It’s the stuff my nightmares are made of: running through a thick mist and suddenly a shrieking horde bursts through…
Except this was the happiest apocalypse of color I’ve ever been in!
With a big-name title sponsor, the Watsons Color Manila Run 10K Challenge involved the same color powder hijinks that has made the Color Manila Run a hit over the last few years across the country as well as new obstacles (reminiscent of another popular urban race) for added challenge and fun. Held on the SM Mall of Asia grounds, we had plenty of room to run and get pelted with color!
This was my first 10K run in a while, so I was thankful that it was a non-timed event and I could go about it as leisurely as I wanted (and needed to). I ran and walked most of the 10K route with fellow blogger and triathlete Victor Basa, who was recuperating from an event the night before.
after just two color stations (photo by Victor Basa)
At the previous Color Manila Run I did, I was a big ol’ mess with powder all over myself, including my mouth from getting powdered while smiling! I don’t know why I always end up messier than everyone else, and the amount of sweat I have always turns the color powder into wet paint that’s impossible to remove from my skin on first shower. I should have done as Victor did: wear black and cover up! Even though I went directly to Biker’s Cafe to shower off, the pink and green pigments remained on my skin for a day or two. I didn’t really mind, though; it was funny walking around looking like a human rainbow bread.
Rainbow bread, or Oompa Loompa?
Watsons used this event to push their Sun Warrior advocacy to get more Filipinos to wear sunscreen. Especially now that it’s summer, the sun’s rays hit us more directly, and with the heat and light there’s nasty UV radiation that damages the skin deeply. After I ran, I went to the Watsons UV Camera booth to check out the sun damage hidden deep in my skin. It was kind of like this:
After seeing all the sun spots and freckles I have due to all my swimming, biking, and running, I wanted to cry. So when Watsons gifted me with a goodie bag full of sunscreens from the brands they carry, I was overjoyed. Since then I’ve been more diligent about applying sunscreen (and yes I do reapply sunscreen after heavy sweating or swimming now!).
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I had such a blast and loved seeing so many young people who would never have given running a second thought step out that Sunday morning and find that 5K or 10K was not all that hard — and could even be fun. I hope they continue running. 🙂
with Nuffnang bloggers Victor Basa, Mikyle Quizon, and Dani Barretto
