Hey, quick question: Are you a runner?
If you answered yes to that question, here are a few more questions: When do you usually run? Where do you get to run? Do you have the right gear to run?
If you also had ready answers for those questions—if you have a nice place like BGC, Makati, or your neighborhood in which you can run, if you have time after work or early in the morning or free Sundays in which you can run, if you have the expensive shoes necessary to protect your feet during a run, you should count yourself lucky.
You see, despite being a mechanically simple sport (all you need are your legs and feet), running, or the ability to go on runs as exercise, is highly political. Yes, the country’s running boom is highly diverse—people of all ages and genders are getting into it—but what it doesn’t cut across is social classes. Among Filipinos, who likely may not realize it, running remains at least a middle-class pursuit.
Yes, the country’s running boom is highly diverse—people of all ages and genders are getting into it—but what it doesn’t cut across is social classes. Among Filipinos, who likely may not realize it, running remains at least a middle-class pursuit
American fitness influencer Joe Blanchet recently posted a series of Reels detailing how running (and fitness as well) is political.
Some of the factors he’s observed relate to the US context, but many others apply just about anywhere around the world. They include:
- Climate change and pollution make running unsafe in most areas
- Higher-income areas and neighborhoods have better access to more comfortable (and cooler, temperature-wise) places to run. In the Philippine context, this is why most runners converge in places like BGC, Makati, or UP Diliman, to name a few.
- Injury prevention and treatment as well as healthier eating is priced out of many people’s budgets. Those with money are better able to handle any physical mishaps related to the sport.
- Women feel unsafe on the streets. Again, runners will converge in safer common areas, and women feel like they have to be more vigilant on the streets.
- Most local governments don’t provide accessible and people-friendly places to run. It goes back to how runners will converge in popular running areas because there’s just no other safe and comfortable place to run. Blanchet says providing safe places to run and exercise is a public health concern.
So what should we do with all this information?
Well, for starters, it’s election season. If you’re a runner (or otherwise any sort of athlete) and you have a candidate on both the national and the LGU level that at least has some plans of prioritizing exercise and public health, now is the time to support them.
Otherwise, it’s always a good time to ring the alarm on these issues, especially in the wake of the so-called local running boom. Those with the means aren’t the only people who deserve to run and exercise and play sports. Our recent international wins are starting to build momentum when it comes to systemic support for local sports and athletics, but people in power still view those as business investments that are only worth pouring money into when there’s a clear return.
If running looks easy to get into, it’s likely because it was made easy for you to get into—not everyone gets that privilege
Until then, count yourself lucky as a runner. And if you can help out someone who needs a hand in starting their running or fitness journey, help out if you can. If running looks easy to get into, it’s likely because it was made easy for you to get into—not everyone gets that privilege.