"on a shoestring"

So it was exactly 12:25am when I left home for some midnight run.

here if you must…

The UPLB night was chilly and I passed these college students who are anything but best in what they usually do- drinkfest! The looks in their eyes are like this one is one crazy man. Some shook their heads in amazement. I ran away, as if I saw some zombies.

It was not a starry starry night, the sky was devoid of heavenly bodies, even the moon was no show. I wonder why? Still, I ran… away, as if I was being chased by flying brooms with black hats. Scary? No, just an imagination. Run you freak!

The road was mine. Well-lit and ready for my feet’s pounding. The hills saw my huffing and puffing, did he smiled? I believe so, it is as if he was saying words of gratefulness as he sees his use not only for rubber tires but my shoes rubber soles.

The trees are not green. It was bordering to black. Black-green if there’s something like that. It doesn’t sway or obey the silent blowing of the wind. It stands erect, stout and mighty. Observing every stride, every feet strike, every hand movement. Allowing their leaves to release oxygen. And yes, they smiled too! Or maybe its the runner who smiled?

The run was like poetry, oh maybe deeper than that- an über deep poetry. Solitary and farouche as I am during the run, I loved it, yes loved the spur of the moment. When the mongrel dogs are the only witnesses when you left and patiently waits for you so as to  exercise its barking power.

The harmony and interaction of limbs, joints, muscles amazed my mind. The eyes look forward as if there is a battle in front, the hands sway naturally as the legs make each stride, the lungs act like fire, fueling the carbs eaten, the mind only thinks of one thing- FORWARD.

The run was a little bit of nostalgia, nirvana, rave, rush -unplanned route, no route actually, no timing device, no kilometer count, no minding of miles to be logged on DM. I was pure. Too pure to be discussed here, still placed here as the runner believes that EVERY RUNNER must and ought to experience this kind of run.

This is not the run of the century but definitely “the” RUN for me.

Or maybe it is something like my favorite running vid:

How about you? Anything like this before?

Earlier this year, I had my running nirvana at the same island.

You have read about my roadXtrail adventures at Mambukal Resort; my short but “Sweet” Run in La Carlota City; and my ala-Baywatch Run at Roxas City.

Now it’s on the island both foreigners and locals love- Boracay.

This is my Starting Line: Somewhere in Station 1

continuing the run here, somewhere in Station 2

I thought this will be my finish line (somewhere in Station 3), but as Nike goes, “There Is No Finish Line”

My Dailymile log reminds me of the 6K rave run:

I did the long stretch of the beach from Station 1 to Hotel Isla Boracay (Station 3). Then it rained hard, I still wanted to run so I ran from Station 3 to D-Mall (Station 2) while raining hard. Love running in the rain! Good times!

Running Stats:

Date of Run: July 18, 2010 (Sunday)

Route: Boracay white sand and road

Distance covered: 6 Kilometers

Running Surface: White powdery sand and a little cemented road at the end

Time: 41:03 (6:50/km)

Running Apparel: Nike Singlet (white & pink); Nike white cap; Craft shorts; and cycling shorts.

Shoes: New Balance MR92 (Lightweight Nuetral)

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Now, after this series of rave runs, I think its high time for me to experience running in these places:

How about you, where do you want to run? Please don’t tell me “at BGC.”

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Note: This is the final installment of the 4-part series of rave runs while I was on the road during my 14-Day Backpacking Trip to West Visayas.

If you love travel, backpacking and adventure do visit my TRAVEL BLOG. Thanks a lot!

For more of my out-of-town runs, you can visit my running places page.