Beating the Heat: Nico Ignacio’s Triumph at the Milo Marathon

Yesterday, thousands gathered to participate in the long-awaited Milo Marathon, a prestigious event that marks a major highlight in the Philippine running calendar. After years of anticipation, runners of all ages were eager to tackle one of the few marathons in the country that requires qualifiers to meet specific times for a shot at the finals in December.

As the Philippine sun blazed down, the heat added a formidable layer of difficulty to the challenge. Race organizers adjusted the start time in a bid to offer some respite, but the conditions remained tough.

Among the throng of determined runners was Nico Ignacio from our club, RWPRC. Despite being relatively new to the marathon scene with just two years under his belt, Nico was focused on not just participating but exceeding the qualifying time of 3:55 for his age group. This race was more than just a run for him; it was a shot at redemption after narrowly missing a sub-4-hour finish at the TBR Marathon in February.

Balancing a day job and other responsibilities, Nico trained diligently to improve his personal best of 4:17 in the marathon. The race day heat proved a relentless adversary, yet Nico employed every strategy possible to regulate his body temperature, utilizing each water station to cool down.

As he approached the final kilometer, Nico’s resolve hardened. “When I saw the finish line, I pushed everything I had to achieve that sub-4 dream,” he recounted later. And he succeeded, only to collapse from exhaustion immediately after crossing the line. In the medical tent, his temperature spiked to a dangerous 42.7 degrees Celsius, necessitating rapid cooling measures.

Nico’s story is one of true grit and perseverance. He could have chosen to stop, to accept a DNF (Did Not Finish), and to succumb to the blistering heat like many others. However, Nico embodies what we stand for at RWP — the belief that once you start something, you see it through to the end, regardless of discomfort or difficulty.

As the Captain of RWPRC Moa/Pasay, Nico exemplifies what it means to lead by example. His journey teaches us a valuable lesson: in moments when circumstances are beyond our control, the one thing we can manage is our response.

Let Nico’s determination inspire you the next time you face a daunting challenge. Remember, it’s not the conditions but your reaction to them that defines your path.