Camille Naredo

Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. Photo courtesy of Calleja

Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport.

Article (news)

marathon

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775052314271Andrea Calleja 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. Photo courtesy of Calleja" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. <em>Photo courtesy of Calleja</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Andrea Calleja, a longtime runner and former triathlete who survived a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2019, is set to complete her World Marathon Majors journey this year at the Boston Marathon -- a race she says now carries a meaning far beyond sport. </p><p>Calleja experienced the life-threatening medical emergency just days after she completed the Chicago Marathon in October 2019. </p><p>“Technically, wala akong maaalala. Kasi when it ruptured, I was on the flight back to Manila from Chicago. I just finished the Chicago Marathon, and I was really feeling bad during the flight,” Calleja told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>She said she had a layover in Narita before flying back to Manila, where her condition worsened. </p><p>“But during that time, talagang nag-pass out na ako. So they think I was just sleeping. Siyempre, nagigising-gising ako. But then from the airport, I went straight to the ER already,” she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/4/17/maricel-laxa-daughter-hannah-complete-boston-marathon-together-1408"><strong>Maricel Laxa, daughter Hannah complete Boston Marathon together </strong></a> </div><p>Calleja said she was initially sent home from the emergency room, but later suffered a seizure and was rushed back to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had a ruptured brain aneurysm. </p><p>“The doctors actually said, patay o gulay. Because 50-50 na talaga ‘pag nag-rupture iyong aneurysm,” she said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>LONG RECOVERY</strong> </div><p>Following the rupture, Calleja said she underwent coiling and faced months of severe physical and neurological difficulties, including memory problems, vision loss, and an inability to walk. </p><p>“Everyday, para nag-reset iyong mind ko. So, para siyang 50 First Dates. So, that happened for the next two months,” she said. </p><p>“Iyong ulo ko, punung-puno ng blood. So, noong na-drain siya, doon lang nakita na medyo bumalik na sa normal. But, I was blind. I cannot walk. Talagang, I had to depend on somebody for the next two months, nung time na yun,” she added. </p><p>Doctors later told her that her life would no longer be the same. </p><p>“And then, after four months, noong check-up ko, sabi ng doctor, forget about your life before kasi ibang-iba na. Doon, medyo nakaka-depress talaga. Parang at the age of 39, lola na ako. Parang nakahiga na lang ako. I have to depend on somebody else for my everyday life,” she said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RETURN TO RUNNING</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17750523494911774942474910473.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. Photo courtesy of Calleja" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. <em>Photo courtesy of Calleja</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Calleja said she found hope during the pandemic after connecting online with fellow brain aneurysm survivors, including athletes who had returned to sports after their own recoveries. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people-culture-events/2026/3/25/manila-marathon-2026-first-marathon-in-edsa-1440"><strong>Manila Marathon 2026: First marathon in EDSA</strong></a> </div><p>“Na-meet ko iyong community ng We Run With You. They are survivors na they are still doing what they were used to be doing before the rupture, which is actually triathlon,” she said. </p><p>She later consulted another neurosurgeon, who she said encouraged her to keep working toward running again. </p><p>“When I asked him, I just want to know, can I run again? He said, we will make you run again. And that gave me hope,” she said. </p><p>Calleja&#x27;s recovery took three years and included eye surgery, walking rehabilitation, and carefully monitored physical activity. </p><p>She eventually returned to marathon racing, completing the Tokyo Marathon in 2023 and the London and Sydney marathons in 2024.</p><div> </div><div><strong>BOSTON AS FINAL MAJOR</strong> </div><p>Boston will serve as the final leg of Calleja&#x27;s World Marathon Majors journey, which began after she first ran the New York Marathon in 2016. </p><p>Boston, she said, had long been one of her biggest goals. </p><p>“Boston kasi is the hardest to get among all the major marathons because you have to qualify. And for my age group, it’s 3.30, 3 hours 30 minutes. And I wanted to do that in 2019, but then it happened, my ruptured aneurysm happened,” she said. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/2/21/running-milo-marathon-celebrates-50th-year-with-deped-partnered-champ-run-1559"><strong>Running: MILO Marathon celebrates 50th year with DepEd-partnered ‘Champ Run’ </strong></a> </div><p>She eventually secured a slot through the Road to Majors lottery for runners pursuing their final major star. </p><p>“And then came the road to majors lottery. If it’s your fifth or sixth star already, there’s 100 to 150 slots yata and they will pick. And I got in. Out of thousands of hopefuls na makakuha ng slot na iyon, I was able to get for this year. So that would be my last and final star,” she shared.</p><div> </div><div><strong>ADVOCACY AND FAITH</strong> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775052368652Berlin 2019.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. Photo courtesy of Calleja" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipina marathoner Andrea Calleja, who survived a brain aneurysm in 2019 to return to the sport. <em>Photo courtesy of Calleja</em></span></span></span></div><p>Beyond running, Calleja said she has also volunteered with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, which she credited for helping her emotionally during recovery. </p><p>“I volunteered with Brain Aneurysm Foundation, of course, to raise funds for them for awareness. And they helped me a lot during my recovery days,” she said. </p><p>“They gave me hope. I saw that there are people struggling and they were there to support me emotionally, not physically because they’re all in the States but online,” she added. </p><p>Calleja said she now treats each race as a way to encourage others facing serious health struggles. </p><p>“I really run for those who can’t,” she said. “There are people struggling on their beds somewhere else in the world and I want to give them hope na hindi ka nag-iisa, kaya mo ‘to, keep the faith.&quot;</p>

<p>Andrea Calleja, a longtime runner and former triathlete who survived a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2019, is set to complete her World Marathon Majors journey this year at the Boston Marathon, a race she says now carries a meaning far beyond sport.</p>

Andrea Calleja, a longtime runner and former triathlete who survived a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2019, is set to complete her World Marathon Majors journey this year at the Boston Marathon, a race she says now carries a meaning far beyond sport.

Runner Andrea Calleja eyes Boston Marathon after surviving brain aneurysm

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Runner Andrea Calleja eyes Boston Marathon after surviving brain aneurysm

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 01, 2026 11:50 PM PHT

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Andrea Calleja

Boston Marathon

Brain Aneurysm

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