The thrills and dangers

Even athletes in top condition have to be aware of the dangers of running a grueling 26.2-mile (42.195 kilometers) distance in Saipan’s heat and humidity.

First-time marathon runner Joshua Manglona of Tinian crossed the finish line at an outstanding 4:34:58, but just one second later immediately collapsed.

“I experienced a lot of cramps. My morale was low. My body was screaming, Mercy! I just felt like shutting down,” said Manglona, describing what was happening to his body.

Fortunately, although a few runners received attention, no one was hospitalized at the 2009 Festival of Runs. Volunteers from the Emmanuel College Vocational Nursing were on hand to deliver much needed care for common ailments, such as overheating, exhaustion, dehydration (not enough water), and muscle cramping.

Manglona recovered quickly. “I knew that a lot of people were counting on me. I was also counting on myself to finish. Once I set myself to something challenging, there’s no turning back, and there’s no easy way out, but to finish,” he said.

The Tinian resident is not new to extreme endurance athletic events, having completed two marathons in the past few months—the 2008 Tinian Triathlon in June and the 2008 Rota Triathlon in November.

When asked to provide some inspiring words, Manglona shared his personal philosophy on limitations.

“Limits. Everyone has them. But I’m talking about physical limits. Few people fear them, and only a few challenge their physical limits. Is it limits that puts the fear in you to keep you from moving, or is it the fact that you can’t accelerate your life and inspire the people around you, especially yourself?”

For this young 20-year-old athlete, there are apparently no limits. His next challenge is the 2009 XTERRA Saipan Championship on April 18, just one day shy of his 21st birthday. If Manglona completes this event, it would be his third completed triathlon and one full marathon, all in his 20th year.

The name “marathon” has its roots from an ancient Greek legend, when Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, ran from the town of Marathon to Athens to deliver a message. The legend states that he ran the entire distance, delivered his message that the Persians had been defeated (explaining “We have won.”) and then died.

Thousands of people train for and enter marathons without experiencing problems, as long as they prepare for the risks and act accordingly.

According to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), there are over 800 marathons worldwide. The most prestigious races include the Boston, New York City, Chicago, London, and Berlin marathons.Other large marathons well known around the world include the Stockholm Marathon, the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon, the Honolulu, Los Angeles, Rome, and Paris marathons. Experts agree that running is good for you, but they advise runners to train mentally and physically. Running smart means running fully informed of the risks. ([B][I]Saipan Tribune)[/I][/B]