Sea of Runners

I was shocked when I first run in the MILO marathon. At the expense of runners getting injured or killed, participants were herded in the starting line and sent out like bulls.

Stampeding runners almost run over some "slow" foot racers. 

But since a new organizer - RunRio - took over the races last year, the races are on the right track now.

Instead of "dangerous" mass starts for thousand of participants this Sunday, runners - numbering about 34,000 -leave the starting gate wave by wave as the organizers put the safety of runners on top of their agenda. Add the use of electronic chips to ensure that the clocking of all finishers will be documented right.

With the decision to use modern electronic technology to monitor the runners' clockings, the MILO Metro Manila eliminations this Sunday and the national finals on December were recognized by the Association of International Marathons/International Association of Athletics Federation (AIMS/IAAF), adding to the glamour of the country's oldest and most participated road race.

In fact, Sunday's race will be used as part of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) eliminations.

But expect Kenyan runners, who are now making a living out of weekly races, to once again stamp their class over the local participants. Back to earn a spot in the national finals are last year’s Metro Manila eliminations second placer Willy Tanui of Kenya and compatriots Rudy Tikiko, James Tallam, Banjamin Kipkazi and Geoffrey Kiprotich.

It will be the same on the women's side as two-time Milo Marathon Queen Jho-Ann Banayag, Luisa Raterta and Ailene Tolentino race against Kenyans Susan Jemutai and Peris Poywo on the flat, paved

course.

The huge cash prize is just too big for the Kenyans to ignore. Winners in both the male and female categories will go home P50,000 richers while second placers will bag P30,000 and third spot finishers will pocket P20,000.

On top of these, top finishers in the national finals will earn P300,000 with early qualifiers and regional leg winners Mercy Taypoc and Reynaldo Pascua ( Ilocos elims), Hernani Sore and Jessa Mangsat (Dagupan), Robeno Javier (Olongapo) and Jujet de Asis and Geraldine Sealza (Tarlac) already gaining opportunities to pocket the six-figure cash prize.

This Sunday, there will be inter-school competitions for cheer dance and running, soccer mini-games and basketball shoot-out as side events.

Additional pairs of shoes will be donated to student from City Science High School, Caruhatan National High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Tatalon Elementary School, Gen. Pio Del Pilar High School, Carlos L. Albert High School, Benigno Aquino High School, Kalayaan National High School, Gen. Ricardo Papa Memorial High School and Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School.

After the Metro Manila elims, qualifying races will be held in Batangas on August 21, Puerto Princesa on August 28, Naga on Sept 4 and San Pablo on Sept 11, Ilo-Ilo (Sept 18), Bacolod (Sept 25), Cebu City (Oct 2), Tagbilaran (Oct 9), Cagayan De Oro (Oct 16), Butuan (Oct 23), General Santos (Oct 30), Davao (Nov 6) with the Manila Finals slated on December 11.