Run, Just Because: Our First Fun Run

 

We cannot always travel for new experiences. However, there are still plenty of ways to garner new experience as well as new firsts. We have been on a journey where we try activities that give us some health benefits. For several weeks before and around May, we have been doing regular jogs at UP Diliman. We've always wondered how it feels running on an actual marathon. Fortunately, an opportunity to try this out came with the 5th PCCI Cares Fun Run for a Cause.

Registering for the Fun Run

We registered together online for the fun run more than a month before the event. Since it was our first ever fun run, we opted to sign up for the 5 km event. The registration fee for each person was Php 750  (+ processing fee and delivery fee) which already included the race kit to be delivered at a later date. The kit was delivered days before the event and included the singlet and race number with the stubs attached which can be used during the event.

Race kit inclusions

The race would take a place on a Saturday, 28 May with the 5 km event starting at 5:00 am.

Oh and there is a 1 km event where pet owners can run with their fur babies. Another reason for us to be excited for the event.

Some Preparations

We would regularly visit UP Diliman and take a jog around the Academic Oval. Initially, we would jog at a slower pace making some occasional sprints and peppered with walks in between. However once we signed up for the fun run, we decided to try improving our endurance by gradually completing laps. We tried running for a full lap between rests then upping the ante on the next week by adding half laps.

We would usually jog after sunset but as the weather becomes unpredictable and rains frequent in the afternoon, we switched our scheduled jogs to early in the morning.

Early morning at UP Diliman

The Day of the Fun Run

The week leading to the day of the marathon was an anxious one. Typhoon Betty (Mawar) had just entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was threating to bring rains on that weekend. Talk about a literal rain on our parade. We waited for any announcements from the organizers but as we haven't got any notices of event cancellation, we have no other recourse but wait for the day of the run.

We rose up early on a clear sky morning of 25 May. Fortunately, not a single drop of rain fell during our meet up and on our way to the venue at Liwasang UIalim by the Manila Bay. Unfortunately, bad stomach kicked in two days before so I had to load myself up with some loperamide.

The event place (which was not an unfamiliar location for the two of us) was already abuzz with the runners in their race attire and some by the stage area where a warm up program was being conducted.

Runners warming up

Among the participants were several dogs and at least one cat brought along by their owners for the 1k event. We deposited our bags at the designated booth and we started to warm ourselves up while we wait for the gun start. The 10k runners had already began their race.

Last moments of freshness

It was already past five in the morning and sky was starting to brighten up when the 5k participants were called up. Moments later, the gun start signaled the start of the race.

At the starting point

Our 5k run took us from Manila Bay to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) grounds, all the way to Macapagal Boulevard.

Our 5k route

The race started out easy. You cannot miss out who the regular runners are by the way they cover distance in just a short amount of time. The crowd is a mix of ages, from kids to veteran runners. I'm glad that we've had a relatively active lifestyle as otherwise, the race would have been a struggle for me (and my stomach, which fortunately behaved itself). Some have started slowing down their pace while others are already miles ahead. Between K and I, it seemed that I am the one with lesser endurance as I began to lag behind K and her steady pace.

Throughout the race, ushers guided the runners especially at major intersections of the course, even giving out words of encouragement. Water stations popped up at certain points in the course though we did not bother to break our pace since we carried along our drinking bottles.

The sun would have already risen halfway through our race and K was already out of my sight. At about the half way mark, past Buendia Avenue, ushers handed out colored string to strap on ourselves. I can only assume that it was to indicate that we've run the race at its full course.

Finally I saw K running the opposite direction, already on her way back.

At some point I might have already seen the 3k runners which means we were getting close to the end. Sure enough the dogs started to make their appearance indicating that I was within 1 km of the finish line.

A sight for sore legs

The finish line was already within my sight and with a final push, we finally finished our first 5 km run. 

At the finish line

Medals were handed out for each participants who completed the race. Our last medals would probably have been from back in high school so we'd take what we could get 😄.

We did it!

Takeaways

We stayed for a bit for the announcement of race winners and with hopes of winning the raffles (our hopes were dashed). Freebie bags were also handed out to us which includes some biscuits, drinks (my first kombucha) and most importantly, pain relief patches for the dreaded DOMS.

We could probably do better for the next race but since this was our first race, we already learned a lot just by the experience. Our bodies can still improve and we hope we can continue on this health journey and power through the next challenges. Who knows, maybe completing 10k for us is just on the horizon.