Milo marathon sidelights: Still the one at 61

MANILA, Philippines - Hardly noticed in the din of the Milo Marathon National Finals awards rites was this gap-toothed, gray-haired elderly runner by the name of Romeo Plata.

At 61, he’s among the oldest runners in the event, proud to clock 2:28 in the 21K run.

“For the longest time, I’d been running 10K. It’s only the second time I tried 21K and I’m so happy to improve on my time last year,” said Plata, a sprinter for Sta. Cruz North High School in Marinduque during his adolescent years.

“I’m still into running for exercise and fun,” said Plata, native of Marinduque, now based in Singalong, Malate sewing rags for a living.

A bonus for Plata in the Milo event was his chance to have a photo taken with the Kenyan runners.

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Six-time Milo Marathon champion Roy Vence, 42, has been on the sidelines in the last six years but has not hung out his shoes.

“Babalik ako next year (I’m coming back next year),” said Vence.

Except for coming back, Vence promised nothing more, though.

He won his last Milo marathon crown in 2005 and has not run again since barely making the Top 10 in the Batangas elimination of the Milo marathon in 2007.

The Cebuano runner has also won honors for the country as he reaped one gold, two silver and one bronze medals in the SEA Games.

His brightest moment came with his SEAG gold-medal feat in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As a coach now, he has under his care champion runners, including Mary Grace Delos Santos.