Sundown Funrun: My First Run Post-surgery

It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a fun run, excluding the Spartan race I joined in 2018. I’ve done them all, from night runs, neon runs, color runs, and more, but I didn’t take them seriously because I wasn’t committed to fitness. I only joined to bond with friends and because themed runs provided a creative break from my regular routine.

But one day, while strolling around the mall, I saw a poster for the Sundown Fun Run at a chiropractor center. I took a photo and sent it to my friends, and they were all interested because it was a sunset run, and we wouldn’t need to wake up early like the usual runs inside Clark. We decided to join the 5k route.

I decided to rekindle my love for fun runs because of my newfound passion for fitness. I wanted to test my limits and see if my body could run that distance one-year post-surgery. A year ago, in March, I underwent a major surgery called Thymectomy, where surgeons removed my Thymus gland because an 8cm tumor had grown there. My doctors said it was urgent because the tumor was only a few millimeters away from my heart. They had to open my ribs, remove the tumor and the entire gland, and put everything back using wires. Seven weeks after my surgery, I returned to the gym.

While I was physically active after my surgery, I didn’t do any cardio. I only lifted weights, did some stretches using yoga techniques, and walked 10k steps per day. I didn’t do any heavy cardio like running and HIIT, and I rarely used the treadmills in the gym.

Joining this fun run was a risk, but I know I am limitless.

We arrived at the CDC Grounds around 5 pm, and there were already plenty of people. The energy gave me nostalgia, and I loved the color of the singlets, which were on-brand and reminiscent of sunsets with their Indigo and Orange hues. People were already stretching and doing Zumba, which I found quite intimidating, but I reminded myself that I was there to have fun.

The 5k run started at precisely 5:30 pm, and it was a mixed crowd. You couldn’t say that longer routes were only for more active people. For me, 5k was a good, balanced distance, and I didn’t want to overexert myself since I was testing the waters.

While running, I listened to motivational speeches on Spotify, and surprisingly, they helped. In fact, I was a bit emotional because I couldn’t believe I could run that fast, and there was a moment when I was ahead of most people in the crowd. I know it’s not a competition, and I apologize for comparing, but I was genuinely proud of my performance. There were moments when I was exhausted and just catching my breath, but this was a normal feeling and one I’d missed for years. I loved the adrenaline, body heat, and extreme sweating.

Although I didn’t finish first, I was confident that I was one of the first to finish under the 5k category, and this was already an achievement for me. I don’t want to downplay it; I did really well.

All in all, I had a blast, and this fun run was just the beginning of more runs in the future.

Lastly, kudos to Xoi Saya and their sponsors for an incredible, well-organized event. We couldn’t have asked for more.

Notes for future runs:

• Prepare for the run weeks in advance and incorporate more opportunities to do cardio into my workout routine.
• Invest in a functional cellphone holder. I held my phone the entire time.
• I am having second thoughts about wearing jogging pants. I guess I will wear shorts next time.
• Research on proper running posture and techniques