MANILA, Philippines - Rain or shine, the revived Manila International Marathon will push through on Sept. 25 starting and ending on Roxas Boulevard fronting the Rajah Sulaiman Park.
This was assured by race chief organizer Dino Jose during last Friday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura where he appeared as guest along with race director Red Dumuk.
“Unless a typhoon as strong as “Ondoy” hit the city, we will go on with the race,” Jose said in reference to the super typhoon that hit the country and flooded the entire Luzon a few years back.
Originally scheduled last June 26, the MIM’s revival had to be moved later due to bad weather.
Organized by Roadracing Events LLC., Inc. in cooperation with the City of Manila, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department Of Tourism, Pasay City, Parañaque City and Public Reclamation Agency, the race will cover the southbound stretch of Roxas Blvd. from Burgos St. to NAIA Road, a short portion of Macapagal Ave.
Inaugurated in 1982, the MIM is acknowledged as the country’s first racing event to become member of the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) and Distance Running.
The only locally staged 42.195-kilometer road race with a two-lap course, the event will encourage participants to break the all comers record of two hours, 14 minutes, 27 seconds set by back-to-back Olympic marathon gold medalist Waldemar Cierpincki during his sensational win 29 years ago.