JP Gloria

WHY RUNNERS?

Because I want to serve people in a meaningful way. And if you are like me, you understand how much running matters.

Running has got me through some tough times.

I remember the spring of my sophomore year of high school. I was 15. I was struggling with my grandma passing away that previous year.

I was six when she first moved in from the Philippines. Ever since, she has played such an integral role in my family.

Even though I knew she was older, I never thought of her as fragile. I only remember how capable she was.

I don’t even remember ever seeing her sleeping. She would always be up early. I’d go downstairs and she would always prepare whatever I wanted.

At one point, she would prepare my favorite meal called “Nilagang Baka”. It is a Filipino style beef soup with a variety of vegetables like potatoes, corn, and Bok choy. It a very common dish that is served for dinner in the Philippines. But I also realized that it was just as delicious during breakfast too.

After school, she would have sliced up mango or grapefruit prepared in a little plastic bowl. And when it was night time, she would always make sure we brush our teeth and are in bed.

It is hard for me to explain how much that affected me when she passed away.

I felt like I was in chaos.

My grades started slipping. I even had counseling between classes.

I could not focus.

There were just so many thoughts going through my head.

Being smart used to be part of my identity. Now I can only hear how stupid I am. I used to think I was athletic. Now, I can only think about how much of a burden I was on the team.

My grandma was my rock. And now she was not there. The only thing that stuck around with me were those thoughts.

Then, came my first 10-mile run.

“You are going for a 10-mile run today.”

I staggered back a bit as my track coach said this. It was my first year on the track team and I never ran that kind of distance before.

I did not imagine making it through this run.

Then, here came all these thoughts barging into my mind again. That I am not good enough. That my coach will finally realize that I don’t have any potential.

I was so frustrated I could not get these thoughts out of my head.

5 minutes into the run… I already felt mentally exhausted.

But things started to change as I kept going.

I slowly started noticing the environment. Things I have not thought about, despite walking on familiar roads I have crossed ever since I was a child.

I started feeling the cool wind as it brushes against the sweat on my skin.

I started noticing the lush, green leaves on the trees as they jumped up and down from the wind. I started hearing the subtle hushing of the wind.

Then, I noticed something I had not noticed in a very long time.

Everything was quiet. I no longer was being bullied by my own voice in my head.

Those 10 miles were peaceful bliss.

And for the first time… I got hooked on running.

So you can imagine how I feel when I hear this line come out of a runner’s mouth:

“I was told I should stop running”

I remember the pain in this person’s voice. I can hear the high pitch, yet soft crackling as she uttered this sentence.

She was in her late 20s and was dealing with debilitating back pain at the time. This stopped her from doing all the things she loved, including running.

She had already seen a doctor, chiropractor, a physical therapist and had imaging. And these all continued to reaffirm the line she just told me.

I can see the hopeless on her face. The downward gaze to the right corner of the room. Her eyes watery.

This was her last shot at hope.

I also remember the moment when she became confident in her ability to run again.

Her voice changed from a dull, monotone pitch, to a more vibrant one. Her whole demeanor was different.

It serves as a reminder of how much running can truly mean to a person, especially a runner.

I also can’t explain how good it felt during this moment. And I still never get tired of this feeling.

That’s why I continue to serve runners.

I want to see a world where runners no longer feel defeated.

When they can run farther and faster than they thought possible. When they no longer worry about getting injured.

When runners can finally enjoy running again.