2018 MAYON 360: 4th Time's the Charm for Marino of Iriga City

"Third time is a charm" is a popular idiom which means on your third try you're likely to succeed after failing two times.  It is often as a phrase to encourage someone to try for the third time even after that person has failed at that thing two times earlier making him realize that his efforts might give him the results on his third time.  Why 3?  Three seems to be the right number of times to try.  Two isn't enough but four is too many. 

Judging from this idiom, the feat of Marino Lagyap in being crowned the overall champion of the 2018 Mayon 360 Ultramarathon is beyond ordinary.  He placed first in this year's edition after failing to be champion in his past 3 attempts. In his first attempt in 2014, he placed 4th (6:35:29).  The following year of 2015, he again was 4th (6:30:47). On his 3rd attempt which was in the year of 2016, he improved to 3rd (.   Finally, on his 4th attempt, Marino crossed the 2018 Mayon 360  finish line as the overall Champion with a time of 6 hours 32 minutes and 6 seconds.  In second place was 2017 Mayon 360 Champion Eugene Postrado who came in 18 minutes later.  Finishing a little bit after 7 hours  is the 3rd placer Carmelo Serrano. 

This  milestone achievement speaks of his perseverance which is uncommon to the common man. This milestone achievement speaks of Marino being an extraordinary man.

Who is this man? Who is Marino?

Marino A. Lagyap is a proud son of the mountain barangay of San Andres in Iriga City.  He was born on the 7th of July in the mid-80s. His parents are  Marino M. Lagyap and Leonor B. Ampongan.  He has 5 brothers and 7 sisters.  He literally grew up in the shadow of Mt. Asog. He started running when he has was in Grade 5. When he was in high school at the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP),  he qualified for the Palarong Bicol but his parents did not permit him to play in this regional event given his history of "hika" growing up. But he continued his  athletic exploits as college student athlete in UNEP .  He excelled in the provincial  and regional events of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) to the point that he qualified  for the 2009 National PRISAA held in Naga City.  He was entered in the 5km and 10km events.   Due to a "trangkaso", he was not at his best and he failed to crack the top 3 finish in both events.

The 2009 National PRISAA was to be his one and only  major national  collegiate athletic event for he soon finished his 2-year college course. But he continued his passion for running even while not anymore a student-athlete.  He is currently a member of the Cam Sur Tri Team. He regularly joins local races and regularly places among the top finishers in almost all of the races he joins.  Among the ultra marathon events he has finished first are  Legazpi to Manito (L2M), Tigaon to Presentacion (T2P), and the San Mateo 50km Trail Run.

Marino winning the L2M 50km ultra marathon in 2015.

It is in the 2018 Mayon 360 that Marino would clearly show his elite running skills and extraordinary perseverance to a bigger audience. But even in the biggest and most famous of ultra marathons in the Bicol region, Marino continues to be a humble person.  Inquired as to what is his key success factor in winning the 2018 Mayon 360, his simply reply was - "sir swerte po ako ngayon."

But was it really luck?    Marino is evidently a man of few words.  So we had to inquire more.  In responding to a query as to what was his strategy in the 2018 Mayon 360.  He responded with this text - "Una po 1st 20km po nasa 60 to 70 percent lang yung gnagamit kong lakas.  2nd po di ko po pinabayaan yong hydration ko.  Yung pagpunta ko sa comfort room doon sa Km 15, iniwanan na ako ni Serrano.  Inabutan ako ni Postrado sa Sabloyon road. Pagdating ng Km 39, naiwan ko si Postrado pero inabotan din ako sa Km 40 kasi punta uli ako sa comfort room.  Pagdating ng Km 52, inabotan ko si Serrano na naglalakad na. At sa Km 54 doon ko na po inabotan si idol Postrado."

Marino in hot pursuit of the frontrunners in the first part of the 20118 Mayon 360. 

Meloy Serrano in action at the 2018 Mayon 360. 

Inferring from  Marino's words, the 2018 Mayon 360 was like a cat-and-mouse race among the top 3 finishers.  Despite having to deal with CR issues during the race, Marino proved victorious given his simple strategy of taking it easy in the first part of the ultra marathon which lead him to have ample energy in shadowing the frontrunners and finishing with a stronger kick at the later part of the race.

Marino about to cross the finish line. 

A Mayon 360 Champion at last, Marino's reaction speaks volume of the magnitude of this accomplishment.  

Champion Marino at the podium being flanked by fellow podium finishers Eugene Postrado (1st runner up), Meloy Serrano (2nd runner up), Ronald Aguilar (3rd runner up) and Mariano Basagre (4th runner up). 

CONGRATULATIONS  to CHAMPION Marino and all the finishers of the 2018 Mayon 360. Kudos to the organizers lead by Albay LGU and  JCI Legazpi. Looking forward to 2019 Mayon 360.

Marino with Bicolano Penguin in Iriga City. 

 




Photo credits:    Mayon 360 facebook page