GenSan News Online Mag

8,000 runners are set to answer to the starting gun this Sunday, July 25, 2010 at the City Oval Plaza, General Santos City at the 34th National MILO® Marathon. The event sets its sights on an advocacy to inspire public school children to excel in sports by providing running shoes and will be giving away 160 pairs of rubber shoes to students of Dadiangas West Central Elementary School.

A portion of the registration fee of the National MILO® Marathon participants will be allocated to the advocacy and in return, MILO® will donate the equivalent amount raised to add to the production of the running shoes. The event aims to raise 4,000 pairs of rubber shoes which will be donated to student beneficiaries who excel in sports and have balanced academic standing.

The inspiration behind the advocacy comes from previous MILO® Marathon events in which a number of children participate in the marathon even without shoes. MILO® Sports Events Executive, Pat Goc-ong shares “MILO® is committed to helping more children realize their potential. It knows the importance of developing one’s talent and wishes to give these kids an opportunity to shine and achieve something for themselves.”

The National MILO® Marathon experience is also made exciting with additional innovations this year. First, a more competitive qualifying time per age group category has been introduced for 42K Manila eliminations and 21K Provincial Eliminations. Also, over 6 Million in total cash prizes will be given away to individual race winners and the fastest male and female champions, MILO® Marathon King and Queen stand a chance to win a Php 300,000 cash prize.

The 34th National MILO® Marathon has held races in Metro Manila on July 4, Dagupan on July 11 and Baguio last July 18. Topping the 42 K race of Metro Manila was Kenyan runner Abraham Missos with a finish time of 2:39:43 for the male division, and Luisa Raterta of the female division with a record time of 3:28:41. 22 year old track and field bet of University of Baguio, Flordiliza Doños led the Female 21 K category of Dagupan with a finish of 1:25:10 while Kiven Aregalado of San Fernando La Union cornered the top spot of the Male 21 K race category with a record time of 1:22:45. Clutching the top spots for the Baguio races were Marathon King Vertik Buenavista who finished at 1:06:36 and rookie 21 K topper Mercy Taypoc who clocked in 1:35:35.

After the General Santos race, the marathon heads to 14 more cities including Davao City (August 29), Cebu City (September 5), Tagbilaran City (September 12), Dumaguete City (September 19), Iloilo City (September 26), Naga City (October 3), San Pablo City (October 10), Batangas City (October 17), Puerto Princesa (October 31), Tarlac City (November 7), Olongapo City (November 14), Butuan City (November 21) and Cagayan de Oro City (November 28). The grand National Finals will be held in Manila on December 12.

To view the GenSan Race Route Map, please simply CLICK HERE.

The National MILO® Marathon is made possible by event sponsors, Bayview Hotel, Gatorade, Nestle Pure Life, Brooks, Department of Tourism and WWWExpress.

For more info on the National MILO® Marathon and how to be part of its advocacy, visit the exciting new MILO® website via www.milo.com.ph

About the National MILO® Marathon

The National MILO® Marathon is an annual marathon event sponsored by MILO® open to amateur and professional runners. From its humble beginnings in 1974 as a single marathon race in Metro Manila attended by 767 participants, the National MILO® Marathon has grown to be the biggest, longest, grandest national running event in the country attracting more than hundreds of thousands of runners across the country.

Now celebrating its 34th year, the much-awaited running event will be conducting consecutive races in 17 cities across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and will be opening its doors to 200,000 participants.

For more information, please contact:

Ada de Pedro

Strategic Edge, Inc.

Tel: +632-892-0247 / +632-892-0250

Email: group3@seinc.com.ph