This is a long overdue blog post that I have been meaning to write since I attended the launch of Multisport's Running 101. During the event, Multisport EIC Patrick Joson asked us why we are into running.

To my surprise, I could not find the perfect words to describe how and why I decided to give it a chance.

I was never into sports. I think I've shared that in this blog time and again. During my high school days, I envied my classmates who were excused from our classes so they can play volleyball or badminton for school activities during intrams. But that envy did not progress into anything else -- like wanting to give it a try. I guess I only envied them because one of the perks was skipping classes.

My poor regards for engaging in sports continued and possibly worsened as time passed by.

During my second year in college, we were asked by our professor to sign up for the activity we wish to join for the intrams. Would you believe that I signed up to be part of the -- audience? Haha. So there I was, cheering for my classmates, eating in the gym's bleacher and having a good time.

It was my weight issue that alarmed me and pushed me to live a more active lifestyle. But I was lost. Since I do not know how to play any sports, I did not know where to begin. Until a roommate gave us free passes to a 5K race of 711 run back in 2012.

We trained hard for that 5K race. Everyday, me and my running buddy Shiela would wake up at 5:00 a.m. to jog at the CCP grounds. It was very difficult. I would run and then walk every 100 meters. But I eventually improved. Like a snail, I worked hard no matter how slow my progress was.

Running, after all, was a kind of sports that required the least hand-eye coordination. I don't need to hit a ball or go running after a shuttlecock. All I needed to do was to run, run and run. How can I possibly go wrong?

After crossing the finish line during my first ever 5K race, I was very ecstatic. I was tired but relaxed in a way. It was like getting a perfect score for an Algebra quiz and possibly even better. I was committed to experience that kind of "high" in the soonest possible time. And so I joined more races and trained harder.

One of the most obvious benefits of running is losing weight. But for that to take place, proper diet should accompany running. I committed the same mistake during my first few months of running. I used running as an excuse to eat more and I became heavier. So that's a big no-no.

Running also improved my sleeping habits. Though, too bad, I also have a hard time finishing my articles because as soon as the clock strikes 10 p.m., my eyes would start to droop. It also provided me a personal space and most of the time, while running, I get to go through my problems and think of possible solutions.

Here's a funny video I found this morning:


Running has become a big part of my life right now. Sometimes, I think I am crabbier whenever I don't get to run at least once a week, especially when I have a very tight schedule. I hope you'll find running as interesting as I do. 
For now, task completed.

We knew it would end up in chaos but we signed for it anyway.

After the 7-11 run, the first thing Mike and Shiela asked was when are we going to run next. On that same day, Mike found out about Cafe France Run for Good Health. We signed up nearly a week later.

Mike said the staff from Karate Kid, where runners can sign up, didn't know a single information about the run. As for the racing kit, very few information was there. There was no website dedicated for it -- aside from the details posted in SwimBikeRun.ph. He warned me that it could turn out to be "chaotic."

We had to wait for more than an hour in the CCP complex for the program to start. The racing kit says we have to be there by 4:00 a.m. but we were told to gather near the arch by past 5:00 a.m. In between, no emcee or any staff from the Cafe France informed the participating runners what time it would start.

The emcee turned out to be stressful. He reminded (no, scolded) the 10K runners for 10 times, both in English and in Filipino, that they need to pass on their second loop in the left side of the road -- not through the Gatorade arch.

It was also difficult to run during the start of the race. We were standing next to each other, shoulder-to-shoulder unlike the 7-11 run, where we were reminded persistently that we needed to be at least one-arm-raised apart.

Everything went well during the run itself. Staff were all around the route guiding the runners which way to go. BRAVO!

But what I didn't like most was the crowd control in the finish line. Runners who finished early were all standing there, blocking the timer. As a result, I didn't get my official time. My watch tells me though that I finished the run somewhere between 42-44 minutes.

Despite this, I am very happy that we joined and finished the run. It was very fulfilling. Plus, I got through Junjun Alas. Hehe.

Task completed.

I wanted to run this morning. It was, however, raining. But who am I to complain, right?

Many Filipinos lost their homes because of the recent strong rains that brought about heavy flooding in various towns and cities in Mindanao.

Photo grabbed from swimbikerun.ph

Not to mention that most of them were also heavily devastated by Typhoon Pablo last December. The town of Cateel in Davao Oriental is once again under state of calamity.

As far as I know, victims of Typhoon Pablo received a lot of donations both from local and international donors. But, at least based from news I am getting, it seems that victims were not able to get it. They held a protest action the other day but government officials called it as mere propaganda. Yeah, right.

My prayers are with you. Hope these people won't be victimized twice by natural and man-made disasters such as these.

I really hope this gloomy weather will end soon. Of course, aside from my prayers for my fellow Filipinos, I also want to start training for my 5K run on Saturday. I just got my singlet earlier this evening. (Disclaimer: Sorry, I'm too lazy to take a photo of it so I just grabbed the photo above from a site. Hehe.)

I am so excited. Task completed.