With running holding a special place in Filipinos’ hearts, the event, bankrolled by Milo Energy Drink, attracted a record 104, 235 participants from all over the country, 80 percent of whom were students.
"We hope to attract more participants this year, we’re targeting 110,000 runners," said Nestle and Milo brand manager Michelle Calo in yesterday’s event launching at the Bayview Hotel. Also gracing the event is former Gintong Alay chief Mike Keon and Cynthia Carreon of the Department of Tourism.
Cebu, Olongapo and Cagayan de Oro drew the biggest number of participants by combining for 38,000 runners, 18,000 of them coming from the Queen City of the South, host of the Aug. 28 leg. Cagayan de Oro will stage the event on July 10.
There would be, however, no Olongapo leg this year as the Central Luzon elimination visits Tarlac (Aug. 21) for the first time with Santiago, Isabela (Sept. 18) as the other new venue.
Milo is also making stops in Tacloban (July 3), Lipa City (July 17), Naga City (July 24), Davao City (July 31), Metro Manila (Aug. 7), Laoag City (Aug. 14), Butuan City (Sept. 4), and Iloilo City (Sept. 11).
With majority of the national team mainstays opting to focus on the 23rd Southeast Asian Games slated from Nov. 27-Dec. 5 in RP, promising aspirants will have a chance to win the top purse worth P75,000, the champions trophy and the bragging rights as the year’s best marathoner.
Aside from the full marathon (42.195-kilometer), other events people of all walks of life may join are 3k kiddie run, 5k fun run, 5k media run (Final Race), 10k run (Metro Manila Race), and 21k (regional elimination races).
"Gusto ko sana sumali this year kaya lang ang focus namin ay ang SEA Games, dito pa naman sa bansa gagawin," said Roy Vence, six-time winner of the event backed by Adidas, Cebu Pacific, Power Bar, Bayview Park Hotel, Nestle Phils., and the Department of Tourism. — Joey Villar