From being a track athlete competing in the 10,000 meters and steeplechase, Richard Solaño has now become one of the rising faces of Philippine marathon running.

His recent performance at the Tokyo Marathon proved that Filipino runners can compete on the world stage after breaking the national marathon record with a personal best time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 8 seconds.

He surpassed Eduardo Buenavista’s 2004 record of 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 44 seconds.

Despite the achievement, Solaño admitted that the journey was far from easy as he battled freezing weather, cramps, and physical exhaustion during the race.

Recalling the final kilometers, he shared a mindset that pushed him to continue despite the pain and pressure.

“Hanggang sa dumating yung 37 kilometer, tapos sabi ko, 37 kilometer na ito, titiisin ko na ito, andito na ako, paninindigan ko na ito… hanggang sa pagdating ng almost 40 kilometer, doon nagbago lahat. Ininda yung pagod na yung katawan, kumbaga sagad na rin kasi. Bali, personal best kasi ’yon… nagkaroon na rin ng pulikat,” he shared.

The marathon runner emphasized that discipline and consistent training played a major role in his success.

According to him, “Hindi mo naman masabi na ikaw talaga yung malakas kasi wala namang talagang malakas na runner. Nakukuha lahat ’yan sa ensayo. Kung masipag ka talaga, makukuha at makukuha mo talaga.”

As he encourages aspiring athletes to trust the process and continuously improve through hard work, Solaño also highlighted the mental strength needed in marathon running.

“Hindi lang katawan ang tine-train, isip din talaga,” he explained, emphasizing that runners must constantly challenge themselves mentally.

Beyond personal achievements, Solaño hopes to inspire more Filipinos to believe they can compete internationally. Through his story, he continues to remind young athletes to challenge themselves and never be afraid to pursue their dreams, proving that determination and perseverance can bring Filipino talent to the global stage.