RunRio, along with Singlife and Kinetix Sports, officially launched the Singlife Davao Marathon, presented by SM Supermalls, at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Wednesday, July 15, inviting runners from across the Philippines and abroad to take part in the race on Aug. 15. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Singlife Davao Marathon presented by SM Supermalls is expecting 4,000 to 6,000 local and foreign runners when the race debuts at SM Lanang in Davao City on Aug. 15 in celebration of the Kadayawan Festival.
Speaking at the media launch at SMX Convention Center in Davao on Wednesday, RunRio Inc. president and chief executive officer Coach Rio dela Cruz said the event aims to promote sports tourism and highlight the city during its festival.
Dela Cruz said the Davao race is the fifth leg of the 2026 Singlife Philippine Marathon Majors, a nationwide marathon series modeled after the World Marathon Majors. He added that the organizers hope to attract local and international runners.
"Since this is our first Davao leg, we are promoting it heavily and hope to attract 4,000 to 6,000 local and international runners and participants from other parts of the Philippines," Dela Cruz told reporters and content creators in a press conference.
He said the marathon is scheduled a day before the opening of the Kadayawan Festival, allowing participants to kick off one of the country's biggest festivals with an unforgettable race before joining Davao City's vibrant cultural celebrations.
Inspired by the Tokyo, London, and Boston marathons, Dela Cruz said the Philippine Marathon Majors was created to provide Filipino runners with an international-standard racing experience without traveling abroad and promoting the host cities.
The first four legs were held in Makati, Iloilo, Manila, and Cebu. According to RunRio, the Makati race attracted nearly 13,000 runners, while the Manila race drew about 25,000 participants, making it the largest event in the series so far.
Dela Cruz said all races follow the standards of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and World Athletics, allowing elite runners to use their results for official records and qualification for international competitions.
The Davao Marathon will offer 42-kilometer, 21-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and five-kilometer race categories, catering to both seasoned marathoners and first-time runners, the organizers said, while inviting everyone to join the event.
Dela Cruz said the full marathon will start and finish at SM Lanang, passing through Cabaguio Avenue, Leon Garcia Street, Quezon Boulevard, the Bucana Coastal Road, Bago Aplaya, and Dumoy before returning to the starting point.
"To ensure fair competition, RFID timing systems, wrist tags, and visual race officials will be deployed to prevent bib transfers and course cutting," he said. "We'll have medical teams, ambulances, hydration stations, policemen, and radio-equipped marshals."
As the official title sponsor, Singlife Philippines chief executive officer Lester Cruz assured that every registered participant will receive accident and life insurance coverage before, during, and after the race.
Cruz said Singlife continues its commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles through running while providing every registered participant with complimentary insurance coverage included in their race registration.
"The Singlife Philippine Marathon Majors is about creating meaningful race experiences that go beyond the finish line. In Davao, participants can celebrate both their personal achievement and the spirit of Kadayawan," Cruz said.
Kenneth Sai, president of Kinetix Sports, said the event aims not only to support marathon runners but also to encourage greater awareness among Filipinos of the benefits of running and an active lifestyle.
RunRio is exploring partnerships with airlines to help reduce travel costs for participants and has started coordinating with hotels that will offer discounted accommodation rates for runners visiting Davao City.
Dela Cruz said previous marathon legs generated economic activity for host cities through increased hotel bookings, restaurant visits, and tourism spending, an impact the marathon organizers hope to replicate in Davao.
