Over 4,000 participants brave the downpour in Cavite to run, compete, and take home groceries.
Rain or shine, the “hakot” must go on.
More than 4,000 runners braved the heavy rains and still brought the energy to Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, for Puregold’s successful Hakot Relay South Luzon leg, turning the rainy race day into a fun-filled celebration of running, teamwork, and, of course, grocery “hakot.”
Adding a new challenge to the nationwide series, the Cavite leg introduced Puregold’s first-ever 8K Individual Challenge, where around 500 solo runners took on the full 8-kilometer course and pushed themselves to cross the finish line.
Meanwhile, participants in the signature Hakot Relay competed in teams, racing through the course while collecting grocery items along the way. Unlike the new 8K challenge, the relay put the spotlight on teamwork and strategy as runners worked together to complete the course and bring home their “hakot.”
“We wanted to offer runners a fresh and enjoyable way to challenge themselves, with the ‘hakot’ mechanic adding a playful and uniquely Puregold twist to the race. Being part of the running community is meaningful to us, and it is a privilege for Puregold to bring people together for a shared panalo experience,” said Ivy Hayagan-Piedad, Puregold Senior Marketing Manager.
Despite the weather, participants went through the pre-race warm-up, tackled their respective courses within the prescribed cut-off times, and continued the celebration after crossing the finish line.
Runners also enjoyed sampling booths from participating brands, stage activities, and the awarding ceremony before claiming their race-day rewards.
Team Hakot Relay finishers went home with a Grocery Sling Bag and a Finisher’s Grocery Bag, while the solo 8K finishers received an extra surprise: a chance to roll their grocery loot home in a finisher’s grocery cart wagon.
“We’re always looking for ways to level up the Hakot Relay and give Filipinos something new to look forward to,” Piedad added. “To even this means introducing our first-ever 8K challenge and bringing the experience to an even bigger scale.”
With more than 4,000 runners joining either as teams or solo competitors, the South Luzon leg proved that even heavy rain could not dampen the fun. After all, at Puregold’s Hakot Relay, the goal is simple: run, finish, and hakot your way home with groceries.
