AT the halfway point, I suddenly felt confident that I could actually finish my first 10K run, and not end up in a stretcher while being taken by an ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital.
You see, at that point, I was doing 37 minutes over the first 5K, and I was still feeling really strong. I was still pacing myself and thought that I could put in a burst over the last 3 kilometers of the Live Run Smile 2016 charity run held at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) grounds last Sunday.
I immediately said yes when my wife said that Smart’s running couple Archie and Delia Majam invited us and several other friends to join the run several weeks back. They are good friends. There was also no hesitation, because I know we will be part of an activity where the proceeds will be put to good use.
Everything that will be earned from the run will be given to the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines Inc. (NCF). Essentially, it is a foundation that operates on children and adults who have cleft lip and palates and other craniofacial abnormalities.
Now, if you are not aware of that medical condition, then you have no idea how it feels like to be looked upon by people in a deflating manner, where you practically lose all confidence to be seen in public.
That is how people with that type of deformity feel like, even if they usually put on a brave face in front of everyone. The smiles from these people have practically been taken away. They also cannot communicate properly with others because of their hypernasal speech.
That kind of condition does not do these people any favor in a cruel world where people are essentially being judged for how they look like.
After finding out that we have been registered for the run, I got so pumped up. It coincided with me getting back again in the gym after a long absence. I told myself it would be easy enough as I have done 5Ks in the past.
But as the run day approaches, I started to get jittery and started to doubt if I can even finish the run on my two feet. I have not placed any work in the gym lately. Neither have I run in the park. And any form of diet program was just thrown out the window.
A week before the run, I said to myself that no matter what, I will either be in the gym or running in the park in the evening. Well, that did not happen either except for the day before the run, when I got to run in the park for about an hour.
That run in the park gave me a bit of confidence that maybe I can finish the 10K run. I just have to get plenty of rest that Saturday and eat light. I thought that carrying lesser weight, even a bit of it, while also refreshed, would help a lot.
But I just had my mind conditioned that in all likelihood, I would be the last-place finisher in the run. I mean, no one in his or her right mind would dare do a 10K, unless he or she is fit or has done it in the past. Ok, fine. Maybe I was not in my right state of mind.
Anyway, over at the turn in Makati Avenue, I smiled because I saw that there are a lot of runners still behind me. Ding ding ding. I will not be in last place.
Then on the Buendia flyover, on the way back to BGC, I intentionally walked the inclined portion to preserve more energy. And as planned, on the downhill portion, I ran.
But as I hit the 8K mark of the run, I had nothing else in the tank. The road was mostly flat, but my legs and lungs were no longer cooperating with me. It was so close, but still so far away at that time for me. Suddenly, it became more of a walk than a run.
Funny thing, though, was that during the last 500 meters, I decided to go run the length, and with friends and people watching at the finish line, it felt like I found my second wind.
That is a lesson in life right there for me. No matter how tough the situation, we must find a way to move forward. And with friends and families around to support us in our journey, coupled with some faith, we all can succeed in life.
We all should be given a chance to succeed in life, including those who have cleft lip and palates. I was really surprised because after the race, NCF President Dr. Bernard Tansipek told me that currently one in every 500 newborn babies in the country is afflicted with the condition.
According to Tansipek, the condition is common among Filipinos and Asians, with the most common cause being malnutrition. Other factors that lead to the condition include folate and vitamin B deficiencies, poor maternal health, smoking and alcohol. It can also be hereditary.
Tansipek, who also works at the Philippine General Hospital, said there is a long line of cases in the hospital, and that they have to raffle off the only available two slots weekly.
If you are wondering how much the procedure would cost to correct the condition, Tansipek said it ranges from P20,000 in a public hospital and could reach P100,000 in a private hospital. Now think. How many families out there could shoulder that cost, alone?
But if these children are not operated on, they will not just lose their smile and confidence growing up. They will also have difficulty feeding, suffer respiratory and ear infections, have crooked teeth and distorted jaws, and deviated noses.
The good thing is that NCF outside of Metro Manila also now has presence in Cebu and Davao. They are, indeed, doing a lot of good out there and they should be given support. Let us help people with these condition face the world with confidence.
Now as for running, Archie and Delia shared their regimen with me. Surprisingly, they are easy enough to follow.
It just includes working out three times a week, including core exercises and running on building stairs for 30 minutes. If they are participating in a race, the lovely couple runs three times a week, including one-hour runs on weekends two weeks prior to the race. They also drink a lot of water for a week leading to the run.
And get this, as for the food, they just avoid fatty foods and have more carbohydrates and protein. You do not need to starve yourself.
A couple more interesting tips from them—never use brand-new shoes and socks during the race. They should be tested during training. Then also bring energy gel and hydration drinks during the race.
Hmmm, maybe if I follow them, one day I can also do and complete the Ironman race like Archie. On to the next run!
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Image credits: Rodel Alzona