Basketball and boxing are the two most popular sports in the Philippines but convincingly, running remains to be one of the favorites. The popularity of running has grown exponentially in recent years, with weekend races and fun runs scheduled nearly every weekend, in every parts of the country.
I am a fan of running. It’s not because I am sporty but because this is the only activity that I know of that doesn’t require one to join a team. Running, in my opinion is an awesome individualistic sport. Your only competition is yourself.
When I was in high school, in my great attempt to join a sports club (because everyone does), I tried for the girls’ volleyball team. I didn’t get in of course. I just shamed myself in front of my classmates because I couldn’t pass the ball into the other side. What a jinks! My brother was into basketball so when he wasn’t using the half court in our house, I would try to dribble and shoot. But I stank at it too.
In college, running was the only sport I engaged myself into and felt quite good at it. My professor asked my friend and I if we could try out for the college’s varsity. I didn’t join. My friend did and she got in immediately. She’s a sprinter. From the very beginning, her body was cut out for running. She’s so skinny that she floated when she’s running.
When I started working, I joined various running events. But I wasn’t really confident enough to join the full marathon (42.195 km). I got scared as I don’t have proper training (or I felt that I was not trained enough). The farthest I got was the 16km event. I still dream of running the marathon though. It’s in my bucket list.
I was a bit lucky to be working near my university that encourages running not only as a sport but as a way of life. The university has allotted specific lane for runners. Weekend at the university is often for runners and running enthusiasts.
I still run. And I still enjoy running.
Yes, I still run. Take that literally and figuratively.
raytsbaron 