Running a Marathon for Typhoon Relief in the Philippines
In 2020, I set a goal to run my first marathon. It had always been on my bucket list, and I wanted to give myself a challenge before entering college, so I gave myself 8 months to prepare for it. As with many goals, there's always excitement and hope that comes with setting them, but the real test is making it through the mental barriers that come after.
The first difficulty I faced was in the middle of my training when all races were canceled due to COVID-19. At this time, I started to doubt myself, especially as the training grew more and more intense. I'd never run this distance before, and while the training plan was going well, it seemed like I had forever to go.
Right when I questioned myself the most, a typhoon rampaged my hometown in Bicol. I was devastated looking through photos like this one, and knew I wanted to do something to help. From there, I decided to dedicate my run towards disaster relief. I figured that, if I really wanted to make it past this phase of self-doubt, I needed to have a more compelling reason to complete this run. So that day, I posted a video on social media telling everyone I knew that I was actively training, and would raise funds for the disaster by running the marathon.
This immediately motivated me and revealed a clear way to embrace Padayon:
dedicating your work to something bigger than yourself.
This idea motivated me to complete my training. Because the races were canceled, I decided to run the distance on my own, with my family supporting me with water and snacks on the way. I set out to run a 4-mile loop about 7 times until I finished 26.2 miles.
Despite the gloomy weather, my headphones dying halfway through, and the pain in my feet towards the end,
I completed the run. I shared the news with everyone I knew, including all the donors to the fundraiser. Ultimately, we raised enough money to supply materials to over 70 families in need. And to make it even sweeter, here are some photos of the recipients. :)
After completing the marathon and seeing the direct impact on these families, I realized that Padayon was not just a concept but a practice. This experience showed me that when we dedicate ourselves to something larger than our personal ambitions, we find new sources of strength and motivation. I had these families in mind with every step I ran, and I don't know if I could have made it through without this more significant cause.
This idea of embracing Padayon through dedicating your work to a bigger purpose directly relates to advocacy, which is something I hold close to my heart.
