Philip Dueñas overcomes jitters to win first 21k title in Cebu leg of Milo marathon
The Cebu leg of the annual Milo Marathon holds a special place in Philip Dueñas’ heart. But it is the same footrace that dreads him the most.
“I’ve won several 21k titles in other races but never in the Cebu leg of the Milo Marathon,” Dueñas said. “I can’t help but feel jittery every time I join the Cebu leg. There is this pressure that I feel and I can’t perform well.”
But Dueñas finally got the monkey off his back last Sunday, conquering his fears en route to winning only his first title in the Cebu leg of the Nestle-backed annual race.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I am capable of winning in this race,” said the 26-year-old Dueñas.
By finishing the race in one hour, 15 minutes and 21 seconds, the 26-year-old Danao City-native runner also qualified to the Milo Marathon Finals slated Dec. 8 in Manila.
It was some sort of a historic feat for Duenas, who could only heave a huge sigh of relief the moment he crossed the finish line.
While admitting that the Milo Marathon is close to his heart, Dueñas said he always felt uncomfortable joining the Cebu leg, so uncomfortable that he repeatedly avoided the race and instead joined other qualifying legs held outside Cebu.
Duenas cited possible reasons for the struggle.
“There are a lot of good runners in Cebu. I have so many friends here that expect me to win and it adds up to the pressure. The Cebu leg attracts huge participants that you have to fight for position and it affects your time,” Dueñas said.
One could just imagine how sweet the victory was for Duenas, who is now known as one of the more prominent figures in Cebu’s running circuit.
“I value the Milo race because this is the reason why I became a runner. This race is very special to me,” he said.
HIS FIRST RUN
Duenas recounted how his love affair with the Milo Marathon started. It was way back in 2003 when he first joined the Milo race.
“I was 16 years old then. My college teacher in Danao convinced me to join the race. At first, I thought the sport was just as simple as filling up the registration form and getting your race number. I didn’t know that it will take a lot of effort to excel in the sport,” Dueñas said.
At that time, Dueñas joined the 5K event. “I just walked throughout the route,” Dueñas said with a laugh.
The next year, Dueñas joined in the same category and he described the experience as embarrassing.
“I was hit from behind by another runner. I fell on the pavement. That was so embarrassing. But it didn’t stop me and I continued running. I finished 13th in that race,” narrated Dueñas.
Little did Dueñas know that the embarrassing moment would turn him into a topnotch long-distance runner.
THE 21K JOURNEY
“I noticed that more runners are joining the shorter distances compared to the 21k. So, to avoid the accident from happening again, I decided to sign up for the 21k race,” Dueñas said.
That was the start of Dueñas’ rise in 21k races.
His first venture in the 21k race of Milo Marathon’s Cebu leg was in 2005, where he finished a decent seventh place. He made a big improvement in 2006 when he finished third.
Dueñas missed the race in 2007 to focus on his studies as a transferee at the Southwestern University.
Following two unproductive stints in the Cebu leg, Dueñas opted to join the Bohol leg in 2008 and the gambit paid off after he collared the 21k title. He defended the crown the next year but his grandslam bid was thwarted by a Kenyan runner.
Dueñas tried to reclaim the Bohol leg crown in 2011 but could only muster a fifth-place finish. He then tried it out in the Butuan leg, where he settled for a third place finish.
Winning two 21k Milo race titles was already something but Dueñas was still looking for the icing on the cake. He finally found it last Sunday, which became extra meaningful after his protege Mary Joy Tabal also won the women’s 21K crown.
“It made me more happy that we both won our divisions,” said Duenas, who coaches Tabal.
Duenas’ crowning in the premier race in the Queen City of the South was 10 years in the making. But definitely, it was worth the wait.
