76-year-old Rening Ylaya copes with life’s difficulties through running

Rening Ylaya is a veteran figure in Cebu running.

At 76 years years old, he still manages to join almost all major footraces in Cebu. In fact, he has never missed a Milo National Marathon race in Cebu since 1996.

Running is important for Ylaya, who started joining footraces at the age of 60. Despite being a late-bloomer in the sport,  he has made waves in the local scene because of his determination.

In 2010, he almost saw his career end after getting hit by a motorcycle resulting to a fractured thigh. Still, he continued running.

He has made running part of his life primarily for health reasons. So there’s really no reason to stop. Not even if he encounters some personal difficulties. He actually uses these challenges as motivation.

One problem of his is coping with the loneliness of living alone. His second wife passed away in 2010 due to kidney cancer. His first wife also succumbed to thyroid cancer. He has two sons, but both have their own families and are in Davao. “I miss them both but I don’t want to disturb them,” he said.

He said for him to cope with the loneliness, he just runs—20 kilometers per day to be exact.

Ylaya believes running might even help him see his children. “I want to let them know that I am still here. Maybe they will somehow remember their father if they see me in the television or the news.”

Ylaya is also reovering from prostate cancer, but he believes he has been totally healed because of running and the help of some friends and the Cebu City Sports Commission.

“I run because I want to live longer. I want to be happy. Only death can stop me from running.”

Among his favorite events is the annual Milo National Marathon. In last Sunday’s race, he finished the 21-kilometer race in two hours and 40 minutes.

“The Milo Marathon gives me excitement every year because of the exciting atmosphere it gives me and the other runners,” said Ylaya, a former bowling player. “The Milo Marathon is already a part of my important list since 1996, when I started running.”

Ylaya is not stopping with the Milo Marathon. He plans to challenge himself more by joining the 160-kilometer run in November’s Front Runner Magazine’s ultra marathon to be held in northern Cebu.

He also wants to leave a legacy by sharing his story to the younger generation so they too can start living healthy through running.

“My message to those who wants to become fit like me is to stay out of vices and live a healthy life, because you can only realize how valuable your life is if it’s already too late.”