What Happened in 2025: Cancelled, Then Rerun Four Weeks Later
The finals were scheduled for Sunday 9 November 2025 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex [1]. The organiser then announced that they would not go ahead, citing coordination with government agencies and the latest weather forecasts, and said every registered runner would still receive the finisher entitlements [2]. The Facebook page SWIMBIKERUN.ph noted that it was a full cancellation rather than a postponement, with a major storm on the way [3].
The organiser then rescheduled the finals to Saturday 6 December 2025 at the same venue [1]. Runners who could not make the new date were offered their race kits and entitlements at other RUNRIO races instead, such as the McDonald's Stripes Run at the MOA Complex on 7 December, if they submitted a form by 16 November [4]. The results also include virtual 42K, 21K, 10K and 5K categories, with 1,188 entries between them [5].
How the Finals Work: Qualify for the 42K Through the Series
The finals close a year-long series. In 2025 it had 17 races in five host cities, Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Davao, and each city ran three legs of rising distance [6][1]. The Manila legs were on 16 March, 18 May and 13 July [1].
The 42K is not open entry. To run it you must have registered for the 16K at Leg 1, the 21K at Leg 2 and the 32K at Leg 3, in any host city, or bought a bundle; qualified runners get an access code by email after Leg 3 [1]. You can mix cities, and runners who complete the trilogy more than once in a year get a special medal at the finals [6]. The 5K, 10K and 21K are open to everyone [1]. In the 42K, a champion is named in each age group and awarded a belt [6].
The Weather: 25°C to 26°C All Night, Dew Point 19°C
Start times for the rerun were not published on the race pages. Across the night, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, about 5 km from the MOA Complex, recorded 25°C to 26°C every hour from midnight to 8am on 6 December, with a dew point of 19°C to 20°C, 65% to 70% humidity and winds of 2 to 6 knots [7]. It warmed to 27°C at 9am and 29°C at 10am [7].
A dew point of 19°C is humid but not oppressive: sweat still evaporates and cools you. The last 42K finishers were out for more than seven and a half hours [5], so if you are slow, expect the final hours to be warmer than the start.
Cut-offs and Rules: Eight Hours for the Marathon
The course limits were 8 hours for the 42K, 4 hours for the 21K, 2 hours for the 10K and 1 hour for the 5K [6]. You must start within 15 minutes of your flag-off or be disqualified, unofficial pacers are not allowed, and top finishers are ranked on gun time [6].
The marathon limit is generous in practice. Every one of the 1,399 marathon finishers in the results came in inside eight hours; 170 of them took between seven and eight hours, and the slowest chip time was 7:39:25 [5]. The results for the shorter races include runners past the limit: the 21K list has 42 runners with gun times over four hours, the slowest at 4:39:24 [5].
How Fast the Field Is
Edsel Moral won the 42K wire to wire in 2:27:31 [8], more than 20 minutes ahead of Welfred Esporma (2:48:11) and Edgardo Panopio Jr (2:58:12) [5]. Maricar Camacho won the women's race in 3:18:56, ninth overall, from Rocel Maestro (3:30:00) and Jennelyn Isibido (3:33:41) [5]. Press reports named Amelyn Broqueza second in 3:29:44 [8], but that name does not appear in the published results [5]. Both winners also took the 2024 finals, in 2:46:43 and 3:25:38 [9].
Behind the leaders the times spread out quickly. Only four marathoners broke three hours and 87 broke four; tenth place was 3:23:05 for men and 4:04:26 for women, and the median finish was 5:40:52 [5]. Of the 1,399 finishers, 344 were women [5].
The 21K was won by Kenya's David Kipsang in 1:09:14 and by Eloisa Cusi in 1:29:32 [8][5]. The fourth man was already more than ten minutes behind, at 1:22:01; tenth place was 1:30:52 for men and 1:47:59 for women, and the median was 2:41:41 [5]. The 10K was won in 34:44 by Ritchie Estampador and 46:33 by Jo Punay [5].
Entry Fees and What You Get
In 2025 the 42K cost ₱2,600 early, ₱3,000 at the regular rate and ₱3,500 late; the 21K ₱2,200, ₱2,600 and ₱3,000; the 10K ₱1,600, ₱1,800 and ₱2,200; and the 5K ₱1,400, ₱1,600 and ₱2,000 [1]. Processing, web and delivery fees come on top [1].
Every entry included a singlet, bib, finisher's medal and lootbag, and 21K and 42K finishers also got a finisher's shirt [1]. The 2026 series adds a finisher's towel, and there are baggage counters and changing tents in the race village [10]. Entries cannot be refunded, deferred or transferred, and the 21K and 42K are for runners aged 18 and over [6].
Should You Enter the 2026 Finals?
Yes, if you are running the series and want your first marathon: the organiser describes it as a progressive journey from 5K to 42K [11], and the eight-hour limit gives slower runners room. The 21K is open to anyone who wants a big end-of-season half in Pasay [1].
Think twice if you have not registered for all three long legs, because the 42K is closed to you [10], or if you need a fixed date: the 2025 finals moved by four weeks.
The 2026 finals are on Sunday 8 November at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, over 42K, 21K, 10K and 5K [12], listed with a 3am start [11]. The 2026 Leg 3 races run in September: Manila on 6 September, Cebu on 13 September, Cagayan de Oro on 20 September and Davao on 27 September [12]. The 2026 race page has no route map yet [11].
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race pages and rules, the full published results, airport weather records, and Philippine news reports.