My First Runniversary

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How fast time flies, and today marks my first anniversary as a runner and a racer. How did I get into running? Most of my friends in the running community already know the answer since I have always been vocal about it. It may sound so trivial but what really got me into running was the singlet. I’ve seen people wearing it and I find it very cool.  During the first few runs, I only knew these few friends – Joy Ann, April, JR, Ms Aish, and Boss Mike. Ms Jie Mauricio, also a colleague, helped a lot in my initial trainings on how to improve on my mileage. (Please follow her blog http://jiemauricio.wordpress.com/).

Running is socializing. A couple of months later, I have come to know more runners and running enthusiasts through forums and in running events. It’s only then that I have come to understand what running is and how I can benefit from it.  Running not only keeps me fit but it’s also a way to make new friends and gel with your current friends. In no time, I have more friends that what I have expected.  This prompted me to create a Facebook group called THe RuNNeR’S WoRLD to make communication easier. Later, friends of friends have invited their circle of running friends into the group.  The group became an online hub for runners where they can share their ideas, best running practices, running events, send their well wishes and congratulate their fellow runners, or simply catch up on each other.

All these started with a single step when a colleague of mine invited me to join her in a 3k fun run on March 13, 2011 at McKinley Hill. That one race led to another, until I was joining a running event practically every week. At that time, I would do my practice runs twice or thrice a week at Marikina Sports Park – in the morning on weekdays and in the evening on weekends.  The 3k runs then became 5k runs, then 10k and 15k/ 16k runs. Three months after my first race, I ran my first ever Half Marathon. Despite the preparations, I had my own share of the pains in running. I had side stitch, suffered a lot of leg and muscle cramps that I had to walk for the most part of the last four kilometers.  This is when I realized that in running, being physically prepared is not enough. One must also be emotionally and psychologically prepared. Yet, I have made it to the finish line.  Whatever I went through during the two and a half hour ordeal on the road paid off when I receive my first 21k medal and the finisher’s shirt.

Running is a challenge. Perhaps I was pushing myself a little too hard to achieve something. Something that other runners have prepared themselves for a long time.  A month later, I finished my first Full Marathon.  It was the 35th National Milo Marathon.  I was aiming for 3:45 finish but due to muscle cramps, I finished the race in 4 hours 46 minutes.  I was really in bad shape by the time I reached 27th kilometer.  But what got me going is my determination to make it to the finish line.  DNF did not exist then in my vocabulary, and to be honest, I never thought that it ever existed. I just heard of it later on. I never gave up despite my condition.  Fellow runners didn’t fail to boost my energy and motivate me to keep going.

Running teaches. It has taught me the virtue of perseverance, sportsmanship, respect, patience, humility and self – discipline. Running taught me how to value friendship more.  Running gives me the courage to discover new routes and take on new challenges. Whenever I run alone, I get to ponder on many things concerning my life; back track on decisions that have gone wrong and what could have made them right the first time.  I get to appreciate the nature more, particularly when I participate in out of town running events.

Running is charity. We run for a cause. Various races have been organized to help the victims of natural calamities, and to help build the communities and the environment. There’s Run for Japan, Rescue Run, Todo Rescue, NatGeo run which aimed to help the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, Run for Heroes, National Milo Marathon, Solidarity Run, Tanay Love a Tree, etc. This is one way to give back to the community in our own little way. A portion of the registration fee you paid to get a slot in a racing event goes to a charitable organization that is being supported by a particular event. You get a singlet, a finisher’s shirt and a medal (for 21k runners), loot bags, you had fun, and you are able to share whatever you have to those less fortunate.

Running is a community. Now, you don’t have to run alone. You have Pinoyfitness, THe RuNNeRS’ WoRLD, The Wednesday Group by Runnr BHS,  Ok – OK Runners, A Runner’s Circle, Web on The Run, RKK, Adination of Runners, Team USB, Team Titans, and other running groups. These are the groups that aim to solidify the runners and running enthusiasts to foster friendship and camaraderie.

Running is FUN. In more ways that one, running is more fun. It can be described in three words: Fun.Unparalleled.Non-negotiable. The excitement or nervousness before the run; natural high, the pains, bonding, laughs, stories, jump shots, look backs, endless flash es and clicks of the cameras, thumbs up, high fives, challenges while running; triumph in winning or finishing the race — all these form part of the great experience you get after each run. You have friends motivating you to keep going when you feel like quitting, friends to cheer you up when your ‘hitting the wall’ and the route gets boring, the loudest cheers, the handshakes, pats on the back and the congratulatory remarks at the finish line are priceless.

It’s been a great year since my first run. I have great friends because I RUN. I have done my first 3k, 5k, 10k, 15 and 16k runs, my first 21k and 25k runs, and my first Full Marathon; done my first Sub2 for 21k, set PR’s; and I have even gone out of town just to race. Now, I just don’t run, I host as well. I have learned and improved, and I will keep on improving, because of the running clinics that I attend and with the help of  the selfless coaches and trainers. And I will definitely payback the running community soon.

Today, I did a 3k run to commemorate my first anniversary in running. There’ll be more runs to come.

Running is Life. Live it.
Running is a Lifestyle. Love it.
Running is Passion. Embrace it.

And it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish the race, just make it to the finish line.

Happy running!