AT A GLANCE
Southeast Asian Games three-time gold medalist triathlete Kim Mangrabong is happy to see more people take interest in running.
Running is all about community.
Southeast Asian Games three-time gold medalist triathlete Kim Mangrobang is happy to see more people take interest in running.
This, as the 32-year-old national team member ruled the women’s 10K category of the HOKA Trilogy Run Leg 2 in Manila on Sunday morning, June 2, at the MOA Complex.
Mangrobang covered the distance at 40 minutes and 44 seconds, almost two minutes clear of Mea Gey Ninura in second place followed by Jessah Mae Roba, who both crossed the finish line within a second of each other.
Last February, Mangrobang made a similar conquest in the 5150 Triathlon CamSur.
Unlike in the first leg of the progressive marathon concept in April organized by RUNRIO Inc. CEO and Founder Rio Dela Cruz, temperatures were a little cooler and a lot more bearable for the long-distance participants in the second installment.
“Nag-eenjoy ako pag nagra-race ako ng trilogy run. RUNRIO races are always organized. And I also meet a lot of runners around Metro Manila,” Mangrobang said.
“Ngayon summer kaya medyo humid. Kahit 4 a.m. grabe na ‘yung pawis. Of course with proper hydration nakakatulong ‘yun after intense running,” she added.
Last April, RUNRIO held three separate branded events which include the HOKA Leg 1 followed by the Samsung Galaxy Earth Day Run before capping off the busy running month with the country’s longest-running event in Milo Marathon in back-to-back weeks, all of which Mangrobang believes is the reason why it has become more accessible and easier to get into.
Despite the heat index rise in the past two months, runners all over the Metro have never ceased to show up — for themselves and their community.
“Nakakatuwa na ang dami na ulit community runners. Marami pa ‘yung nagsisimula. Nakaka-proud lang makita ngayon unlike before [kaunti lang]. Mas marami na talaga sila ngayon,” Mangrobang said.
“Ang dami ng mga group runs ngayon. Siyempre nakakatulong tong mga ganitong events for our health and [building community]. I think ‘yung mga ganitong events [fuel that]. Running is all about community.”
Though denied of her dream four-peat in the previous SEA Games edition in Cambodia in 2023, Mangrobang is not slowing down from any type of competition as she seeks to get back on track as the region’s best woman triathlete next year.
