With a big turnout expected, organizers expect that new faces will emerge when the 7-Eleven Run 2025 takes off at close to midnight on February 2, with simultaneous footraces held in the cities of Muntinlupa, Cebu and Davao.
Top runners like Southeast Asian Games veterans Arlan Arbois and Christine Hallasgo are expected to be back and hold their ground against young and aspiring runners during the late evening road races
The races will have nine categories, including the 42km, 32km and 21km, which will have the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s categories competing in an international race in Southeast Asia.
“If you look at the history of our races, we were able to produce potential gold medallists and represent the country internationally,” said organizer Jose C. Ang Jr., 7-Eleven Philippines’ Managing Director for eWallet and eCommerce Head of General Merchandise Division, during Friday’s launch in San Juan.
The run has drawn 50,000 participants in the midnight-to-dawn race, with 30,000 racing in the Muntinlupa stage.
Action takes place at the Filinvest-Alabang grounds, with 13,000 taking part when it is held at the City de Mare in the South Road of Cebu City.
There will be 7,000 runners at the SM City in Davao City.
Last year, Ric Organisa and his elder sister Hallasgo dominated the Cagayan de Oro leg, as they turned in the fastest times in the men’s and women’s 21-kilometer run.
Podium finishes are also up for grabs in the 3K, 5K, 7K, 10K, 16K categories, while new events like the 711-m run for kids and the 3-km buddy run will be introduced.
Last year, Florendo Lapiz emerged as the overall winner of the men’s 42-km run after finishing the Manila leg with a better time from Cagayan de Oro top bets Ramil Neri and James Cruz, who took second and third.
Maricar Camacho dominated the women’s 42km run when she claimed the top honors in the Manila leg.