EDSA as a running place? That will be a reality when the major circumferential road around Metro Manila takes center stage for the Galaxy Manila Marathon in what many expect to be a defining moment for Philippine road racing and sports tourism. Runrio, in partnership with SM Supermalls, has unveiled a grand plan for the event set for June 12 and 13, which will see the runners traversing major thoroughfare from the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay to SM North EDSA in Quezon City. “This year’s Galaxy Manila Marathon brings us a great source of pride given that this race won’t just coincide with Independence Day but also happens in EDSA,” Runrio president and CEO Rio de la Cruz said. “This is more than just a race — it’s an opportunity to showcase the Philippines to the world through sports. “We want to bring in runners from across the globe and let them experience our roads, our culture, and our communities,” he added. Beyond Manila, the partnership includes a series of races across key regional destinations, reinforcing the country’s sports tourism drive. These include the Singlife Iloilo Marathon (April 12), Singlife Cebu International Marathon (July 12), Singlife Davao Marathon (Aug. 15), Singlife One Clark International Marathon (Sept. 20), and Singlife Cagayan de Oro Marathon (Dec. 13).

Philippine running reaches a defining moment this year with the historic EDSA Run, a landmark race that places one of the country’s most iconic roads at the center of the nation’s growing marathon movement. The EDSA Run headlines a major partnership between SM Supermalls and Runrio Inc. that positions SM as the primary venue partner and supporter of Runrio’s 2026 race calendar. Through the collaboration, SM Supermalls co-presents seven of the eight races under the Philippine Marathon Majors and supports Runrio events across the country. The partnership firmly establishes SM Supermalls as the preferred destination for running in the Philippines. From race villages to race expos and major marathon routes, SM malls will serve as the gathering point for runners, communities, and spectators throughout the season. The nationwide series is projected to attract more than 400,000 runners and visitors, driving large scale participation and bringing marathon culture to major cities across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The Manila Marathon will utilize EDSA as its race course when it holds its event on June 12 to 13. Runrio, the event organizer, announced the development on Saturday, saying the race aims to showcase Philippine culture through sports by using Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare as its centerpiece. “This year’s Galaxy Manila Marathon brings us a great source of pride given that this race won’t just coincide with the Independence Day but also happens in EDSA,” said RUNRIO president and CEO Rio de la Cruz in a release. “This is more than just a race—it’s an opportunity to showcase the Philippines to the world through sports,” said de la Cruz. “We want to bring in runners from across the globe and let them experience our roads, our culture, and our communities.”