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I am a Bicolano by birth and choice. By any standards, I am a slow runner but I like it that way. I look at running as a healthy and exciting way to make a difference. Together with my fellow runners from our family, school, office, and the community, we use running to give back.

BOSTON STRONG MUNTINLUPA: A Run to Remember



 
Group Picture:  Bicolano Penguin, Rose, Alice, Marcel, Mau,  Rommel, and Fr. Didoy


At 4am in the morning of April 22, I was already awake, excited to be the first at the assembly area for our Boston Strong Muntinlupa run scheduled to start by 5:30 am. This despite the energy-zapping half marathon I finished   the morning before.

When I arrived with my son Marcel at the assembly area at the corner of Filinvest Avenue and Laguna Heights Drive in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, it turns out another runner-blogger was more excited.  

Mau Gines, aka Wandering Jouster, was there already waiting in her black SUV.

Next to arrive was a pair of First Balfour co-workers, Rose Dalawampu and Alice Monfero who travelled  from the neighboring province of Laguna. Then Mau’s friend, Rommel Corro, who works for  Habitat for Humanity parked his vehicle. In no time, Fr. Didoy Molina arrived, too. He just came from the nearby Bilibid prison complex where he was just recently posted by the Diocese of Paranaque to shepherd the newly-created Parish of San Pedro Calungsod.

Our running cast was complete and we set off on our small group run for the Boston Marathon. We ran for almost an hour, making 3 loops around the Palms Country Club. Total distance garnered was at 6 kms. Two portions of the loop were uphill and I reminded my fellow participants that these  were like Heartbreak Hill, only that the real thing in Boston is 600 meters long and happens at Mile 20.  









It felt nice and special to be part of a global movement. It is the coming together of runners to show our strength after the tragic events that happened at the 117th Boston Marathon. A way for us to unite and do what we do best: run. 

A run for those that were unable to finish. 

A run for those that may never run again. 

A run for us to try and make sense of the tragedy that has forever changed something we love. 

A run to remember. 



This is just right.


2 comments:

WJ said...

congratulations on boston strong muntinlupa, vicboy!

i should be the one to thank you for inviting me to this noble endeavor. it's a great feeling to be part of history especially when it has something to do with RUNNING.

erratum:
i was not more excited to run. i was just worried that i would be late for the gun start and would not be given a finisher medal and a finisher shirt. call it force of habit (of not being late) and fallacy of sweeping generalization (as regards getting the rewards after the run). hahahahahaha...:-)

BP said...

Thank you for the kind words. Good one on the erratum my fellow pavlovian. hahahaha..................