Leading the 21K race, Dickyias V. Mendioro highlights the importance of mental resilience in endurance events and offers tips for runners on how to push through psychological hurdles during competition.
In a sea of over 10,000 runners, it was Dickyias Mendioro who crossed the 21K finish line first at the Lazada Run 2025, clocking in at 1:10:56. He was followed closely by Ricky Organiza (1:13:10) and Ritchie Estampador (1:17:50), who rounded out the men’s podium.
But beyond the medal and the time, Mendioro’s race stood as a quiet testimony to something deeper—the power of mindset in endurance, not just in running, but in life.
“Kapag nasa race na tayo, iba na ‘yong maiisip mo or mapapadasal ka talaga. Makakayanan ko ba? Matatapos ko ba ‘to?,” he shared with One Sports.
Held at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, the Lazada Run was a celebration of movement, discipline, and choosing wellness one step at a time.
Runners of all levels showed up, each with their own goals, each with their own walls to break through. Mendioro’s was no different.
His words are familiar to anyone who’s ever hit a wall—whether during a run, a workday, or a personal struggle.
Because long-distance racing, like many battles in life, isn’t just about being strong. It’s about staying strong when everything in you wants to quit.
“Nandiyan na lahat ‘yong pressure, ‘yong pagod, kasi ‘yong mentality mo lumalaban na, ‘yong fighting spirit mo lumalaban pa rin.”
That inner fight—of doubt vs. discipline, fear vs. faith—is what separates those who stop from those who finish. And for Mendioro, the key lies in remembering your why.
“Ang tips ko lang talaga do’n, ‘wag panghinaan ng loob. Kung ika’y nagte-training, isipin mo na naghirap ka sa ginagawa mo, sa training mo, gawin mong motivation ‘yong enjoyment na lang.”
It’s advice not just for elite runners, but for anyone daring to take their first crack at a 10K, 21K—or even their first lap around the block.
Your preparation, your struggle, your small steps—they all count.
With reports from Maureen Muarip/One Sports