3 Filipino friends bond over running, conquer ultramarathon in France

While some friendships are formed over good food or drinks, three Filipinos living in different European countries bond by putting on their running shoes and running a grueling race together. 

Rolando Espina, Bren Kevin Policarpio, and Eugene Evangelista conquered the 222-kilometer Ultr’Ardèche ultramarathon in France from May 18 to 19. 

The three kumpares have been friends for more than five years and have a common godson, Mico.

“Bren Kevin Policarpio Cabasa and Eugene Evangelista are my kumpares. We've known [each other] for more than five years, I guess because of running and social media. We've been running marathons and ultramarathons for some time,” Espina told GMA News Online. 

Espina is based in Dublin, Ireland, while Cabasa and Evangelista are both residing in Milan, Italy. 

Espina said he invited the other two to join him in the French ultramarathon. 

“I've invited a few of my closest friends to join me for 2024 and it's Kevin and Eugene who decided to join me. And since the three of us just finished a major running event last month, we decided that we instead run together as we are not yet fully recovered from our recent race,” he said. 

According to its website, the Ultr’Ardèche must be joined by experienced runners in ultramarathons and ultra long distances as the participants must follow a hilly and high altitude trail in Ardèche. Participants can completely finish the course in 37 hours. 

It might be a challenging race, but it was a nice moment for the three friends. You can see them running  part of it in this short Facebook reel.

“It was a beautiful experience as it only strengthened our friendship as we helped one another get over the hump especially on the latter stages of the race,” said Espina.  “The brilliant thing about us running together, is that we all finished the event, considering that only around 50 percent of the participants made it to the finish line.” 

They hope their active lifestyle will inspire their kids to be active as well. 

“I mean, I drink alcohol and eat the usual foods but so do we exercise din. Also a good example for our kids para maging active din sila,” said Espina. 

After the Ultr’Ardèche, the three are already looking forward to joining more ultramarathons. 

“We have run along each other in a few races before and there's no doubt that we will be joining an ultramarathon event again in the near future,” said Espina. — BM, GMA Integrated News