Running is the cheapest form of exercise. You can run in the park or along your neighborhood. All you need is the 3S — shirt, shorts and shoes — and you’re good to go.
It was only this year that Val decided to join fun run events. His first 5K run was in Guimaras during the province’s Manggahan Festival last April.
I was hired as a PA by takbo.ph in the said event and was happy to have Val participate in the event, too.
He was one of the top 25 finishers in the 5K race. He didn’t aim for the top place but to finish the race in his own record time was already an achievement. Too bad I wasn’t able to take his photo when he started and finished the race. 
But I was so happy to see his smile when he approached me. He enjoyed the run even though at first, he was hesitant to join the race alone. And here we are with the cute Manggahan mascot when my in-laws arrived straight from Bacolod… after the race. Hehe…
With his regular jogs and visit to the gym, running a 5-km distance now looks easy which motivated him to attempt a 10-km distance run with Kat2x.
Came another race event in Bacolod last Sunday — The First Negros Run Expo. Both Val and Kat2x registered for their first 10K event.
This time around, I was their photographer. I stood near the finish line for an hour since their gun start so as not to miss both of them. Each time I saw runners approaching, I had to aim my camera and ready it.
After the race, I saw my high school friends, too!
I didn’t run with them but as I stood and watched them reach the finish line wearing a flushed but a happy face, I felt like I ran the 10K race, too. Kat2x was excited to hold her first 10K finisher medal.
These were Val’s first two races. And there are more to come. Val’s next target race is the night fun run this Sunday… if his schedule permits.
It’s almost midnight. Gotta run… to bed now! 
