It's time to run again

Get your running shoes ready and prepare yourself for a dose of running fever when it rages once more as the 33rd National MILO Marathon gets underway with weekly simultaneous races that start on February 8 in Subic and Dipolog.

We were inspired by the huge success of our 4-city simultaneous races last year so for 2009, we decided to stage weekly simultaneous races in two cities. This development truly sets the National MILO Marathon in a class all its own, says Nestlé AVP and MILO consumer marketing manager Stephanie Toh. It's another challenge that we're definitely looking forward to and we know that the simultaneous races will further add excitement to the event, adds Nestlé AVP and MILO sports events executive Pat Goc-ong.

The weekly simultaneous races in two cities mark another major milestone in the illustrious history of the National MILO Marathon, the country's longest and most prestigious running event that continues to grow bigger with each staging. Through the years, the National MILO Marathon consistently attracts not just the best marathoners but families as well, students, corporate executives and just about anyone who wants to embrace and enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.

It's great that MILO continues to hold this major event that helps to discover and develop Filipino runners. It's also remarkable that participants to the National MILO Marathon are here not just to win but to have fun as well. Seeing all the families running together is truly special, something we don't see in any other running event, says Asia's Fastest Woman and Sprint Queen Lydia de Vega during last November's national finals. She adds that she's delighted that the National MILO Marathon helps spread the importance of getting into sports and the value of living a healthy life.

After Dipolog and Subic, the 33rd National MILO Marathon makes its way to Batangas and Iligan on February 15, and General Santos and Palawan on February 22. After a 4-month break, marathon action will resume in Manila and Cebu on July 5, Davao and Tarlac on July 12, Butuan and Santiago on July 19, Cagayan de Oro and Laoag on July 26, Tacloban and San Fernando on August 2, Tagbilaran and Baguio on August 9, Roxas and Dagupan on August 16, Iloilo and Legazpi on August 23, Bacolod and Naga on August 30 and Dumaguete and San Pablo on September 6.

The National Finals will be in Manila on October 4, where the men's and women's division champs will take home P75,000 each as well as the honor of being crowned Marathon king and queen. Runners-up in each division will get trophies and P50,000 each.

Cash prizes also await the top 10 finishers of the 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K categories as well as the Biggest School Delegation, Cheer Dance and Inter-school running competitions.

Now on its 33rd year, the National MILO Marathon is renowned as a landmark event in Philippine sports and is considered to be the country's most awaited and most successful running competition. Through the years, it has consistently played a key role in discovering the country's best marathoners who have brought honor to the country.

The first MILO Marathon was held on May 26, 1974, with some 767 runners taking part in the event. Over the years, the event has gotten bigger with more participants eager to join and enjoy everything the event has to offer. In 2008, the National MILO Marathon welcomed more than 200,000 participants' proof that the National MILO Marathon remains firmly entrenched as a relevant and significant sporting event in the country's sports landscape.

The 33rd National MILO Marathon will showcase the following events: 3K kiddie run, 5K fun run, 10K run, 21K half marathon for the provincial elimination races and 42.195K Metro Manila elimination race and final race. Complementing these are the other fun events like the biggest school delegation contest, the inter-school running team competition and the cheer dance competition from grade school, high school and college participants.

The 33rd National MILO Marathon is supported by Bayview Park Hotel.