Team Bo: A Family of Runners

The family that RUNS together… stays together.

So believes the Botabara family or Team Bo. Everyone in the family of four is into running and we are not talking just about simple short distances. All of them have at least a marathon in their credentials, and they often do it running together on the same event.

Meet the running family

Dr. Sherwin Tommy P. Botabara, a 48-year old offshore doctor and his wife Elaine, a 43-year old general manager of two restaurants has shared their passion for running to their children – Tommy, 16, and Teddy, 14.

Sherwin is currently working in Ivory Coast West Africa, while Elaine also has a background in the field of medicine being a registered nurse. Their son Tommy will be a college freshman this coming school year, while Teddy is turning Grade 8 at the Pasay City Adventist Academy.

How it all began

Team Bo attributed their family’s love for running to their patriarch – Sherwin, who was diagnosed with asthma when he was still in high school. He followed the advice of their family doctor and started running to strengthen his cardio.

Instead of letting his medical condition control his life, he took it as a welcome challenge. At the age of 14, he became the youngest finisher during the 1^st Manila International Marathon 1982. Sherwin now runs on ultramarathon events – with 200 kilometers as his longest distance.

The Botabara family has acquired his passion for running and to this day they “love running, anytime, anywhere.”

“Running is a simple sport.  Besides the health benefits we get from running, it can also be fun when you run with your friends and your family members. We hope that in our simple way of running as a family, we can inspire others to value their health,” said Sherwin.

Encouraging one another during runs

In April 2014, Team Bo has accomplished one of their most cherished memory by running the Mayon 80-kilometers ultramarathon – where all of their members finishing in the cut-off time. A year before, on February 2013 they achieved their first full marathon at the Condura Skyway Marathon, which signaled their advancement to ultramarathons.

Elaine, who had her 2nd full marathon during the Condura event, remained the light of Team Bo during the tumultuous distance. “We were able to know and feel each other’s pains, hardships and weakness, but through it all, it was the loving support that each of us had to offer along the course… our kids almost gave up… but as parents, we never gave up on them.”

Teddy and Tommy are also counted one as of the youngest marathon runners every time Team Bo participates in an event. Teddy, their bunso, started joining fun runs at the age of seven. He started joining marathons at the age of 12. While his kuya Tommy, like his father, also started his first marathon at age 14.

Training as a family

It is not only during the event that this family runs. Despite different schedules they make sure to train together. Some of their favorite running grounds include the CCP complex (during the night) and at the BGC area. They also do strength and conditioning training in a fitness gym in Makati.

We never run alone

The Botabara couple admitted that there are times that their sons outpace them. However, they never let one family member to go alone during the race. If all four Team Bo member cannot run together throughout the whole race, they always make sure to run in pairs so that they can get encouragement and support from one another.

“We take it as a time to have fun, and at the same time know more about our strengths and weakness as individuals. We experience the hardships, the pain (physical and emotional) But as a family, we overcome those obstacles by sticking together, not giving up and by encouraging each other,” Sherwin said.

“We do not compete. Our main goal is to finish the run together. Besides the health benefits, the moments of spending time together while running as a family is priceless,” he added.