As I celebrate my 40th birthday this year, I will try to do the unthinkable. And that is to do my very first full marathon. You see, although I have been joining a lot of fun runs the past decade ranging from 3k, 5k, 10, 16k to 21k, I have not tried doing the full 42k. And I thought that finally doing it, will be the perfect 40th birthday gift for myself.
I have always been in denial that Father Time has caught up on me. At my age, I am still very active in doing different workouts that for me is perfect for young people. I regularly go to the gym, I do Crossfit, I ride my mountain bike once in a while and do occasional running and/or jogging to stay fit. I am even very active in joining commercial leagues with my new found friends who are mostly in their 20s and early 30s. Some of my friends have already transitioned from basketball to Golf. And some, from being active in sports during their younger years, they are now active in “Gulp”. For them, wearing a basketball sneakers or a running shoes is just a fashion statement.
But for this writer who refused to accept that my life will “officially start” as I turn 40 this March, age is just a number. Conquering a full marathon will be a gift not just for myself, but a solid reminder that if I can do it, others can also do it. I want to be that small pebble thrown in the water that will make a ripple effect. For people to realize that what I am doing is not just for myself. But for me to inspire and motivate people to prove that cliche of a saying that health is wealth.
As a young boy with asthma, I did not limit myself. I was unstoppable and my parents can only do little every time I play with my friends the usual games of taguan, habulan, agawan-base, patintero, luksong baka and the likes. I was also a member of a dance group called Mon Ami X that emulates the dance steps and stunts of my childhood idols, The Streetboys. But that was years ago. Fastforward to 2019, I am now a proud husband to Lhara, and a father of a 5-year old cute daughter Adrielle. Things has changed and so is my body. But still, the mind is very much willing.
Last year, I decided that I will join TBR’s Dream Marathon. The Dream Marathon is the first and only marathon in the world that caters to first- or second-time marathoners. One had to run all 42.195km to experience a full marathon. As early as last year, I already posted in my social media my participation, to pressure myself to prepare and train.
I figured that TBR Dream Marathon is the perfect venue for my bucket list of joining and running my first marathon. With its vision of creating a venue for first-time marathoners to train for their first marathon and run it in the most idyllic, positive, and supportive environment, I was able to convince myself and my wife to join this event.
The Dream Marathon will always be an intimate event since there will only be around 1,000 runners. The organizers lead by The Bull Runner Jaymie Pizarro, deliberately limited the participants to create a race where runners are recognized as people with their own stories to tell, not just numbers on a race bib.
With only a few days to go before the big day, I am feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because I have felt the support and prayers of my family and friends. Nervous because I am not sure if my 40 year old body can withstand the challenges that I need to face in finishing the run. But more than that, I am looking forward to cross that line knowing Lhara and Adrielle will be there, which to me, are my real finish line.
