Start Times and Cut-offs: A 3am Half With Four Hours to Finish
The half marathon started at 3am, the 10 km at 4.30am and the 5 km at 5am, all from the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay [1][2]. The cut-offs were four hours for the half, two hours for the 10 km and one hour for the 5 km [1]. Runners had to cross the start within 15 minutes of their flag-off or be disqualified [1].
From 7am an ambulance swept the course, picking up anyone still out and taking them to the finish, and the organiser said those runners would be disqualified from the official results [2]. The published results do list 24 half marathoners with gun times over four hours, the slowest 4:20:41 [3], but a runner aiming at four hours should not count on being one of them.
The Weather: Saturated Air Before Dawn
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, about 5 km south-east of the start, recorded 25°C at 3am on race morning, with a dew point of 25°C, 100% humidity and a 1-knot wind [4]. Nothing changed until 6am. It was 27°C with 94% humidity at 7am, when the sweep began, 29°C at 8am and 31°C at 9am [4].
When the dew point equals the air temperature, sweat barely evaporates, so the body loses its main way of cooling and heart rate climbs at a pace that would feel easy in drier air. Almost the whole half-marathon field finished inside four hours, before 7am [3], so most runners never met the heat of the day, only the wet air. Start slower than your usual half-marathon pace and use every drinks station.
Christine Hallasgo, who won the women's 10 km, said each city in the series brings different routes and climates, and that runners who do not know an area take time to adjust [5].
The Course: No Map on the Race Pages
The organiser billed the race as a celebration of Metro Manila's landmarks and heritage [6]. Its race rules said the route map would be announced later, and the race's registration pages still carry no map [1][6]. Sections of the route were closed to traffic, walkers were asked to keep to the right so faster runners could pass, and bikes, skates, strollers and wheelchairs were not allowed on the course [2].
Aid Stations and Finisher Items
Drinks stations were placed roughly every 2 to 2.5 km, with water and sports drink, and bananas for the longer distances; Gatorade was the official sports drink [1][7]. Medical staff were on the course and at the start and finish, and the venue had baggage tents for each distance, changing areas and portable toilets [1][2].
Every entry included a PUMA race singlet and a bib with a timing chip [1][6]. Finishers of all three distances got a medal, a towel and a loot bag; only 21 km finishers got the PUMA finisher's shirt, and the 21 km medal has its own design [6]. Only runners who completed the distance they registered for received the finisher items [1].
How Fast the Field Is
The results list 2,371 runners in the 21 km, 2,764 in the 10 km and 2,264 in the 5 km [3]. In the half, 1,629 men and 736 women were ranked [3].
Simon Enriquez, described as a newcomer, won the men's half in 1:23:05, from Joram Lava in 1:24:23 and Moiselle Angelo Alforque in 1:25:22. Maricar Camacho won the women's race in 1:30:54, ahead of Jennelyn Isibido in 1:37:11 [7]. Tenth place was 1:37:51 for men and 2:03:34 for women, so a woman under 2:03 would have made the top ten [3].
That is a soft front for a half marathon: at the 2026 Clark leg of the same series, the winners ran 1:09:23 and 1:21:00 [8]. The middle of the field is relaxed too. The median finish was 2:47:39, 178 runners broke two hours and 1,566 of the 2,361 ranked finishers broke three [3].
The 10 km was won by Rico Jay Patanao in 32:44 and by Christine Hallasgo, the 2019 SEA Games marathon gold medallist, in 38:32 [7][5]. Tenth place in the 10 km was 47:38 for men and 58:05 for women [3].
Race Weekend Logistics
There was no race-day registration, but runners who missed kit collection could pick up their kits at the venue on race morning, and swap a singlet for another size there if stock allowed [2]. Entry in 2025 cost ₱2,200 for the 21 km, ₱1,600 for the 10 km and ₱1,400 for the 5 km, plus processing and web fees [1]. The 21 km sold out in every city of the series [5].
Entries cannot be refunded, transferred or deferred, and you cannot change distance or city leg after registering [1][2]. You may withdraw, but without a refund, and only typing errors, contact details and addresses can be corrected, at the on-site registration area [2]. The minimum age is 18 for the 21 km, 16 for the 10 km and 13 for the 5 km [1]. The organiser pointed runners to taxis, Grab, buses and other public transport, and listed parking as to be announced [2].
Awards were presented at the venue straight after the race, and winners had to be there to collect them [1][2]. Results were promised within one to two days, and a protest had to be lodged in writing within an hour of results going up, with a non-refundable ₱5,000 fee [1]. Runners who complete all six legs of the series get an extra All-City Legacy Medal [5].
Should You Enter the 2026 Race?
Yes, if you want a big, well-supplied half marathon in Metro Manila with a forgiving four-hour cut-off, or you are collecting the series' six-city medal. It suits first-time half marathoners, since half the 2025 field took longer than 2:47 [3], and it gives a good club runner a real chance of a top-ten place.
Think twice if you want a cool morning for a personal best, if you cannot face a 3am start, or if you want to study the route before you enter.
The 2026 Manila leg is on Sunday 11 October at the MOA Concert Grounds, the last race of the 2026 series, after Clark in August and Cagayan de Oro on 6 September [8][9]. Fees rise to ₱2,300, ₱1,700 and ₱1,500, and the cut-offs stay at four hours, two hours and one hour [10]. The registration page lists a 3am start, but the gun time for each distance and the route had not been published when this was written [10][9].
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race rules, FAQ and race information, the full results, airport weather records and Philippine news reports.