THEY SAY good things come back to you when you do good.
This may be the case of 22-year-old Ezel Conde, who survived a freak accident in the 42nd National Milo Marathon Cebu last October 14, 2018.
Conde was nearing a top 5 finish in the 10-kilometer run when she was accidentally hit by a vehicle from behind less than two kilometers away from the finish line at the Cebu City Sports Center along P. del Rosario Street.
“I thought it was going to be my last day in the world,” Conde said, recalling how she fell to the pavement in pain.
Conde didn’t finish the race but only walked away with just a wound at the back of her head and a slight limp. She was discharged from a two-day stay in the hospital after all her medical test results especially her CT Scan came back negative.
“Fortunately I didn’t hit my head hard. I call what happened to me a miracle,” she said. “The Lord really cares much for me.”
Conde is very much deserving of the “miracle” she experienced.
After all, she has done a lot of good things, most notably her volunteer works in training aspiring runners in her hometown in Lamac, Pinamungajan, southwestern Cebu.
“I just want to share my being an athlete to the students there, so running or being an athlete will also become their passion,” she said. “I want them to be always motivated and most importantly, to always have faith.”
Conde’s efforts have also paid off as one of the boys she has been helping train in long jump, Oliver Aliganga, made it all the way to last April’s Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, representing Central Visayas.
“This has motivated me to continue to volunteer in training,” she said.
As to the driver who accidentally hit her, she assured that she doesn’t have any ill feelings towards him.
“I’m not angry. If God can forgive, who are we humans not to? Nobody wanted that accident to happen, the family of the guy who hit me are also good. They took care of me,” she said.
The accident is not stopping Conde from running the National Milo Marathon again as she hopes to someday compete in the 21-Kilometer distance.
“Running has become a passion for me. My life is not complete without it. I know everything happens for a reason. God is good, He still has plans for me.”