Racing Through the Pandemic

This over two-year long pandemic has been a trip. It’s been an unprecedented blip in which the lives we’d grown rigid against ceased to be possible. But though frightening, and at times precarious, it’s been a trip deeper into ourselves–where what really matters has been forced to the fore. Our families, our communities, and our health have found renewed importance in our lives while the concept of fitness pushed further away from competition and toward keeping ourselves well.

Raissa Teaño, 29, a health and fitness coach, grad student, and endurance athlete, has a calm sense of curiosity to her demeanor as she prepares for one of her long runs with the Saturday group. Usually between 12 to 16 kilometers, the Saturday run is a fast-paced effort with a roaring surge around the 9-kilometer mark. Connected by a shared route, the members of the Saturday group compete only with themselves–aided by the palpable effort of the group as a whole.

(Raissa with her Saturday BGC Run Group)

Reflecting on the moment the pandemic hit, Raissa recalls the initial frustration and the eventual commitment to adapting–perhaps flowing like water in Bruce Lee’s terms. “The lockdown was actually a big win for me,” she reflects, “because it was like a reset to check in on what I really wanted for myself and the things I valued.”

Instead of focusing on the pandemic, Raissa held a goal out in front of herself: to get strong. “I started to really commit to myself by building strong foundations for my health and fitness,” says Raissa. “[I started by] doing easy 3k runs just to get the blood flowing every morning.” Building on top of this, she started running with the Saturday group and sought the aid of a coach.

(With run coach & triathlete, Miguel Aldeguer )

But just as the pandemic has been a journey deeper into ourselves and our values, running is more than just physical locomotion. It’s a mental exercise with excursions into discipline, tolerance, letting go, and being. Raissa reflects on mindfulness’ hand in her running: “[It] was also a big part of my running journey,” she shares. “Just by being more present, this helped me become aware of how my body was feeling every day. [I was] changing up my nutrition by fuelling on healthier options, and also slowing down when I was stressed or flustered.”

A high point in Raissa’s pandemic training was her placing first in the Rogue Run 10-kilometer invitational, a brutal dash from BGC’s Greenway, through hilly Mckinley, up Mount Aura, and back. She did it in 55 minutes and 9 seconds.

Going into the event, Raissa was thrilled. “It was a great way to test your current fitness level,” she says, “like a test set.” She also points to its role of connecting runners in a community. “I really enjoy running with a group,” she says, “it’s like a shared experience or collective consciousness that helps us feel empowered to keep going, kahit masakit na.”

(Raissa, as she crosses the finish line of the first Rogue Run 10k)

Beginning the run–per her–“a little too fast” didn’t stop Raissa from smashing her PR in the process. More than that, it gave her a lesson to take for her next PR effort. “Every run session is a learning for me,” she says.

As is every meditation, every conversation, and every breathe. And every difficulty, too.

- Jaymes Shrimski