TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Cagayano ultra-marathon athlete Ian Piza overcame 320 kilometers under the scorching heat of the summer sun to dominate the 3rd North Coast Run this weekend.
Piza set a new course record with an aggregate time of 60:44:19. The duration of the run started at 12:01 AM on Thursday, May 17 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and ended at 12 MN on Sunday, May 20, in Santa Ana, Cagayan.
The Lasam native bettered the previous course record of Bong Dizon by 38:14 in last year’s event.
Piza’s win is also his biggest yet in his young and illustrious ultramarathon career. He overcome the treacherous Patapat viaduct and Calbaryo mountain passes in the Ilocos region, the long and winding roads of northern towns such as Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona in Cagayan, across the Magapit Suspension Bridge in Lal-lo, and the killer 64.6-kilometer stretch of Camalaniugan.
Eventually, Piza, who currently works for the Oriental Casino in Pasay City, crossed the finish line on Saturday, May 19, in Santa Ana town where he grew up. He considers the north coast as his territorial run.
Many backed out from the race as the temperature rose during the duration of the event. Only four were able to complete the 72-hour cut off time.
Gibo Malvar from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte comes in at second place with 63:59:36, Rod Losabia from Camalig, Albay ranks third at 69:31:20, and Kevin Luna lands at fourth place with 71:53:00 official time.
Friends and family of the 37-year old athlete posted their overwhelming congratulations to him on social media.
Piza’s last race before the event was the “Crazy 12-Hour Endurance Run” at Intramuros Circuit last May 12. He earned second place by covering a distance of 88.97 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved a resolution sponsored by Board Member Karen Kaye Turingan commending Piza for his accomplishment.
Turingan said Piza has “brought honor and pride” to the province, and thus merits commendation.
The North Coast Run was organized by the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) headed by its its founder and president Retired military Major General Jovenal D. Narcise, also known as The “Bald Runner.”
PAU will next hold the 8th Tanay 50K Ultra Marathon Race on June 10. Norman Piza and Gerard Lucena
-Northernforum.net
