The Beginning

I started taking running seriously in 2010. I didn't mean to when I started trying it out, but it... grew on me.

I've been an athlete for most of my life and running is usually part of our training programme so I didn't think much about it. So I didn't quite understand the growing fascination about it. You see, that was the time when the running craze in the Philippines was brewing (it would eventually explode within the next two years). So my initial thoughts were that I was going to get bored of it easily and will quit it after a short time. Well, I was very wrong in thinking that wasn't I?

The First Time

I think it was around February of that year when it occurred to me that I was spending too much of my spare time doing mostly nothing. It was all getting into my head and I just needed a good distraction or else the inactivity will eventually drive me crazy.

So I unearthed my old pair of rubber shoes (those weren't even proper running shoes), put them on, and went out to run. And it felt good.

I ran from the condominium I was staying at until the entrance gate of the compound and then back - that was around 3 KM. I would do it again in the morning in the following days and try to beat my time
  on the previous one. I did not have a coach, I wasn't properly trained, I just ran the only way I knew then. I had no worries about injuries or getting proper running apparel either. It was all about the road and me and how much further I can push myself, by myself.

Getting Into The Groove

After getting used to my 3KM route, I would go round again to cover some more distance and then kept adding to that later on. Sometimes, I would alternate running with swimming several laps for an hour at the community pool just to get some variety. These were all easy to prepare for and I didn't need to pay anything extra to do these activities, it was so awesome! I got my adrenaline fix for the cost of almost nothing!

Running felt really good because I did not need to think or worry about anything else other than finishing and getting back to my unit before 7am so that I have enough time to prepare for work. I felt better about myself and I had something to look forward to every day.

Running at the UP Oval

I've had a friend who was already in too deep with running around the same time I was just beginning to get my head around it. I told her that I've started jogging in the mornings and later on she would invite me to my first run around the infamous UP Academic Oval. I was astounded with the huge crowd that was also in attendance that day. There were just... a lot of people there, running and/or walking alone or with their friends, family members or pets. A LOT of people.

One circuit round the oval is about 2.2KM. We were able to go round twice (with a water break in between) without much incident. It felt good to be part of a community. You don't stand the risk of getting singled out, everyone treated you with respect regardless of your pace or what you're wearing, and you also won't feel discriminated whatever your age, gender or status in life may be. There's real democracy on the road where runners come to flock because it was all about running and nothing else.

I think that's about the same time I finally let myself fall in love with running...