Tell us about your longest run together.
Maripol: We did the 2nd NegOr 103 Kilometer Ultra in December last year to mark our 25 years of marriage.
Albert: It was a celebration of life: we wanted to experience the environment in the 103-kilometer route from Dumaguete to Bayawan; we also wanted to highlight the need of taking care of our God-given health and bodies. And we had fun.
What were you talking about throughout that 100-kilometer stretch?
Maripol: During that long long run, we talked about our three sons, we talked about our plans in the family, etc. We tried to talk only of good vibes; wala mi ga-lalis.
Albert: Wala ba ta ga-away ato? The only arguments we had was when to stop and take a rest, how many kilometers of running before we could stop to rest, and how many minutes we could afford to rest.
Maripol: Our only goal was to finish all 103 kilometers in good time. In the first 103K ultramarathon in 2013 from Dumaguete to Bayawan, I did this route by myself since Albert was injured that time. The following year in 2014, we decided to run together after the organizers opened a new category for married couple-runners. For us, it was a unique way for couples to celebrate that way.
How did you prepare for that ultramarathon?
Albert: We specifically trained for the 100K for three months. We followed a program provided to us by New York-based running coach Dario Endozo, who actually visited Dumaguete one time and offered the DARS a free running clinic. We tried to follow it religiously. Wala jud mi nag-compiansa.
Maripol: We really trained well in terms of following it diligently.
Albert: And I believe the program really worked for us because we didn’t encounter problems after running 103 kilometers. Puying was even wearing high-heeled shoes day after the run.
And you emerged champions right?
Albert: We never really expected that. We just trained well so that we can finish all 103 kilometers. Winning in our category was the farthest thing in our minds then. It was such a good bonus.
How did you prepare this year for the 3rd 103 Ultra from Bayawan to Dumaguete?
Maripol: We used the same program. Our target last year was a pace of 7:50 minutes per kilometer.
Albert: We will try to improve a little from our pace of last year.
How has running helped enhance your relationship?
Albert: Of course, it has helped us become closer to each other. It has given us more opportunities to talk to each other for longer periods of time, especially on things that we normally are not able to share for lack of time. We are able to open up more of ourselves to each other because we have all those times spent together — running 17 hours in the dead of night and dawn plus all those training hours the last three months. So that’s really bonding to the max!
Maripol: We have become more coordinated, even in the things we do that are not related to running. Imagine our training program requiring practice-running for five days in a week…
Albert: And imagine we train together. Even after a long exhausting day, Puying and I would continue to do a run as called for in the program. So eventually, you really have a good talk with each other.
Were there also silent moments during the 103-kilometer ultra?
Albert: Surely, a lot of silent moments also….then you start talking again.
Maripol: When I first did this ultra, I did it alone, and Albert became my support crew starting at Km. 74 (in Siaton)….
Albert: And it was torture for me, looking at her running alone and exhausted.
What are the challenges of running in the Couple category?
Maripol: It’s actually harder. When running in the Solo category, you are mostly concerned about yourself — how you are doing physically, etc. You are not worried about other people. But when running in the Couple category, you always have to have good vibes [with your spouse] so that you don’t negatively affect him. So at one point, I was having some pain in my lower abdomen, and Albert was ahead of me by some meters, and you know you wouldn’t want to waste more energy by calling him to come back or to wait up, so I just let him go ahead. Dili pwede saputon or else it’s another waste of energy. Your patience is tested more.
Albert: When I tend to run ahead of her, it’s because I’m trying to get my rhythm. For runners, it’s normally difficult to suddenly stop to wait and adjust on the pace of another.
Maripol: I remember by Km. 92 (in Sta. Catalina), I felt getting stronger but Albert suddenly had a blister on his foot so I had to slow down, and attend to him.
What advice can you give to couples who want to run together?
Maripol: Husbands and wives need to exercise for good health. They don’t even need to run; they just need to exercise. They will reap the benefits after some years of discipline.
