NEWLY crowned Paa-Tibayan Ultra Marathon women's champion Stella Mamac Diaz of Cataluna Pequeno bared that the 100-kilometer race held in an out-and-back course from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus recently was the toughest event of her life.

"I cried because I was so tired when I reached the finish line. I couldn't even manage to sit down because my whole body went numb. My fingernails turned violet because of my weary frame," the 38-year-old mother of three told members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) in the vernacular during their weekly forum at the Tower Inn Thursday.

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The 2003 National Milo Marathon breasted the tape in nine hours and 45 minutes in an 80-entry field.

She admitted that her title performances in the National Milo Marathon and in the 2004 International Pasig Run were nothing compared to her Paa-Tibayan stint.
"I couldn't explain the pain I felt. I can still feel it now in my legs and in my back. I still need time to recover from the race before I resume training," Mamac-Diaz said. (MLSA)