A Run for Life: Milo Marathon
"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond
where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made
of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
I did it, I finished a 10K marathon within the 1.5 hour mark. I crossed the finish line at 1 hour and 15 minutes into the race. When I saw the digital clock with it's beaming red lights shouting "01:15:and some seconds" I just was in awe and then euphoria kicked in.
At the starting line, I had my doubts - but I countered it by kicking myself in the ass, repeated the mantra "go for gold" in my head, and looked at Joseph who texted me at 3:00am "Excited. C u sa office.Ü" who I absolutely knew was going to give it his best and push his limits. Before the gun went off, we bid each other the best and assured my dear friend to not worry about me and go for it, leave me behind if needed. "Baka mahimatay ka sa gitna ng kalsada, doon ka lang sa gilid"
We did our stretches and the gun went off. I dashed at a familiar and comfortable pace, 1.5 kilometers in I'd reach a watering station, for each 1.5 kilometers that pass actually. I kept myself hydrated and cooled my face, arms, and body with the icy water, not bad- it even helped me gain more speed. My mind suddenly started playing scenes as if in a black in white movie, and all kinds of thoughts just flowed in, I was talking to myself. It was exactly how I used to enjoy my runs in the past. Come the 7th kilometer a bad feeling came over and I hit the wall, I started reasoning out: 1. Knowing I did not get enough training 2. I did not take the training as seriously as I should 3. Stitches, please go away 4. Sleep was erratic the entire week and the week before 5. It had been years since I last really ran. Runners passed by and I thought to myself, seriously, you believe all this crap? It's not like you're tired, it's not like you're in pain, have you succumbed to thinking this is all you can give? This is you? Yeah, right, all the marshalls and photographers are cheering you on, they've got faith in you, how's about you take it easy on yourself. Disheartened in my own silly reasoning complaining self. a smile formed on my face, and I broke the wall - drywall let's say. It wasn't a brick wall I didn't let it consume me.
Running in the first place made me happy, it freed my thoughts, it equated to how I had run my life. Full of perseverance, hope, faith, and longing to see a glimpse of the path ahead - of maybe running into new people, new opportunites, chances, and an excitement of not knowing what's ahead. Life's surprises, it made me happy. Then I didn't care, maybe I wouldn't make it within the 1.5 hour mark. A runner shouts "25 minutes na lang" the last kilometer felt too stretched, but I could hear the Milo energy song, I pushed and sprinted, looked up the red beaming lights that proudly shouted, 01:15:and some seconds.
..looked for Joseph, rolled the certificate, texted and called, and I knew I had not only surprised myself but mostly him. Yeah! We killed it! 10K! It was the best morning ever.
Current Tuneage: Crickets, trees & leaves swaying, some dog in the distance barking
Milo Building Champions for Life: http://runrio.com/
I did it, I finished a 10K marathon within the 1.5 hour mark. I crossed the finish line at 1 hour and 15 minutes into the race. When I saw the digital clock with it's beaming red lights shouting "01:15:and some seconds" I just was in awe and then euphoria kicked in.
At the starting line, I had my doubts - but I countered it by kicking myself in the ass, repeated the mantra "go for gold" in my head, and looked at Joseph who texted me at 3:00am "Excited. C u sa office.Ü" who I absolutely knew was going to give it his best and push his limits. Before the gun went off, we bid each other the best and assured my dear friend to not worry about me and go for it, leave me behind if needed. "Baka mahimatay ka sa gitna ng kalsada, doon ka lang sa gilid"
We did our stretches and the gun went off. I dashed at a familiar and comfortable pace, 1.5 kilometers in I'd reach a watering station, for each 1.5 kilometers that pass actually. I kept myself hydrated and cooled my face, arms, and body with the icy water, not bad- it even helped me gain more speed. My mind suddenly started playing scenes as if in a black in white movie, and all kinds of thoughts just flowed in, I was talking to myself. It was exactly how I used to enjoy my runs in the past. Come the 7th kilometer a bad feeling came over and I hit the wall, I started reasoning out: 1. Knowing I did not get enough training 2. I did not take the training as seriously as I should 3. Stitches, please go away 4. Sleep was erratic the entire week and the week before 5. It had been years since I last really ran. Runners passed by and I thought to myself, seriously, you believe all this crap? It's not like you're tired, it's not like you're in pain, have you succumbed to thinking this is all you can give? This is you? Yeah, right, all the marshalls and photographers are cheering you on, they've got faith in you, how's about you take it easy on yourself. Disheartened in my own silly reasoning complaining self. a smile formed on my face, and I broke the wall - drywall let's say. It wasn't a brick wall I didn't let it consume me.
Running in the first place made me happy, it freed my thoughts, it equated to how I had run my life. Full of perseverance, hope, faith, and longing to see a glimpse of the path ahead - of maybe running into new people, new opportunites, chances, and an excitement of not knowing what's ahead. Life's surprises, it made me happy. Then I didn't care, maybe I wouldn't make it within the 1.5 hour mark. A runner shouts "25 minutes na lang" the last kilometer felt too stretched, but I could hear the Milo energy song, I pushed and sprinted, looked up the red beaming lights that proudly shouted, 01:15:and some seconds.
..looked for Joseph, rolled the certificate, texted and called, and I knew I had not only surprised myself but mostly him. Yeah! We killed it! 10K! It was the best morning ever.
Current Tuneage: Crickets, trees & leaves swaying, some dog in the distance barking
Milo Building Champions for Life: http://runrio.com/
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