✨Hello, it's Patsitivity in the house!✨
To be honest, I'm still exploring Hive, but exploring's not a problem at all since I've always been the girl whose passion is exploring and discovering new stuff. It's actually my first time posting in this community. I've thought about an interesting topic to share here as my debut in the Ladies of Hive community.
Perhaps, an encounter with the police will do! haha 🤣
Up before the sun's out
It was the last day of November and the last day I can run for the 7 Eleven 2021 Virtual Fun Run. I registered for 21km since my goal is to run my 2nd half marathon this year (after completing my first in 2019).
I had to be in bed as early as 8 PM to ensure I get a restful sleep. If there's one thing I do before long runs, I have to get at least 7 hours of sleep. It's a non-negotiable for me, especially because I'm anemic. Your girl here faints easily. 😞
And take note that I'm running solo, no support whatsoever; if I faint there's definitely no one who'll look after me so I had to be strong and prepared for myself. It's my default mode anyway, nothing new.
The running route
I usually plan ahead but since I was able to run 18km last August 2021 from our staff house until the very end of the South Road Properties (SRP), I skipped the planning part. I told myself to follow the same route and see where to run the 3km deficit.
So I started slowly but surely from my boarding house to downtown Cebu City. I passed by Colon St., Sto. Niño Church, and Plaza Independencia.
After about 2 kilometers, I reached SRP where the new Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) welcomed me like it had some exciting surprise for me that dawn. This ain't my first time running here, as mentioned earlier, I ran 18km last August.
Just like the first time, I ran confidently with my head up high, my hands and arms opening up on the sides every now and then as if waiting for the wind to embrace me. A few people (mostly construction workers of the unfinished CCLEX) and motorists would give me the 'look' full of doubts. "What is she doing here?" "Is she really running the SRP route?"
Although I get why their eyes were gleaming with nonstop questions, I didn't doubt myself if I could finish the route I chose that day. I was determined to finish my run in less than 3 hours.
The police encounter
I took a selfie with the intersection of the SRP and CCLEX in the background. I remember being pumped up and ready to finish the remaining 18km when suddenly... a police patrol car stopped at the other side of the road.
I was still busy taking pictures here and there; I ran this route once in a blue moon and rarely jog as early as 4 AM so I had to take advantage of what my eyes were seeing that very minute.
Going back to the police patrol car... So the police at the driver's seat took out a megaphone and shouted something in my direction. Even with a megaphone, there's no way I could hear what the policeman was saying; there were ten-wheeler trucks and private vehicles passing one after the other; it's just too noisy. So when he continued saying something, I told myself I had to cross the wide road just to approach him and finally hear him out.
"You can't jog here," of all the first thing the policeman could say, he uttered four words that broke my heart right there and then.
"It's dangerous," he added.
"But chief, it's not my first time running here." I tried to negotiate.
"No, Ma'am. We can't let you jog here. Just go back [to Plaza Indenpendencia]." He wilfully suggested.
My heart sank. I've worked really hard during the last week of November, jogged every single day, rain or shine. Despite how busy my schedule gets, I was able to spare at least 25 minutes to jog. And now this policeman and his colleagues appeared out of nowhere only to tell me that I can't jog in the route I initially had in mind. You know how I hate last-minute changes. It was insane and intense. My brain almost forgot to think of something else.
"Now, what?"
That five minute was the longest five minutes of that week. Do you think I was able to persuade the policeman to give me a chance to finish my run? Or did I go home with a disappointed heart for not finishing my run that day?
Next time, I'll share if my charm worked to my advantage in this unexpected encounter. See you in Part 2! 😁
Living life intentionally every single day, she believes that there’s no limit to one’s potentials. Right now, she’s on the loose for the pursuit of endless holistic self-growth and development. She wants to light the way for others. She believes there’s no better way to leave a legacy than to pay it forward.
Her ultimate goal in life is to reach the state of enlightenment where there’s nothing but peace, love, happiness, and contentment - nothing more, nothing less.
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