Going places on foot

There’s nothing I detest more than having to ride a car or public transportation to get to anywhere. If I didn’t have to fuss about feeding schedules, I’d run all 4.5 kilometers to the mall to go to the gym and do my grocery shopping everyday like I used to do before my little Vera came along.

Conversely, there’s nothing I love more than to go from point A to point B on foot relying solely on my own energy reserve – running, walking or a combination of both. I live exactly 400 meters from the Court of Appeals where I work, which gives me the pleasure (and the exercise opportunity) of walking exactly a mile everyday, including the trip to and from the office on lunch breaks.

A wise man once said “everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” Make that everywhere is running distance if you have time. Which brings me to the conclusion that walking and running to discover and get to know new places is the ultimate luxury, since time is the most expensive of all resources – the one thing you can never get back no matter how much money you have.

This brings me to my wish-list of ultramarathons in places within the country I’ve never been to. This I intend to do, as soon as I get back my running form or when my baby is a year old, which ever comes first.

MAYON 360

Happening every April during the Magayon Festival is a 50 mile run around the circumference of the world’s most perfect coned volcano, Mt. Mayon Volcano.

Famous for its “Perfect Cone,” the Mayon Volcano is the Philippines’ most active volcano and the most popular tourist destination in the Bicol Region. With a height of 2,463 meters, it is the centerpiece of Albay province. This run will cross 7 municipalities, 3 cities, and 77 barangays. The total distance is 50+Miles (80kms plus 2 kilometers) on all paved roads (60% asphalt and 40% concrete).

This year’s Mayon 360, which happened over the weekend, was organized by the Junior Chamber International – Legazpi Chapter in cooperation with Liga ng mga Barangay – Albay Chapter and sanctioned by the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners. The race director is ultramarathon pioneer retired Army Mgen. Jovenal Narcise.

SIQUIJOR 360

The island province of Siquijor is known for mysticism, shamans and magic potions. But it is also known for its white sand public beaches, springs and waterfalls. It is only an hour away from Dumaguete City, making it accessible even to those coming from cebu City (via bus). Yet, it never occurred to me to run around this tiny island which boasts of zero crime rate.

In March this year (the Saturday before the Holy Week to be precise) Baldrunner events held the first ever Siquijor 360. This 75-kilometer road ultramarathon which goes around the island passing through its six municipalities – Siquijor, San Juan, Lazi, Maria, Enrique Villanueva and Larena.

The second edition will again happen sometime before the Holy Week next year.

BOHOL 50/50

Although my family is from Bohol I’ve never run a race in Bohol. In fact, even after 35 years of travelling to and from Bohol, I’ve only seen its famed Chocolate Hills in 2012! Talk about “wag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan.”

On April 27, Bohol Runners Club will hold the Bohol 50/50 Sundown Ultramarathon. There’s a 50-mile race that starts from the Chocolate Hills National Park in Carmen town at 3 p.m. of April 27, and a 50-kilometer race which starts from the Loboc Town Plaza also on April 27 at 9 p.m. Both point to point road ultramarathon will end at the Panglao Kalikasan Dive Resort, Tangnan, Panglao Island. The registration for this race ended on April Fools Day, but there is always next year’s edition.

RUN BATANES!

Finally, my ultimate dream running destination in the country – the remote island of Batanes in the northernmost tip of the Philippines. Jonel Mendoza of Frontrunner Magazine has organized the island’s first ever road race – a 50KM ultramarathon, a half marathon (21K) and a 5K fun run – on May 4. Although this run does not require a passport, it can be as expensive as running in let’s say, Hongkong because of the high cost of airfare to and from the island. But as my friend Fortune Cordova often tells me – you can’t put a price tag on memories and life experiences. And running around Batanes is way up there in my list of must-do running destination.