At that point in my unplanned 42-kilometer run last March 2, I fully understood, “Free your mind and your feet will follow.”

I haven’t read Kevin Nelson’s The Runner’s Book of Daily Inspiration, where the quotation comes from, but I kept repeating that phrase on that day, when, after leaving my house in Lapu-Lapu City for a scheduled 21K run on my way to the Sun.Star office, I decided to complete a full marathon.

It was excruciatingly hot and there were instances on the way to Lilo-an when the thought of just turning back and not completing the run occurred to me.

But I kept mumbling my mantra.

MANTRAS, according to Runner’s World, help runners “stay focused and centered.” (CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO BY PACO FLORES)

Free your mind. Like astral projection, I saw myself running the last few meters to the Sun.Star office, taking a soothing bath and eating a delicious lunch during a meeting scheduled that noon with Visayan Electric Co. officials who wanted to discuss the holding of an exclusive fun run for their workers.

And your feet will follow. I never ran farther than 25 kilometers in one go before that day. I ran 34.34 kilometers during my birthday but the distance was cut in two sessions, going to work in the morning and running back home at night. But on that day, the kilometer reading in my GPS watch kept ticking toward my goal.

Power of mantras

When I reached that point where the couple was waiting for a taxi, I knew I wouldn’t be able to run a direct route to the office because I still lacked four kilometers to complete the marathon. I knew I would have to run loops on F. Ramos St. It was hot and I wanted to stop but I also knew I would be able to finish a full marathon.

Mantras are powerful. In Hinduism and Buddhism, mantras are ritualistic incantation of mystic power.

For runners, mantras are as mystical and as powerful. Runner’s World says mantras help runners “stay focused and centered.”

“One way to develop your inner cheerleader is to remember thoughts you have while running well. If you’re feeling especially strong or light on your feet, recognize those sensations and try to translate them into a saying,” said Runner’s World’s “Guide to Road Racing.”

For 2004 Olympic marathon bronze medalist Deena Kastor, it’s “define yourself,” “go faster,” or “push harder.” Distance running hall of famer Bill Rodgers uses the word emblazoned on a poster of him winning the 1979 Boston Marathon, “relentless!”

For Dr. Humility Igaña, it’s “if others older than me can run, why can’t I?” She took it as inspiration that an older colleague could complete race distances. She was also inspired by the sight of a 77-year-old man overtaking younger runners.

Mind controls the body

Donna Cruz-Larrazabal, on the other hand, has a lot of mantras in her arsenal. Her favorite quote is by 1980 Boston Marathon champion Jacqueline Gareau, “The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…it is not age, it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.”

But when she gets tired or suffers during a run, Donna has a backup mantra, “Quitting hurts more than this.” For really tough times, she repeats either of these phrases of power: “pain is temporary, pride is forever!”, “I’m healthy. I can! I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again!” or “The mind controls the body, the body does not control the mind.”

Abroad, she recites part of Bebot by Black-Eyed Peas “Ako ay Filipino, Kaya ko ito! Filipino! Filipino! Filipino!”

Sheila Colmenares, meanwhile, keeps telling herself “I am willing to put myself through anything; temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. My age and my weight should not be a hindrance for me to achieve my goal for a longer running mileage.”

“One small step at a time to the finish,” ultra-runner Jonel Mendoza keeps telling himself as he tries to avoid racing with fool-hardy eager-beavers at the start of an ultra-marathon.

But as mantras go, nothing beats Coleen Digman’s favorite, “I run because I can’t give up my beer.” If the going gets tough, Coleen counts the beers she’s entitled to drink after the race.

DOC MITTY. Humility Igaña won last Sunday’s medical women’s category in the 5th University Run. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. (PHOTO BY RAMIE IGAÑA)

Bontol set a new personal record in topping the 10K Medical Men’s category, finishing the race in 42:38. At 2nd place was Dr. Harem Dieparine with a time of 45:30 while Dr. Mark Anthony Longinas finished 3rd with a time of 49:43. Rounding up the top 10 are: 4th Jo Banjo (50:47); 5th Renald Ramiro (58:24); 6th Ryan Jubal (1:02:33); 7th Andrei Yu (1:02:22); 8th Questor Nodalo (1:05:04); 9th Philip Larrazabal (1:06:21); and 10th Paul Go (1:11:17).

