The Philippines is set to make a strong impression at the upcoming EVA Air Marathon, scheduled for October 26 in Taipei, with around 300 Filipino runners expected to participate. Headlining the delegation is Mary Joy Tabal-Jimenez, the country’s first female Olympic marathon qualifier and EVA Air’s official ambassador for the Philippines.
This international full marathon, which offers a prize of NT$110,000 to the overall champion, has grown significantly since its launch in 2018. Now recognized as a major event in the global running calendar, the marathon is expected to attract 24,000 participants from across the globe, particularly from the 67 destinations served by EVA Air, the world’s 8th-ranked airline.
Tabal-Jimenez has resumed intensive training, running 10 kilometers daily, as she aims to make a strong comeback in the competitive running scene.
“I’m thankful to EVA Air for this opportunity—especially because I’ll be running alongside my family,” shared Jimenez. “My husband and I will both be participating, and our three-year-old daughter will be running in the 3K category. My personal goal is to finish the full marathon in under three hours.”
Her performance in Taipei will play a key role in determining whether she fully returns to elite-level competition. Her last full marathon was the Tokyo Marathon in 2023, after which she shifted her focus to family life and her responsibilities as head of the Mandaue Sports Commission in her hometown.
