Mary Joy Tabal (Contributed)
CEBU’S pride, Mary Joy Tabal puts her game face back as she defends her back-to-back titles in the 39th National Milo Marathon Finals tomorrow in Angeles, Pampanga.
Tabal, a silver medalist in women’s full marathon in this year’s Southeast Asian Games, said she is well prepared for her bid for a third straight women’s title.
“I know the pressure of this race because many are expecting me to rise again. I know all their eyes are on me. That’s why I trained hard for this race,” Tabal said.
But Tabal isn’t thinking too much about winning the race. She said what really drives her is her will to compete.
“All I have to think is to enjoy the pain this run will give me. I don’t race to prove something. I just want to compete,” said the petite runner from barangay Guba in Cebu City.
Tabal will be joined by Cebu Qualifying leg champion Noel Tillor and Ruffa Sorongon in the national finals.
According to Tabal, she considers the Kenyans her toughest foes in the race. She said her coach, multi-titled triathlete John Philip Dueñas, told her not to focus on anything else and instead just try to keep herself comfortable all throughout the race.
Meanwhile, Tabal extended her gratitude to those who supported her from her humble beginnings as a sprinter from the Southwestern University (SWU).
“To all my friends and supporters, I thank you all for believing in me. They created a big impact in me to strive harder and they trusted me so I have to trust myself also in this race. Whatever the result will be, I know they’ll still be there for me cheering,” Tabal said.
Tabal, Dueñas and other elite Cebuano racing athletes were recently acquired by MotorAce to form the Motorace Racing Team.