MANILA, Philippines – At 2:30 am, Richard Ngo laces up his running shoes. He’s about to set off on a 30-kilometer recovery run as part of his ultra-marathon training. But in Metro Manila, distance is not the only challenge for runners like Ngo.
Along his route, he will dodge dangling powerlines, uneven concrete, and speeding traffic. “Sometimes the road itself feels like an obstacle course,” Ngo said.
But Ngo continues running for the love of it. He started his running journey two years ago at a Spartan Race, further motivated by his diabetes diagnosis. “That triggered a change in my lifestyle,” Ngo said. “Because I don’t want to die young.”
His determination and persistence show that the Metro Manila public is demanding safe and healthy spaces to move in.
Safety in numbers
