An expensive gym membership fee (some go as high as PHP3,000 a month!) is enough reason to avoid any kind of work out. Exercise is a good thing, but paying exorbitant fees is not. The solution: jogging. All you need is a pair of running shoes, and you’ll reap the benefits of exercise without feeling like you need to rob a bank.

But where to jog? Here are our top picks. 

1.UP Academic Oval

We love jogging in UP… well, mostly because there are taho, ice cream and fishball stops along the 2.2-kilometer oval. It’s a beginner’s paradise! While there are also athletes who train in the area, there are also families going there for leisurely walks. The community is friendly and there is absolutely no pressure to keep up with others who run faster. The best time to go is on Sundays when they close off the area to vehicles. Bonus tip: In case you need to pee in the middle of your exercise, the nearest bathroom is in Vinzon’s hall.

2. Ayala Triangle

Ayala is a patch of paradise in the middle of the Makati jungle. Those who work around the area can jog after work to avoid rush hour traffic. It’s a good place to people-watch, and there are sometimes public art installations that can keep joggers entertained. You can also fuel-up in one of the restaurants right after a particularly difficult run. 

3. Intramuros

Those looking for a more private, more quiet, and more peaceful kind of run can enjoy jogging inside the Walled City. It can double as a review of Philippine history too. You won’t get bored running on cobblestone streets. You can even make stops in the historical Churches and museums. Now, if you’re up for a different kind running experience, you might want to try running in Intramuros at night. The ghost stories in the area will give you a different kind of speed training. 

4. Quezon City Circle

When you’re stuck in Commonwealth traffic, the QC Circle can be hell, but it’s a nice place to get your fitness journey started. The outer perimeter measures about 1.8 kilometers. If you’re up for an adventure, you can use QC Circle as your start-off point and jog to the other parks around the area. If you get bored with jogging, you can join the other park-goers in taichi or badminton. You won’t run out of things to do here. 

5.McKinley Hills/BGC

BGC doesn’t have the charming Acacia trees of UP, but it has seemingly endless flat roads that are perfect for long, long runs. It’s a good pick when you want to go distance training without feeling like you are literally just running around in circles. It is perfect for a full marathon training. For days when you want to level-up, you might want to head on to McKinley where there are hills to keep you challenged.