Running Addiction?

I have been running now for 5 months now and more importantly, I have been joining races which started from Menshealth Urbanathon 10k challenge (3rd Qtr 2007) and ending with the recent Global Run. To date, there have been a total of 10 runs for me broken down into the following: 3 Runs at U.P. Campus, 5 Runs at Fort Bonifacio, and 1 run each at Mall of Asia and Ortigas Area. All of them are quite different from each other in that the U.P. is more of a low profile area with competitive runners while Fort Bonifacio is one likened to a big party with lots of sponsors, celebrity guests, media coverage, and lots of free things. In that sense, U.P is more for peaceful, quiet run while the advantage of Fort are the good pictures you can take (given the decorations they put up), and the loot bags. The Ortigas area is most difficult one to run on due to the steep incline and it is also the dirtiest, most polluted one out of them all, as lots of cars and jeepneys pass through here. Only advantages I can think of running here is the proximity to my house (so can wake up at a later time) and challenge of running on inclined plane. Most boring running area is the one at Mall of Asia as flat plain and no view at all except the huge shopping mall.

I have even recruited my family and friends to this activity. Started running first with Janine at said Menshealth Run (she actually started running about two months earlier than I did with her sister). Then, Natalie, Carolyn, Edwin, Per and Kervin all tried the PSE Bull Run for the first time and got semi-hooked to full blown hooked as well by this event. Carolyn went so far as even join for the San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon (with goal to get Tiffany Finishers necklace). She was able to recruit a whole bunch of people as well from her cousins to her church members for various runs in Fort area. My nieces and nephews joined the run too for shorter distances as competition has now extended to the next generation. And that is how our mini running community started.

Gear has become an important factor to a race as well. I alone have bought a new pair of running shoes (New Balance with possible 2nd pair awaiting further price reductions), Burlington running socks, cycling shorts and an Adidas singlet. Kervin has bought two pairs of running shoes (Adidas and NB), a pair of sole supporters and also some running socks. Per bought new shoes, shorts and shirt too. Sisters Carolyn and Natalie each bought a new pair of NB shoes and IPOD shuffles. Carolyn upped her purchases by getting Oakley glasses and water belt too (to prepare for US run).

Other stuffs I bought were all those Runningworld magazines at discount prices (from BookSale) and Nike Running themed shirts with slogans such as “The Road Is Long, So What?” and “It’s Not a Race, it’s a State of Mind” and giving a Nike collared shirt with words "Race Official" to Per as well. I even asked a running shirt from Carolyn as Christmas gift.
In terms of online community, I have joined http://pinoyrunner.com/, put in http://www.thebullrunner.com/ as my favorites and also have running schedule in there as well. I have also joined local running community’s yahoo group. I tried running once inside Ultra (with Gigay) and joined Mizuno Run Club twice already (Thursdays at High Street).

It's evident that for one reason or another, I have caught the running bug. Only consolation here is that I am not alone in this as apparently a lot of my friends and family have caught the fever as well (so less people asking "Why Run?", to more asking "When's the next Run?").

The Run that started it all. Thanks Menshealth!

The difficult obstacle course we had to do at Urbanathon.... Twice! Note the pick-up trucks on the left (had to climb on all of them).

Some runners hit a wall in their running. Meet the literal wall: all 8 feet of it! Grand finale for Menshealth Urbanathon before being able to cross finish line. Again, thanks Menshealth :(

Animo Run at MOA! Go La Salle! Go Go La Salle! La Salle Spelling Ready? A-T-E-N-E-O

UP's GIG run

Condura Run at Fort (still one of the best so far this year)