This is ME.

It is safe to say that every runner’s dream is to become a marathoner. Running 10K or a half marathon is admirable but when you set goals, you want to aim high. 26.2 miles or 42 kilometres, the total distance that will take you from being an average runner to a marathoner, is the pinnacle of every runner’s career.

I finally had the chance to prove to myself that I could do it. That I can conquer my injuries from last year, my vices, the heat, and finish my first marathon. The road to this was not easy. It took me almost a year of on/off training to be ready. On top of work, smoking, and travelling, I somehow managed to finish! *happy happy joy joy*

This is my sister and I checking out the race route in Ayala Center where we picked up my race kit. I just flew in from Tacloban and realizing that I only had one day left until the BIG run did not do good for my nerves. I was freaking nervous! I did my carbo loading two days before the actual run since I didn’t want to be bloated on race day. The route was not familiar to me as I am a native of Tacloban and I haven’t been to SRP (South Road Properties) in Talisay, Cebu. But no matter, I thought, I just want to get this over with.

My sisters were up by 3:30 am to go to the Start line, while my cousin, was up by 2:30. I, on the other hand, was up by 1:45 am. 2 hours ahead of the gun start. I have a lot of pre-race rituals that I follow religiously: drink coffee, tie my hair well, put band-aids on my big toes, Salonpas on my ankles, fix my shoelaces, and putting petroleum jelly on parts where I could get abrasions. (I move really slooow in the morning so it takes a lot of effort to get ready. Hihi.)

When we got to the race venue, my Uncle and I had 25 seconds left to gunstart. Wtf. We ran towards the start line and climbed over one of the fences to catch up. I had no time to be nervous. The race had already begun.

At first, I focused on the road and listened to my iPod playing slow songs. I wanted to start slow so I wouldn’t run out of air by the end. It was a bit distracting. People running, my headphones blaring, and my heart thumping. And then the strangest idea came to my mind. I started praying the rosary. This was the last thing I thought I would do. I love God but I do not qualify as religious by other people’s standards. (I will not elaborate why but it’s safe to say, I am far from what my Mom’s or relatives’ definition of what a Catholic should be.) So I started praying, one mystery after the other. When I did all 15 of them, I started all over again. Strange, but it calmed me. I have never fully understood the power that comes with praying until that moment. How I forgot about my leg starting to throb, the heat, the pressure, and the long way I still had to go.

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