Triathlete Jenefer Paloma on health and Running

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital in today’s generation especially now that we are exposed to a wide variety of diseases that could affect our mental and physical being – and don’t forget the way we live now, particularly on what we eat can also affect it.

Over the weekend we got a chance to talk with a remarkable woman, a kagay-anon that dominated the recent Kagay-an Festival Marathon in the 21k women’s category. She shared her story with us, and what she has learned over the year’s being a triathlete, but also shared with us the importance of being active in today’s fast-paced world.

She is Jenefer B. Paloma, a well-known triathlon athlete from Cagayan de Oro who has been competing in the sports since 2012. She recently finished her Bachelor of Science in Education – Majoring in Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH) at Pilgrim Christian College and now teaches at her Alma mater, Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGHS) as a physical education teacher and its running coach.

As a personal running coach herself, she believes that although it’s never too late to take up the sport (running), but it would be best to start them of young. Not only would it benefit the overall health of the child, it would also promote discipline.

Motivated by her family, she has been an athlete for over a decade now, and an advocate of health she is affecting change in her own way through the sport of running and hopes it would help encourage others to do so as well.

“To promote health and wellness in today’s generation, especially to young ones. Nowadays uso na kaayo ang vices, as early as now I encourage them to enter sports to divert their attention. Para sad nasilay ma achieves dili lang sa ilaha health, but also encourage other people like their friends malayo sila sa vices, drugs and sa sakit,” Jenefer said.

Jenefer also became the Champion of other running races in the local circuit held by FICCO, Metrobank, and Milo Marathon; she also joined races in Tablon, Butuan, Cebu and participated in the Freedom Run among others.

She also competed in the 70.3 Cobra Ironman race placing 3^rd in Vietnam and in Cebu, and finally, in 2016 she became Champion during its Asia Pacific Championship – age category. She also placed 2^nd in the XTERRA Triathlon – Elite Category.

TRIATHLETE

Amidst her success in the sport, she has had her ups and down she understands the value of losing and the lessons you gain from it. “The Hardest part of being a triathlete is – kanang mapildi gani ka. Not all the time daog ta, dira man gud nato Makita nga napa tay kolang so kinahanglan improvement,” she said.

Adding that “To remain determined and motivated and train harder, and most of all pray. Continue lang, ayaw stop because napildi ka, napay lain na race, kailangan ibangon nimo imong self. In losing mangud dira nimo makita unsay kolang nimo.”

PERSONAL RUNNING COACH

Having a personal running coach is a great option for runners at all levels.  Whether you are just starting to run a 5K race or planning to finish a marathon, a personal running coach will provide you with the knowledge, motivation and resources that will make your runs both enjoyable and injury free.

“It’s important to have a running coach, because of the following reasons, likay sa injury, mas personalize imohang training para ma maximize ang training potential, napud me permi to motivate and encourage you to continue,” she said.

Adding that “Kong naman galling tay goal, like losing weight, or better performance, etc… It’s better gyud nga nay personal coach, kay dretso me maka hatag ug advice ug unsa dapat buhaton, sa imo diet, ug uban pang tips,” she shared.

As you follow your personalized training plan, your running coach will help lessen the risk for injury. Rather than the “just go out and run”, a running coach will mix it up to help you reach your potential or even take you to the next level. 

They will also prepare you for that hill repeats, tempo runs, interval training and more, and when running becomes boring and routine, you can count on your running coach to get you back on track and on the road.

And the most important part is you can bank on the coach’s experience to provide you with first-hand information about running.  Questions on what is the best recovery plan, how to run faster, or how to best approach a hill, your running coach will have the answers faster than you can search on Google.

And also your personal running coach will have other runners under their care who might be sharing similar goals with you.  They can provide you with a network of support with fellow runners so you don’t need to run alone.

“Sa tanan nga gusto mo enter ani na sport or if gusto lang na ma improve ang ilahang endurance, pwede mo mo-join sa amoang running practices from Monday to Friday dadto sa Pelaez Sports Center at 5PM onwards, Malingaw gyud mo because daghan ka kauban mo dagan ug maila nga mga tao,” She concluded.