JOY ON THE RUN
TABAL FEELS PRESSURE OVER MILO RECORD
Tabal says she feels some pressure in completing sixweek training program
There’s no stopping Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal in her rigid training amid freezing temperatures in Italy, with less than a month before the 41st Milo Marathon Finals.
The 28-year-old Southeast Asian Games gold medalist is confident about her training regime but admits to feeling some pressure as the 41st Milo Marathon, which will be held in Cebu for the first time, draws near.
The reigning four-time Milo Marathon queen is three weeks through her training in Italy under the Tuscany Training Camp,
4-time Milo champion missed one week of training due to fever
the same camp where she trained for the 29th SEA Games.
“I’m feeling good with my training but there’s a little bit of pressure to meet the specific training program for marathon in six weeks,” said Tabal, referring to her six-week training in Italy. “I’ve been here (in Italy) for six weeks but I wasn’t able to train in the first week because I got sick (fever).”
Tabal, though, had managed to get enough mileage in Cebu guided by her long-time coach John Philip Dueñas before flying to Italy.
Cebu City will host Milo Marathon finals for the first time on Dec. 3
Tabal trained despite the freezing weather, which was at two degrees, yesterday.
“I train twice a day (morning and afternoon). Sometimes there’s an activity in the middle of the day like core and strengthening exercises,” said Tabal, who will be back in Cebu by the end of this month.
Tabal will be defending her crown in the women’s 42-kilometer race in her hometown on Dec. 3.
This will be the first time that the Milo National Finals will be held in Cebu. /