Running and jogging are proven to build one’s strength and improve overall heart health, which is why a lot of people have recently started getting into these sports as they feel very empowered to stay fit and healthy.
With that, here are some of the best places in Manila where you can enjoy running and jogging to kick off your fitness goal upgrade this year.
1. Marikina Sports Center
The Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City is truly the perfect place to get your adrenaline pumping.
It houses a 400-meter track oval where you can freely do your speed work, training runs, and jogging sessions.
The site also has a quiet ambiance which is a good factor to maintain solid concentration while working out to achieve your daily fitness goal.
If you have already used up all your energy for the whole day, you can take some time to relax on the grass pavement until you get some speed in your legs again.
It is open from 7:30 am to 8:00 p.m. every day, with a cheap entrance fee of Php10.
2. Circuit Makati
Circuit Makati in Barangay Carmona, Makati City is best known for hosting huge concerts and music festivals, but it is also a great place to do a long run with its 21-hectare space just beside the Pasig River.
Doing your laps in the late afternoon to early evening is highly recommended as it is the best time to feel refreshed by the cool breeze that usually surrounds the place at night.
You can also add some variety to your running or jogging routine by playing other games of football, frisbee, or badminton in the large open field or try skateboarding in the skate park.
It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Monday to Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every Friday to Sunday.
3. Capitol Commons
Capitol Commons in Pasig City is a new development that immediately attracted a lot of runners because of its widely-built establishment areas that are good for different outdoor activities.
The main road measures about 500 meters from end to end, with a loop around the park that is about 300 meters, making it a very ideal place for doing easy runs, sprints, core group drills, or just jogging around the soft lanes.
Given that it is an open space, runners usually gather at the Capitol Commons complex in the evenings for their late running sessions, and this is highly recommended if you are someone who enjoys silence or a sense of solitude to maintain your focus.
The site is always open every day to welcome runners, so you don’t have to worry about any time conflicts.
4. Ayala Triangle Gardens
Located in Makati City, Ayala Triangle Gardens is really the perfect place for runners who work within the Makati Business District. They can easily do some quick jogs before or after office hours, or perhaps even during their lunch break.
But for others outside the Makati area, your jog will never be boring once you visit this site as it similarly offers a sanctuary of trees, flowers, and public art installations that will make your daily workout more entertaining and refreshing.
In case you need some carbs to get you going after a lung-busting exercise, there are a lot of restaurant choices in the area for your post-run meal. It is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
5. Alabang, Muntinlupa City
If you want to experience a breath of fresh air while immersing yourself in your daily workout, then you must definitely head south to this spot that is located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
The place is surrounded by beautiful displays of greeneries that help you pace yourself properly when doing your laps as you feel in harmony with nature. There are also soft grassy trails where you can sit down for a while to give your knees some break.
The sidewalks are widely constructed to accommodate you as you go for some runs or jogs, where you can similarly see large trees that provide ample shade to protect you from sun heat. Gates usually open around 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. every day.
Once you cross the finish line or complete your energy-intensive jogging laps, the sense of satisfaction is truly there, knowing that you are pushing your body earnestly to achieve your fitness goals.
Remember, running and jogging offer a lot of health benefits that will certainly help you live a more comfortable life, so lace up your running shoes and make sure that you are good to go!
