i2runner

My 3 Pinoy Running Idols

It’s funny because during one of the topics in the chats we’ve had in takbo.ph’s newly featured shoutbox was about Timmy’s (intimmyd8) inspiration for running. Most of us thought he was talking about some pretty running girl (or girls) in takbo.ph. Turns out to be his Mizuno Wave Inspire running shoes.

Well for me there are numerous reasons to run but currently I see 3 people who have influence me the way I’ve been running, hope to achieve, and how I hope to continue running.

First, what or who actually started me running? It was my dad, Bobby Garcia. My God, it’s been more than a decade since I was taught to run, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to keep the flame alive for years. It all started in high school, circa 1994-95, when he would go Jogging for 5minutes and then walk for 5minutes in the park. He said he was doing it for his health. He was 45 and I was 15 then. At the time, I felt sorry for him because I thought he was getting old and had to do some exercise to keep his health, and he doesn’t even have the strength to run for more than 5minutes. I would just play basketball and celebrate my strong youth. Two years passed, and my dad was running for 1hour and 30minutes in the park continuously for 9min/mile (5:37min/km). He became famous locally and my classmates would tell me stories how they tried to run with my dad but couldn’t keep up, he was more like running to them than jogging. Back then my dad would always say “jogging” and not “running” because he was concerned more of his health rather than competition, and he even had a book “jogging”. I, on the other hand, went jogging with my high school ROTC class one early morning, and I was surprised why they were running very slowly. I would then run fast and circle around my classmates when we were jogging. After a mile, I think I hit a wall! I couldn’t run nor jog, I could only walk! I was so surprised of what happened, it was embarrassing. I learned the lesson the hard way, but I could never forget it. The solution I saw was my father’s consistent phenomenal training, from jog/walk to running 16Kms in 90minutes in just 2 years. I guess he wasn’t so old as I thought he was. The results of the “training effect” baffled me and I am still curious how much it could push and ordinary person like me, and where it could take me. Now 59, my dad has just finished his first Half-Marathon Race. He also plans to run the 42Km Milo Marathon this coming July. His racing times are consistent with my age-scaled-down racing times for the 10K. Looks like I got most of my running genes from him. Too bad I didn’t get his good looks.

My dad on the way to his first Half-Marathon Race:

The second runner I consider my idol is Vener Roldan. He is a role model runner, from rags to riches (well, in running terms). In his 2 years of hard work and consistent training, he has lowered his 10Km time from 58minutes to around 42minutes. He ran 3 fast marathons last year, and now I constantly ask him what it’s like to run marathons. Not bad for a guy who used to be a smoker, now his racing times indicate a high VO2max, a sign of very powerful pair of lungs. I’d like to be as fast as he is after 2 years of running. Now I even find myself bench-marking my racing times with his, to see if I’m having good progress with my training.

Vener on his way to a blistering fast 15Km Run New (Photo care of Jinoe “Champ Runner”)

The third runner is what I aspire to be like, but I would highly unlikely ever be. He is Jessie Sacayle, a 55year old unbelievably fast runner. Genetically, seems mutated with powers, fast. Just look at the race results of the latest races and you’ll see what I mean. I met him while running at the ongoing construction of C6 Road, he runs very fast but seems to enjoy every stride of it. When I see him in the races, he would just shout my name “NATZ!!!” and have a big smile on his face like he was just “jogging” at @6min/mile pace running a 10K, 15K or even the 21K. Well he started running when he was already 50yrs old, he never had sports when he was younger, so he was quite surprised on how gifted he was with running. He has no stopwatch nor GPS, only a cellphone to see how many hours (not minutes) he has been running. After just a year of running, he ran a 36minute 10K, then last hear he ran a 3:45 at the 42Km Milo Marathon eliminations, then another 3:31Milo 42K finals. Unbelievable. He said now, he gained some weight and slowed down a little, and just ran a 1:32:11 in the latest 21K Condura Skyway Half-Marathon, placing him 18th overall.