Igaña, meanwhile, topped the field of women doctors by finishing her 10K race in 1:01:31. Roslyn Yu was 2nd with a time of 1:02:23; Loy Tan was 3rd with a time of 1:06:20, Catherine Ti was 4th with a time of 1:07:27, while Ma. Victoria Larrazabal was 5th with a time of 1:13:10.

The Men’s 10K was dominated, as expected, by Kenyan Simon Losiaboi who breezed through the route in 32:16. He was followed by Arnold Unabia at 2nd place who finished in 33:13 and Alvirg Busa at 3rd who finished in 33:56.

In the Women’s 10K, Madelyn Carter topped the race by finishing the distance in 39:45. Jojielyn Pepito was 2nd with a time of 40:33 while Aiza Suaybaguio was 3rd with a time of 42:01. Rounding up the top 10 are 4th Lohriz Echavez (43:01); 5th Rosas Emily (49:39); 6th Melinda Ponce (50:48); 7th Angel Olis (50:56); 8th Donna Cruz (50:07); 9th Jane Ong (51:26) and 10th Florence Mata (51:29).

Veteran Reprinel Banzon, meanwhile, topped the 5K men’s category while Jolly Maxilom topped the women’s 5K. Charlie Berberio topped the 5K men employees’ category while Tessa Gabrillo topped the women employee’s category.

Lugz Lim topped the 5K alumni men while ungo runner Ryan Gonzaga was 2nd with a time of 21:01. Jane Sia topped the 5K alumni women.

The Ungo Runners, meanwhile was named the winner of the first inter-running club dance competition. The Ungo Runners bested the Run Belly Run group of running and belly-dancing enthusiasts.

According to many runners who talked to CebuRunning, the 5th University Run was a well-organized fun Sunday race that attracted more than 3,500 runners, which is a lot more than those who joined the wrongly-named Philippine International “Marathon” held simultaneously with it. The only major complaint was the crowding by student walkers of the closed road.

Organizer Dr. Yong Larrazabal has apologized for it and said many of the walkers and students ignored their designated lanes, blocking the way of runners out to set personal bests. Yong said that after the race, he immediately consulted with race director Joel Baring and they decided that in the next race, they would designate a different route for walkers and students.

Yong also said that they encountered problems with water because the 5-gallon bottles delivered to the site were fully frozen instead of just half frozen. Because of that, they encountered distributing water in water stations. But the Gatorade station was able to serve cold energy drinks to all the runners event until the close of the race.

Quota International-Cebu South will be staging a 12-kilometer and 6-kilometer race on March 7 at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu. (Interactive race map available at the end of this article.)

Club president June Chiongbian said it is the first time that the club is sponsoring a race. She said that with people now more conscious about their wellness, “it is appropriate that we’re doing a fun run.”

QUOTA RUN. (From right) Melva Bacaltos, Quota International-Cebu South president June Chiongbian, race director Raffy Uytiepo, Quota vice president and fun run project chair person Humility Igaña talk to reporters about the group’s fun run on March 7. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IMAGE.

The race will be directed by veteran organizer and runner Raffy Uytiepo.

The registration fee for the race is P200, which is inclusive of a singlet. Those who want to join the race can register at the PSC office in the Cebu City Sports Center, Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu,

Uytiepo said they expected from 500 to 1,000 runners to join the charity run.

Dr. Humility Igaña, Quota vice president and project chairperson of the fun run, said cash prizes and medals will be given to winners.

The winners in both the male and female divisions of the 6K race will get: 1st place, P3,000; 2nd place, P2,000; and 3rd place, P1,000.

In the 12K race, the winners will get: 1st place, P6,000; 2nd place, P4,000; 3rd place, P2,000.

Those who will finish in the top 10 will get medals.

Uytiepo said that various running clubs and personalities have confirmed their participation in the run this early.

Igaña said that if the run is successful, they will hold it yearly.

Here’s an interactive map of the race route. Be sure to check back because it will still be finalized: