Tabal ready to defend title in Milo Marathon Cebu leg

Cebu’s running queen Mary Joy Tabal is busy preparing herself for her title defense in the 21-kilometer race of the upcoming 37th Milo Marathon Cebu Leg slated Sept. 22 starting at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Tabal said she is doubling her training for the all-important race that offers slots to the National Finals slated Dec. 8 in Manila.

Helping Tabal with her preparation is multi-titled triathlete trainer John Philip Dueñas.

“Philip and I are preparing to qualify for the national finals. I’m also preparing for the Adidas King Of the Road in Malaysia on October,” Tabal said.

According to Tabal, part of her preparation includes doing two long distance runs per week aside from the strengthening and core training exercises.

She also has an intensive training regimen that includes interval runs and speed endurance exercises to help her avoid cramps.

“I’m doing my best to improve my time and my performance,” Tabal said.

Tabal dominated last year’s qualifying race in Cebu and lorded the 42k local division in the National Finals with a time of three hours, five minutes and 12 seconds. She finished fourth overall with Zamboanga’s Mary Grace delos Santos finishing first.

Four-time champion Cristabel Martes wound up second (3:10:46) while Jennilyn Nobleza (3:22:03) settled for third.

Tabal won P150,000 for placing fourth overall and first in the local category.

Dueñas, meanwhile, topped the Bohol qualifying leg last 2009.

According to Tabal, Dueñas is trying to balance his time training for running and triathlon. He recently won third place in the Filipino Elite division of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu.

Around 20,000 runners are expected to join the Cebu leg of this annual running event in the hopes of qualifying for the National Finals.