Would you do an ultra with only two weeks’ notice?
It would be crazy. But anybody doing a marathon, an ultramarathon per se, has always been a little crazy. As Haruki Murakami puts it in What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, “Most runners are a little crazy. But if you don’t make it enjoyable, why would anyone run that far in the first place?” And as locals would comment after learning how far we had gone, “Nangaboang namo?”
What is this Penitence Run?
In the past years, I have been joining a Visita Iglesia Run, which usually covers around 14 churches across Cebu City, spanning roughly 24 kilometers in total, though you can always opt for shorter routes. It is organized by friends who welcome anyone open to joining a different kind of pilgrimage.
This year, however, we decided to take things a little further.
Well, we all do crazy things in life. And we somehow live to tell the tale because of the faith we place in the things we do. In this case, it was also a form of penance for the things we have done. A run without a medal, without aid stations, though we surprisingly got one, without a finisher shirt, and without a fee.
The Penitence Run has established itself as an annual gathering of runners, with some delegations even coming from outside Cebu province, all seeking a different kind of reflection, sacrifice, and quiet gratitude along the road. Unlike typical races, the run carries a distinctly spiritual atmosphere. We gathered before dawn at Magellan’s Cross, where participants were blessed by a priest before the start. The journey itself became part pilgrimage and part endurance run, culminating as runners crossed the finish line on Palm Sunday. It was the first time I had experienced such a deeply reflective and almost sacred ambiance before and throughout a run.
Penitence Run 2026 Experience
It was indeed a reflective journey from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist (Lindogon Shrine). I got the chance to witness the strength and endurance of participants, engage in meaningful conversations with fellow runners, receive both puzzled looks and encouragement from locals who still cannot fathom why we do what we do, and complete the activity safe and sound (with a lot of muscle pain and blisters but with knees still working just as fine).
Thank you, Sir Edwin, for spearheading this annual event. Thank you to Mr. & Mme. Galon for the invite. To fellow runners who provided encouragement, especially those who adopted me from the City of Naga to Simala. And, of course, to the One above for the strength and endurance to complete the 60 km stretch.
Indeed, we all do crazy things in life. Because what is life without a little bit of suffering and reflection, and people to struggle with and learn from.
To a more reflective Holy Week, everyone.
Dakilanglaagan 