ONE STEP AT A TIME.
That has always been Mench Dizon's mantra ever since she fell in love with running. Throughout her journey, Mench has accomplished numerous accolades.
As the country manager of Yield Guild Games (YGG), Mench launched a major project, raising Php7 million to establish a new digital education center for the Sisters of Mary School.
But her crowning moment came when she made history as the first Filipina to complete both the World Marathon Challenge and World Marathon Majors. In a test of stamina and willpower, running in areas like Antarctica, Mench conquered 7 marathons on 7 continents in just 7 days.
Such an experience could be overwhelming and burdensome, yet Mench managed to defy the odds and complete the challenge…one step at a time.
Mench wasn't sporty to begin with
Despite her marathon feats, Mench wasn't exposed to athletic activities during her youth.
"Well, I didn't have a sporty childhood. I grew up in Baguio, I was born and raised there. It's interesting because many of the top runners in the country hail from that part of the country where they could capitalize on its altitude," Mench revealed in an exclusive with SPIN.ph.
Mench grew up in a challenging environment, immersed in a 'hustle' culture. Due to her background, she entered a prestigious university as a financial scholar.
It was also in university where she discovered her passion for sports, which evolved further when she entered the corporate world.
"I was new in my company back then, I was from AyalaLand, and usually when you're new you're volun-told, right? You join these competitions or, in this case, it's called the Ayala Olympics. So I was forced to join and participate on behalf of my department, and I remember the practices were held at the top of the parking lots," she recalled.
She further elaborated: "I was going through a quarter-life crisis, young people thinking about their purpose in life. I started feeling a bit tired from work, so I needed to do something just for myself, so I decided to get serious about running."
She ran her first marathon pregnant
Eventually, she started competing in local 5-10K runs. Then came 2008, when she promised to sign up for a marathon. The closest one she could find was the Singapore Marathon.
It was memorable, not just because it was her first, but also because she ran with a developing fetus.
"I ran my first marathon when I was 8 weeks pregnant, but I made sure that I had everything checked with my doctor prior to doing it because I was training and I only found out I was pregnant towards the end of my training."
Luckily for Mench, her doctor was progressive and gave her the go-ahead. By the time she crossed the finish line, Mench was overwhelmed with emotions.
"The added pressure, being sensitive of my body, I was carrying a special gift, but it was also exhilarating and, in a way, it's a celebration of the training that I was doing. There was a cocktail of emotions coursing through me. To be honest, I never felt more alive, and it's the same feeling when I cross the line in any marathon."
And because it was her first, she realized one important lesson: 'marathons are special.'
"The energy of other runners will course through you, that everyone is doing their best. That energy will surround you upon crossing the finish line, and it is so immense that you can't help it. Ako, I still cry every single time I cross the finish line."
But beyond that, she discovered a reflection that would mold her life.
"It's the same lesson that I keep on remembering until now, it's just a step and a kilometer at a time. When you chop it into smaller pieces, it actually becomes much easier, it's less overwhelming, it becomes more enjoyable going through small victories."
Chasing the ultimate dream
Her experience was life-changing, and as years went by, Mench joined a plethora of marathons. But there was one that haunted her dreams: the World Marathon Challenges, where runners are tasked to test their endurance and willpower across 7 continents in 7 days.
"It's been on my mind since 2015 when I first heard about it, and I said to myself I'm going to do it in my life, but I didn't put a deadline because these are such big dreams," reflected Mench.
Every year, she would contact the organizers to see if there were slots, while also learning how to contend with the harsh challenges ahead.
Mench admitted that there were two massive hurdles in the marathon challenges, one of them being the weather conditions in Antarctica. She had to consult with veterans to deal with the harsh climate.
"Antarctica was the hardest because, obviously, coming from tropical Manila, we don't have the experience for the cold. There were so many variables there, if we're wearing the right layering, the winds are so strong, it's too cold. It was -5, we were told to prepare for the whole range of -25 degrees Celsius to positive 25."
