THE multi-sport athletes from the Run Not Rum (RNR) Running Club under the guidance of coach Jefrey Cola Codino recently conquered foreign races last week.
Firstly, Mark Philip Geniston completed his first international Ironman 70.3 race in Taupo, New Zealand with a personal record.
Geniston finished the 1.9K swim, 90.1K bike and a 21.1K run in six hours and 31 minutes, effectively shaving off 20 minutes from his 6:51 mark during his first Ironman event in Lapu-Lapu City last year.
“With only eight weeks of training, instead of the standard 12 weeks, I knew I had signed up for a challenge,” Geniston said. “
“Again, the weather played a vital role in making it even more challenging for me. The cold water during the swim, the headwinds, cold weather and never-ending uphills during the bike ride were conditions that could never be replicated in my training in the Philippines.”
In Japan, Julius Jerald Borja and Frederick Castañeda successfully finished the Tokyo Marathon 2025.
“Running a major marathon is a journey of physical endurance and mental resilience. The surge of adrenaline when the race starts to finishing strong through the last kilometer is every runner’s challenge to emerge stronger, more resilient and forever changed,” said Borja.
“The 2025 Tokyo Marathon is my second World Major. When I finished, the last kilometer was the best. Lots of people cheering and makes me run fast to finish it and lastly the rewarding medal. Overall, it was a great event with lots of memories it brought to a lot of runners. And it will be cherished for some time,” Castañeda shared.
At home, the group’s Davaoeña member Aeda Mae Siao-Sanchez bagged the second runner-up honors in the women’s 42K category of the Kalilangan Marathon 2025 in General Santos City.
While in the TWM 32.0 Camotes Triathlon, Mayu Owada Kohno emerged as champion in her age group and second overall in the female division.
“Your dedication, strength, and perseverance have taken you to new heights. You are a true inspiration, showing what it means to push limits and never stop chasing greatness. Keep running, keep thriving!,” said Brando Raya. / RSC