Three Silliman University faculty have shown that determination and practice can produce a winning combination by edging out their competitors in their age brackets in two national competitions last Sunday, Nov. 21 as part of the invitational athletic events in celebration of the fiesta.
Cobbie Palm, professor at the SU Divinity School, won the 12th National Sandurot Mountain Bike Race in the Golden Boys category, held along the Dumaguete-Valencia highway; Irma Faith Pal, professor at the SU College of Mass Communication, won the 10.5 kilometer quarter marathon for the 40-49 age category; while coach Dionesio Pinero of the Physical Education department, won 10th place in the 10.5 kilometer quarter marathon for the 30-39 category.
The race course in the bike race was a grueling 35-kilometer mix of terrain where Cobbie registered to conquer. “There is always fear that holds us back from exploring our limits,” said Cobbie, “stepping up to the start line there was fear.”
Earlier that day at 5:30 a.m., a Howitzer cannon sounded the start of the Dumaguete Adventure Marathon where Irma had registered to compete in the 10.5 kilometer race. The race launched out from Robinsons Mall in the direction of Freedom Park, continuing on to Rovira St., and up toward Pulangtubig, before turning back toward the finish line at Robinsons. 
“I was kind of scared as it was my first time to actually run that distance. All my practice runs were always several kilometers short,” she confessed.
Running mostly alone, Irma said she paced herself by following some faster runners. “It was good that the organizers had several water stations along the way as I didn’t bring any bottle to lighten my weight,” she said.
She said there were times during the quarter marathon when she wasn’t sure she had enough energy to get to the finish. But memories of her victory in the recent Buglasan Duathlon (run 3K-bike 26K-run) Fun Bike category kept her going.
“The conditions, of the bike are also a factor,” continued Cobbie. “Nearing Balili [in Valencia], the rain began to fall and the course which turns steep downhill felt like we were navigating over margarine while trying to avoid rocks and trees; there is a lot of praying that goes on.”
At the end of the day, these three Silliman faculty lifted up trophies of honor. “May our small feats be an inspiration to the spirit of excellence and competence that all Sillimanians adhere to everyday of our lives,” Cobbie remarked.
Related stories:
Dumaguete gets the running bug
Dumaguete Adventure Marathon pictures
Dumaguete Adventure Marathon results
