One Month

Posted June 4th, 2010 by wilson

Today marks the beginning of the month-long countdown before the Milo Manila Eliminations.

Whenever I tell friends - runners and non-runners - that I am preparing for a race abroad, I usually get enthusiastic reactions.

Since March however, whenever people would ask, I would always answer that I am preparing for the Milo Eliminations. To be honest, that gets a less enthusiastic reply.

image nicked from TBR

Not that I blame them. What is Milo anyway? Years ago, it was really a big thing since it was one of the few (if not the only) full marathon event in the calendar. But nowadays, we have a full every two months or so - they are even bunched up at the end pf the year. If you want to run a full marathon, you need not be stuck with Milo - there are a lot of other more “glamorous” and better publicized races.

But as every serious runner knows, Milo would always be different. Not only is it the longest running racing series in the country, it is also the most stringent in terms of cutoff times(more on this and their new system in another post). It is really a competition, with the requisite Finals-qualifying cutoff times and elimination rounds. The top Filipino marathoners(like Buenavista) almost always begins their rise to the top by ruling Milo. It is practically our Boston Marathon. What the heck, it might as very well be our national marathon.

I know from experience the wonder and glory of running large marathons overseas. But as a Filipino runner, I would simply feel incomplete if I won’t ever be able to run in the Finals even just once.

I know that not everybody likes the Milo system, in particular its cutoff. Post-race, I’m sure, some would argue in blogs or forums, how elitist it is or how it denies almost half of its participants with even a mention in its finishers list.

While it will make life more difficult for me, personally, I am for Milo retaining its standards. It is one of our last remaining bastions of excellence in the sport, inspiring athletes nationwide to do their best, push their limits, and work hard.

With the proliferation of a dozen other events, the more that Milo should stand its ground: leave the feel-goodery to other events; separate those who would pushed around by a challenge to those who will push back.

On July 4, A-games will be brought, gloves will come off, limits will be pushed. Because for the Filipino runner, all roads lead to Milo.

Tags: 34th National Milo Marathon, Manila Eliminations