TABAL
A LOFTY goal is in her mind when Cebuana Olympian Mary Joy Tabal competes in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in Canada on May 28.
Tabal will be competing in the 21-kilometer as part of her preparation for her upcoming marathon stint in the Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games).
“The race in Canada will be my trial run before the SEA Games. That will help me predict my marathon time,” said Tabal in a recent interview.
Tabal will also be looking to break the country’s 21-kilometer record.
Actually, Tabal has already shattered the 2008 Philippine record of Mercediate Fetalyero when she timed 1:18.44 in the Adachi Goshikizakura Half Marathon in Japan in April 2016.
“The old record was 1:18.45 but I really don’t know why my record in Japan was not considered. I am not sure if it is Patafa or other organization who decide on that matter,” said Tabal.
Tabal said she opted to compete in the 21-km race of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon to avoid conflict with her SEA Games.
“I might be questioned again if I compete in a marathon just months before the SEA Games. I just want to avoid conflicts,” said Tabal.
This year’s SEA Games is scheduled in August in Malaysia.
Before competing in Canada, Tabal will fly to Italy in April to complete her training for SEA Games. She will stay in Italy until May 23 before leaving for Canada.
The upcoming race in Canada is the same event where Tabal qualified to the Rio Olympics with a time of two hours, 43 minutes and 29 seconds, ranking 39th among the 4,184 participants.