National MILO Marathon 2026: Schedule, Qualifying Times and Race Guide

The National MILO Marathon is a yearly series of road races run by organizer RUNRIO Inc. and presented by MILO, the Nestlé chocolate malt drink brand. Each season has regional legs in cities across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, and then ends with the National Finals in December.

At every regional leg, you can join the 3K, 5K, 10K or 21K. The 21K doubles as a qualifying race: the fastest finishers earn a slot in the 42.195K full marathon at the National Finals, where the fastest Filipino man and woman are crowned MILO Marathon King and Queen. As a result, that path from a local leg to the national title is what makes the MILO Marathon different from a regular fun run.

This is the official 2026 race calendar published by the organizers. Dates and venues can change, so check the registration page of each leg before you travel.

The official MILO Marathon 2026 race calendar. Dates and venues are subject to change.

The season usually opens in March, takes a break from April to July, and resumes from August to November before the December finale. Organizers usually release the next calendar early in the year, so we will add the 2027 schedule here as soon as it is out.

You can only run the 42K at the National Finals if you qualify at a regional 21K leg in the same season. There are two ways in:

1. Win your leg. The top male and female finishers of each regional 21K get all-expense slots to the Finals. They must confirm with the organizer by the deadline, or they lose the privileges.
2. Beat the time standard. Any runner who finishes the regional 21K within the time standard for their age group qualifies, but pays for their own travel and accommodation.

Both kinds of qualifiers get free registration, a free running singlet and a ticket to the MILO Marathon Champion’s Dinner. In addition, these are the 2026 21K qualifying times:

Also keep a few rules in mind. First, only Filipino runners can win the top three spots in the 42K, Second, a qualifier who confirms an all-expense slot and then skips the Finals cannot run the other Finals categories. Finally, collecting a travel allowance and then not showing up without notice can get you banned from MILO races for 12 months.

These are the 2026 National Finals rates. Regional legs use similar pricing, and Race Roster also adds processing fees at checkout. Entry fees are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-deferrable.

Persons with disabilities can join the 10K for ₱800, the 5K for ₱450 and the 3K for ₱250 with a valid PWD ID or medical certificate. However, only the 10K, 21K and 42K come with timing chips, and medals only go to runners who finish within the cut-off.

• 21K: 2.5-hour cut-off, and you must reach the 10K mark within 1.5 hours. Open to runners 18 and older, with a Fit-to-Run medical certificate signed by a licensed physician within two months of race day.
• 10K: 2-hour cut-off. Open to runners 16 and older.
• 5K: 1-hour cut-off. Open to runners 7 and older.
• 3K: 1-hour cut-off. The competitive kids’ category is for ages 7 to 12, with a birth certificate or school ID.

Runners under 18 in the 10K, 5K and 3K need a parent or guardian to sign the entry form. Organizers count cut-offs from the official start. Also, you must wear the official MILO singlet and bib, or you will not be allowed to run.

At the National Finals, the top three men and women in the 42K win ₱50,000, ₱30,000 and ₱20,000, plus trophies, while 4th to 10th place receive medals. The fastest Filipino man and woman then take home that year’s MILO Marathon King and Queen titles. Meanwhile, at the regional legs, the top three in the 21K win ₱10,000, ₱6,000 and ₱4,000.

Benignos became the youngest MILO Marathon Queen at 22, and the 2024 Finals in Cagayan de Oro was the first time the finale was held in Mindanao. Next, Clark will crown the 2026 King and Queen on December 6.

Numeriano Titong, a golf caddy who trained by running up to 30 kilometers a day, won the first MILO Marathon in Metro Manila on May 26, 1974. Since then, the race has grown into a nationwide series that has drawn millions of Filipino runners.

Many of the country’s best distance runners came through the MILO Marathon. Roy Vence broke the long-standing record of legend Jimmy dela Torre in 1996 on his way to qualifying for the Atlanta Olympics, and Mary Joy Tabal, the first Filipina to run the marathon at the Olympics, also started her career at MILO races. On top of that, since 2010, part of every registration fee has gone to MILO’s Help Give Shoes program, which gives running shoes to public school students.

However, the race stopped completely in 2020 and only returned in 2023. In 2026, it celebrates its 50th anniversary with “The Golden Run” season, which ends with the National Finals in Clark City.

• Wear the official singlet and bib. It is a strict rule, so pack them the night before.
• Get your Fit-to-Run certificate early if you are doing the 21K, since you need it to register.
• Know the checkpoint. In the 21K, pace yourself to clear the 10K mark within 1.5 hours.
• Chase a qualifying time. If you are aiming for the 42K, check the time standard for your age group and plan your pacing around it.
• Run in shoes you have trained in. Race day is not the time to break in a new pair.

Need a new pair before your next leg? Read our running shoe reviews for Filipino runners, or use the fabRunning shoe finder to get up to three matches for your goal and budget. For other races, see our running events calendar.