Milo Marathon marks 50th anniversary with multiple races

MANILA, Philippines — Fifteen national races headlined by a grand opener in Pasay then a finale in Clark make up the 50th anniversary of the Milo Marathon as the country’s longest and biggest running series.

“It’s a golden milestone for Milo Philippines and Milo marathon,” said Milo Sports head Carlo Sampan during the media launch of the country’s premier marathon yesterday at the Citadines Manila Bay in Pasay City.

“It’s 50 years of celebrating marathon champions and their champion stories. Everything that we do is fastened to our brand purpose of nourishing the journey of our athletes to success in sports. We have seen the stories rooted in our values of grit, discipline and teamwork, especially for champion runners.”

The Milo Marathon, which first hit the Philippine roads in 1974, kicks off on March 1 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex before the much-awaited National Finals on December 8 in Clark City, Pampanga.

Tens of thousands of runners will try to qualify for the finale in the regional runs scattered all over the country, starting with Naga City (March 8), Sorsogon (March 15), Davao (August 2), General Santos (August 9), Dipolog (August 16), Cagayan de Oro (August 23) and Cebu (September 6).

Completing the list are races in Tagbilaran (September 13), Dumaguete (September 20), Bacolod (Oct. 4), Vermosa, Cavite (October 11), Subic, Zambales (October 18) and Lingayen, Pangasinan (November 8).

Two-time Milo Marathon queen Christine Hallasgo, from Bukidnon and fresh off a Sydney Marathon campaign with Army veteran and former Milo king Richard Salaño, will try to qualify in the nearer CDO leg while reigning king Eduard Flores will race in his hometown in GenSan.

Hallasgo, also a SEA Games gold medalist, and Flores, were joined by former Milo Marathon royalties in former record holder and two-time champion Allan Ballester, six-time champion Roy Vence, two-time champion and Philippine 10K record-holder Christabel Martes and Salaño in the golden anniversary launch.

“Milo Marathon ang naging daan ko patungo sa Olympics. Ito ang pangarap ng bawat atleta,” said Vence, who was the first runner to break the record of legendary marathoner Jimmy dela Torre in 1996 en route to his Atlanta Summer Games qualification.

Ballester is part of the organizing committee for Milo’s golden anniversary, which was supposed to be celebrated as early as 2024 if not for a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside national team coaches Vence and Martes.

“Matatanda na kami pero alam namin every year, may sisibol na bagong Milo Marathon champion,” said Ballester, brother of also three-time Milo king Wilfredo.

A new route traversing Intramuros will be featured for the 10K and 21K runs as part of the golden run for Milo, which is also celebrating its 60 years as a company in the Philippines.

From MOA, runners will get a glimpse of Manila’s iconic sites aside from the Walled City by plying along Seaside Blvd, Diokno Blvd, Roxas Blvd, Padre Burgos, National Museum, Manila City Hall, Jones Bridge, Binondo, Manila Cathedral, Anda Circle and Manila Hotel in a two-loop route.

Aside from the staple 10K, half and full marathons, Milo after drawing almost 20K runners last year in the Manila opener also has 3K and 5K events for kids, teens and start-ups usually participated by schools with massive delegations nationwide.

“Dito ako nagsimula. Dito nagsisimulang mangarap ang mga bagong kampeon na atleta,” said race organizer, former national team member and CEO Rio dela Cruz of Runrio, who began his running, coaching and now race organizing career in Milo in 1998 before finishing at No. 9 in 2006.