tumbles and triumphs: jhana's run club experience

last sunday was a bit of a milestone for me—it was my first time running with a run club. i've been running for two years now, but not as consistently as i'd like. usually, it's just me and my partner hitting the road, so this was a totally new experience.

as an introvert, i was feeling pretty awkward and kept mostly to myself during the meetup. it's always a little daunting stepping into a group like that.

we gathered at lucena park around 4 pm, and as i looked around, i couldn't help but notice how fit everyone was. i felt a little insecure, knowing i'm still working toward my own fitness goals.

we kicked off the run around 5 pm after some warm-ups, taking a route that led us around talao-talao, dalahican. the first few kilometers were awesome—the scenery was beautiful, not too many cars, and the road was smooth. but even though it was nearly evening, the heat was still pretty intense.

things started getting tough for me after the 5th kilometer. everyone in the club is a fast runner, and i'm just... not. by the time we hit the 7th kilometer, i was really struggling and almost ended up walking the rest of the way.

that's when one of the run club members, sir herbert, noticed and decided to stick with me. he encouraged me to finish the 15km run, even though i was at the back of the pack and mostly walking. i'm so grateful he stayed with me—it made all the difference. ❤️

around the 12th kilometer, it was already dark, and i ended up tripping and falling. now i've got a knee that's been aching for days, but i can't help but laugh about it. 😂😂

even though i'm nursing a bit of an injury, i'm really glad i joined. the run club members made me feel seen and supported, and it's the farthest i've ever gone on foot. i'm determined to keep pushing myself and get better each day. thank you, lucena run club!