Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III, an eye doctor from Cebu, received a commendation from the House of Representatives for being the first Filipino to finish the World Marathon Challenge held from Feb. 7 to 13, 2020.
“It has been two years, but I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me. So, this commendation is not mine alone. I share this with my family, friends, and supporters who helped me achieve my goal and with my beloved Cebu,” the veteran runner said in a statement posted on his social media account.
“It has been two years, but I will always be grateful to everyone who believed in me.”
The World Marathon Challenge, comprising seven marathons in seven continents within seven days, started in Antarctica.
The competitors ran the standard 42.2-kilometer marathon distance in the seven continents comprising Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, and North America.
Larrazabal traversed the globe and ran the standard marathon distance and finished overall at 12th place.
Cebu 5th District Representative Duke Frasco, a sports enthusiast himself, personally handed over to Larrazabal the mounted copy of the resolution recently.
Frasco sponsored House Resolution No. 203 was adopted by Congress on August 31, 2021, duly signed by Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco and House Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza.
“It is such a great motivation to continue advancing my advocacy in promoting the sport I love.”
Larrazabal thanked the legislator and the members of the 18th Congress for adopting the resolution, saying it is such a great motivation to continue advancing his advocacy in promoting the sport he loves and a great reminder some leaders back the progress of all types of sports in the country.
Frasco said Larrazabal made history as the first Filipino marathoner to compete and finish the World Marathon Challenge and earned the privilege of joining the unique Seven Continents Marathon Club reserved for athletes who have run a marathon within the Antarctic circle in the Antarctica continent and other six continents.
