It helps that Rene Egle, the resort’s General Manager, is himself a participant in the rigorous 113 km race. He was a relay participant and did the bike leg, which was 90km long. With such personal participation, the resort fielded their own Iron Kid team composed of children from the nearby Children’s Haven Orphanage.
Of the 3 children from the orphanage, Rene particularly cheered his favorite, 8-year-old Marie Grace. Her father abandoned her and her mother when she was young, and her mother passed away. She grew up with her grandma, and then together with her younger brother, who is 3 years old, from another father, they were brought to the orphanage when the grandma could no longer care for them.
“She is such a sweet kid, she comes to me with the brightest smile, and it was great to see her compete in their 3-kids relay team,” Rene said. Their relay team came in second in their mixed 6-8 age group.
His wife Nellie also competed in Iron Girl which happened the day before the great race. A total of 1,773 participants gathered this year and the gold was won by Radka Kahledfeldt—who went on to win the women’s pro title of the Ironman 70.3 the following day—followed by four-time Cebu Ironman champion Caroline Steffen from Switzerland. Cebuano competitor and Maribago Bluewater GM Domiku Ugarte came in at 33rd place, who finished the race at the 5:35:22 mark.
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