ARSENIO BALISACAN: A marathoner and economic planner

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, a long-distance runner, initially thought the Vancouver Marathon last year would be his last.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

But after finishing the marathon within his targeted time, he said he plans to participate in another one this year.

He said he was expecting to complete the marathon in five hours and 30 minutes, but finished it at five hours and 15 minutes.

"That felt so good," he said.

"I'm no longer young. Before, I would aim for less than five (hours)," he said.

The head of the country's premier economic planning body said joining a marathon is not so different from his work at the NEDA.

Just like long distance running, which requires discipline, will, determination and clarity on what one wants to accomplish, Balisacan said policy work and planning to get the economy moving at a faster pace involves putting in a lot of effort.

"Running is a discipline, especially long distance running. When you're preparing for a marathon, 42 kilometers, that's quite a lot of preparations that you have to do, months of conditioning yourself mentally, physically because you're out there finishing a 42k. It's like punishing yourself, but euphoria once you complete it," he said.

Balisacan got into running in his mid-20s as he was doing his dissertation at the University of Hawaii.

Struggling with how the chapters and narrative would look like, he took a walk along Waikiki, which was near the campus and saw a group of runners.

"They had a running club. It was open so I listened. Then, I joined them.

That started my immersion," he said.

While he joined the group, which had marathoners who provided beginners with good advice, he said he would run alone most of the time early in the morning to clear his mind.

But as some thoughts would come to mind while running, he said he always brought a small notebook with him to write down the ideas that pop out and make sure not to forget.