2020 GLOBAL RUNNING DAY: Solidarity with Pinoy Runners, Solidarity with the World.

Paradox in these puzzling times we call the Next Normal -  the more we are suppose to social distance from others to stay alive, the more we need to be in touch with soul mates to keep our souls alive.  There is now a convergence of Solo and Solidarity.

The Wuhan Virus has truly disrupted our human lives like no other.  But the human spirit is resilient.  We will find ways to connect with our fellow human beings. As this Altra poster shouts out to the world - "we're in this together, even when we're apart."

 

   
Running maybe a passion  that can be pursued by a lone person but for many, like me, it is a sports that is best enjoyed in the company of kindred spirits.  Why be a lone wolf when the hunt is more thrilling in a wolf pack. But the Wuhan Virus has put a dampener to running being a social sports.  With the global pandemic, almost all, if not all, of the marathons and weekend races have been cancelled for the 1st half of 2020. It would be a miracle if we are to see a major traditional running event  happen the rest of the year.  These days, even running among friends, not in a race,  is a rarity or downright non-existent due to practical safety considerations.

But just like water, running in the company of others, will find a way to flow, in any kind of reality.  Virtual races  looks to be the way to go these days.  But, to be honest, I am no fan of virtual races.  To put it simply, virtual races,  like anything virtual,  is not as delightful as the real thing.

Which brings me to the Global Running Day  (GRD) this June 3, 2020.  It is a day that celebrates the sport of running.  Held annually on the first Wednesday of June, participants of all ages and abilities pledge to take part in some type of running activity by submitting their names through the Global Running Day website.   GRD was formerly known as National Running Day and began in the US.  The first event was in 2009.  The inaugural Global Running Day was held on June 1 , 2016. For that year's edition, more than 2.5 million people from 177 countries pledged to run more than 9.2 million miles.  The GRD has received tremendous support from the running community, including the   IAAF and countless running groups in the world.

One such active running group is the Pinoy Runners Global (PRG). It is actually from the PRG facebook group that the Bicolano Penguin first got wind of the 2020 Global Running Day, barely a day before June 3.      To hear the words of Judz , one of its moderators,  PRG is not a team but a global community which comprises of the different Filipino running teams around the world. The PRG FB group serves as a platform for all Pinoy runners, whether professional or recreational. She further expounded - "When my co-moderators that are based in the US decided to actively participate in the GRD, they decided to just put in PRG in the list of teams instead of the names of each and every Filipino running team to promote unity.  That irregardless of belonging to different teams, we will run as one whole Filipino community in this event. And it worked!"

With the PRG running Judz runnng in Oslob, Cebu this Global Running Day

The post of Jen at the PRG Facebook group that got me hooked on Global Running day. 

Indeed it worked for many of us.   Thanks to the posts of Judz and Jen  in the PRG Facebook group, I was inspired to join in.  No time wasted, I immediately visited the GRD website and pledged online to run 5 miles on June 3, 2020.  For the blank spot where we need to indicate the name of the team, I proudly wrote Pinoy Runners Global.  Yes, I am part of the running tribe "row5runnin" but in this global initiative, it makes more sense to be  macro and patriotic in approach. Chief inspiration for me in pledging to run in the GRD are the countless and nameless medical frontliners serving the public in all countries of the world over the globe, many of whom are from our beloved Philippines.

After registering,  I posted my pledge in Facebook. and tagged a handful of running friends in Bicol in the hope of encouraging them to join the Global Running Day. No doubt, my running friends Aura, Myla, Pines, Allen and Brando will be running on this day.

Having registered (for free actually. no reg fee)  and making sure that my pledge is counted, I excitedly waited for the morning of June 3 to arrive. Finally, after more than 2 months of no meaningful run for the Bicolano Penguin, I am at the cusp of again getting that high, not just runners high, but also the good feeling I  get of  being part of something bigger than my puny self.

Pledging in the name of Pinoy Runners Global

So with the arrival of dawn on this first Wednesday of the month named after Juno, the goddess of love and marriage,  I excitedly laced my pair of Altras and off I went on my 5-mile jaunt around our village. I made a point to run early in the morning so as there will be less people on the road. Not that I am anti-social but more so because I believe in the virtue of social distancing.

Lacing up my Altra Paradigm at the crack of dawn this June 3. 

Geared up for running with protection. 

5 precious miles for Global RunningDay.  

Actually, the 5-mile run itself was not remarkable, as in nothing solely  special achieved in terms of speed achievement or distance mileage.  But, the fact that the run on this June 30 was in solidarity with thousands, if not millions, of runners all over the world made this run precious.  More importantly,  running under the collective that is Pinoy Runners Global added a patriotic glitter to the gem that is  the GRD experience.

Pride in our running. Pride in our country. Nothing bad about that pride.   

Global Running day Certificate.  Thank you Judz.

Congratulations to all who joined the 2020 Global Running Day. It is a collective endeavor of expressing a big thank you to running.

Mabuhay po tayong lahat.








Photo Credits: Lorna Anicas, Judz Abs, Richard Rivera, Bernie De Chavez, Mary Jo-anne Lim, Nalyen Agama, Glen Patio, Mo Firdaus.