I am not sure if this is the “real” Official Statement of Team MILO/NESTLE, Phils as a result of the death of Remus Fuentes on the July 4th MILO Marathon Manila Elimination Race. One of the BDM “veterans”, Albert Salazar, sent a comment in my previous blog stating the following statement which he indicated as taken in one of the links with MILO Philippines’ Facebook account. In the said link, the following statement had been posted in their PHOTO ALBUM Page. I really don’t know why they have to take a picture of the said statement and have it posted in their Photo Album. They could have simply sent to the e-mail addresses of the runner-bloggers and other interested parties.
I’ve been waiting for this Official Statement as I requested from Team MILO/NESTLE, Inc to send it to my e-mail address in order to give them a chance to explain their side of the incident. Up to this time, I have not yet received such copy in my e-mail address. Anyway, whether the following statement was not signed or not, the fact that it was posted at MILO, Phils Facebook Account, it needs to be posted in this blog in order to get the side of Team MILO/NESTLE, Phils and its Race Organizer. Hoping it is the real one!
After reading this statement and the side of Remus family, the runners who participated in the 21K and the Marathon (42K) Race and my readers will be the judge.
STATEMENT ON MILO MARATHON
We are deeply saddened by the passing away of Mr. Remus Fuentes, a participant of the July 4, 2010 MILO Marathon held in Luneta, Manila.
We reached out to Remus’ family as soon as we were informed. Our deepest sympathy is with his family during this most difficult time.
We assure participants that all the internationally recognized precautions had been taken by the organizer for the Manila leg of the MILO Marathon, specifically:
On hydration stations, according to the International Association of Athletics Federation (lAAF), the rule is, for a race longer than 10 km, refreshment stations shall be provided at approximately every 5 kms along the race route. For mass races in a tropical country like the Philippines, the same IAAF rule recommends to have water stations every 2.5 km, The Manila leg of the MILO Marathon had water stations installed every 2 km along the race path, and in between each water station, there were Gatorade stations to ensure every runner had the opportunity to hydrate as necessary. On average, there was a hydration station around every 1 km of the 21K race path. In total, there were 13 water stations, 10 Gatorade stations, 2 sponging stations, and 1 banana station strategically Iocated throughout the 13.5 km race loop.
On first aid, all MILO Marathons are fully equipped with first aid teams to attend to runners needing assistance. In the Manila race, for instance, there were 7 roving ambulances plying the 13.5 km race loop, 15 medical stations, 5 teams of first aiders on bicycles, and nearly 500 marshals – policemen, traffic aids, and radio communicators – manning various points of the race path. These marshals were equipped to immediately contact first aid stations and ambulances with trained crew and rescue facilities.
Like any vigorous sport, the marathon involves a certain amount of risk, especially for those who participate in longer distance events such as the 21K and the 42k. We would like to remind all runners who plan to participate in the forthcoming MILO Marathons to adequately prepare before the race, ensuring that they are properly conditioned mentally and physically. This includes undergoing the necessary training getting enough rest, properly hydrating, and eating the right food.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Remus Fuentes at this very difficult time.
(Note: Copied from MILO Philippines Facebook’s Photo Album)
Bald Runner 
1. water station — eh may water ba? and they are brave to say “ensure every runner had the opportunity to hydrate as necessary”
2. marshalls — eh bakit pulis yung tumulong besides fellow runner?
3. ambulance — eh bakit naka-taxi papunta sa hospital?
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Local races (Condura was one refreshing exception) usually run out of water soon after the elites and sub-elites have passed. It is the ordinary runners — those who struggle to make the 2:00 and 4:00 cuts in half-marathons and full marathons respectively who are left without, when they are the ones most in need. A Kenyan told me the elites don’t really drink — it disrupts their rhythm and it loses them valuable seconds. So what they do is they just wet their tongue so their throat does not run dry according to this guy.
Maybe the race organisers/race directors shortchange the subcontractors, that’s why the latter pack up and leave early?
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just a thought: don’t you think that the organizers (this one and in any race for that matter) may get away with certain liabilities kasi all registered runners sign a waiver that really relieves the organizers of any liability whatever happens to the runner? I think the tone of the statement (if this is “the” official statement) posted is really straightforward and shows how the organizers prepared for the event and thus, short of saying it, wala dapat magiging problema. But then again we have Murphy’s Law.
Can’t help but notice the last statement reminding all runners about the risks involved in the sports. Come on!! No need to rub it in di ba??!! Yes its a reminder, but I think that since this is a letter explaining their side, and offer some sympathy as well, pero di ba dapat hindi parang defensive ang dating ng organizer with that last statement??
Anyway, I hope everyone learns from this…quite a painful learning experience nonetheless.
duaneS
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its true, its the ordinary runners who suffer from dehydration cause the elites and sub elites pour the water on their heads to cool down. thus the water shortage.
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seguro hindi lang sa mga organizer ng milo marathon,maging sa iba pang nag-o-organize ng long distance run na laging isipin na sa last 3k to 2k na takbo laging wala ng tubig yung mga huling mga runner na dumaraan sa point na ito dahil ubos na.dapat sa lugar na ito mas marami silang tubig O kahit anong pwedeng nakalunas sa de-hydration ng runners.marami na akong nasalihang long distance run at lagi kong napupuna na wala na talagang tubig O mismong water station nailigpit na yata.sana di na maulit na muli ang masamang pangyayari.matuto na sana lahat.Godbless all runners.
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usually may drought sa last 4kms ng milo kasi its the same route that all the race distances pass through.
It’s very sad they dont seem to have post race assessment so they can improve on their lapses.
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Here’s my off-hand opinion: The pro-forma waiver that organizers make runners sign as a condition for joining a race will NOT absolve the organizer of liability if it can be proven that the organizers were negligent in implementing certain aspects of the race (lack of hydration, medical assistance, etc.). Kung talagang glaring na medyo maraming pagkukulang ang ang organizer, bale wala ang waiver na yan – the courts can treat it as nothing more than a scrap of paper.
Julius
lifeisahighway91.blogspot.com
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Finally, PDI in today’s issue narrates the story of Remus which I believe is very objective. Hope it will do ‘something good’!!Please check it out…
There was no doubt that water stations were around..though the distance between each stations, as mentioned in the Milo’s official statement is questionable. But were there ENOUGH WATER in these stations for 28,000+ registered runners to share during that very humid day? How many blue containers (gallons) of water/gatorade per station were rationed by the organizer?
I assume next time Milo organizers will include in their waiver – – – Runners are strongly advice to prepare their own WATER STATION…or Runners are encourage to train long WITH MINIMAL OR NO WATER huh!!
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about sa water station maraming water station pero di ma accommodate nung mga helper ung mga nag marathon. Sa isang table ng water station 4 to 5 lang yata ung naka tao kaya sobrang bilis maubos nung water.
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they started late, super late. that was wasted time for the runners.
hydration? it wasn’t evident.
also during the bridges, nobody is there even to look after the runners, not even below that. who are they kidding?
Remus has passed away, what else can MILO do but to learn from the experience but they wont be able to revive Remus anymore.
but truth of the fact is, runners should also have their own hydra belt and whichever else that they need to back them up. that’s part of training.
saddened. truly saddened.
Kas
runaholic.wordpress.com
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For your info, criminal case was filed last Sep 21 against MILO Marathon organizers. Details in my blog: http://www.justice4remus.com/
Rudy, father of Remus
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