Women's Run founder to beginners: Don't let pace, social media pressure stop you from running

Many aspiring runners hesitate to join races because they compare themselves with others’ personal records posted on social media, but Women’s Run PH founder Nicole dela Cruz said every runner begins somewhere.

“These women who started, who are now very strong in their running journey, they all started somewhere. They all started at a slow pace as well,” Dela Cruz told GMA News Online.

She encouraged beginners to stop measuring their progress against others and instead focus on enjoying the journey.

“You always have to think that eventually, you’ll get there. But the most important thing is you enjoy what you do. You start slow, but eventually, you’ll get there. So all you have to do is just really train, enjoy your run, and take time. Be patient with your progress,” she said.

Dela Cruz noted that one of the biggest challenges preventing more women from joining races is confidence.

“Sometimes they get to question themselves, ‘Is this something that I can do? Is this something that I can really finish? Am I okay to join this event even though I’m just at this certain fitness level?’” she said.

To address this, Women’s Run organizes free training sessions and community runs to encourage more women to try the sport.

Asked whether misconceptions about women’s strength and endurance still persist, Dela Cruz acknowledged that such perceptions remain but said women should not let them define what they can achieve.

“That’s something that we can’t really take out from people—their perception of women, the perception of their strength, and the endurance as well,” she said.

“But for us women, that’s something that we should not take on negatively. What we have to do is just focus on ourselves. Those are just negative noise. The most important thing is we focus on ourselves and what we can do and what we can achieve,” she added.

The Women’s Run PH Series will debut as a nationwide series, with races scheduled in Makati this year before expanding to Davao and Iloilo in 2027.

The event also introduces a virtual run option, allowing participants from across the country to complete the medal series.

More than just a running event, the Lactacyd Women's Run PH Series serves as a platform for awareness, wellness, and empowerment, encouraging women everywhere to take charge of their health, embrace their strength, and connect with a growing community of women supporting women.

—JKC, GMA News