GLENN Atmosfera has been a regular of the Milo Marathon since 2013.
An occupational therapist and a barangay kagawad from the fourth district of Manila, Glenn has been a running buff half his life. As a member of a popular running club, Glenn is also a veteran of many races around Metro Manila. A weekend without lacing his running shoes for his usual running routine is like the Eraserheads without Ely Buendia – still good, but you know something’s missing.
Did we say he was a running buff? Yeah, we did.
As a fixture of the Milo Marathon for four years straight, Glenn told himself he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
And so there he was, hitting his stride, running the premier 42k category of the marathon’s Metro Manila eliminations. He wanted that finisher’s medal more than anything, a validation of all his year’s hard work in the running scene.
But someone changed his plan some six kilometers to the finish.
“I was on the 34-km mark near BIR Makati when I saw a man who stopped in front of RCBC,” recalled Glenn.
“It looked like he was dizzy and he was trying to catch his breath. I asked him if he was OK and told him to sit at side of the road, while I called for help,” the father of three added, unmindful of his own goal.
Glenn had all the chance to get the finisher’s medal–a prized addition to his collection of wares from various running events and ultra marathons. He was only a couple of kilometers to the line anyway and was well inside the cut-off time.
He had a choice to continue, but chose not to as he decided to monitor his co-runner until medical personnel came, even if it meant the resilient and competitive Manileño would have to DNF (Did Not Finish) a race for the first time. Ever.
“Yes, not all runners are able to finish the time-pressured Milo Marathon, but helping someone is more important to me that time rather than finishing the race. It’s more than just getting a medal,” he said, even ignoring the advice of medics that he could now carry on with the run.
He wanted to stay with his co-runner until his condition stabilized.
“The greatest achievement in life is when you see people are happy and you know that you helped them without expecting anything in return,” said Glenn, a three-time race director and a head marshal for various fun runs.
For Glenn, who has a personal record of 04:30:00+ in the 42km category, there is always next year to look forward to.
“Babawi na lang ako next year,” said Glenn. “Pero if there’s someone who will be needing my help again, I would always help them. Maski ‘yung goal ko sa event, isasangtabi ko muna.”
He may not have secured that finisher’s medal. But he got a friend in return, and the respect of many.