Sangalang all set for North Pole Marathon

ALL SET. Luisito Sangalang (left), who will compete in the North Pole Marathon on April 9, with Romi Garduce, the first and only Filipino to complete the Seven Summits in 2012, during the FWD send-off party at the Bonifacio Global Center in Taguig City on Thursday. (PNA photo by Jess Escaros)

MANILA — Luisito “Louie” Sangalang hopes to make the country proud when he competes in the North Pole Marathon on April 9.

The 40-year-old multi-sports Filipino, together with 10 other athletes from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan sponsored by FWD Life Philippines will represent Team Asia in the marathon.

The North Pole Marathon, recognized by the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races, is the only certified marathon that is run entirely on the frozen water of the Arctic Ocean.

Visually-impaired Leung Siu Wai of Hong Kong and para-athlete Shariff Abdullah, also dubbed as Singapore’s Blade Runner, are joining the North Pole Marathon, which is unique because it is run on a small (4.22 kilometers) loop over hard snow or ice for about 10 times.

“Taking on challenges is what fuels me. I want to prove to (the) people that I can still do a lot of things at 40. I’m training to fight again and I’m running a race in the harshest of conditions; if that’s not proving to myself and to others that life begins at 40, I don’t know what is. I’m doing all these not just to challenge my own limits, I want to show other people that they can do it too. Life does not have to slow down or stop at 40. No matter what age or circumstance, if they really, badly want to do something, they can!” said Sangalang, a cancer survivor, in an interview.

At 22, Sangalang was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix.

“I was in the hospital for almost two months. I had an appendectomy, a hemicolectomy (a type of surgery done to remove part of the large intestine), six cycles of chemotherapy, and 33 cycles of radiotherapy. The treatments were very painful. But I was determined to pick myself up quickly. So I took care of myself by giving up alcohol, eating healthily, and exercising regularly,” said Sangalang, who was doing weights, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu three months after his surgeries.

“I am motivated by challenges. And triumphing over challenges like cancer are the ones that have the power to change your life and those around you for the better. But it’s not something you can easily beat, you have to keep on fighting,” said the fitness advocate.

In preparation for the North Pole Marathon, Sangalang has joined local marathons. He also trained inside an industrial freezer with a temperature of negative 30 degrees centigrade, which is similar North Pole’s.

Sangalang has also expressed his gratitude to triathlon coach Ani De Leon-Brown and his running coach Ige Lopez for providing athletic training and guidance; Romi Garduce, the first and only Filipino to have completed the Seven Summit in 2012, for giving valuable advice on how to survive the extreme cold; celebrity mom Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and son Benjamin for the motivational support; and radio DJ and host Sam YG, who joined Sangalang in his grueling training sessions.

FWD Life President and Chief Executive Peter Grimes said how Sangalang managed to overcome various challenges made him the perfect choice to represent the Philippines in the marathon.

“Louie’s inspiring story of being a cancer survivor and his passion for fitness, which he uses to inspire Filipinos to live an active lifestyle, also best represent what FWD stands for: embracing the opportunities in your life without hesitation,” said Grimes during Sangalang’s send-off party on Thursday night at the Bonifacio Global Technology Center in Taguig City.

“You’re in the best shape to do this marathon. Make the Philippines proud,” Grimes added.

FWD Life Philippines marketing head Roche Vandenberghe said this is the second year that the company is sponsoring the North Pole Marathon.

“FWD saw the North Pole Marathon as a unique and important platform to communicate the idea that everyone should live life to the fullest, stay true to their passion and not give up their goals, because FWD will always have their back,” said Vandenberghe.