Top PH Milo Marathon bets going to Paris race

Slots in the 2014 Paris Marathon await the top local finishers in the 37th National Milo Marathon which kicks off its 17-leg elimination races on June 30 in Puerto Princesa.

The best-placed Filipino male and female will get the Paris slot even if a foreigner tops the annual footrace.

The Paris Marathon is slated April 6 and starts at the historic Champs Élysées.

“We were looking at sending representatives to the Boston Marathon, but after the recent bombings there, we weren’t sure we’d want to be associated with Boston yet,” said Milo Sports executive Andrew Neri during the event’s launch yesterday at Bayview Hotel in Manila.

All but one of 17 qualifying races will be 21K events. The Manila elimination on July 28 at Mall of Asia grounds will be a full marathon.  The finals, also at MOA, is slated Dec. 8.

Only local participants and foreigners with working visas can join the 42K and 21K races.

In the National finals, foreigners may be eligible to win if they provide proof of finish in any race accredited by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) or International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) dating back at least one year.

The foreigners must also conform with age brackets and finish times set by the organizers.

The “Help Give Shoes” campaign, which has distributed 24,200 pairs of shoes since 2010, likewise continues and will give 10,000 more pairs to underprivileged school children.

“The simple act of giving away shoes inspires our school children to get involved in sports,” said Education Department assistant secretary Tonisito Umali, who also graced yesterday’s event along with Milo Sports’ Robbie De Vera and race director Rio dela Cruz.