Of walking, running and work stresses

Lorna Dulnuan Kinnud

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- When community quarantine was imposed due to the pandemic, exercises were restricted. Gyms and oval running tracks were closed, and advisories on limited movement outside the home were emphasized.  The streets were empty including those hours when joggers often fill the roads and streets. 
    When the quarantine was modified and allowed walking, jogging, running and other physical activities that does not involve physical contact, people were happy and were drawn to oval tracks and some streets at designated hours.
Walking, running or jogging are popular forms of physical activity. It was an appealing exercise to many because it does not require much skill tutorials from an expert. 
    It is less expensive as it won’t require enrolling at the gym.  It also requires lesser apparatus except some appropriate shoes as running barefoot maybe ill-advised nowadays. 
    It can be done alone such that one can run at one’s most convenient time and pace.  And when one wants to add to some motivation, there are competitions to include competing againsts one’s previous pace or in fun runs, race or even the marathons. 
    Even at this time when gatherings are restricted, there are the so-called virtual races where once may do it individually but is actually competing with people in other places, even far ones, doing the activity too.
    I have embraced running as my favorite exercise some years ago. There was that first time when I registered to a five-km run within the valley near our residence organized by an organization in coordination with the local government to celebrate the municipality’s premier festival. 
    I was happy receiving my first finisher certificate and the usual token they give to runners – a medal and a finisher shirt, remembering that I almost gave up at a little uphill to the turning point.
    Then later I had the chance to chat with a fellow lady participant. I was amazed to know that she was already nearing senior citizen age then and was more amazed to know she had just run the half-marathon category.  That conversation became an inspiration to run more and increase the distance I was running.
    I found that running has become useful to me at more.  During those normal times, running was a way to sweat especially that work often involves seating behind a table and facing spreadsheets or letters on the computer screen, sorting papers and beating deadlines for certain tasks.   The only exercise in the office is when every one in the office would have a good laugh at someone’s joke. 
    If no one got some joke for a day, or every one has got some bad day, stress builds up.  And the sweat from a good run may wash away those work stresses.  It is also a way to go outside of the box and enjoy the greeneries. 
    During weekends, my hubby and I would sometimes try the longer distance and on trails nearby.  I feel that the mountains and trees are real energy-giver, and the fresh oxygen are  naturally good for the heart.
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This time of the pandemic some tasks became more difficult to do since not every one in the office is physically reporting to work, or if they do, not at the same time.   
    Communication becomes harder even with the technologies such as social media, text messages or emails.  Sometimes, there is miscommunication. It is challenging to discuss possible solutions to some office problems or some taks at hand without the physical presence of all concerned.
    There are delayed answers or reactions to messages. Different understanding or interpretations on certain matters are not easily resolved.   And often, expressing one’s opinion in emails is difficult by itself.  These causes pressure or stress at work and often a refuge has to be sought.
    I am thankful that walking and running are allowed these times.  These kinds of exercise are indeed stress-relievers and burn fats too.  The greeneries, to include brooks and rivers where roads and trails pass are a refuge. 
    But while running and walking can be done, we hope that the pandemic ends so we run and walk, for relief from stress and energy for work, without worries of a virus. (The writer of this article is Lorna Dulnuan Kinnud, the administrative officer of the Benguet National High School – Ed)