‘Mother runner’ Tabal slowly getting back into competitive form

Mary Joy Tabal proudly shows her trophy after topping the 10k race of the Race For Our Heroes on Sunday at the CCSC. | Photo from John Velez Photography

CEBU CITY, Philippines—While some see Mary Joy Tabal’s win in a recent running event as her comeback, the Cebuana Olympian, who is now a mother, admitted she is far from her usual form that made her Cebu’s marathon queen. 

The 33-year-old Tabal on Sunday, December 11, 2022, topped the 10-kilometer race of the ‘Race For Our Heroes’ at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Tabal, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist (2017), gave spectators a glance of her old winning form after she finished the 10k race in 49 minutes and 52 seconds. 

April Rose Cortes (57:58) and Rogena Gerna Sondia (58:56) finished second and third, respectively.

“Actually, dili pa man gyud ni totally comeback run nako na competing. Kato na run, dili pa gyud ko ready to compete, na timing lang na ako naka una gyapon,” Tabal said with a laugh. 

(Actually, this isn’t really my comeback run in [competitive running]. That run, I wasn’t really ready to compete, it just so happened that I still finished first.)

“Dili pa man nako kaya mag compete. Just feeling the joy of running ra ko ato and pabalik sa drive nako to continue running and competing again soon,” she added.

(I still can’t compete. I’m just feeling the joy of running and the drive to continue running and competing again soon.)

Tabal has been out of the competitive scene for a while. 

She’s been very busy with her personal life. Last January, Tabal, who is the only Filipina marathoner to compete in the Olympics, tied the knot with Hector Dan Jimenez.

A few months later, she announced her pregnancy. In September, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Athena. 

Tabal is optimistic she can reignite her spectacular career in running. 

“Pero hinay-hinayan ra sa nako ron. Ge enjoy ra nako ang motherhood plus being an active mom, a mother runner, kay dili man gyud na mawala sa ako ang running,” said Tabal. 

(I’m just taking it slowly. I’m just enjoying motherhood and being an active mom, a mother runner, because running won’t stop for me.)  

Tabal holds many records in long distance running in the Philippines.

Besides being the first Filipina marathoner to qualify in the Olympics, Tabal is also the first Cebuana to win a gold medal in the SEA Games women’s marathon in 2017 and bagged silver medals in the 2019 and 2015 editions.

She also is the longest Filipina marathoner to win the National Milo Marathon title (six straight years).

“I’m slowly feeling the road running lang, while respecting my body coming from pregnancy and labor. I just want that before this year ends, I can experience running on the road and fun runs and also supporting a good cause run, and Race For Our Heroes.”

/bmjo

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