Fifty kilometers of ‘uphells’ and ‘downhells’ within 7 hours-34 minutes along the Valencia roads all the way up to the geothermal fields of EDC in barangay Puhagan, and they made me and my wife Nila Paulin champions in the Couple’s Category. (We won by default as there were no other participants in the same category who made it on race day.)
The Valencia 50K Ultramarathon held Aug. 27 was an awesome event. Such a close call, a bloody competition at its finest, a neck-to-neck battle among determined runners.
We would have preferred to have as many participating married couples during that race, even if me and wifey would had been the last on the list to cross the finish line. It would had been a joy to meet and run along with other fellow married couples in an official ultra running event.
But I guess what matters most is that we truly enjoyed our Valencia 50K experience. We dared it, we prayed for it, we made it, and we finished strong.
Two hearts that beat as one, two minds with one purpose, two souls who share the same passion in running.
We also give thanks and much appreciation to Race Director Paultom Paras, and other organizers like Maripol Rotea-Tecson, and the rest of their team and crew; the mayors of Dumaguete and Valencia, and of course, all the photographers and other volunteers along the route from start to finish.
To God be the highest praises and glory.
Kent Ryan Lampago
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
