Help DOT: Heritage Run on Sept. 5

I love the Philippines. I love that when I’m running through the streets of my city, I’m going slow enough to see in extreme close-up everything it has to offer. Experiencing the whole journey by foot is so much better than just speeding by in a car merely intent on reaching a destination.

So when Carlos Celdran set up a group bike ride through Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, and Binondo, and Journeying James broached the idea of runners joining, I couldn’t think of anything else other than joining them.

The purpose of the heritage bike ride/run, according to Carlos:

I want to outline a potential bike/pedestrian tourism corridor between these areas. I would love to see a clean, green, and beautified beltway that links the CCP complex all the way to Chinatown. It would be very beneficial to tourists if we can find a way to link together all our historical spots through proper landscaping, public art, pedestrian paths and bike lanes.

Given what happened earlier this week in the city of Manila, I really want to show my support for Philippine tourism by running this route.

This isn’t a race, by the way. It’s free — just bring your own hydration and money for snacks. The distance is around six kilometers, too, so anyone can run it.

Here are the details if you want to join us.

• Date: September 5, 2010 (Sunday)
• Time: Assembly at 5:45am; start at 6:00am
• Meeting Place: Manila Film Center (its near PICC, CCP and Sofitel)
• Route:Starting at the Manila Film Center then around Malate, Ermita, Intramuros, and Binondo and back again.

I will be wearing my blue Takbo.ph personalized singlet so you can spot me. Come by and say hi!