How can I forget the first race that I had joined which is the Cebu City Marathon last January 9, 2011? I can still recall that I was hesitant at first if I can really finish a 5 kilometer run since I am not in an athletic build and I have no idea what is this running about. All I had as an experience was that I was jogging or brisk walking a few years ago in our province together with a couple of neighbors with a relative during the dawn at 5 am. We were just merely walking our barangay street with a matching chitchat up to our town and we were back again at 6 am in our barangay.
I was joining alone in the 5 kilometer run of the Cebu City Marathon with the only idea in mind to keep fit and healthy after I had made a bone scan and was suggested to take calcium milk and it enlightens me that I have to engage my self in an active lifestyle. I was thinking that I have to join this Cebu Marathon as a first jump start and will give it a try. I was amazed during the gun start of the 10 kilometer run since they had their fireworks display and more participants are joining in the category. During our 5 kilometer gun start, although we don't have the fireworks, I felt excitement and a big question if I can made it to the finish line. When I was beginning to start the race, all I did was to run with all my might and then I was humping and grunting for breath which signals me to stop a while for a brisk walk. I find out during this time that if I had to stop running or walking my legs will kind of frozen. So, my strategy was to keep on walking and running and keep up with the rest of the people who are also doing the same. I asked someone beside me on where will we be our spot for the u turn of the run since on my mind it is like a lifetime of fast walking and running. I felt a relief when we finally have the turn to go back which I thought was located just in UP Lahug but in fact it is somewhat near in Golden Peak. More walking and a little of running was done to finish the race, but I was just amazed that I made it at 43 minutes which I predicted and calculated that I will finish it at about an hour. I felt joy and excitement after the race since it was my first run which made it the right start for this year in 2011 to be on a healthy lifestyle. Joining a run race is not only for health which is physical but also for your psychological well being which will be manifested on your will to go on and keep on going despite the physical manifestations. I admired those people who were still running to finish the race although they are already limping and sweating as you can see that they are already like peeing on their shorts or wearing apparel because of so many sweats specially those joining the full marathon which is 42 kilometer and also those in half marathon which is the 21 kilometer. They still have the will power and adrenaline rush despite their fatigue and tiredness. Running teach me that in this world we are living we must survive. In life we are like runners, we can quit if we like to but we can keep on going if we want to. It is a matter of choice for us in either quitting or winning in our own way.
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