Courtesy of Just One Run Club
For marathoners Hannah Pangilinan and Jaymie Pizarro, the first step of a sustainable running journey is a shared stride
Running often feels terrible before it feels good. For beginners, those first few runs are always the hardest: your legs feel heavy, your calves are on fire, your breath starts to come in shallow gasps, and then, out of nowhere, a side stitch hits. It’s a battle of sorts. But seasoned runners, and those who’ve indulged in the wellness trend in the last few years, know that if you push past that initial threshold, the discomfort transforms, and you find your rhythm. Once you do, it’s hard to stop. For many, the momentum doesn’t necessarily kick in with that initial solo run, but in the exhilaration of running with others, in synchronized breaths and shared strides.
Despite being an individual sport, companionship and camaraderie have become central to the resurgence of running. Like many run clubs popping up around the metro, Just One Run Club is founded on a desire for community. Founded by Hannah Pangilinan, the run club’s name is built on a simple principle: “just one.” She explains, “The notion of taking the smallest step toward a big, audacious goal has been a driving force in my fitness journey. Doing just 10 minutes or just one pull-up or just lacing up my shoes, these small actions are what got me to the finish line of my first marathon.”
This mindset forms the foundation of Just One Run Club’s mission: to encourage people to take that first step, whatever it may look like, and do so alongside a supportive community. “At the end of the day, it’s not about us or my brand, it’s about helping people find their people,” Pangilinan shares. “My goal has always been to connect people with others who share the same energy, the same mindset, and the same vision.”
The 25-year-old creator explains that in running, communities are your primary source for information, accountability, and a sense of identity, all of which are necessary in learning to run farther and better. As part of this goal, the club hosts monthly run clinics where 150 to 200 people gather for a community run with elite running coach and triathlete, Ani de Leon-Brown. These pop-up open runs serve as an opportunity for the community to train and learn together in spontaneous settings.
This year, Just One is taking this goal a step further by partnering with one of the country’s most beloved homegrown races: The Bull Runner Dream Marathon (TBR), the world’s first and only marathon designed specifically for first- and second-time marathoners. Founded by seasoned marathoner Jaymie Pizarro (a.k.a. The Bull Runner), TBR shares Just One’s mission of guiding runners through their journey, with community and structured support at its core.
Pizarro and Pangilinan’s journeys run parallel in spirit, both building communities not just to spread a love for running, but to equip others with reliable guidance. When Pizarro began in 2006, there were no local resources available, so she created TheBullRunner.com a year later to guide others like her. As part of the earlier wave that jumpstarted the country’s running culture, she now mentors Pangilinan, who hopes to do the same for a new generation. “Running is so simple,” Pizarro shares. “It’s just about lacing up and getting out the door and taking one step at a time. If you have one other person who’s waiting for you, who you committed to seeing every other day, that’s your community. That’s what gets you motivated.”
Through this budding partnership, Pangilinan and Pizarro hope to offer a complete roadmap for runners. On July 6, TBR will organize the second iteration of the Just One Fun Run at the Vermosa Sports Hub, Cavite, building on last year’s 2,000-strong turnout. This time, they’re aiming for 4,000 runners across the 5K, 10K, and 21K distances, where all fun run participants will receive a structured training plan to help them prepare.
“Our runners aren’t just joining a race. We’re making it a full package,” says Pangilinan. “Just One can be someone’s first fun run ever, and the Dream Marathon can be their first full marathon. And you get to do it all with the same supportive community. We don’t just encourage people to start running; we make sure they’re trained, prepared, and safe. Both Just One and TBR offer training plans and run clinics. That’s what sets us apart; we’re not just letting people go off on their own. There’s a shared spirit of growing together and doing this the right way. Jumping in unprepared can be risky, and we want to help people avoid that.”
The Just One Fun Run will also host a TBR alumni run, giving past participants a chance to reunite and reconnect with the community. Besides the Fun Run, Just One also plans on expanding its reach this year, bringing the club beyond Manila with plans to introduce more provincial runs in the future.
Just One Run Club aims to build a space for people to challenge themselves, no matter their background or experience level. Whether you’re training for your first 5k or gearing up for a marathon, it’s all about showing up and taking that first step. Pangilinan shares, “We want to show people that running is for everyone.”
“The racer’s philosophy is that everyone who crosses the finish line is a winner,” Pizarro adds. “We don’t look at your time, we don’t look at your speed. We just want you to finish. We just want you to run and move and finish the race, because we want you to know that you can achieve the impossible.”
To register for the Just One Fun Run on July 6, visit https://runjustone.myruntime.com/register.
