Until now, I still can’t believe I did it—my first ever 10KM run! I had been preparing for this run for about a month, though I’ll admit, it wasn’t exactly a “serious” kind of preparation. I even asked myself at one point why I signed up for the 10KM instead of the 5KM. But hey, I did it!
Last weekend, rain or shine, I was able to finish the 10KM category with a chip time of 1 hour and 34 minutes during the Cebu IPI Run event. It may not be the fastest time out there, but for me, it was a huge personal win.
The weather wasn’t exactly in our favor. It rained—hard. But despite the downpour, 16,000 runners showed up. Can you imagine that energy? Almost 5,000 of us were in the 10KM category alone. My friend Chen and I were in Wave 2 of the run. It was cold, and the rain didn’t let up, but it was also inspiring to be surrounded by people of all ages, each running their own race.
Honestly, I was nervous leading up to the run. I’ve been dealing with a knee injury and had serious doubts about whether I could even finish. But thanks to my running buddy Demple, who ran 16KM that day, I kept going. She kept pushing me and reminding me that I could do it. She even wanted me to run the 16KM with her, but I told her I’d stick with the 10KM since it was my first time. I’m so proud she finished her run, too!
I’m also incredibly grateful to my husband. He’s been so supportive of this new journey of mine. He even surprised me with a new pair of running shoes just for the event. That simple gesture meant so much, and it really made a difference during the run. His encouragement kept me going, even when my legs were ready to give up.
Crossing that finish line in the rain—soaked but smiling—was one of the best feelings ever. It wasn’t just about completing 10KM. It was about proving to myself that I can push through pain, doubts, and bad weather… and come out stronger.
I know this is just the beginning. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see where this journey takes me next. For now, I’m just proud of this moment—and so thankful to everyone who helped me get here.