various parts of my body were already aching, crying “pain” after more than a hundred minutes cycling and sitting on the bike saddle, but giving up was not an option…
I used to think of San Pablo City as far from our place in Batangas because it’s more than 2 hours travel time from home. That changed when I started believing Isaiah 40:31! I normally biked a couple of days per week the 15-km distance between work and home knowing the importance of exercise to the human body. And being in Gawad Kalinga – Batangas management team, I started biking on duty calls to various GK villages, going farther and farther as I was able to. Upon hearing from Gary Brecka that "ageing is the aggressive pursuit of comfort[1]" I aimed to reach more, the farthest of which was the 47-km GK-Chicago in Brgy. Janao-janao.
In consequence, I also made it a point to answer the
“kumusta ka” greeting with a “malakas pa sa kabayo” reply. Thus, I
thought that it’s about time to breach that distance… by going to Victoria,
Laguna, the second town after San Pablo City, a 60-km distance from home. I prayed
for direction and wisdom, then charted a course with four milestones:
- Lipa City at 20km, the last point for decision;
- San Juan, Alaminos junction, the point of no return being more than halfway in my course;
- San Pablo City proper, the “almost there” point and the threshold of exploration as the areas ahead were unfamiliar to me;
- Itik Park in Victoria, the landmark of destination.
Several days after returning from Bayani Challenge 2024 Sulu, I got a “go” on August 2nd. I had to leave without my air pump because my 0530HR ETD was already delayed looking for it. The uphill pedaling from our place to Lipa City was all too familiar, but that acquaintance didn’t lessen the efforts I needed to exert. Nevertheless, upon reaching Lipa City already wet with sweat, I thought I could still proceed. So I kept the “I think I can” mantra of the Little Engine[2] going to the San Juan junction. Though physically taxing, I reached my second milestone getting convinced that I really can, {though I couldn't help but notice that the road I was traveling was downhill, which means uphill on my return journey, I reminded myself one step at a time: focus first on attaining my first goal}… Proceeding to San Pablo, I had to fight my being tired because not reaching my destination was not an option. My having to pedal with waning energy was mitigated by the mostly downhill roadway, though my awareness that this would mean uphill on my return trip lingered in my thoughts. I reached San Pablo City beyond my ETA, but as I turned left towards Calauan, my fatigue got mixed with excitement thinking perhaps I really can! I munched some crackers before moving on. But even with that, I had to walk near the summit of one steep climb right past San Pablo City. As my excitement was building up, I was being careful not to overexert beyond exhaustion. As the kilometer posts showed that Victoria was getting nearer, I was anticipating the relief I’ll get from physical tiredness upon reaching my goal-destination. And after more than 210 minutes cycling, I came face to face with Itik Park! I could finally say, “kinaya ko nga”! Thank God!
I was welcomed by Mang Atong’s family which was another experience altogether, I cannot yet tell dahil hindi pa ako nagpaalam sa kanila na magkukwento.
The return journey was what I prepared much more for! I thought that it was good for the two steep climbs (between Calauan and San Pablo) to be at the start of my trek, in both of which I had to walk near their summits, thinking that the rest would be already easy. My initial thoughts turned out to be incorrect! The roadways were generally all ascending up to Lipa City. Nagsusumigaw ng “tama na” ang mga binti ko! I had to convince my legs that I can still continue! To avoid exhaustion, I had to take some 2-minute rests along the way remembering what I learned from the Boy Scouts about the benefit of ‘short rests at short intervals.’ I had to summon all my strength as I pedal uphill from San Pablo eying San Juan junction first, then Lipa. It was grueling for me so much so that I had also used what endurance athletes call ‘second wind’ in order to reach Inosluban in Lipa City. There, still more than 20km away from home, my buttocks were already crying “pain” after more than two hours of sitting under pressure on the bike saddle. But giving up was not an option! Moving on, I found myself wanting in energy in the flat areas of Lipa City (even after munching two bite-sized brownies). But I must reach home no matter what! I could not give up anywhere along the way! I kept on pedaling in spite of pain and fatigue, claiming the I “shall not be weary” and the I “shall not faint” part [3] of verse 31. I kept going and going, even if each pedal was strenuous akin to a brain over brawn strain but more likely a divine provision because I had already used my physical sources of strength... I reached Batangas City na hingal kabayo yata after four hours of cycling, though very very tired I could still say, "malakas pa sa kabayo!" Thank God!
You too can seek your limits and overcome them!
1. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4xx52GeS3TU
