Festive mood to perk up Milo NCR elims

Dancers swaying to the beat of the musical bands. Children awed by it all with chocolate drinks on hand. Movie actors and actresses performing special numbers. Families from all walks of life enjoying the spectacle together.

A fiesta in the city?

Nope, it’s the Milo Marathon.

A festive atmosphere of dance, music, games and color will mark the Metro Manila eliminations of the Milo Marathon tomorrow starting at the Quirino Grandstand, where a record number of 14,000 are expected to take part.

The race, which will determine the region’s qualifiers, who will join defending champions Eduardo Buenavista and Geraldine Sealza in the national finals on Oct. 19, will have Nestle executives firing the starting gun for the different events — 42K, 10K, 5K, and 3K.

In order to qualify for the finals, male runners should complete the 42K distance in four hours or less while in the distaff side, the qualifying time is 4:30.

A total of P205,000 in prizes will be at stake in tomorrow’s Milo event, where the 42K champion gets home the top purse of P30,000, with the runner-up receiving P20,000 and third placer, P10,000.

But just like all Milo Marathons of past, it will be more than just a mere sporting event, but a spectacle of fiesta-like proportions.

An added attraction of the marathon, held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel, Adidas, Cebu Pacific, Powerbar and the Department of Tourism, is the launching of the Milo Sports Village at the elevated portion of the Rizal Park fronting the Quirino Grandstand with Mayor Lito Atienza and son Ali as special guests.

The village features a Velcro run, wall-climbing events, obstacle race and soccer rage. Lucky guests will also have a chance of riding a hot air balloon and take part in the Milo Sports Village’s fun games.

Food is aplenty, with Aling Nene’s barbeque, Shakey’s Malate, home of the original pizza, Chow King and Dunkin’ Donuts, setting up booths for families and runners alike to enjoy.