SOAR Phoenix Rising - Phoenix Petroleum Philippines

INSPIRE
Why i run
AVP for Corporate Legal Atty. Pinky Ermac Cabreros
stumbled into running by chance and pressure – until
she eventually learned to love it
Contrary to the physique that I carry,
believe it or not, I am a marathoner. Last
March 20, 2011, my husband Coco and
I, on different paces and speeds, completed and
ran 42.2 kilometers in Nuvali, Laguna. Are we
crazy? Probably! Are we happy? Definitely!
Completing the whole stretch of 42 kms.
was certainly not a walk in the park. It required
focus, a lot of motivation, sheer determination,
and discipline to stick to the training for six
months. And for a person like me who has
trouble controlling appetite and carries a lot of
body weight, it would probably be impossible.
But the fact is I did it!
I am not even a sports person. The only
sports I knew best was swimming, having been
a member of the Maryknoll College Swimming
Team. That was decades ago and I have not been
into sports for the longest time.
In March 2010, my brothers and cousins
joined the Dream Marathon organized by The
Bull Runner. The event was for runners of all
levels who had yet to run their first marathon.
They accepted only about 300 runners and
training was for 22-26 weeks. When my brothers
completed it, they seemed to exude a different
kind of ecstasy. They shared their stories about
injuries, motivation, pain, and their struggle
towards their goal. Listening to them made
me curious about running and inspired me
to complete a goal. At that time, I had just
conquered my Davao-Samal cross-channel swim.
It was a 1.7-km swim and I was ecstatic about
conquering my fears. But that is another story.
So one early morning, I went to a nearby mall
parking lot and started to walk, not run, because
I knew I could not run with my physique. I was
worried about my knees. I never even thought
about a marathon. My goal was only to start
running and join a 5K run. Marathon? Probably if
I lost 50 pounds and probably in 5 years.
I did the routine for about a month. I learned
that I had to walk for 30 minutes at least five
times a week to effectively burn calories. My
walk should be brisk and not leisurely, otherwise
it would not make me lose weight. So I tried
brisk walking. Soon I got bored, so I attempted to
run. But after two minutes, I was out of breath. I
Atty. Pinky and husband Coco Cabreros, proud
finishers of the 2nd Dream Marathon
Atty. Cabreros with her brothers, who acted as
pacers, and her family
asked my brothers how to sustain running for at
least 5 minutes or last 30 minutes. They said to
start by running just a little faster with a slight
bounce. But I had to watch my form and make
sure that my foot lands or strikes the ground on
mid-foot (popularly referred to as the midfoot
strike) and not tiptoe or heel first, to avoid
injuries. Once I tried the technique, I felt I could
do it, and I did. I took my time and was able to
finish 10 minutes, then 15, then 30 minutes of
continuous running. Little did I know that I was
already running 5K. When I told my brothers,
they encouraged me to join a race. I signed up
for the RunRio Trilogy in Fort Bonifacio and
saved for my plane fare.
Skeptical, my hubby Coco signed me up to an
earlier race in Davao City at People’s Park – my
first race ever. He signed me up for the 10K run
so I could get a feel before embarking on a much
publicized race where I might shame myself.
Atty. Cabreros is met at the finish
line by daughter Kitkat
He decided to run along with me but did not
register (referred to as Bandit run). When the
run started, off went the veteran runners along
with the advanced, intermediate and beginners
where I belonged. I felt compelled to keep up
with the pack even when I was at the tail-end of
the race. My heart rate went wild and it was as if
I was running for my life. By the time I reached
the finished line, I could hardly keep my breath.
I felt like fainting and irritated at the same time
but I tried to keep a good face.
Nonetheless, I continued with my second
race in Fort Bonifacio with the resolve to make a
better run. This time, my brothers and sister-inlaw
went on a bandit run and kept pace with
me. At 4:30 am, Fort Bonifacio was packed with
5,000 runners. When the gun went off, I was
about to go to the usual start along with the
other runners when both my brothers literally
held me. “Don’t be tempted,” they reprimanded.
“Let them run ahead of you, it doesn’t matter.
Just finish the race at your own pace and time.
Don’t be pressured.” How do I determine
my pace? When you are able to maintain a
conversation while running without panting or
puffing. So I obediently did. To my surprise, I
finished strong. I was not tired, I had enough
energy to sustain me throughout the day. What
was more surprising was that my medical
results were even better than last year. My blood
pressure shot down from the usual 140/90 or
130/90 to 120/80 or sometimes 110/70. I had
discovered the beauty and benefits of running.
When my brother broached the idea of us
joining the 2nd Dream Marathon (42K), Coco
and I hesitated because at that time, we never
ran past 10K. But they brushed it aside and
reasoned that when we train for the 42K, we
will definitely have to pass 15K, 21K, 32K then
the 42K. Mustering enough courage, Coco and I
agreed and signed up. We stuck to the training
program to the letter. I suffered an injury during
the first two weeks when I tried to skip rope and
pulled a muscle. I had to rest for six weeks, but it
did not deter me. I continued going to the gym
and tried to keep fit while undergoing physical
therapy. When I came back to the training, I was
as strong as Coco. Continued on page 25
SOAR PHOENIX April-June 2011 / 29