My Story 6: Georlyn Atun

The Running Mom with Only One Kidney But Carries 4 Goals
by: LYN ATUN

I am a beginner in running. I have tried joining fun runs before but it was only this year that I have started being inspired seeing pack of runners crossing the Finish Line.

Some of the questions in my mind were: Can I do it also? Can I spare time for training? Can I find time to run?

I have prayed that let GOD’s will be done and I believe that HE would help me get through.

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I have kept HIS Holy Word in my heart as I run, “I can do all things through CHRIST who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)

I am a 24-hour mom to my 4 children (incoming grades 7,5,2 & a toddler). I am still breast feeding my youngest, she will be turning 3 this year. My husband is an OFW Mechanical Engineer working in Libya. We do not have a nanny but I see to it that before I face my race in the morning, I have already cooked breakfast and instructed my kids to fix their bedding, take breakfast, wash plates, look after “bunso” so that when I come back (most runs are done on Sunday mornings), we will be all ready to go to church. I drive my kids on Sunday mornings to the Word of Hope Christian Family Church. It’s around 9km away from home.

When we get back from the church, daily chores welcome me like (laundry, clean house, press clothes, etc.). But my kids help me with my chores especially this summer vacation.

Sometimes I find time jogging in the morning at the nearby plaza. If I wasn’t able to run in the morning, I take laps at the Oval of Amoranto sports center wherein I also play Table Tennis at its basement. Sometimes if my mom does not have an outreach ministry in the province, she looks after my kids while I’m away. When I come home, I’m handing over to her loot bags from the fun run.

My kids always believe in me. They see me as a winner every time I come home from a fun run. They would ask “what place did you get?” I bring home a Finisher’s medal and their eyes will smile. I am inspired by them and I believe in what their eyes say, “that I am a winner.”

My husband will say, “Congratulations!”. He supports me in my fun run activities.

I must admit that I had butterflies in my stomach before I faced my first 10Km race. I always do 3km runs and wasn’t able to try a 5km race yet. But through GOD’s grace, I was able to Finish my first 10km with PR time at 1:18:39.

I’m 41 years old and that even if I only have one kidney, I was able to run and conquer my fears. I’m a case of a Unilateral Renal Agenesis. (According to researchers, there is 1 out of 750 who are born with a single kidney, a condition known as Renal Agenesis) I was born with only 1 kidney at my left side while my right side is an empty space so that GOD may fill it with blessings & miracle of life within me.

I’m hoping for a farther distance in the days to come as I learn new things about running.

I am grateful to GOD for HIS blessings. I have the following goals in my heart as I run:
1. To glorify GOD (“whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” — 1 Corinthians 10:31)
2. To set an example to my children on passion and discipline (“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” —Proverbs 22:6)
3. To stay healthy (“do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” —1Corinthians 6:19)
4. To add collections of my happy souvenirs – finisher’s medal, certificates, singlets, race bibs, etc. (“I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” —2Timothy 4:7)

With the above 4 goals in my heart plus GOD’s strength, running becomes… happiness! My PB is yet to come! GOD bless!

MY FINISH LINE (A Poem about Running, By: LYN ATUN)

My legs and feet speak as I run
I feel free when I move forward
With the rising or setting of the sun
My lungs gasp for air upward

The wind kisses my cheeks
I hear the birds singing
Memories come in streaks
My heart is grinning

I don’t wish to think it’s far
Rather I keep my pace
Faster if I drive my car
I believe I’ll win this race

I can feel the muscle pain
Until when can I endure?
‘Tis the only way to gain
I will wait for the grandeur

It’s getting hot all over me
I need to quench this thirst
The hydration station I see
Hurry, before I even burst

I can view you from afar
Your sight gives me hope
My unreachable star
My goal, within your scope

Forget about the sweat
My medal will soon shine
I can do it! I bet!
You are my Finish Line

Written By: LYN ATUN
22nd of April 2013/11:10pm

“I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” — Philippians 3:12-14 (Good News Translation)

My FUN RUN Activities:

Finisher’s Medal—10km (6.2miles) Nurse Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines Diamond Run on 18th of May 2013 at the General Head Quarters Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Top-6 Female Finisher; Certificate of Participation—3k Run for Rebuilding of 7th Day Adventist Church on 5th of May 2013 at the CCP grounds.
Certificate of Participation—3k National Geographic Channel Earth Day Run 2013 at the Bonifacio Global City Taguig on 28th of April 2013
Finisher’s Medal—3K Takbo Para Sa Kabataang Pinoy-Philippine Pediatric Society’s 50th Annual Convention for the benefit of God’s Special Children Foundation on 16th of April 2013 at the CCP Complex
Finisher’s Medal—3K OFW Run (Run for our Nation’s Modern day Heroes) on 24th of March 2013, Quirino Grandstand Luneta Park, Manila
Finisher—-3k Bible Run 2, May They Be One Bible Run, 2013 Takbo ko: Biblia para sa Filipino at the Quirino Grandstand (9th of March 2013)
Finisher—-3k May They Be One BIBLE Run at the Quirino Grandstand for the mission to raise 5 million Bibles to 5 million families in 7years. (March 2012)
Finisher—-3k Fun run, Sports fest with Home builders Ministry for the Word of Hope Christian Family Church, 23rd Anniversary on August 2011
Finisher—-3k Fun run at Phil sports Complex on 09.11.11 for the 11 Sulit Smiles@5 (Sulit.com 5th Anniversary, for the benefit of 11 scholars, in partnership with World Vision)
Finisher—-The Christmas Cross Fun Run, 2.5k vertical fun run at SM City Sta. Mesa parking area and spiral on November 2011

– END – Socorro Georlyn Supleo-Atun, BSA, MBA (happy running mom)

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