Official route for National Milo Marathon Grand Finals bared

THE OFFICIAL route for the upcoming 41st National Milo Marathon Grand Finals which will be held in Cebu City on Dec. 3 was revealed yesterday.
Ricky Ballesteros confirmed that the route of the major footrace, which is expected to draw more than 20,000 runners, has already mapped out. The route will pass through the Cebu South Coastal Road and some of Cebu City’s main roads.

Reigning four-peat champion Mary Joy Tabal likes the route as she hopes to win a fifth straight title.

“The route is quite challenging when you’re on your way back to the finish line. But overall, it’s not that difficult. The route looks great for me,” said Tabal, who is familiar with this route. “You just have to be aware of the headwinds at the Cebu South Coastal Road. Hopefully, I can beat my Milo record with this route.”

The 28-year-old Olympian and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist is currently training in Tuscany, Italy, as a jump start for her yearlong training for next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and for the 2020 Tokyo, Olympics. She will return to Cebu to defend her Milo title.

Meanwhile, Ballesteros said the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (Aims) and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) measured and inspected the route.

“Aims and Patafa told us that it’s a very good route since the route will be straight and there’s a few turnarounds. They also added that the route is scenic since it will pass by historic places in Cebu City like the Provincial Capitol, Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro, SRP and Talisay City Hall,” said Ballesteros.

The race’s starting area is at the front of the Cebu Normal University along Osmeña Boulevard while its finish line will be at the Cebu City Sports Center.