What Made Me Start to Run

Before loving the activity, someone or something must have inspired me to start to run. Hmmnnn... I'll try to remember.

Maybe it was Bobby who got hooked to jogging/running that brought me to the Cebu City Sports Complex, or what is popularly known here as the Abellana Oval. Bob and I belonged to a barkada we fondly name as the Bulldogs. He frequented Abellana at the time because he didn't have a job (read: tambay). Almost every afternoon, he was there--it was just a 15-minute walk from his house anyway. At that time, almost everyone in the barkada has either got married, were into serious relationships, busy with their own new set of friends, or just always out of town, leaving the two of us to make do with each others' company. Among other activities, it was hanging out at the oval that was least costly and yet most fun. He later met running addicts and joined them in fun runs. I believe I was far from ready to join him then so I just supported him in his races. He quit running after he got hitched (what is it with getting married?). Now he is a pudgy bulldog with a puppy in tow.

Even without the jogging buddy, I came back to the oval because of outdoor activities. I once belonged to an outdoor group, which favorite meeting place was the same oval. Members gather there mostly for the planning of upcoming treks or climbs. To prepare for those activities, members are advised to jog or run so maybe that explains why we prefer meeting there. The members of the group later split leaving me with a big backpack without new adventures.

And yet I came back to the track to run.

Maybe I kept running just because the oval was just a ride away from home.

It doesn't matter now though. I am far from any rubberized sports oval (Lapu-lapu City should build one soon!) and have learned to run almost anywhere as long as there's a hard, stable enough surface.

So maybe it wasn't the oval. Perhaps it's the high I feel after the run, the endorphin rush; the health benefits just a bonus. Maybe it's the beautiful and interesting people in the running community (they're a happy bunch!). I also find the activity to be the best de-stresser and escape from tensions at work and at home.

Hmmnnn, maybe all of the above.