Marathoner Richard Salaño still proud of breaking old national record, despite not setting new one

Richard Salaño recently made history as one of two runners who broke the previous national record in the marathon.

The long-standing record of Eduardo Buenavista, who clocked a 2:18:44, stood for more than two decades before Salaño and Sonny Wagdos both surpassed the mark at the Tokyo Marathon this year.

But while Salaño’s 2:15:08 smashed the previous mark, the history books will likely better remember Wagdos’ time of 2:14:37, which stands as the new national record for the Philippines.

This should not take away from Salaño’s achievement, though, as one of the great performances in Philippine running.

Both Salaño and Wagdos are coached by Buenavista, the previous record-holder himself, and the veteran had been pushing them to try to beat the mark.

“Noong sa training pa lang, lagi niya kaming china-challenge na kaya naming i-break ‘yung record kasi nakikita niya sa mga time, lalo sa akin… Kaya sabi ko sa isip ko kaya ko rin siguro kasi ang coach ko nagtiwala sa akin,” Salaño told GMA News Online last month during the opening of an Asics pop-up store.

(Even in training, he always challenged us to break the record, because he can see in our times, especially mine, that’s it’s possible. So I thought to myself, maybe I can do it because my coach believes in me.)

 

 

 

 

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It became even clearer that it was a possibility when the actual race unfolded, with Salaño even leading his compatriot most of the way.

“Noong una, ang plano ko lang talaga, maabot ko ‘yung 2 hours and 20 minutes, mailapit ko lang sa record. Hanggang nakita ko pag-start, sumabay ako sa may potential na mag-2:16 [minutes] para mailapit ko man lang, para kung sakaling maiwan ako sa bandang dulo, malapit na ako sa record,” he said.

(At first, I had only planned on beating 2 hours and 20 minutes, just to get close to the record. Until I saw at the start, I ran along with those with potential to go 2:16 thinking if they left me behind at the end, I’d at least be close to the record.)

“Kaso hanggang parang nakikita ko sa sarili ko, napakiramdaman ko na parang kaya kong sumabay. Sabi ko, hanggang 32K, tiisin ko ito. Pagdating ng 32K, kasama pa ako sa lead, ako pa ‘yung Pilipino na nasa unahan. ‘Yung kasama ko, si Sonny sa likod, sabi ko kaya natin makuha ang record.”

(But I hit that point where I could see it in myself, I think I can hang with them. I said, I’ll push through until 32K. When we reached 32K, I was still with the lead group, and I was the Filipino in front. Sonny was behind, but I said, I think we can get the record.)

By the 36th kilometer, Salaño said he and Wagdos were already confident they would shatter the record —until things changed when he felt the onset of cramps late in the race.

“Last three kilometers, nakaramdam ako ng cramps kaya medyo na-slow na ako ng last three kilometers.”

“Kinabahan pa nga ako kasi akala ko hindi ko kayang i-finish. Pero sabi ko, hindi na puwede kasi 39 kilometers na ‘yung natiis ko, last three kilometers kailangan ko tiisin para sa national record.”

(Last three kilometers, I started feeling cramps so I had to slow down in the last three kilometers. I was actually worried, I thought I might not finish. But I said, I can’t let that happen, I’ve pushed through 39 kilometers, it’s the last three to get through to try for the national record.)

And despite that, he gutted it out to finish and he and Wagdos both broke their coach’s old record.

While there is a little bit of regret over not setting the new record himself, Salaño remains happy that his fellow runner achieved it and that he was able to see a big improvement in his own time.

“Masaya ako kasi isa sa amin ‘yung naka-break. Pero siyempre, ako nanghihinayang din ako,” he said.

“Pero masaya ako kasi hindi ko akalain kasi from 2 hours and 26 minutes, naging 2 hours and 15 minutes, ang laki ng diperensya.”

(I’m happy that it was one of us to break it. Of course, there’s some regret. But I’m happy because I never thought that from my old time of 2 hours and 26 minutes, it went down to 2 hours and 15 minutes, it’s a big difference).

The achievement holds special meaning for him, especially for what it means to the running community.

“Pagbalik namin dito sa Pilipinas, lalo na ‘yung mga runner, ‘yung iba nagpapasalamat kasi naibaba namin ‘yung standard [time] ng running dito sa Philippines kasi si coach, 2 hours and 18 minutes, ngayon tatlo na nakakuha noon na under 2 hours and 20 minutes.”

(When we got back to the Philippines, especially the runners, some of them thanked us for lowering the standard time here in the Philippines. Before, coach was able to do 2 hours and 18 minutes, and now there’s three of us who have gone under 2 hours and 20 minutes.)

And for those just starting their running journey, Salaño also shared the importance of self-discipline and continuous improvement.

“Tamang training, tamang paghahanda, tapos laging i-challenge ‘yung sarili mo kasi ‘pag hindi mo talaga i-challenge ‘yung sarili mo, hindi ka mag-improve.”

(Correct training, correct preparation, and always challenge yourself because if you don’t, you’re not going to improve.)

—JMB, GMA News