“Okay lang po ba [kung] beginner ako?”—It’s the question that sparked a movement. For Women’s Run PH founder Nicole Dela Cruz, that moment of doubt became the reason to build a community where every woman learns to say: “Kaya ko pala.”
When Nicole Dela Cruz, Founder and CEO of Women’s Run PH, launched the initiative, she saw a clear gap in the sport: not enough women were lacing up and joining races.
“Tinayo ko siya dahil konti lang talaga ng mga kababaihan [ang] sumasali sa running. So 30%, 70%, dun ko nakuha ‘yong data. Tapos sinabi ko, kailangan natin i-increase ‘yong women participation in this sport.”
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Instead of focusing on competition, Dela Cruz created an inclusive community designed to welcome women of all backgrounds—whether they’re beginners, returning athletes, or simply looking for a place to start.
“For me, I try to think, what are the ways for me to increase women participation in this sport? So I make sure that we have free training runs for women. That way, they get to feel na parang I can do this. Kaya ko pala siya.”
One of the biggest hurdles she noticed was self-doubt.
“They’re not that confident enough to join the race. Usually mga tanong, ‘okay lang po ba, beginner ako?’”
To help, Women’s Run PH offers free training sessions where women can try running in a supportive setting, learn basic techniques, and gain encouragement from fellow runners.
“So having this training run is a great opportunity for them to try it out so they get to also have that courage and empowerment from other ladies to build their confidence as well.”
Dela Cruz has seen firsthand how transformative it is when women—some in their 50s or 60s—finish their first 5K.
“There are ladies na parang 60 years old, 50 years old, first time to do running. When they crossed the finish line, there is a sense of empowerment and self-satisfaction na parang wow sa edad ko na ‘to kaya kong gawin.”
For cancer survivor Rina Pile and her husband Ricardo, running has become a way to promote health and hope.
“Sana maging encouragement din kami sa kanila ng good health. Lalo na sa panahon ngayon na napakaraming mga influence na bad vibes. Mas maganda sana kung dito sila mahilig sa pagtakbo. Kahit anong sports,” Rina said.
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Former Olympian Jenny Rose Guerrero also found a new purpose through running after retiring from competitive swimming.
“Year 2000, nag-Olympics ako for swimming. Ang event is for breaststroke. It was a good experience. I was 14 years old then, ngayon 40 na ako and a retired swimmer. Now I'm a swim coach.”
She credits the sport’s accessibility for keeping her active.
“Siguro kasi after retiring from swimming, I want to be active pa rin. We don’t want to lose my force. Running is one of the accessible sports out there. Kailangan mo lang ng shoes, may kalsada naman, so talagang madali ang running for everybody.”
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From cancer survivors to seniors, Olympians to first-timers, Women’s Run PH is redefining what it means to be a runner—and who gets to be one. For CEO Nicole Dela Cruz, it’s all about helping women realize their strength, one stride at a time.
And often, all it takes is hearing yourself say: “Kaya ko pala.”
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With reports from Maureen Muarip/One Sports