CEBU, Philippines — With a golden buckle under his belt for completing the 10,000-kilometer The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee (TGVRAT) two months ago, the United Kingdom-based Cebuano ultra runner Anwar Satina added feather in his cap amid the global pandemic after finishing the virtual 40th Virgin Money London Marathon last Sunday, October 4.
He navigated the lung-busting 42km race with a personal record time of three hours, 45 minutes, and 27 seconds.
"I did not expect to post a personal best time because my goal was just to finish the race," said Satina. "A virtual race is much harder because it is more of a mind game. You need to train and prepare your mind because there are no spectators or water stations that can boost you along the way. You're running your own race and your own pace."
The 42-year-old Satina is among the close to 20 Cebuanos around the world who joined the event, five from UK, four each from Cebu and Canada, and two from Ireland.
Aside from his wife Karen who clocked in 6:25:56, decorated Cebuano long-distance runner Dr. Potenciano "Yong" Larrazabal III also saw action with the time of 3:57:15. Larrazabal holds the record as the first Filipino marathoner to conquer the World Marathon Challenge, a punishing challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days.
The rest of the finishers from Cebu were Cherylyn Lee (6:43:24), Eduardo Cabije Jr. (9:32:30), Lester Campos (6:15:04), Arnold Canares Jr. (6:43:02), Danilo Baylon (5:19:19), Nino Ynclino (5:47:57), Christopher de Asis (4:43:29), Charish Layon (8:05:23), Bruce Carbon (8:17:15), Frederick Casalda (7:20:14), Charessa Padilla (6:50:04), Arlene Yu (6:08:41) and Ray Layon (8:04:06).
What made Satina's recent accomplishment extra special is that after six failed attempts, he was finally able to join one of the biggest and toughest marathons in the world.
"It's hard to join in the London Marathon. In fact, I was rejected six times before I finally made it. This year, only 40,000-plus were accepted out of the 400,000 registrants," said Satina.
"It's really special for me because I'm here in the UK and it's the biggest running event here. I used to watch it only before but now I ran and finished the race. Also, it's the first time that I run together with my wife in a major marathon," he added.
And a Mama's boy he is, Satina heartfully dedicated his most latest achievement to his late mother Florita.
"This is my first race this year and after TGVRAT, I know I still got few mileage so I just want to try to get a nice time and telling myself this is for mama," said Satina.
"Before the run, I was holding mama's pic as my way of telling her that this run is for her. There's no day that I don't miss her," Satina further shared. "I know she helped me get this slot as she always reminds me to give my best in everything I do. There are times that I just want to walk as I was pacing too fast from the start but I just keep telling myself that mama is beside me and I don't want to let her down. This is all for her and I know she's happy and proud of me up high above."