to be at the venue 30 minutes before their gun start.