“It’s Showtime” host and actress Kim Chiu suffered muscle cramps during a duathlon event she recently participated in. But upon the advice of a fellow cyclist, she was able to continue and eventually finished the race.
Chiu talked about her experience during the race on her Instagram page yesterday, Dec. 13, while also showing photos from the competition.
“Some may ask ‘why am I doing this?’ I always tell them, I just want to know myself even more. How far can I go, physically and mentally,” she said. “I enjoy the camaraderie inside the course between people who don’t know each other but supporting one another. People who don’t know you but motivates you to reach your goal, to finish the race.”
Chiu joined the duathlon despite her “minimal training.” She admitted that she wanted to give up during the race as it became very difficult at some point, and she struggled due to factors like the scorching heat and the uphill terrain. What made it even more excruciating was her first time to experience “hardcore cramps on both calves.”
It was so painful that she could not pedal anymore. It happened several times, leading her to think she might not be able to finish the race.
“I slowed down coz it’s so painful ang tigas na talaga ng binti ko (my legs were really hard), then someone passed by me and said: ‘go, Kim, don’t stop!’ Then I shouted, ‘ayaw ko na, nag cramps ako’ (I can’t take it anymore, I got cramps). Then she came back and gave me gel. Then left. So I took it and pedaled myself to finish the bike course,” she recalled.
She also experienced stomach cramps during the final 5-kilometer run.
“Had side stomach cramps throughout the run but I still pushed myself and told myself to ‘finish the race, finish the race!!’ And just like that!!!!! I am a standard duathlon finisher,” she proudly said.
Chiu likened her experience to life in general, believing that “there is never an easy road for us to reach our goal, we have to remain focused, calm, and know what our goal is, why are we doing this.”
“There may be obstacles that we encounter but know that someone will help you along the way, you just have to keep going and never give up because at the end of the day, [it] is you [versus] you and no one else. Just like what #missuniverse2021 said, you are the leader of your life. You are the voice of your own,” Chiu advised her fans, and reminding them of the words of Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu. “Be you and do you. A strong mind is a Strong Body.” JB
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