The third leg of Immuvit’s Run Against Time proved to be another successful event as runners and fitness enthusiasts of different ages flocked Bonifacio High Street to join its new and one-of-a-kind challenge, the Meta-Fit Run.

US-trained fitness expert and leading Philippine coach and trainer Jim Saret devised the Meta-Fit run, which is a combination of running and short but intense workouts.

“Meta-Fit or Metabolic Fitness has been scientifically proven to help release somatotropin or growth hormones that deal with the changes that somatopause brings about,” Saret said.

The Meta-Fit Run during Immuvit’s Run Against Time event included a one-kilometer run and different challenges in each of its five stations. Each station had an assigned fitness routine that the participants had to perform before proceeding to the next post. The routines used in this fitness program were: single leg squats, push-ups, squats, burpee or squat-thrust exercise, and lunges.

The runners and fitness enthusiasts under the Beginner category did one lap of Meta-Fit Run. Saret shared that completing one lap of this fitness program is comparable to doing a three-kilometer run.

People under the Intermediate and Advanced groups, on the other hand, had to do two and three laps, respectively.

“This is the first time that I have encountered this kind of run. It’s difficult but I know that it would help me improve my workout program,” said 42-year old liaison officer Amelito Manlangit who found the new challenges really exciting.

Thirty-five-year old technical staff Zaldy Santillan, meanwhile, said that the Meta-Fit run could help him prepare for his first marathon.

“I loved it. In fact, I’m planning to do it once a month. What I like about it is that it also helps in working out the upper body, which you couldn’t do in typical running,” he said.

Karen Talosig, commenting on the Run Against Time Facebook fan page, called the Meta-Fit run “cool” and “deliciously painful”, while Mikiehl Tordecilla said that while it was difficult, it was “worth it.”

Just like in the first two legs of Run Against Time, Saret held a lecture on somatopause, the slowdown of metabolism one starts to undergo in his mid-20s and 30s. He shared videos and tips on how to effectively deal with metabolism slowdown, weight gain, bone density loss, and other symptoms of aging.

“I was inspired to continue working out after I saw the video of older adults doing more difficult exercises,” said 28-year-old working mom Odette Cruz.

This was echoed by 40-year old special education tutor Rhea Lacson who found the lecture “enlightening and informative.

“I’ve learned that you could be more fit than people who are younger than you are,” she said.

Immuvit’s Run Against Time is being held to encourage people, specifically those in the somatopause age, to learn how they can maintain their youthful looks and energy despite getting on in years.

The third leg of Immuvit’s Run Against Time was also made possible by Runnr and Avida Land Corp.