Final leg. Run United Cebu is the fifth and last leg of the Run United Provincial Series organized by Unilab Active Health and RunRio, Inc.

MANILA, Philippines — Its basic simplicity appealed to many people. There’s no learning curve, no technical theories to memorize, no team to join and no expensive gadgets to invest in. You just have to have time and hit the ground running.

Of course, when I was younger, I had competed in track and field competitions during school athletic meets. That time, running was just running. I would run in my oversized shirt, my cotton shorts and my P.E. shoes. I would run to catch up with friends.

But soon, I outgrew running. For years, I haven’t run, well, except to run after the bus or jeepney when I’m late for work. But as they say, you'll go back to the things you once loved eventually.

Maybe it is the need to lose those extra pounds or perhaps the persuasion of a good friend – almost overnight, I went back to running. But because I usually ran alone, I was totally unconnected and unaffected by the emerging running culture in the Philippines.

The day of my second fun-run race, I found myself roaming captivated around the Run United Cebu area at the Asiatown IT Park in Cebu. Run United Cebu is the fifth and final leg of the Run United Provincial Series organized by Unilab Active Health and RunRio, Inc., which had successful runs in Davao, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Baguio, as well as three races in Manila.

The run series is in line with the company’s advocacy to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among Filipino families. Proceeds of the race will benefit Gawad Kalusugan, the health program of Gawad Kalinga, and Hero Foundation.

Wandering around, the race was a revelation. There were people wearing shorts that looked nothing like the cut off at the knees pairs I so love to wear while running. Theirs were tiny and sleek, with built-in liner and made from breathable materials in different colors ranging from subdued to neon.

The race introduced beginners to singlets and shimmelts, tights and sweatpants. Conversations revolved around trail food and what hydration liquid to put in their water bottles in the waist packs for the long runs. Not to mention the often-repeated question of what category they are running: 500 meter dash (for kids), 3k, 5k, 10k, or 21k.

There were all kinds of gadgets imaginable – watches that could measure pace, count laps and well, tell time, iPod for music and inspiration perhaps and cameras - lots of them!

And did I mention shoes? Who knew there were so many different kinds? There were shoes with ankle support or cushioning and motion-control. There were shoes for those who supinate (insufficient inward roll of the foot after landing) and pronate (the outside part of the heel makes initial contact with the ground).

To the more than 5,000 runners who joined in the Run United Cebu, running meant different things. To some, they run for the health benefits. Running is the best exercise to condition the heart and lungs.  It helps ensure the efficient flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body, thus preventing and decreasing the risk of heart attack. The development in running technology and nutrition makes them eager to learn how these new ideas can make them run faster and healthier.

Others run to relieve stress or even mild depression. Running releases endorphins that give happy feelings and euphoric calmness. Weight loss can be one of the biggest reasons why people run. One of the most vigorous activities out there, running can burn about 100 calories per mile for a 150-pound person.

Some run for social benefits. They like to socialize with fellow runners, or bond with their families. Running can be a family-oriented event. That’s why Run United always took care of the runners and established the ActiveHealth Village, a permanent feature in all their races. Here, the participants can explore the village and take part in the various activities and games, as well as sample the various Unilab products.

Of course, there are serious runners. Coach Rio dela Cruz shares that since there are fewer races to run in the provinces, there are some runners from provinces who travel all the way to Manila just to join races. This is the main reason why Unilab and RunRio decided to take the run to key provinces nationwide.

“Cebu ranks second to Manila in terms of number of runners. The running community in Cebu has always been active,” shares Coach Rio who is quite happy that there is an emerging community of runners who share unique cultures.

Claire Papa of Unilab shares: “The runners in each province have different cultures. Like in Bacolod, when we got in the race area, we couldn’t see runners. So, we were anxious kasi baka walang nag-register. But when we announced that the race would begin, one by one, the runners came to the starting line. Apparently, they were already there pero hindi lang sila nagpapakita. They were probably doing some warm-ups. Sa Cagayan naman, they were on time.”

Watching a young runner named Cherry Adrin, who won the top prize in the 3K-Women category, gave Coach Rio a realization; “We need to start them young so we can keep the kids active and healthy and prevent them from leading sedentary lives filled with watching T.V. and playing computer games.”

As for this writer, sometimes, it doesn't matter whether you’re running alone, with other people, or in a race. All that matters is you’re running your way to good health and active lifestyle.