Greater heights in the running culture
It’s been a long time since I last did any running, apart from dashing back and forth between my house and my school Tiny Kitchen.
Back in the day, I would join 5 and 10k fun runs, usually fundraisers, held in the early mornings on Roxas Boulevard or around Ayala Center. Like walking, running is a relatively simple way to get fit. No gym memberships are required and you just need some warmup exercise, a good pair of running shoes and an interesting route.
But over the decades, an entire running culture has evolved. There are running clubs, some of which are for singles; midnight runs and, of course, improved running shoes. More major roads are now closed off on early Sunday mornings to allow runners to take over, like Ayala Avenue or Tomas Morato. Social media is very much involved: some people run as much for “the sights” as for their health, the “sights” referring to attractive runners along the way. My bunso got over a hundred thousand likes when she posted that she was running for “the sights,” which turned out to be the cutest pet dogs running alongside their masters.
Running has evolved from a means of survival, from hunting for prey to escaping when one is actually the prey being hunted. It became a competitive sport that was held at the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, back in 776 B.C. A legendary runner named Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a victory, led to the creation of the Marathon in 1896.
It’s a sport that Filipinos enjoy, and on early mornings or evenings when it’s cooler, you see runners everywhere. The key to building stamina is a good pair of running shoes, because pounding the sidewalk will quickly become an uncomfortable exercise. This is why I was very glad to be introduced to Hoka.
If you’re new to Hoka, like me, it’s an American brand that originated in France when two runners from the French Alps developed their own shoes to handle the rugged mountain trails.
Nico Marmoud and Jean-Luc Diard had the idea of adding cushioning, a lighter sole, and using lightweight materials. Their goal was to create momentum from stride to stride and make the running so smooth that it would feel like you were flying. They figured that if the shoes could work on the world’s most punishing trails, then they would work anywhere, and the brand is continually developing, tweaking, and improving on the original models.
To experience this technology, you first check your size with a 3D imaging machine available at the Hoka stores located in Greenhills, SM Aura, One Ayala, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay. You step on the outlined feet and immediately the machine gives you feedback, not just for your size but also tells you if you’re flat-footed or have other foot conditions. The machine then determines the best shoe for your needs. I learned that Hoka is highly recommended by orthopedic doctors and small wonder.
The Clifton 10 is Hoka’s newest, lightest, and most cushioned everyday trainer. Its breathable jacquard upper layer is designed to keep water out, and its elevation is due to cushioning to reduce the impact of running on the streets. So, comfort in addition to adding a bit of height!
This gave me a boost of confidence because running is not exactly like walking or even a strenuous workout. It’s an endurance sport and, like all forms of physical exercise, you need to build up that endurance gradually. Knowing that I would be wearing the most technically advanced running shoe on the planet gave me the assurance that my first run in almost three decades would be smooth sailing.
On a sultry Friday evening, running enthusiasts with different levels of fitness converged at the Kazu Café at Ayala Triangle for the relaunch of Hoka’s own running club. Running coach Dan Hilaria explained the features of the club, which caters to seasoned runners and newbies.
“There will be compromise run sessions—you run, you work out, then you run again. This is one of the training modalities that we will incorporate into the club,” he said. “We will be extra mindful because there are over a hundred runners. I have my pacers with me at every run, so I have people to instruct runners of all levels.”
Coach Dan vouched for the Clifton 10, saying that it is the shoe he uses while training for Hyrox, a fitness race that combines running with weight lifting.
We started off with a warmup to get muscles stretched and the heart rate up, followed by a 30-minute run around the 1k perimeter of Ayala Triangle. I joined the chika-pace group, whose speed was so easy that even a brisk walk kept you at pace with the others. As for the shoes, my brand-new Clifton 10 needed no breaking in and I felt like I could run for hours, they were that comfy.
The benefits of running are countless. You can run by yourself or with others. It improves your cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart and improving circulation, increases bone density because running is a weight-bearing exercise, improves your mood (the runner’s high is a real thing), and reduces stress. It burns calories and can help you lose or maintain your weight. It strengthens your lower body muscles and increases your endurance by improving lung capacity and oxygen intake.
For not just a few, apparently, the social benefits of running are equally important. As the existence of singles running clubs shows, you might meet someone with whom, at the very least, you share fitness goals. It was pointed out that running can help ease a broken heart as well.
Another big plus for the Clifton 10 is that it’s just as good for people who walk, or who are required to stand for long periods of time. With an upcoming trip that promises a jam-packed itinerary, I know that with my new pair, walking for hours will be as easy as walking on clouds.
