Fun Runs, Nat Geo Earth Day Run, Phil Star Ngayon Fun Run, Running and Smoking

The Wisdom of the Action

Too old for my age to realize but too young at the same time not to pursue it with such passion and enthusiasm, I just learned that there are wholesome activities you can do that can put you in the right situation where the wisdom taught by many spiritual masters about the benefits of an action wherein the process of give and receive can be achieved. Now, do not think that I do not know this since my younger years but the only difference now is you are actually doing it and conscious of it.

For the last month, I have already joined two fun runs, all 5K in distance, and sponsored by Nat Geo and Phil Star Ngayon both with the aim of raising funds to financially assist environmental pursuits and charitable activities. I timed in a modest speed of 45 minutes, too slow for sure compared with seasoned runners but fast enough to burn some calories to make me physically fit than before.

I guess by the way I expressed the second paragraph of this post, you do not have to think deeper what do I mean by giving and receiving at the same time. You run to benefit some disadvantage people and at the same time receive the blessing of making you fit. Of course sometimes the action of participating in fun runs is motivated by the idea to literally have ‘fun’ and second probably the wish to help others. Yet, it can happen simultaneously.

But what is good about these fun runs is the effort you have to exert so you can participate in it more effectively. When I, with the prodding of Lil Feather, had the intention of being part of the Nat Geo Earth Day Run, I had to pursue it with such determination that I can run a 5K distance (though short really if I would say so). This means I have to allot time every morning to run and practice running at the nearest highway road. That means too that I have to cut down on my nicotine consumption – short for smoking – and make it sure that my lungs are pretty clear to last the distance.

Now to pursue the cutting down on my nicotine consumption, this act is something that would veer from my habit encouraged maybe as part of my writing rituals: coffee and cigarette before pounding on that keyboard. I say this is not easy. And for the first time it dawned on me, after running these two fun runs that writing and running does not fit so it seems. Writing is a sedentary way of life wherein most of your cardiovascular exercise is getting a puff of that cigarette as you let your imagination wander or some would say try to squeeze that juice in you while running is totally the opposite of it since you have to use that lower limbs of yours to get from point A to point B and nicotine consumption that clogs your air sacks is plain a no-no in this regard. (But I would say both have the same denominator of sort of being meditation techniques – do not ask me why since my reasoning for it just passed by almost eons ago and I have no intention of pursuing it.) Nevertheless, running makes me conscious to moderately cut down on my smoking which is good for the heart and lungs.

When all is done and you finished struggling to get to the finish line in these fun runs, when all the lining ups for the freebies and that ionized drink and burger have ended – and of course after catching to take your energy back by sharing time at the deserted parking lot with your wife – you know you have done something good to others that who have no way of repaying you back. Their research how to developed environmentally driven house may be will continue or most probably some youngsters out there will have finally a decent classroom to go to. And the thought of it is enough.

And when you go home aboard that jeepney going to the van terminal, the morning air touches your still sweating face and realized: you just have given and received something at the same time. You have done yourself good and same with the others.

A smile is enough to think about the wisdom of the action.