Chefs On The Go

If a trend were to hit Manila, it might as well be something positively life-affirming like running. And these days, high society has succeeded in making it the latest IN-thing. Dailies, magazine articles and tv spots feature Filipinos conquering marathons, dualthons and the ultimate, triathlons. But to be fashionable, the minimum requirement would be running in New York, Boston or Hawaii.

My favorite running partner, Tito Jonee, and I always have a blast at San Francisco's Bay To Breakers.
Four years shy of it's 100th anniversary, the B2B has established itself as the funnest of fun runs. 12 kilometers go by swiftly with the entire city coming out in true San Francisco style to cheer/heckle the participants, a large number of both runners and oglers dressing in costume (and some WITHOUT!). Expectedly, every year gets more creative than the last.

Bright and early this Sunday morning, a sea of green flooded The Global City in Taguig, host to One La Salle's inaugural Fun Run. Despite a more-than-light shower, Lasallians 5,000 strong trekked in for the 3k, 5k and 16k routes with friends, family, even dogs in tow. Inspired by the B2B, SHRIM chef-instructors planned to run in toques but chickened out at the starting gun, sporting them just long enough for a great photo-op.

I kept pace with a spirited group of student-marines entertaining with their colorful chants-- though at times getting a tad too"green" for 6am. Things turned a bit chaotic at half-mark with marshals taking cover as rain fell, leaving runners to wonder about left vs. right. Then there were the lengthy, muddy queues in the aftermath. But it's funny how one mutates into patience-incarnate for loot bags, Gatorades and Krispy Kreme freebies.

All in all the exercise was a pretty good way to start one's day.

RUN! Run because you can!