It was the 2009 Timex Run. Actor Piolo Pascual jumped into a five-week running crash course with coach Rio dela Cruz and ran his first race ever.
He wasn’t used to running then; his fitness regime was confined to the gym. He didn’t do the usual beginner’s route of running 3k/5k first. He went straight to 10k, and hit an all-time personal best now known as the “sub-Piolo” in the running community: 47:56. He hasn’t run 10k since.
Beginner’s luck? “I don’t like to think of it that way,” Pascual said, laughing. “I tried to avoid 10ks to avoid beating my time so I went up to 15k and 21k,” he continued, laughing even harder.
This time, however, during the Timex Run 2012 on Jan. 22 at Bonifacio Global City, Pascual will reunite with coach Rio and run the 10k. The pressure to beat his personal record, the actor said, feels like it’s spelled out in capital letters. Last time he trained he clocked in 51 minutes.
It’s frustrating, he admitted, but it motivates him even more to strive harder. “This race will be my own competition. I don’t want to stop at ‘sub-Piolo.’ That’s not the end of it,” said Pascual who turned 35 last Thursday.
His running goals are so long-term they include finishing a full marathon with his 13-year-old son Iñigo before the youngster turns 18. (The boy is also into running.)
“Running changed me totally. I was able to realize that you can push yourself further—energy-wise, resistance-wise, endurance-wise. It changed my perception in life: Kahit matanda ka na, kahit may edad ka na, kahit tumatanda ka pwede mo i-push sarili mo to feel younger, to look younger, to look better,” he said.
Pascual never listens to music while running. That’s how he has been trained by coach Rio since Day 1, and that’s how he’s kept attuned with himself during long runs. Besides, he said, it’s safer to be always aware of your surroundings, especially when on the street. The only thing he wears, apart from his running gear, is sunblock. Sometimes he wears a cap, he said, but gets rid of it after a kilometer or so because it gets too hot.
Right now he is aiming to trim down his time to less than 5 minutes per kilometer. He might look like someone who has everything—he makes running look so easy—but coach Rio said the actor works hard for every second of his personal record. (His 21k PR is a sub-two. For his first full marathon in Berlin this September, he’s aiming for a sub-four record.)
Little sleep
“He always shows up for training no matter how little sleep he had the previous night. Even after long, late hours of taping, Piolo is always there, ready to work even harder,” coach Rio said.
Running is so addictive, even if he says he’ll run for 30 minutes, he’ll end up running for an hour. And it is during that long hour, alone with his thoughts, that his mind becomes still and he begins to pray.
“During races your mind is on the clock. You’re aiming for a PR. Or, sometimes, you just have to finish the race,” he said, chuckling. “But when I’m training I get to contemplate.”
Pascual’s favorite fuel? Bananas. For convenience, though, he brings along gels or protein bars.
The Timex Run 2012 event follows a string of back-to-back events held last year, including the Timex 226 in Bohol and the CamSur Ironman Triathlon. Celebrities and personalities are expected to show up, including Boys Night Out DJs Slick Rick and Sam YG, actor Victor Basa, youth ambassadors Jessy Mendiola and Joseph Marco.
The categories are 5k, 10k and 16k events. Registration is until Jan. 18 at Riovana stores at Bonifacio Global City and Katipunan, QC, Timex outlets at TriNoma, and Watch Republic at Robinsons. Registration fees are P650 for 5k, P700 for 10k, and P750 for 16k. Fifteen Timex watches are also up for grabs if you register at Riovana outlets.
Aside from the loot bags for all finishers, there will be raffle prizes from Timex (35 watches) and digital cameras from Canon. Visit https://runrio.com/2011/11/
2012-timex-run for more info.
“Piolo has contributed to making the sport popular in the country. During the 2009 Timex Run, there was an average of about 4,000 runners who register for running events. Today there’s up to 16,000 runners registering for a single event,” said coach Rio.
Tips from the coach
Multiple champion runner, sought-after coach and marathon organizer Rio dela Cruz has practical and sensible tips for beginners, or for anyone struggling to make each race a personal best.
1. Baby steps. Don’t try to run too fast too soon. Gradually build your strength and endurance. Don’t beat yourself up even if some of your peers, beginners like you, are running faster. Remember that some people are just natural runners. Concentrate instead on improving your performance.
2. Set goals. Start with racing 3ks. Your first aim must be to finish the race. You can walk, jog, run, even stop—just finish it all the way to the finish line. As you continue training, your next aim must be to run 3ks without walking or stopping. Next is to run 3k with a target time. When you feel comfortable doing 3ks with your target time, it’s time to move up to 5k. The same set of rules applies as you progress to longer distances.
3. Watch your form. How you run can affect your energy. Relax your shoulders. This is a common mistake of new runners. Become aware of your shoulders and drop them the minute you feel them tense up. Keep your fist open, not closed, while running to conserve energy. Make sure when you swing your arms they don’t cross in the middle. Keep your swing straight. Inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth.
