If I can and whenever there is an
opportunity, I join fun runs.
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| With office mate, Geraldine. |
Running was part of my life since
I was a kid. In elementary years, I joined various sports. I competed in long
jump. I competed in sprint and in relay. I loved softball too.
When I entered high school, I became
shy. Dominating fellow female students who resembled like men would look at me
with prejudice to my physical skills. Yes, I am small. To them, I was small. I joined
the scouting then but my things were taken from me especially beddings by a physically
stronger boyish colleague. While in the jamboree, I slept on the floor but was
surprised that the heavier body of my boyish colleague toppled on me while she
was asleep. She got no control of herself while sleeping – thing that still
needs parental attention during that time including peeing in bed.
I felt physical pain but I did not complain. Now, I feel the other
way around. All those things made stronger. Those contemporaries would approach
me and say “hi” more often now than when I was in elementary years.
In high school, I mellowed in
sports. Yes, I was into volleyball too but I have more love for softball. I did
not compete anymore physically although I was qualified then. I left the main
event to the dominantes. I did not
join practice anymore. To me, a sport is everyday life. We accept defeat, we
accept victory. We cherish everything including our tears.
More on high school, I focused on
studies. I practiced sports by myself and few good friends. I left the fame of
sports to the dominantes. I remained
timid and in my own way. Thanks God, I graduated with honors. A girl without a
shoe of her own made it to the stage.
When I finished college, I was so
thin. People would doubt at me that I was sick. Some even thought I had
tuberculosis. To that discrimination, I wanted to prove something for myself. Something
that is physical. I entered the fire service – a very noble profession in the
Western world (hopefully in the Philippines soon). I passed all the medical and
physical exams. Thanks God, I was thin but I was not sick. I was thin but I was
physically fit.
Now that I am in my 30’s already,
I still continue to exercise. Once a week, I should have to jog. I may not be
able to join all the fun runs out there. Yet I still can when I have free time.
I literally do not compete in fun runs. My
first fun run happened a few years ago. I am a regular 3-kilometer runner. Finishing
the run is already a greatest achievement to me. I did not have to accelerate
to a longer run just to please myself or anybody. I just have to make it for
myself and for my health.
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| GM with my finisher medal |
Getting old and single mom, I am
so glad that somebody has to finish my run. My girl, Guada, now in her 3 years
of age, is so athletic too. She moves a lot. She swims in the beach with her
grandma. She could even be a better swimmer than me. I never learned how to
swim. I feared the sea after I almost drowned when I was between 3 to 5 years
old.
Life has a lot of fears. However, a life without
a challenge isn’t life at all. I may be alone to finish the run. Now I am
confident that I already have a finisher. My girl is my finisher.
