Running Man

Despite the legions of fans literally chasing him down the road, actor and runner Piolo Pascual has learned to stay focused and disciplined when it comes to achieving his fitness goals.
By Angel Constantino 
Photos By Dix Perez

Published: Runner's World Philippines, April-June 2011
Section: Cover Story

Last January, I officially joined the Runner's World team as managing editor. It was a great opportunity as it merged two of the things I love most—writing and running. One of the things I worked on was the cover story on actor and runner Piolo Pascual. He was very accommodating and easy to talk to despite being a big celebrity, and he had a lot of interesting insights as a runner.

Below is an excerpt from the article:

When Piolo Pascual geared up for his first 10-K—the Timex Run in November 2009—he did not expect all the buzz that would surround it. While running alongside his coach, Rio Dela Cruz, Piolo was oblivious to the crowd of runners, mostly women, trying to get his attention and doing their best to keep up. He was there for only one thing: to finish the race.

Running has always been a part of Piolo’s workout regimen. “It’s one of the most relaxing sports and I’m very comfortable with it,” he says. “I grew up not competing in any sports, but running has always been part of my routine for cardio. When I got into fitness, I would run to lose weight or to tone my muscles.”

When Timex invited him to join his first race, he welcomed the challenge. “It was very surreal,” recalls Piolo. “It was my first ever competition, the first time I got to start something and finish. It was really fulfilling since I’m not usually competitive.” And finish he did, with an impressive time of 47:56, ranking 23rd out 1024 10-K runners. The running community took notice—suddenly, he wasn’t just a celebrity who had joined the running bandwagon. His time was something runners not only admired, but also aspired to reach.

Piolo himself was surprised by his excellent performance at the race and the admiration he received. “It was flattering, of course, but it doesn’t end there,” he says. “You just have to keep getting better.”

Click here for another excerpt from the article on FemaleNetwork.com.

To read more about Piolo and for all you need to know about running this summer, grab a copy of Runner's World's first stand alone issue!

I had a great time working on this issue with art director Glen Concio, editor in chief Marie Calica, and team publisher Christine Ong.

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