A Flat, Mostly Dark-Hours Course
The course runs mainly along Panglao and Dauis roads. A 2018 finisher's race recap on Takbo.ph described it plainly: "The roads were all well paved. No potholes," [1] and noted the course appears largely flat, especially during the pre-dawn hours. For 2026, a travel-agency preview notes the marathon starts shortly after midnight, with about 80% of the course lit and headlamps recommended for the unlit stretches.
Lechon at the Aid Stations
Aid stations have featured local delicacies like lechon baka and lechon baboy alongside standard water and energy drinks, a distinctive touch tied to Bohol's Sandugo Festival noted in 2024 coverage. An earlier finisher, writing about the 2013 half marathon on Running Diva PH, confirmed the basics were solid too: "The stations provided ample supply of water and energy drinks." [2]
Growing Field, GPS Tracking
The 2025 edition (its third installment) drew around 4,300 runners and used the TRACX live-tracking app so family and friends could follow participants' progress via GPS -- a modern touch for a race with roots going back over a decade. Start/finish for recent editions has been at BE Grand Resort Bohol in Panglao, with race-kit collection typically held in the days just before the event.
What Past Finishers Flagged
The same 2018 Takbo.ph recap that praised the road surface also noted friction points: "There was no label on which tent to claim the finisher entitlements," [1] and summed up a mixed experience bluntly: "This year's Bohol International Marathon wasn't the run in paradise as I expected it to be." [1] The reviewer added a balanced note, though: "While the race was not perfect, the event has a lot of potential to create an even better running experience for the participants." [1] Much of the more recent online commentary (2024-2025) is promotional event-preview material rather than independent runner reviews, so it's harder to confirm whether those early logistics gaps have been resolved.
Panglao Island as a Destination
Panglao is the southernmost town of Bohol, an island of just over 91 square kilometres shared with the neighbouring town of Dauis, and home to Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which opened in 2018. [3] That airport access makes race-weekend travel straightforward, and pairs a marathon trip with one of the Philippines' best-known beach and diving destinations.
Should You Run It?
If a flat, well-paved course with a distinctly local aid-station touch and a beach-island destination appeals, the Bohol International Marathon on 30 August 2026 is a reasonable pick with a decade-plus track record, even if recent independent feedback is thin. Runners who want ironclad post-race logistics should pack a bit of patience, based on past participant notes about signage gaps.