Milo Marathon on a Sunday morning
Few weeks before August 16, Raymund announced to the whole family that he was joining the race. A 3 kilometer race. Of course, he caught us by surprise. It was so unbelievable. All I know is that my son loves to eat pasta. Any kind of pasta will disappear in front of him. But joining a marathon race did not even crossed my mind. I simply cannot believe it but I did not utter a single word. While the rest of my family, my father-in-law included, teased him until the day of the race, I crossed my fingers of what’s going to happen.
Then he went home one day with the milo shirt he is going to use for the race. I just know he was serious in his decision. There is no turning back. He also looked excited and he looked forward to the event with such optimism. Though he plays basketball regularly in school and do martial arts every week, I figured that this one is different. He might not make it, or he might be left out there in the race track while everybody has already gone home. But he consistently reassured us that he can do it. Winning is not exactly the issue. It is the experience that he wanted.
The night before the race, he asked me to wake him up at 3:30 in the morning just in case his alarm failed. He went to bed and I got my things ready because I ,too, will come bringing with me my camera. Oh, I was excited. I cannot explain the feeling. I knew my son will not come out first but this is a new experience for us.
We woke up on time. Raymund had a banana then we set off. It was a 23 kilometer drive to the assembly area. I thought we were so early but there were already several buses of runners who arrived ahead of us. The oldies were joining the 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and 21-kilometer races. Raymund joined his friends and they had some stretches done before checking-in.
Ralph, me, and my husband were inside our vehicle watching a DVD, we heard the first shots signaling the start of the 21K run. That prompted us to go out of the vehicle and go to the assembly area. It was then that we saw friends, acquaintances, some prominent people who were also joining the race. The people were obviously having fun. The atmosphere is happy and very friendly.
After the 21K, it was followed by the 10K runners, then the 5K. I saw my son set off. I was quite worried that he might stumble or fall or whatever. But I forced my mind to focus on something else. It was only after 23 minutes when I saw Raymund again. He was on the finish line! He made it! Oh, what a relief. He did not win but he left a lot more behind him. I am so proud of my son. I failed to take pictures though because of my excitement.
Tags: 3K run, elimination, marathon, milo