Doc Yong not yet done, eyes 100 Marathon Club

CEBU, Philippines — On the heels of what is by far his greatest achievement, there’s no stopping Potenciano ‘Yong’ S. Larrazabal III from raising the bar of his illustrious running career higher as he immediately set another lofty goal he targets to complete in the next four years.

A Six Star Finisher Medal from the Abbott World Marathon Majors for completing six of the world’s largest road races (New York City, Berlin, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Boston) and a member of the exclusive 7 Continents Marathon Club, Doc Yong scaled even greater heights when he wrote history as first Filipino to conquer the World Marathon Challenge comprised of seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days.

Staged last February 6-12, the highly esteemed eye surgeon and the rest of the competitors ran the standard 42.2 km marathon distance in Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America within 168 hours, or seven days.

Away from his family for the longest time to see action in a punishing ultra race that covers thousands of miles crisscrossing time zones under varying weather conditions - from the extreme sub-zero temperatures of Antarctica to the scorching heat of Brazil - Doc Yong considers the World Marathon Challenge as the most difficult he had been through in his long distance running journey.

“Personally I didn’t know if I can make it or not. That is why I only told a very few people about it,” said the president and chairman of  Cebu Doctors’ Group of Hospitals. “I did it quietly. Kon ako ipahibawo, mapahiya nya ko.”

“You will struggle mentally,” he added. “But I’m the kind of person who is very good at compartmentalizing problems. My strategy is take one marathon, one day at a time.”

After a relatively good showing in the first marathon in Africa held in Capetown where he clocked in four hours, 33 minutes and 18 seconds, Doc Yong said he encountered the hardest test during the second leg in Novo, Antarctica.

“It was very dark and windy. The weather was very bad with temperatures dropping to -20 degree celcius combined with 50km/h wind. It was really, really very challenging,” recounted Doc Yong. “It was the first time I thought of quitting. But I think of many things just to distract myself. I told myself to finish it because I won’t be able to complete the challenge if I miss one.”

“The worst was over,” Doc Yong told himself when he reached the first finish line in the Antarctica leg with a time of 6:44:47

While Antarctica was the toughest, Doc Yong described the marathon in South America continent done in Fortaleza, Brazil as the ‘most grueling’.

“It was very hot and we placed water over our heads every 1.5 kilometers,” recounted Doc Yong, who surprised himself with a fifth place finish in that leg with a 4:23:29 clocking.

Doc Yong registered a time of 4:27:50 in the Asia continent done in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 4:13:02 in the Oceania continent in Perth, Australia, and 4:26:58 in Europe Continent done in Madrid, Spain where they ran in a Formula One Grand Prix racetrack.

In this last race under the North America continent staged in Miami, Florida, Larrazabal placed fourth in 4:06:30.

When he touched down the last of all finish lines to the warm applause of his adoring well-wishers led by his amiable wife Donna, Doc Yong couldn’t help but relish with pride the most latest feat he achieved in record-establishing fashion.

“While I was approaching the finish line in Miami, I was very emotional and teary-eyed thinking it’s gonna be all over,” said Doc Yong. “The mental challenge was very tough, but I always believe in the power of mind over the body even in harshest conditions. What your mind thinks your body will follow.”

“I’m just happy that I finally finished uninjured. I did the right training. I did not run so hard. I did not go overboard. I maintained my pace. Consistency is the key,” added Doc Yong on the recipe for his success.

But out of his plethora of achievements spotlighted by a total of 68 marathons, Doc Yong surprisingly is not yet done. He has yet to accomplish one mission and that is to join the 100 Marathon Club, an elite group of ultra runners who have completed at least a hundred races of marathon distance or longer.

“My next goal is to go and be part of the 100 Marathon Club,” said Doc Yong, who aspires to join the club by the time he reaches the age of 55 or four years from now. “I think it’s achievable. That will be the peak of my (running) career.”