The reason why I conducted the “first and only Bataan Death March Challenge” in April 2000 held along the exact route where the event occured because I was challenged why in the world would the ROTC of White Sands, New Mexico, USA celebrate such event in their desert where a handful of US World War II survivors from that State would be supported and commemorated. Also, there are three other places/States in the US where they commemorate this famous Bataan Death March.
As WWII history and survivors would tell that about 600-650 US soldiers died in that Death March while the 5,000-10,000 Filipino soldiers perished in that long march which took them 2-3 days to reach San Fernando, Pampanga and then boarded a cargo train to Capas, Tarlac as more of them died in those “sardine-packed” cargo trailers. By the number of fatalities on the side of our Filipino heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, we should be the one who should be doing this memorial services to them by way of retracing the route they had taken in order to imbibe in us the sacrifes that our forefathers had to offer in the name of defense to the country and freedom from foreign invaders.
For the past years, a “relay run”, usually known by few runners, had been conducted to commemorate the Bataan Death March during the week-long celebration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Fall of Bataan & Corregidor Day).
The Bald Runner’s Events is now on the planning stage of coming up with a 100-K Ultra Run from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga which will be held on 05 April 2009 to commemorate the Bataan Death March on the exact route that our forefathers took (without the beatings, bayonet/sabre killings, famine, lack of water and firing squads, of course!). We will make this as our “Comrades Ultramarathon” in Africa or as our “Badwater Ultramarathon” in the USA for the Philippines. And let the ultramarathon runners worldwide experience our Bataan Death March Memorial Ultra Run. As they say, “build ’em and they will come”.
Patterned after 100K and Ultramarathon Races held in any place of the world, each participant must meet the following requirements and follow some rules:
1) Runner must have finished at least one (1) marathon race. Age limit—at least 20 years old. Open to male & female.
2) Cut-off time will be observed in particular Aid Stations. Cut-off time for the whole run is 13 hours.
3) Maximum number of participants—100 runners. This is a “solo” race. (This race will push through even if there are only 10 runners or less)
4) Registration is expensive as each Aid Station will be provided with water, energy drinks, and lots of food! This is a non-profit event and this is all for the love of running as we need volunteers for our Aid Stations for this event.
5) “Big and heavy” medal or Plaque and T-shirt will be given to all the Finishers and/or Belt Buckles for winners. Cash Prizes will be available depending on the availability of corporate sponsor or other benevolent sponsors.
6) Each runner can have his/her crew (optional) from the Starting Area and could be only assisted with a pacer from Balanga, Bataan to the Finish Line.
7) Race starts at 4:00 AM of Sunday or midnight of Saturday.
We will come up with a clinic/seminar for ultramarathon to interested runners early next month. This will be free of charge and the final details will be announced here in this blog. If you are interested to join this ultra race and start your 30-week training right now.
I will join the ultra race and my training starts this week.
I need your comments about this plan, whether they are negative or not. Go to the next level, go ultra!
Hi i’m lucas from Singapore,
I work in a sport retail store and heard about the Bataan Death March run from one of my customers and is actually quite interested to join. But its quite hard to find details about the run. Would you be able to help me with some details like when it will be and how to register for the run? Also would it be open to foreigners?
thanks!
Lucas
lucas, please visit http://www.baldrunner.com and http://www.bataan102.com for the details of the 1st Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race Event. Please leave a comment at http://www.bataan102.com if you are decided to join the race. Your comment will entitle you for a reserved slot among the 100 participants. Reservation is on a “first come, first serve” basis. this is open to everybody. thanks for the visit and comment. good luck on your training.
Hello.
I appreciate your sport but I’d like there to be a way to walk the journey for those of us who aren’t quite as “ultra.”
My wish would be to hear how it started at the starting place, walk the path they walked, commemorate the PI and US brothers that died at the places they died, and finish the march where they finished.
I’d also like to crowd into a boxcar (or whatever it was), but not take the rest of the trip. Hearing the rest of the story at that point would be enough. I’d also like to know about how the survivors are today.
We visit the Philippines each 3 to 5 years and were just there and visited the Bataan monuments in December 2008.
Can you help with this goal?
Sam Lyle
It is nice that you took your time to write this post; it’s inspiring to see another’s opinion. I respect your work on this site, and I’ll return for more info.
I’m from Philippines… as I remember, my grandfather recently told me that his uncle (my great grandfather’s younger brother) was one of who was punished and joined the death march… my great grandfather, made the choice to talk to the one of soldiers whom still have the heart and wrote a letter to gen. yamashita and ask for the release for his brother… after gen. yamashita granted my great grandfather’s request, he found his brother in his almost deathbed… thin and weak… and he is ready to be buried even still breathing… as he saw his brother lying and weak, tears fall from my great grandfather’s eyes and glad he still got his brother alive and brought him home…
I would like to join the Bataan Death March Ultramarathon next time. Please give me details. Thanks
please visit http://www.baldrunner.com and leave a comment at the BDM 102 Page at the upper right hand of my blog’s main page. thanks.