A dream turned into reality

Last Sunday, I finally conquered what I had promised to do five years ago. After my stint at the Biggest Loser camp, I made a pact to myself to run a full marathon as an advocacy to raise awareness on obesity. It wasn't an easy task for me. As soon as I finished my first the half marathon (21K) race in 2012, I found out that it will be an uphill battle for me. It was easier said than done at first, so I decided to put on hold that promise and focus on other sports like triathlon and cycling.

But last August 2015, I launched this 'Share A Dream' campaign that facilitates and helps non-athletes and sedentary people to finish their first full marathon. I incorporated the program to the running clinic we have in our existing Metafit fitness boot camp. It focuses mainly on completing one's first ever Marathon anchored on our main goal that is 'to complete not compete'.  Divided into two groups (the 42K and 21K, the program ran for six months. Our training is centered on a different approach in running, with workouts that makes you stronger, faster and fitter. Training were designed to building a strong core, improving cardio vascular and muscular endurance, and enhancing stability and balance that helps maximize one's running muscle. Our long run and mileage were all time-based and heat training. The longest running time was at two and a half to three hours starting as late as 6:30 a.m. to maximize the heat.

Triathlete couples Fritz and Zusette Co, PJ Cañedo and Donafel Tacandong (soon to be Mr & Mrs) and yours truly composed the 42km group. For the 21km group, we have Dandy Maturan, Sarah Lucero, Jeffrey Corro and Atty. Terence Fernandez. The latest additions were Michael Manabat, a busy executive from Philam Life, and Liezel Balbuena, a teacher from CIC. Balbuena was a surprise finisher, clocking in two hours and 40 minutes even if she haven't experienced a 10K or ever a fun run before. Corro came out the fastest in two-flat, Fernandez clocked in 2:07, while Maturan placed 12th.                      For the 42K group, there was an added pressure as the Cebu City Marathon organizers shortened the cut-off time by 1:30 minutes. So we devised a simple, yet highly effective plan - cut the 42km into six sections at 7K each and run each section at least one hour. We call this running system “The KALOUY 7-1”, a strategy that would eventually help us finish at six hours and have one hour to spare before the cut-off.

On race day at exactly 3 a.m. , it looks like Zusette Co was on fire, sprinting all the way and was nowhere to be seen by the rest of us. He finished with a time of 5:07. Donafel Tacandong was supposed to finish at 5:30, but she waited for her fiancé PJ Cañedo so they will cross the finish line together with a time of 6:45. Second in our group was Fritz Co, who finished at 6:24. He timed 2:45 at the 21km turn around, which was faster than most of the half marathon finishers.

Running a full marathon isn’t a joke. It takes total dedication, commitment and discipline in training and logging on countless of mileage run day in and out.  For me, it was a tough mental challenge. I always hated running and never found the fun of doing it. It’s more of a motivational goal that’s why I run. Knowing that I have endure six to seven hours of running, I have to challenge my self and set the bar high in training. Because I can’t imagine to run more than three hours, I used cycling as my training. We rode our bikes on alternate days from our running. Three weeks before the Cebu City Marathon, we went as far as Adventure Café in Balamban which took me almost six hours to finish. Then on back to back days, we figured in a 15K trail run. Even during the holidays, we spent hours in training either doing Metafit workout, cycling and running.

Most of the experienced runners advised us to take the first 21K easy and finish strong because most runners hit the wall at around 25 to 30K. Nutrition and hydration are very critical. I had my nutrition set at almost every 30 minutes,  finishing four gels and three power bars plus a number of bananas. I take time at every water station, drinking water and Gatorade. At the 30K mark near the SM Seaside, my body started to feel the toll of the run, my feet hurts and barely was jogging. It was more like a brisk walking. Then, at the SRP bridge before the tunnel, I took my first ice bath. It was my wake-up call that I have to jog and walk faster. It gave me sudden adrenaline shot so at each water station, I took the ice bath and it helped in waking up tired and sleeping muscles. I have never ran more than 21K in my life. Doing this is a tough physical and mental challenge. On the way to the finish line, I had a flashback of all my friends, my Biggest Loser Family, and of course my family led by my ever supportive wife Caroline and kids Micho, Kyle and Alana. Most of all, I know deep within that when I cross the finish line, it is not only for my personal achievement, but also an advocacy to raise awareness to all obese and overweight Filipinos that “it can be done” and there is “No Excuses" in doing something that is beneficial for our well-being. If I can do it, so can you!

I finally touched down the finish line at 6:45, just 15 minutes before the cut-off time. Sportsman John Pages, a good friend of mine and a certified marathoner himself, personally placed the medal on me in a very warm gesture of congratulating me for a job well done. True enough, it's feat I would cherish in my lifetime.