MANILA, Philippines – The finest long-distance runners from this Queen City of the South should come out with their arms raised after today’s 21K elimination leg of the 36th Milo Marathon.
Close to 22,000 runners from all ages will answer the starting gun at 4 a.m. The race fires off in front of the Cebu Normal University and ends at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Fireworks will light up the sky for the start of the race which serves as the 11th leg of this year’s tough and exciting race calendar that covers a total of 18 races in 17 cities.
Before the Cebu leg were races in Baguio, Dagupan, Tarlac, Angeles, Manila, Naga, San Pablo, Lipa, Puerto Princesa and Tagbilaran starting last July.
Up next are races in Bacolod (Oct. 14), Iloilo (Oct. 28), General Santos City (Nov. 4), Davao (Nov. 11), Butuan (Nov. 18) and Cagayan de Oro (Nov. 25).
The race that matters most, the lucrative Metro Manila finals, is set Dec. 9 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.
Aside from the premiere 21K race, there will be races in the 10K and 5K for adults and students and 3K for kids.
The runners will come in all shapes and sizes, and among them will be former “Biggest Loser” contestant and now fitness advocate Alan Choachuy.
“We are expecting a big turnout this Sunday. About 22,000 runners will be joining the race and we would like to give all of them the best experience all throughout the event.
“We are also looking to select the best representative for the region in the National Finals,” said Cebu City race organizer Ricky Ballesteros.
The Milo Marathon has gone far from its humble beginnings in 1974 with only 747 contestants. For this year’s 42K national finals, organizers are targeting 200,000 runners.
But it’s not all about running because of Milo’s continuing “Help Give Shoes” advocacy program which aims to provide 10,000 students with running shoes this year.
Close to 20,000 underprivileged kids have already experienced Milo’s generosity the past years, and for this Cebu leg alone 500 pairs of running shoes will be given away.
The beneficiaries will come from Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School, Liloan National High School, Cabangcalan National High School, Mabolo Elementary School, and City Central School
“Fostering bright futures through the Milo Marathon is only the beginning,” said Milo sports executive Andrew Neri.
“We will continue to create opportunities for talents young and old to accomplish their aspirations. The great athletic potentials that we see each year in the Milo races serve as our inspiration to develop the Filipino youth further,” he added.
The Milo Marathon is more than just a footrace.