When Micko signed up for the RSC Marathon Project, he wasn’t new to running.

For more than two years, he had been logging kilometers, joining races, and building his fitness. But as he set his sights on his first marathon, he knew that experience alone wouldn’t be enough. The marathon has a way of exposing every weakness in a runner’s preparation. It demands patience, consistency, and a level of discipline that few other race distances require. Micko understood that if he wanted to give himself the best chance of success, he needed structure.

“I decided to join the Run Soleus Project because I needed proper guidance and structure as I prepared for my first marathon,” he said. That decision would eventually lead him to the finish line of the Galaxy Manila Marathon on June 13, where he completed his first 42.2-kilometer race in under 5 hours and 45 minutes.

Looking back, Micko says the biggest surprise wasn’t the finish time. It was how much he still had to learn despite already being an experienced runner. “Even though I have been running for more than two years, I still learned a lot through Coach Yan’s program, especially in terms of training consistency, pacing, recovery, and race preparation.”

Like many runners preparing for a major goal race, Micko initially focused on completing workouts. Over time, he began to understand the purpose behind them. Easy runs were meant to stay easy. Recovery mattered as much as hard sessions. Long runs weren’t simply about covering distance but about building the endurance needed to handle the marathon.

The program itself was straightforward. What made the difference was the consistency. “His program includes a balanced mix of easy runs, speed workouts, and long runs, all structured with a clear purpose,” Micko explained. “You simply need to trust the process and execute the training consistently.”

One aspect of the coaching relationship stood out throughout the training block: communication.

After every workout, Micko could reach out, review the session, and receive feedback on what went well and what needed improvement.
“The after-workout check-ins are straightforward and effective. The feedback he provides every run helps me identify areas for improvement and gives me confidence heading into the next training cycle.”

That confidence grew as the weeks passed. By the second month of training, the numbers were already showing clear progress. Micko’s easy pace improved from around 7:30 min/KM to approximately 6:50 min/KM while maintaining an average heart rate between 140 and 144 beats per minute. For runners, that’s often one of the clearest indicators that aerobic fitness is improving. He wasn’t simply running faster. He was running more efficiently. “That improvement alone speaks volumes about the effectiveness of his coaching approach,” he said.
Equally important was how the progress was achieved.

Rather than chasing aggressive mileage or constantly pushing hard, the training load was adjusted to match his current fitness level. “He makes sure that the training load matches your current fitness level, which helps prevent overtraining while still allowing steady progress,” Micko said. “The training stress is carefully managed so that your body has enough time to recover, adapt, and become stronger after every cycle.”

Months later, those adaptations would be put to the test. The Galaxy Manila Marathon is not an easy debut marathon. The route’s long stretches and rolling climbs along EDSA can punish runners who go out too fast or arrive underprepared. For first-timers, simply reaching the finish line is an achievement.

Micko did more than that. He crossed the line in under 5:45 and officially became a marathoner.

“Completing my first marathon was a major milestone,” he said. “With the uphills and challenge of the EDSA route, finishing under 5:45:00 as a first-time marathoner is something I’m really proud of. The accomplishment validated months of work that often went unnoticed. The early mornings. The recovery runs. The workouts completed when motivation was low. The discipline required to keep showing up week after week.

For Micko, that’s where the true value of the experience lies. “I would definitely recommend Coach Yan, his coaching program, and the RSC community to any runner who wants to level up their performance, reach their running goals, and become the best version of themselves as an athlete.”

There is, however, one thought he can’t help but have when he reflects on the journey.

“Looking back, I only wish I had started training with Coach Yan earlier. I believe I could have unlocked even greater improvements and achieved a faster marathon finish time.” Still, there is no disappointment in that statement. If anything, it reflects the mindset that helped him reach the marathon finish line in the first place: the belief that there is always room to grow.

His first marathon may be behind him, but the runner who crossed that finish line on June 13 is stronger, smarter, and more confident than the one who began the training block months earlier.

For Micko, becoming a marathoner was never just about completing 42.2 kilometers.

It was about discovering what consistent training, proper guidance, and trust in the process can make possible.