MARATHON Aims to check on Milo Marathon course

An Australian representative from Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (Aims) will visit Cebu to check the propose race course of the 41st Milo Marathon Finals, which is set on Dec. 3.

Cebu head organizer Ricky Ballesteros told sports scribes that the Aims together with technical organizer Runrio and a representative from Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) will come here in August.

Ballesteros said that as much as possible he wants the route to be within Cebu City. There will be two options for them that will be presented. “We will use the same race course of the 21K (regional elimination) and either extend it to Talisay City or to Talamban,” he stressed.

The Milo Marathon Finals is culminating race for those who make the qualifying time in the regional races. The qualifiers will run a 42-kilometer distance. The race will also feature the 21K, 5K and 3K categories.

“As much as possible we would make the route withing Cebu City,” said Ballesteros “Before accepting this I consulted Atty. Rafael Yap (the Bus Rapid Transit project manager) and he gave me a go signal.”

Ballesteros said that they are targeting to get 20,000 participants for the race. He said that expect this first of national finals of Cebu to be grand and different from the other races outside of Cebu.

“We have to very innovative in our concept. We will present on something very Cebuano. I've been observing how they do it. We will do something they have not seen it on the other national finals,” he said.