Top runners gear up for Milo finale

MANILA, Philippines - Two hundred thirty-seven runners who met the qualifying standard from the 26 elimination races held all over the country from February to September will see action in the 42.195-km finale of the National Milo Marathon set Sunday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Qualified to run in the full marathon are those who clocked four hours for men and four hours thirty minutes for women in the Metro Manila elimination run. Also in the fold are those who clocked one hour fifteen minutes for men and one hour thirty-five minutes for women in elimination races held in the provinces.

Meanwhile, registration for the side events ends today, according to race organizer Rudy Biscocho.

All qualifiers will have their carbo-loading party tonight at the North Greenhills Club house in San Juan City. The carbo-loading party also features a mini running symposium for the participants. Race packets and 42K race uniforms will also be distributed tonight. Provincial qualifiers who are expected to arrive on Wednesday will also receive their allowances.

Sunday’s marathon event, held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila, the Department of Tourism, Gatorade and Nestle Pure Life, also expects 15,000 entries in the 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K side events.

Biscocho is advising all participants to be at the assembly area at the Kilometer Zero mark of the Luneta Park along Roxas Blvd. not later than 4 a.m. for the pre-race briefing and check in.

The race will take 42K runners from Km 0 on Roxas Blvd. to the MIA road in Parañaque City using the southbound side of Roxas Blvd. Then runners will make their turn around on MIA road going to Buendia Ave. where they will turn right under the Buendia flyover on the their way to Makati City.

Runners will trek the Kalayaan flyover going to the Fort Bonifacio Global City and through the Fort Bonifacio Army Camp until they reach C-5 in Taguig City where they will make their final turn around on their way back to the finish line at the Quirino Grandstand. 

The 21K runners running on the same route will have their turn around on Buendia Ave. cor. Tindalo St. while 10K runners’ turn-around point is in the vicinity of the Japanese Embassy on Roxas Blvd. across the Le Pavillon bldg. The 5K runners’ turn-around point is in front of the army and navy club, while the 3K runners’ turn-around is in front of the Ramon Magsaysay Bldg.

At stake is a total cash prize of P875,000, trophies, medals and the bragging rights of being called the King and Queen of Philippine marathon.

In the absence of national athletes who are preparing for the December Southeast Asian Games that included defending champions Eduardo Buenavista and Mercedita Fetalvero, the 42K race is wide open for provincial qualifiers.