Send-off

I’ve always thought that the way legendary ultramarathoner Micah True a.k.a. Caballo Blanco of the bestseller book “Born to Run” bid farewell to this world last May was the best way any hardcore runner should go. He went out for his last run in the trails of New Mexico and never came back. He was found dead, still in his running clothes, four days later. He died of a heart attack doing what he loved most.

If I had my way, I would surely want to go the way Ramon Igaña, Jr. did. In a blaze of glory on his bike, with the sun on his face and the wind on his back doing what he loved most.

Ramie, as his friends in the running and cycling community fondly called him, died while doing the cycling leg for his Ironman 70.3 relay team — Team Tyts Bogdo Extreme. For months and days he could talk of nothing but the Ironman and prepared well for the event said his wife Humility. And on race day, he set off to conquer 90-kilometers of road and never came back. He died of pulmonary embolism or blood clots in his lungs mid-race which caused him to fall off his bike.

The sense of loss that washed over those who knew him were quickly replaced by a sense of calm and peace — knowing that he died happy in the pursuit of a passion. “He gave the race everything he had,” says Mendel Lopez offering his Ironman 70.3 third place trophy in tribute to a fallen co-athlete.

This show of appreciation for Ramie’s passion like that of Mendel’s is natural amongst weekend warriors, who know what it’s like to balance family and work life and still devote hours and hours of training for a passion.

Anthony Pangilinan, a three-time Ironman 70.3 finisher, pointed out that the organizers of the Ironman 70.3 missed the opportunity to honor a fallen comrade when there was nary a whisper from the organizers about Ramie’s death at the awarding ceremonies.

Pangilinan wrote on Ironman Philippines’ Facebook page — “We all knew someone passed away. Wouldn’t it have been special and meaningful – even to the family – if we gave a minute of silence during the awarding? Even before the media or the public, it would’ve been good to tell the triathlon community, the ‘band of brothers’, and we would’ve honored him then and there.”

Last Saturday night over 150 runners bid farewell to a beloved friend and honored Ramon’s memory with a tribute run. It was an awesome sight Saturday night. As running clubs ran with their tribute banners from P. Del Rosario, the Cebu Business Park, One Citilink Terminal and Mandaue City to converge at the Cebu Business Park where Ramon’s widow Humility and their only child Nina were waiting.

Lessons Learned

While Ramon’s death failed to dampen the spirits of the runners and triathletes, it served as a reminder for weekend warriors  to be more mindful of their health condition.

“There’s a lesson to be learned here,” says Cebu Ultrarunners Club president Tony Galon. “We should all be aware and listen to our bodies all the time while doing endurance sports especially, biking and running.”

Three-time Ironman 70.3 Ironman finisher, fitness instructor and gym manager Annie Neric offers three tips for new and aspiring triathletes.  “There are three you have to consider: 1. your current fitness level; 2. mileage, willingness to commit to a training plan; and 3. ability to learn to listen to your body.”

Cebuano heart surgeon Peter Mancao has a word of advice for those who wish to level up physical fitness by engaging in higher, more extreme sport. “The bottomline is that we’re trying to promote a healthy lifestyle. If you must level-up, there should be no shortcuts.  Devote time for preparation, proper training and give your body time to adjust. A complete physical examination should reveal any pre-existing conditions that might cause harm or even death while pursuing a sport. And for new entrants to the sport, it might be wise to taper down competitiveness and set realistic goals.”