Milo gets competition

BEFORE, the Milo Marathon National Finals was the race that all runners looked forward to joining to cap a long running year.

This year, local runners are can choose whether to show up in the Milo Marathon National Finals in Manila or join the inaugural Prycegas International Marathon in Cagayan de Oro.

Only a week separates the two runs—the Prycegas Marathon will be on Dec. 2, while Milo will be on Dec. 9—and both stake hefty cash prizes.

To attract more locals, Milo included a category for the locals this year, which means the best local finisher will win cash prizes and not have to settle for scraps left by stronger foreign runners. But the Prycegas run also offers another good option for the runners as it dangles attractive cash prizes.

Most of the top runners are expected to join Milo. Because of this, some of Cebu’s elite runners, who think they stand a better chance in the new race, have signed up for Prycegas instead.

Cebu’s Christy Tutor will be competing in the Prycgas Marathon instead.

Set to be the biggest run to date in Northern Mindanao, the Prycegas boasts of P1 million total cash prizes for the winners in 42K, 21K and 5K.

The best finisher in the 42K will get P100,000, while the 21K and 5K winners will pocket P60,000 and P20,000, respectively. The rest of the Top 10 will also receive cash prizes.

“I am already booked for the Cagayan race and depende na sa akong condition sa lawas if makadagan pa ko sa national finals sa Milo,” said Tutor.

Tutor, who used to rule Cebu races, has found it hard to travel since she gave birth.

Nevertheless, she was the top finisher in the women’s 21K in the Milo Provincial Leg in Bohol in 2008 and last year.

Several runners, including podium regular Madelyn Carter, still opted to compete in the country’s premiere race as she has a bone to pick after missing the Milo Marathon last year.

This time, she sets her priority on the Milo National Marathon, as she guns for her fourth appearance in the national finals.

“I hope ma-qualify ko this year kay wala ko naka apil last year,” said Carter who will race in the Milo Cebu qualifiers on Oct. 7.