Miriam’s Very Cool Run

Getting to run for the first time on Katipunan Avenue. (photo courtesy of Running Photographers FB)

     QUEZON CITY – Miriam College successfully staged the First MC’s Cool Family Run last Sunday (July 21) at the school grounds.  The fun run aimed to promote and raise funds for the school’s new Nuvali campus in Laguna that will begin operations this coming June.

     During the pre-race program, school officials thanked the participants for choosing their event as they are aware that were several other runs that day all over Metro Manila.  Opting for the MC run was indeed a good decision.

     With a big race coming in a week’s time, the MC run provided a good workout before going on tapering mode.  Believe it or not, this marks the first time for me to step inside the Miriam campus and run on Katipunan Avenue.

     Hence, it can be said that each step will be into unknown and uncharted territory.  Instead of the traditional gun, the runners were sent off via the strike of a gong because the college is a zone of peace.

     The pack raced through Thornton Drive toward Gate One and then turned right upon reaching Katipunan Avenue.  It was a slight uphill climb for most of the way as the runners passed the former UP Integrated School and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) compound.

     Of course, the biggest marketing ploy for this run was the honor of being the first runners to scale the new flyover and the corner of Tandang Sora and Luzon Avenues.  It was important because the coming big race will feature several round trips on three flyovers.

     The first phases of the race were exclusive for 10-kilometer runners.  By the way, Katipunan was not totally closed to vehicular traffic so runners had to contain themselves to the two rightmost lanes.

     Upon conquering the new flyover, the group headed back towards MC and straight ahead to the other flyover at the corner of Katipunan and Aurora Boulevard.  At this point, the road was already crowded with walkers from the five and three-kilometer categories.

     The shorter distances turned left at Gate One and all of them will get to negotiate the Aurora flyover.  There was no choice but to go past the traffic cones to avoid the crowd.

     Hydration will never be a problem in races managed by the Greentennial Run of Rovic Gloria Canono.  The group has made it a point to place aid stations at every kilometer.

      There was only one station that served Pocari Sweat but this was passed twice by the 10-kilometer group.  Along the way, a pair of fire trucks sprayed water and another water truck put up a shower just before the finish line.

     After the roundtrip on the Aurora flyover, it was time for the mad dash back to the MC campus.  The race kit did not include a timing chip so I relied on my watch for the unofficial time.

     My time was 42 seconds above my goal of one hour.  The plan was to run careful and relaxed but still get a good workout.

     It can be said that the extra 42 seconds could have been avoided if there were no “detours” made to avoid the walkers and the showers from the trucks.  Later, I found out from several other runners that the course was longer by anything between 200 to 400 meters according to their gadgets.

     This event was held in cooperation with Maryknoll College High School Class of 1988 as part of their Silver Jubilee activities.  Last year, the same group of ladies banded with their fellow 1988 graduates from four other high schools to hold the United Colors of 88 Run.

     In true Greentennial tradition, fun side contests were held as several runners showed up in costumes ranging from attire from the Philippine Revolution to today’s Anime.  Everybody went home with loot bags and a souvenir medal, including those who joined the 200-meter dash for kids.

      For the nth time, these cozy events were everyone literally knows almost everybody are very much welcome.  It really gives true meaning to what a fun run should be.

     Watch out for more surprises from the Greentennial Run very soon.  They never run out of ideas and gimmicks.