John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

Runners at the Philippine Sports Arena Complex in Pasig City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

Philippine Sports Arena Complex

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1755684732723ec4d750c49de1d043e93eeb5f46ce6c9af822698e55b59522010c2dc40ca0674.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Runners at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila on July 31, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — It is never too late to start your running era, said RUNRIO founder, coach Rio de la Cruz.At the sidelines of the One Piece Run 2025 launch on Tuesday at SM North Edsa in Quezon City, De La Cruz shared how one could commence their running journey, highlighting the importance of the said physical activity.De La Cruz underscored that runners, armed with dedication, can develop their discipline and time management.&quot;As a runner, siyempre gusto ko &#x27;yung journey. Hindi lang &#x27;yung sa race itself, &#x27;yung journey. Kasi doon mo made-develop &#x27;yung discipline mo, &#x27;yung time management and then bonus na lang &#x27;yung pag-enjoy mo ng races. Kasi doon mo makikita &#x27;yung impact or &#x27;yung outcome nung result na pinaghirapan mo,&quot; De La Cruz said.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/8/19/tara-sa-north-one-piece-run-set-for-september-in-sm-fairview-2038">READ: Tara sa North! One Piece Run set for September in SM Fairview</a></div>&quot;Something na pinaghirapan mo is sweet. Sweeter siya doon sa tagumpay. Kahit hindi naman champion or first place, sa amin when you show up, ibig sabihin you&#x27;re already a champion.&quot;De La Cruz argued that one can join a race as a springboard for their newfound hobby.&quot;Of course, number one, we want to encourage them to have a healthy lifestyle. And we want to inspire them from our races para mag-kickstart nila yung running journey nila. Kasi first impression, first experience, malaking bagay siya para makapag-continue ng journey mo,&quot; the running coach said.&quot;We really encourage &#x27;yung mga first-timer to have a race na medyo maganda &#x27;yung experience para mako-continue nila &#x27;yun,&quot; he added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175568874874320250819-onepiece-mall-launch-MQD22947-MD.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>During the official launch of One Piece Run 2025 at SM North Edsa, August 19, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsDe La Cruz happily shared that there has been a meteoric rise in numbers of people who are now into running compared to the pre-pandemic times.</div>&quot;Actually, wala lang akong exact number. But if I will compare it before pandemic, it&#x27;s actually more than. Because before the pandemic, &#x27;yung running boom concentrated only in Metro Manila and probably in Cebu. But this time, it&#x27;s actually everywhere,&quot; he said.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/7/30/psc-officially-opens-track-and-field-facilities-to-public-1604">READ: PSC officially opens track and field facilities to public</a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/7/28/psc-tasked-to-open-track-ovals-to-encourage-filipinos-to-be-more-active-1804">READ: PSC tasked to open track ovals to encourage Filipinos to be more active</a></div>&quot;Everywhere you go, every city and every provinces, very popular &#x27;yung running. And that&#x27;s why we really encourage &#x27;yung mga first-timer to have a race na medyo maganda &#x27;yung experience para mako-continue nila &#x27;yun.&quot;A fun run like the One Piece Run is one way to attract non-runners, the Runrio executive said.&quot;We really want to attract non-runners pa. And through this event, na mabigyan namin sila ng different variety of running events. So, this is a concept event na gusto naming i-provide for them. And very happy kami with the results kasi almost sold out tayo. And first time namin na mag-organize sa SM City Fairview,&quot; said De La Cruz.The One Piece Run takes place on September 28, as mentioned, at SM City Fairview in Quezon City, catering &quot;northerners&quot; of Metro Manila.This event, done in collaboration with Toei Animation, has a total of 8,000 expected number of participants.&quot;And marami rin na-excite kasi siyempre halos lahat ng events natin nandito sa Pasay area. So, this time, nasa Fairview tayo. And majority of our participants actually from Quezon City,&quot; he shared.

"As a runner, siyempre gusto ko 'yung journey. Hindi lang 'yung sa race itself, 'yung journey. Kasi doon mo made-develop 'yung discipline mo, 'yung time management and then bonus na lang 'yung pag-enjoy mo ng races," RUNRIO founder Rio de la Cruz said.

"As a runner, siyempre gusto ko 'yung journey. Hindi lang 'yung sa race itself, 'yung journey. Kasi doon mo made-develop 'yung discipline mo, 'yung time management and then bonus na lang 'yung pag-enjoy mo ng races," RUNRIO founder Rio de la Cruz said.

It's never too late to start your running journey, says RUNRIO founder

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It's never too late to start your running journey, says RUNRIO founder

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 20, 2025 08:36 PM PHT

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