Highly recommended! Only you need to be prepared of the traffic transition as mostly people walk, maybe due to narrow path out of the T1 and in to T2.

Beach is so nice but be prepared if jelly fish loves you.

Windy course in the bike leg but will push you fast back to M loop. Prepare for 2X againts the wind and 2X in the wind during M loop.

Run leg, prepare yourself to be exposed under the open heat and air at the end-loop of the course twice but once you crossed it aid-station will be your heaven for ice and cold drinks.

Over-all, from swim to run, it was really a great crowd support. Always fun with high intensity of excitement. 

I’m a Cebu first-timer.  And, oh what an experience. This race has everything you could want. Pre-race events, a no-hassle briefing, expo to pick up last minute items, great event support and aid stations, and most importantly, the local support. 

Everything was pretty much flawless as far as getting to the race and getting through the race. There is an unforgettable “recovery area” with all kinds of goodies, showers, ice-baths and massage after you cross the line. Overall it was a great experience thanks to event coordinatiers and the thousands of locals lined cheering on athletes throughout the entire course.  

Things to be aware of: 

• The viewing experience for your family/friends isn’t great at this event.
• You’ll want to opt for the hotel packages instead of booking separately - less of a hassle with shuttles and airport transportation.
• Get to Cebu early to enjoy the festivities. I arrived on Friday afternoon (delayed flight) and missed out on a cycling event and the TYR Swim event. Getting in on Thursday morning/afternoon is probably the best. 

I'm already thinking about doing this race again next year. It's that good!

This was my second time at this year and it gets bigger and better every year. It is hard not to come up with superlatives for this race. Now well and truly my favorite race anywhere in the world. How about "The Hollywood of Triathlon"? This seems to cover it perfectly. This race is now the biggest annual international sporting event held in the Philippines. It is that big! And it's an even bigger deal for Filipinos as triathlon is a boom sport and this race brings out many celebrities with names like "Bubbles" and "Ding Dong". My mate from last year, heart-throb, actor and singer Matteo Guidicelli, showed up again to race. There is so much bike bling on display, I have never seen so many expensive bikes at a race as here. And not many people riding them are very fast.

Logistics are easy. t's only a 4.5 hour direct flight out of Narita, Japan, and this time I flew on Cebu Pacific. I booked a room in a local diving resort hotel located on the run course about 1.5km from the main race hotel and base, the Shangri-La Mactan. But the Shang is the place to stay with Transition, the swim start and the finish on the grounds.

This year the race was designated as the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, and for the first time held outside of Australia or New Zealand. The Championship race will be rotated around the region and next year in 2017 has been set for Penrith, in Western Sydney, Australia. 

It's a great place to do the race with friends, and Cebu is a really nice place to hangout and enjoy. It has embraced the race, once again there were tens of thousands of people out on course watching the race and cheering loudly. There is nothing like it!

For me it was just a matter of getting to the finish line ASAP as they have the best set up of any race that I have been to. A cold water shower to cool down, the wading pools full of ice with cold cans of beer floating in them, a huge massage tent, ice-cream, flavoured milk, food and more beer. This time I jumped into a wading pool, cracked open a beer, then got out and had a massage while I waited for my friends to finish. Then back into the pool and three more cans of beer. It doesn't get much better than this.

A bucket list race for sure!

One of the best races in Asia, which is why the event sells out so quick.

Flights: Lots of flights to Cebu from everywhere.

Hotel: It's a hotel based event, so staying at the main hotel is good but a bit expensive. I'd recommend as it makes life so much easier. 

Swim: Starts at the hotel beach, swimming over coral. Great swim, sometimes some current.

Bike: Spectators line the bike course so you need to becareful and the roads are not the best in the Philippines. Pay attention and avoid the potholes.

Run: Hot and sweaty, but crowds nearly all the way so they cheer you home. Finish line is right by the pool at the hotel, so a good finish area.

After Party: More fun is Philippines.

I have added my blog.

But here's a quick summary for those who can't be bothered to read it. Cebu is a great race. Do it! Entry for 2016 will open on October 1st.