The City Government of Davao, through the City Sports Development Division (SDD), is set to break new ground with its first ever, city-sanctioned trail running event as part of the upcoming Duaw Dabaw 2026 celebration.
Michael Denton P. Aportadera, City Sports head, said that by introducing a trail running event as part of Duaw Dabaw, Dabawenyos will now have a new option to pursue healthier lifestyles while enjoying the scenic landscapes of Davao.
“Davao City has everything. Madagat, madalan, mabukid, kumpleto gyud ang Davao City. Dabawenyos, it’s about time na mag exercise gyud ta (Davao City has everything. From beaches, roads to mountains, Davao City has it all. Dabawenyos, it’s about time we really exercise),” he told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on April 8, 2026.
The trail run will feature challenging long distance categories, with planned distances of 42 or 50 kilometers, alongside shorter distances designed for first-time participants, making the event inclusive for both beginners and seasoned runners.
Beyond the race itself, the event also aims to highlight the city’s tourism assets providing the participants an opportunity to engage with local entrepreneurs.
“We intend to showcase also ang tanan na maagihan sa mga muapil sa atoang trail run kay kaning atoang mga local entrepreneurs dinha sa kabukiran, ang kagwapo, ang kanindot sa area sa Davao City. The view, the experience, even kung maka meet sila og local tribes. It’s about time that the area of Davao City will be showcased pod as part of promoting tourism sa Davao (We intend to showcase everything that the participants will encounter in our trail run, including our local entrepreneurs in the mountains, the beauty, and the charm of the area in Davao City. The view, the experience, even if they can meet our local tribes. It’s about time that the area of Davao city will be showcased as part of promoting tourism in Davao),” he added.
Aportadera added that trail runners will not only test their endurance but will also have the chance to compete for bigger prizes.
With its debut tentatively set on the third week of June 2026, the trail running event is expected to be one of the highlights during the Duaw Dabaw 2026 celebration.
For more information on the trail running event and the City Sports activities, Dabawenyos may visit: https://www.facebook.com/citysportsdevelopmentdivision/. CIO
Written by: K. Malasado
Edited by: J. Opiana