It wasn't easy — especially for a survivor of tuberculosis.
But after months of running 25 to 30 miles a day, Joy Rojas completed her Takbong Pangarap (Hope Run) run from Los Angeles to New York City.
Running with her trainer, Mat Macabe, who underwent open-heart surgery last year, Rojas decided to challenge herself with this Trans USA to benefit a Division of the Philippine Heart Center and the Anti-TB Program of the Rotary Inner Wheel Club, District 378.
"They said it couldn't be done, but with hard work, determination, commitment, endless prayers, and the help of so many people, running across America, and any dream for that matter, can be achieved," Rojas said.
The journey covered more than 3,000 miles, including a variety of extra challenges. Elevations reached 8,000 feet in some place, and 100 degree weather scorched the back of her neck in others.
Rojas also completed the Trans-USA run despite missing two months while recovering from a stress fracture in the left side of her pelvis, an injury sustained during the middle of her journey.
"Now, I'm just going to put my feet up if you know what I mean," Rojas told the Asian Journal after completing her mission. "The last month and a half was difficult. We only had one rest day because we were trying to complete the run by Thanksgiving, and before the snow started coming. We maximized each day. Now, I just want to rest. I demanded so much from my body."
Rojas began her run at the Eagle Rock Plaza in Los Angeles in April and arrived at the Philippine Consulate in New York City on Sunday, November 22.
What began as a charity run to raise money to fight tuberculosis and heart disease became a fire of inspiration for Filipinos and Americans across the nation.
Rojas is a survivor of tuberculosis herself. She encountered Filipinos and Americans who welcomed her and her trainer Mat Macabe.
There was a Filipino in Colorado who cooked the two of them a venison meal. Strangers offered water as the two of them ran across the Midwestern heartland of America. FilAms in Kansas City and Washington, D.C., celebrated their arrival.
The run was Rojas' first cross-country trip through the U.S., and she says it taught her a lot about the friendliness of the people.
"My run broke all of my stereotypes that I had about Americans," she said.
"The only thing we knew about America was what we see on TV, and what our friends told us. They would say Americans are loud and (they) bully you."
Rojas has a different perspective now.
"We found no such thing," she said. "They are very kind — if you ask them for help, they will help you. They are very friendly. That was such an eye opener."
It's less than a month since Rojas crossed that New York finish line and she admits, yet she says that she already misses being on the road.
"For me, this was part of my life," she said. "I can't believe, I actually put it together made it happen and now I can't believe it's over."
Takbong Pangarap
Takbong Pangarap/Trans-USA Run 2009 is the project title of the 5,000 kilometer cross-country run across the United States of America to be attempted by Joy Rojas. Joy is the first Filipina to have run across the Philippines and the first Southeast Asian woman to have crossed the US.
The Takbong Pangarap team has relied on donations, volunteer assistance and a few corporate sponsorships notably Western Union. The team also had help from Filipinos all over the world will extend their help to Takbong Pangarap whether by donating to the project or spreading the word about the run.
Joseph Pimentel is a writer for Asian Journal.
Photo from Asian Journal.
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