A Very Special Milo Marathon Clinic with Coach Rio

Last Saturday, Metro Manila’s running bloggers got a special treat: morning training with Coach Rio de la Cruz at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Aside from being the lead organizer for the Milo Marathon Manila leg, Coach Rio also coaches the University of the Philippines varsity athletics team and took them to their first UAAP gold last year.

The thrust of this year’s National Milo Marathon is “One Team. One Nation. Go Philippines!” with special emphasis on pumping up support for our national athletes as they compete at the SEA Games this year and try to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year. So the training session with Coach Rio was meant to give us a little taste of how to prepare properly to run, after which we would find out new developments in the country’s longest running marathon series.

After the warm-up, we did an easy run around the Academic Oval. There were one-loop and two-loop options. It was nice to run at my alma mater campus and reconnect with the fundamentals of good running with Coach Rio. (I think that short session activated my run muscles for the Fasttwitch Enduro Triathlon the next day!)

My mind is always sharper after exercise, so it was perfect preparation for the big info dump from Milo Marathon. Let me try to type it all out from memory:

  • The Milo Marathon is the first to receive the PATAFA Silver Label rating. This tier rating system patterned after the IAAF road race label grading will help assure quality and standardize the major Philippine road races.
  • There are 11 legs in the 2019 National Milo Marathon series.
  • Subic Bay and Davao are the two new venues for this year.
  • They have changed the naming convention. Instead of using the number of editions the race has had, from this point forward they will use the year instead.
  • Due to the SEA Games marathon happening in December, they have scheduled the Milo Marathon final to January 19, 2020.
  • BXtra Philippines is coming aboard as Milo Marathon’s official cashback partner (10K, 21K, and 42K race kits include BXtra cards), so by using BXtra cards you earn points as good as cash and redeem them at partner outlets.

For more information, check out the 2019 National Milo Marathon website. Register online at the Runrio website or at the following onsite registration centers.

RACE LEGRACE DATERACE ORGANIZERCONTACT DETAILSREGISTRATION CENTERSDISCLAIMER ON HOURS OF REG CENTERS
Urdaneta14-Jul-19Ms. Tes Bernardino0917-880-3585/ 0949-762-3338SM Urdaneta City/ Magic Mall, Urdaneta CityPlease contact the local organizer
Manila (Elimination)28-Jul-19Runrio Events Inc.(02) 703-1736/ (02) 463-48-13Sports House Trinoma, Olympic Village Trinoma, Olympic Village Glorietta 2, Olympic Village Market Market12:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Monday to Sunday)
Subic Bay Freeport Zone04-Aug-19Ms. Tes Bernardino0917-880-3585/ 0949-762-3338SM Olongapo City & Harbor Point, SBMAPlease contact the local organizer
Lucena15-Sep-19Mr. Osmond Ng0956-124-1780/ 0933-82567433rd Floor, The Event Center, SM LucenaPlease contact the local organizer
Batangas City22-Sep-19Ms. Glecy B. Clet043-723-8608/ 0947-261-8043Batangas City Youth Center/ Deamland Arts & CraftsPlease contact the local organizer
Cebu City29-Sep-19Mr. Ricky Ballesteros0942-243-2024/ 0928-243-9643Cebu City Sports CenterPlease contact the local organizer
Iloilo City06-Oct-19Mr. Moises Salomon(033) 333-1111 local 503Iloilo City Sports Office, 5th floor New Iloilo City HallPlease contact the local organizer
General Santos13-Oct-19Mr. Christian “Dong” Gonzales0948-8168806KCC Mall of Gensan/ Fitmart MallPlease contact the local organizer
Davao City20-Oct-19Mr. Kenneth Sai0921-594-9303Puma Store Gaisano/ Toby’s Arena Abreeza MallPlease contact the local organizer
Cagayan De Oro17-Nov-19Circle Productions/ Mr. Francis Velasquez0915-375-3117La Cabana Spa/ Centrio MallPlease contact the local organizer
Tarlac City (National Finals)19-Jan-20Councilor Vlad Rodriguez0915-936-2000Bgy. Hall of Poblacion/ Office of City Councilor Vlad Rodriguez,4th Floor Tarlac City HallPlease contact the local organizer

About Noelle De Guzman

Noelle De Guzman is a freelance writer and recreational athlete with over 12 years of experience in fitness and endurance sport. She believes sport and an active healthy lifestyle changes lives.

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