Back to School

(I'm currently putting the finishing touches on the new adidas running brochure that features my story on the Polo Tri team and columns by Joy Rojas, Dr. Raul Canlas, Moro Lorenzo's Kristine Warren, and some other world-class athletes. George Rocha's column also appears there. Watch out for the running brochure in all adidas outlets real soon.)

Back to School
by George Rocha

To tell you the truth, I did not discover running in a romantic, life-changing manner. Though I did a lot of sprinting as a child (like when I would play tag with my neighbors…does that count?), I was never the best runner and almost always ended up getting tagged. In high school, I was forced to run for about ten minutes around the volleyball court as warm-up. I had no option, I had to do it, partly to avoid injury, but mostly to keep my coach’s wrath at bay. Don’t even ask me about college. I have no recollection of running during that three-and-a-half period, except during Physical Ed.

When I began my professional career, my company signed me up at a nearby fitness gym. I was quite excited about it, having an account for free and all, until my trainer told me to run a ten-minute warm-up on the treadmill. Suddenly, visions of my volleyball coach flashed before my eyes and I bargained. He said, “Ok, seven minutes of running.” To which I answered with all the charm I could muster and a sweet smile on my face, “How about three?” Of course, it didn’t work.

It all changed a few years ago when I discovered ultimate disc, a sport a fell in love with but also demanded much from me, physically. Aside from mastering the game’s skills, it also required endurance to survive hour-long games, sometimes having 3 to 4 a day, and speed. A few months with my ultimate team, Bombproof, made me realize immediately that loving a sport could only take me so far. To me, that meant spending most of my time cheering from the bench because I was too slow. Sad, but what’s sadder was that my team, at that time, was the constant cellar-dweller, probably making me the slowest in the whole ultimate community!

Thankfully, I met a guy (this is probably the only romantic part of my experience with running) who introduced me to purpose-driven running, and made it his personal goal to help me improve my speed and endurance. The months that followed provided a drastic transformation: from waddling like a duck across the Frisbee field (“You run funny,” a teammate once tactlessly told me) to being chosen as one of the first seven on the line. Priceless.

Despite changing for the better, I had, and still have, a love/hate relationship with running. When other runners describe it as an escape, there are times when I still escape from running instead of escaping to it. Some say it’s a spiritual journey to which I agree to the extent of, yes, it involves a lot of conversation with God that go something like “Lord, please let it rain so I have a good excuse to discontinue my last kilometer.” But what I do love about running is that it has showed me I am capable of doing so much more when I push my limits, and it has helped me understand my body and its needs.

Such a love/hate relationship with running has forced me to find creative ways to enjoy it. Like running with a partner or saving my favorite shorts for the harder runs. It sounds trivial, but it always helps. The places I go to run also make a difference and I have found two favorites, both school campuses: U.P. Diliman and Ateneo. Ironically, it was likely at school where the “hate” part of my running relationship was embedded in my soul, but, nevertheless, these two venues are a good match for me, depending on my mood.

It is in U.P. where I prefer to do my harder runs. There are routes that form 5, 7.5, 10, and 15 kilometer single loops with hills that break the monotony of going round and round a track oval. Also, on weekends, the U.P. oval that goes around the Oblation and the Sunken Garden (2.2k), is closed to traffic and reserved for runners and bikers. This environment is so conducive to running because I know that people are there for the same purpose. Somehow, when I’m surrounded by other runners, the enjoyment rubs off on me.

Initially, I found it unlikely that I would find pleasure in running at Ateneo. I studied at De La Salle University, THE rival school, where, unfortunately, there is no space in the campus for a good run. During days when I prefer a quiet workout, Ateneo provides a less hectic setting. The route I take is almost flat the whole way and I have yet to come across a crazy stray dog that wants a piece of my leg (usually a good reason to sprint).

Because of these venues, at least the “love” part of my running relationship is satisfied. Although, I prefer running indoors during the rainy season, taking it outside to the pavement provides more gratification (and a better view) than any hills program a top-of-the-line treadmill can offer. Going back to a campus setting has made me realize that running is an educating experience, comparable to going to school. It’s about gaining more knowledge about myself, my body and even my surroundings, as well as improving physically and learning to endure the “torture”.