Milo marathon entries increasing

After one Metro Manila run and six regional legs, the 26th National Milo Marathon has attracted 27,000 runners making it right on course to achieving its 50,000 runners target this year.

This was the observation made by Milo sports executive Jackby Jaime, citing the fact that all the completed provincial races so far have shown dramatic increases in number with most recent in Kidapawan City registering 3,600 runners in only their second time of hosting this most prestigious and longest running distance running program.

"In Davao, we had over 3,400 runners; Roxas City, a first timer in hosting our race, delivered 2,700 runners; Lipa City, another new host city, came up with 3,150 participants; while Tacloban, from last year’s 1,800 runners, had 4,200 runner this year," said Milo Marathon national race organizer Rudy Biscocho. "Even Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Valley who had the smallest registration last year, submitted record field of over 3,100 in this year’s Tuguegarao City Milo elimination run," added Biscocho.

"There seems to be a concentrated effort from our provincial local organizers to outdo one another in recruiting more participants," according to Jaime, who for the last 26 years has stirred this premier sporting event to what it is now.

With next Sunday’s leg in Olongapo City expected to attract close to 5,000 entries, the 26th National Milo Marathon is expected to surpass its target of 50,000 runners. as it goes to the homestretch with four more regional events lined up in Cagayan de Oro City, Naga City, Baguio City, and Cebu City before it winds up in the National Finals in Metro Manila on Dec. 8.

Some 8,000 runners are expected to join the Metro Manila run with 178 qualifiers from all over the country competing for the P400,000 prize purse and the distinction of being the country’s top marathon athlete.