The Road to my First Ever Full Marathon

Just for the record, my first ever run, which was a 16K, was my very first achievement when it comes to running.

It felt so right to finally get back on track.

For a while, I forgot about this passion. I’m glad that it got resurrected when I joined my very first run.

I started getting comfortable telling my friends about it. We started talking about our experiences.

That’s when I learned a lot about marathons.

You see, being a newbie, I never knew that different marathons are being organised every year.

That got me excited! I was really passionate about it.

Of all the races that have been mentioned by my friends, it was this Condura marathon that caught my attention. The Skyway thing, the large number of runners joining, the joy on their faces while sharing their experiences, all of which got me wanting to hop on the bandwagon.

I wanted to sign up for the 42K! Talk about being a radical. Lol! 😉

And so, I asked my friend, Google!

Too bad, the next time I checked it online, the registration was already closed. I thought I wasn’t meant to join that run. Not just yet.

I had to move on.

Days before I finally said goodbye to 2014, I learned that another run for a cause was set to take place in the second week of January.

It may not be as grand compared to that of the Condura run, but I thought another 16K will be a good way to start the year! Besides, you can never go wrong joining an event for a good cause.

The next thing I knew, I just found myself signing the form.

Voila! On to my next run!

Got Caught Up in Holiday Madness!

And so, holidays came early. There were a lot of temptations everywhere. Tempting foods, overnight parties, you name it.

I got so carried away that I forgot to train. I was like rewarding myself for my one great accomplishment.

I headed back to Manila a week before my scheduled race which was supposedly in January 11.

A voice in my head kept telling me that I needed to train.

I’ve had the chance though, but due to unexpected circumstances I only got to do it once. I felt the pressure the day before my race. But I told myself to do it anyway no matter what happens.

Saved By Grace

It was a cold Saturday morning.

Although I was a bit pressured, I had to condition my mind to be able to make it to another 16K which was scheduled the next day. Well, I had no choice.

Who would have thought that on that same day, I would receive a notification coming from the organizers that they had to postpone the run to give way to the Papal Visit here in Manila. Just how lucky can I get?

I knew it! I mean, God knew I was not prepared for it. Haha! 😀

I felt relieved!

But hey, it’s no time to relax! Training ain’t over yet!

It’s supposed to be a lifestyle, right?

Since I had no idea when it’s going to be rescheduled, I thought of designing my training plan. Good thing I have a flexible schedule which permits me to run every other day, may it be night or day.

Embrace the Unexpected

I was busy writing an article one time, when something urged me to check my Facebook notifications. A friend tagged me in a post. It was a comment posted by a guy about his intention of selling his Condura Marathon kit. Whew, a 42K kit!

Without even thinking about it, I sent a private message to the seller that I’m willing to buy it. Message sent!

Oops, and then I blurted out, “That was 42K! Did I just do the right thing?” I was being impulsive!

“Wait, it’s not yet a done deal anyway. If I get it, then it’s maybe a sign that it’s meant for me.”

I hope every decision will just be as easy as this one, huh? Lol! 😛

After some negotiations, I finally met up with the guy. Boom! We sealed the deal.

Now this is a real deal for me!

With barely 3 weeks left before the marathon, I committed myself to having the right discipline.

The Real Training Begins Now

I really had to put my mind into it. I knew that running a marathon isn’t a joke.

And so, I had to condition myself. I had to do the unusual. I had to train harder.

Good thing, I just love doing it. It felt so good every time I would finish my every run.

You just never get tired of something you’re passionate about.

Although I got to sweat a lot, felt all the discomforts, but hey, they are all worth it.

Sure, there were my ultimate highs and my difficult lows, but it’s just nice having experienced them.

There’s really no turning back now.

As of this writing, I just reached 2 hours and 20 minutes of running as part of my training program. That’s equivalent to 23 kilometers in terms of distance. I gradually add minutes in my every runs in order to train myself to running long distances, a marathon for that matter.

My main goal is to finish at least 30 kilometers before I get to run my very first full marathon. Almost there now but I still need to push a bit.

Running a marathon is so much the same with that of life. In order to reach your main destination, there have to be ample steps that you do each day to reach it. There will be bumpy roads along the way, but it’s all part of it.

At the end of the day, it always lies upon your effort and determination to get there. But of course there are risks involved.

I love it when T.S. Elliot said that, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

I pray and claim that everything will work out all right. I can’t wait to give you an update about this major event in my life.

See you at the finish line!

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March Nacino

March Nacino is known as “The Radical Runner” in the running community. He basically loves to join marathons. When he’s not training for his next big race, he works as a freelance Digital Marketing Specialist helping his clients with their Digital Marketing needs. Follow March at theradicalrunner.com.

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Latest posts by March Nacino (see all)

• When Goals and Commitment Collide - August 7, 2016
• Saved By Grace - July 31, 2016
• My Sweet Transition - July 24, 2016