Team Pangilinan was among the 30,000 runners who participated in the 8th Jerusalem Marathon, March 9.A record-breaking number of 4,000 runners from abroad – and over 10,000 tourists stayed in the capital to watch the marathon which offers different categories.
Anthony Pangilinan went for a full marathon, while Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and daughter Ella ran 10k course. Solana the youngest member of Team Pangilinan joined the 800m run. Eleven other participants from the Philippines also joined in the Jerusalem Marathon.
Anthony shared in his Instagram account “Done! The Jerusalem Marathon, arguably one of the most difficult 42.2 km races due the many hills, including Mount Zion! I made it because…the Lord ran for me! He carried my ‘cross,’ (Haha) despite major cramping at the 30th. In my morning devotion before the race this idea really inspired me: ‘A burden is ‘what He hath given thee’...and in the magic of trust the burden is changed into a pair of wings, and the weighted one ‘mounts up with wings as eagles 🦅 (But wait, I studied in La Salle! Haha 🏹).’’ Anyway, what a privilege! @mommymaricel and @ellapangilinanx ran the 10k and solana joined the 800m run! Part of Team Pangilinan here to see more of what Israel has to offer like sports events and high tech start-ups apart from Holy land tours (which we have been doing too!) Thank you @adidasph @usanapilipinas and #gatorade for your continuous support! #jerusalemmarathon #teampangilinaninisrael #visitisrael”
The Jerusalem Marathon’s start line is situated by Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and runners in the Full Marathon ran around the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University, passed alongside the Valley of the Cross, and through various neighborhoods on their way up to Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus. The route then descended to the historic Old City, taking runners through Jaffa Gate and the Armenian Quarter and out to the Zion Gate, on their way to the Jerusalem Forest. The race finished in Sacher Park.
“We are very happy that Team Pangilinan joined this year’s Jerusalem Marathon as we wanted to share to the Filipinos our events and other activities in Israel. We also have a good start for 2018 welcoming 120 % increase of Filipinos going to Israel for the month of January versus last year,” said Hassan Madah, Israel Ministry of Tourism Director for the Philippines and India.