To prepare for the southern pole, Mench traveled to Japan during December to test her gear. It may seem frightening for someone who hails from a tropical country to undergo the extreme cold of the Antarctic, but for Mench, there was something special about that experience.
"Imagine running in this beautiful winter wonderland, where it's sunny but it's also the stark white space, it's simply amazing," she revealed.
Other major challenges
It may be a dream to travel around the world and experience the beauty of each region, but it can also be a lonely experience, heightened by the nature of the World Marathon.
Besides Antarctica, Madrid was also an exhausting experience due to its terrain. To overcome the hurdles, she called her husband while running.
He didn't mind if Mench called him past midnight, as his presence boosted her morale.
"Madrid, being the halfway point and the marathon with uphills, downhills, and eight loops, messed with my mind that I really felt so spent. So the way I dealt with it, I called my husband. I knew it was different time zones (past midnight), but he kept me company as I went through the quiet loops of those races."
Breezing past the Antarctic and all the way to the Spanish capital could give Mench a huge sigh of relief; however, as each race drew to an end, another one immediately popped up.
Slowly, the fatigue took its effect.
"It was really the lack of sleep because after every race, we scrambled to head back to the bus, heading to the airport, go through the process of immigration, get through the plane. The plane was basically our hotel. That was the only time where people were hoping for a longer flight. Normally, we want a short flight."
Reaching the finish line
Yet, despite all the difficulties, Mench conquered them all. This was something she wanted to test, and based on the results, she exceeded everything.
"I guess that's also one of the reasons, to be able to prove to myself that I can take on difficult things. With the work that I'm doing, with the mission we're doing, I think I need the capacity and the confidence that I can take on difficult situations, conversations, bigger challenges."
But she couldn't have done this without the supporting cast that aided her in chasing her lifelong dream.
"It was special because I ran with my husband. He has always been supportive ever since I started. He said yes to me running while pregnant without any complaints, and now he remains a partner and supporter in everything I do."
Although he couldn't finish the race, his presence and a crucial sacrifice pushed Mench to greater heights.
"That was the culmination of a dream we had together. He didn't run the entire marathon, he ran the last 10K, and he was thankful because he came in at that time. Because if he came in halfway through, he would have run half a marathon and he said, I might end up dragging him along," mentioned the YGG Pilipinas country head.
And because of the nature of this marathon, there were so many emotions that consumed her.
"We finished the race together, and that was very, very special. The flood of emotions, having someone there to finally catch you after you held yourself, being able to finally let go, all that fatigue, all those emotions, was such a relief, so it was a special moment."
Finally, she accomplished her lifelong dream, and Mench only had one thing on her mind the moment she finished all 7 marathons.
"I just wanted to sleep or have a proper meal where I didn't have to rush through. Basically, having a regular day. I miss having an ordinary day."
Another marathon
Her wish was finally granted, as Mench could finally return home with a lot of pride, knowing that she had fulfilled the biggest dream in her life and overcame all the struggles she had faced.
But in life, challenges often resurface, and this was seen the moment she returned to her mission: helping Filipinos. Being raised in a poor family, Mench wished to open up opportunities for Filipinos to learn skills that could potentially change lives, hence why she devoted a lot of her time and effort to aid the Sisters of Mary.
"The focus is schools because this is where kids get their initial skills to get to the next level. We chose Sisters of Mary. These kids are the best and brilliant kids from all over the country and they're housing a boarding school but everyone is a scholar."
Under YGG Pilipinas, the organization aspires to provide the foundations for the marginalized community through technology.
"We provide them with the tools and the skills so that even if they don't step into college, they have vocational skills that they could use to participate in Web3 community, in AI projects, and any digital skills or work that's available out there."
Mench further expounded: "These tools would allow our fellow Pinoys to just stay here in the Philippines instead of venturing out of the country because they're forced to leave the family since there are no opportunities."
"Our mission is to bring those opportunities here so that even those from Davao or from Cagayan de Oro can work from there, without the need to go to the big cities or go out of the country to support their families."
"It's a daunting task, it can get overwhelming, but the things I've learned from running, I apply them."
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