The Course: Clark Freeport's Roads, but No Published Map
The race started and finished at Clark Parade Grounds on Clark Avenue, inside Clark Freeport [1]. It was the sixth leg of the Singlife Philippine Marathon Majors, RUNRIO's eight-race national series, held with Go Clark as the local organiser [2][3].
The organiser sells it on its setting: wide roads, modern landscapes and Clark's aviation history [1]. RUNRIO president Rio de la Cruz called it a fast course for runners chasing personal bests [2]. The event page says the routes are measured and certified by World Athletics and AIMS, and that the race counts towards World Athletics world rankings [1].
That is as much as runners were told. The race rules say the official marathon map "will be announced soon", and no route map, elevation profile or list of roads appeared on the race pages [4]. The rules say only that parts of the route would be closed under a separate road advisory, and that runners must stay inside the barriers and cones marking the course [4][5].
A Midnight Start in Saturated Air
The event was listed for 12am on Sunday 20 September [1], and the timing data point to the marathon starting at midnight, the 21K at 2am, the 10K at 4am and the 5K at 5am [6].
Clark International Airport, about 4 km east of the Parade Grounds, recorded 27°C at midnight with a dew point of 25°C, 89% humidity and a 4-knot wind. Light rain was reported at 1am. From 2am to 3am it was 26°C and 94% humidity, and from 5am to 6am 25°C and 94%. It then warmed to 26°C at 7am, 28°C at 8am and 29°C at 9am [7].
A dew point of 24°C to 25°C is about as humid as runners meet: sweat barely evaporates, so the night start helps less than the thermometer suggests. The median marathoner took 5:29:15 and finished at about 5.30am, before the morning warm-up; the last finishers came in just before 8am, when it was 28°C [6][7].
Aid, Cut-offs and Rules
The rules promise hydration stations about every 2 to 2.5 km, with water and sports drink, and bananas on the longer distances, plus medical staff along the route and at the start and finish [4]. There were portable toilets in the race village and on the route, baggage counters and changing tents [5].
No cut-off was published. The rules say courses close after designated cut-off times but do not list them [4]. RUNRIO's Trilogy series, for comparison, gives its marathoners eight hours [8]. In Clark the slowest recorded marathon finish was 7:52:06 gun time, and 84 of the 1,023 timed marathon finishers took more than seven hours [6], so the results point to a limit close to eight hours.
You must start within 15 minutes of your flag-off or be disqualified, unofficial pacers are banned, and a runner who leaves the course cannot rejoin [4]. Places are decided on gun time, not chip time [4].
How Fast the Field Is
Prize money is split in two. Non-Filipino runners race an international category that pays the top five, but only if they beat 2:45 (men) or 3:15 (women) in the marathon, or 1:20 and 1:40 in the half [9]. Filipino citizens have their own category paying the top ten in the marathon and half, with no time limit [10]. The organiser advertised over ₱1.2 million in prizes [2].
Kenyans won both international marathons. Victor Kipkemei Chepkwony won in 2:24:28 from Glady Kiptoo (2:26:21) and Eric Chepsiror (2:31:52), and Ziporah Wanjiru Kingori won the women's race in 2:49:20 from Purity Serem (3:04:50) [6][11][12]. The Filipino races were close: Arlan Arbois Jr. ran 2:32:16 to beat Dickyias Mendioro by 16 seconds, and Christine Hallasgo ran 3:08:47, 21 seconds ahead of Jessa Mae Roda [6][12].
Behind the front the field is thin. Tenth place overall in the marathon was 2:51:12 for men and 3:55:12 for women; only 14 runners broke three hours and 86 broke four [6]. The women's marathon field was small, 175 women against 874 men [6]. In the half marathon Daniel Boiwo won in 1:12:46 and Pamela Chepkoech Bundotich in 1:27:02, and the fastest Filipinos were Ricky Organiza (1:12:59) and Edna Magtubo (1:28:37) [6][11]; tenth place was 1:19:36 and 1:48:28 [6]. The 10 km went to Jeck Welmer Labrador in 32:30 and Kaye Kayralyn Villanueva in 41:54 [12].
Medals go to the top three in each of 13 marathon age groups [4], and age-group winners qualify for guaranteed places at the TCS Sydney Marathon, though they still pay the Sydney fees [5].
Race Weekend Logistics
The Journal put the field at 3,500 runners [12]. The results list 3,296 entries: 1,049 in the marathon, 1,263 in the half, 638 in the 10 km and 346 in the 5 km [6]. The median half marathoner took 2:44:13 [6].
Race packs were collected at SM City Clark on 18 and 19 September, 11am to 7pm, with the confirmation email and a valid ID; delivery was also offered [5]. Marathon entry cost ₱2,635 early bird, ₱3,035 regular and ₱3,535 late, and the half ₱2,235 to ₱3,035, all plus processing and web fees [5]. Entries cannot be refunded, deferred or transferred [4]. The marathon and half are for runners aged 18 and over [4].
Every finisher got a medal, towel and drawstring bag, and 21K and 42K finishers a finisher's shirt [5]. Registered runners got free Singlife insurance [2], and a BYD Seagull car was raffled on race day [11]. Finishers of Philippine Marathon Majors races also get a series medal for each one they complete [3].
Should You Enter the 2027 Race?
Yes, if you are collecting Philippine Marathon Majors races, want a realistic shot at an age-group place or a Filipino prize, or are a woman marathoner: with 175 women in the field, a sub-four-hour run made the overall top ten.
Think twice if you need to see a course profile before you pick a race, if a start at midnight on Saturday night does not suit you, or if you struggle in night air with a 25°C dew point.
No 2027 date, route map or cut-off had been published when this was written. Ask the organiser for the course and the time limit before you book.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race pages and rules, the full results, airport weather records and Philippine press reports.