Limited slots remaining for Milo marathon-Baguio leg

WITH only limited slots remaining for the Baguio leg, the 36th National Milo Marathon, opening on July 1, is expected to bring in thousands of runners from across the Cordillera.

Baguio’s elite runners, including some foreign runners, are once again seen to renew their rivalry after Milo skipped the Summer Capital as one of its legs last year.

Registration formally opened June 1 at the Cool City Runners Hub, Laperal Bldg., Session Road for the different categories, with prizes up for grabs that will feature the lung busting 21 kilometer (21K), 10k, 5k and 3k.

Registration for the 21k will be at P500 together with the 10-kilometer race, while 5k for adults will be at P100 and students at P50 with the 3k run at P50.

Close to P300,000 in cash prizes will be up for grabs in the national finals for the open division in the foot race that has grown ten thousand times in terms of participation from the 747 runners when it was first held in 1974.

The country’s longest-running footrace has also become a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (Aims), which is expected to be joined by foreigners, including the Kenyans, expected to slug it out for the open title, while the Filipino runners, including members of the national team, will vie in the local category.

For the locals, P150,000 will go to the men’s and women’s champions.

The 36th staging of the Milo race will cover 18 races across 17 key cities around the country, and will culminate with the 42K national finals on December 9 at Mall of Asia in Pasay City with the theme, “Iba’t ibang hinahabol, iisang takbuhan.”

For the third straight year, Milo will also give away running shoes to children all over the country. In 2010, they gave away 4,200 pairs of shoes and last year the number grew to 10,000.

This year, organizers plan to match the 10,000 pairs of shoes that were given away in 2011. The shoes will go to 100 chosen students from 100 public schools.

After the Baguio race, several eliminations will be held in Dagupan (July 8), Tarlac (July 15), Angeles (July 22), Mall of Asia (July 29), Naga (August 19), San Pablo (September 2), Lipa (September 16), Puerto Princesa (September 23), Tagbilaran (September 30), Cebu (October 7), Bacolod (October 4), Iloilo (October 28), General Santos City (November 4), Davao (November 11), Butuan (November 18) and Cagayan de Oro (November 25).