Takbo.ph Guide to Running in Corregidor

We had a company outing to Corregidor last September.  It was an overnight trip and we enjoyed the day tour around the island and the night tour inside the Malinta Tunnel.  The following morning, I asked permission if I can run around the island instead of joining the morning tour.  Permission granted.  While my officemates had the sunrise view and the morning hike, I sweat it out and run 13K around the island.  Unfortunately, my Garmin 405 was borrowed so I relied on my adidas miCoach to monitor my run.  And worst, my camera wasn’t fully charged, so I don’t have pictures to show.

But the experience of running in Corregidor was wonderful that I had everything in memory.  If you are joining a race in Corregidor or just visiting for pleasure, here is what you can expect from The Rock.

1. Love the serene route.  If you want a runner’s getaway near Manila with very little to no distraction, Corregidor is the place to be.  Conditions for running looks perfect.  There are very little vehicles except for the trams that brings tourists around the island.  You are surely safe to run anywhere in Corregidor.

2. Listen to the birds.  I started my run listening to music with my iPod Nano.  As a safety precaution, I usually turn the volume low enough so that I can still hear the surroundings.   In a few minutes of running, I noticed the birds in Corregidor making a lot of noise.  No, it wasn’t noise.  It was music.  Compare the birds chirping to the cars roaring in Manila.  This sounds like heaven.  I turned off my music player and enjoyed the sound.

3. Challenge the hills.  Running is Corregidor is full of uphills.  Going to the Topside and the Mile Long Barrack is a gradual hill while the path from Middle Side to Tailside is the toughest of all.  You should try it.  To cover the island, it takes about 10KM only.

4. Sway with the trees.  There are plenty of treess in Corregidor. You can take a shade along the road whenever you feel tired.  The trees makes a long run in Corregidor still cool even at 9am on a sunny day.  The trees are also the home of the birds and other animals.  If you see a monkey hopping from tree to tree, don’t be scared.  The monkey is just glad to see a long lost brother/sister.  Be sure to greet and wave.

5. Enjoy the view of the ocean.  Take any road in Corregidor and you will have a scenic treat.  Either the lush green trees in the island or the vast sea surrounding it.   Since, this is a rare route to have, you won’t mind running back and forth the topside and bottomside several times.

6. Take the road less travelled. If you are brave enough, then try to make a turn from the main road whenever you see an old path or a rough road.  It leads to other batteries in the island and other ruined buildings which are not covered by the day tour.  It might also lead to something supernatural.  So open those third eyes and explore more.

7. Start late or bring some light.  Street lights are off in the morning.  It was still dark when I woke up and I didn’t start my run until the sun was starting to illuminate the roads.  The cold wind, the crooked branches of the trees and the dark surroundings just gives me the creeps.  Stories from our tour guide the other day didn’t help either.

8.  Pay for expensive sports drinks and water.  Powerade and Gatorade is available but costs more than 50 Pesos in the small stores at Middle Side.  Better bring your own hydration to save money.  It’s expensive since the locals have to travel by sea to get their supplies from the mainland.  Their meals are a bit expensive too.