From Risky Roads to the Safe Oval: Talisay’s New Track is a Game Changer for Runners (and Walkers too)!

The Talisay Central School Track Oval officially opened on March 26, 2025, and let me tell you—I have been waiting for this moment for forever! Nearly a year of anticipation, and it’s finally here.

I kept tabs on the construction process through my niece, who goes to school there. From time to time, I’d ask her to send me photos, watching that soccer field transform into the track oval it is today. And now that it’s done? I’m beyond happy!

Why Does This Matter So Much?

I’ve been running on roads for a while now, and I can tell you—it’s dangerous. As a widow with three kids, I can’t afford to take unnecessary risks. While I do love running on roads (it’s freeing, the sights are great, and you get to meet fellow runners—even if it’s just exchanging nods and salutes), it comes with serious downsides.

🚗 Traffic risks – You’re constantly at risk of getting sideswiped by vehicles.

🚫 No sidewalks – Some areas in Talisay don’t even have proper pedestrian lanes.

🤢 Garbage trucks – You either hold your breath or sprint past them.

💦 Puddles – If the drainage isn’t good, expect to go home with shoes that smell like baho na canal murag sabaw sa nokus. 😭

So, when Mayor SamSam Gullas announced plans for a track oval, I was ecstatic. I was counting down the days until it opened, and when it finally did, I couldn’t wait to check it out. According to our mayor's post on facebook, the oval is open at the following times:

Weekdays

4am- 8am

4pm-8pm

Weekends and Holidays

4am-8pm

First Visit: March 27, 2025 (Day After Opening)

I went to the track oval at 4:30 PM, eager to finally run in a safe, designated space. But the moment I arrived, my reaction was:

😱 Dios mio, ka puno sa mga tawo!

It was packed. Super packed. Like Sinulog level packed. Someone even posted on Facebook:

"TABANG LORD RUNNER NA TANAN TAGA TALISAY 😭"

And honestly? True. Pirting daghana jud tawo! Even the staff manning the entrance and exit looked overwhelmed.

Here’s what I observed:

🚶‍♂️ People were walking in lanes 1, 2, and 3—which, if you’re a runner, you know is a major no-no. Inner lanes are for fast runners, while walkers should stay in the outer lanes. You cannot sprint uninterrupted either. Take your speed sessions elsewhere. Ma pungot ra ka na mo sprint naka unya naay mo harang na slow walker sa imong front unya nag headphones pa jud so di siya ka dugnog nimo mo “excuse, excuse!”

👶 There were kids running around—one even stopped abruptly, almost causing a runner behind her to trip. (Thankfully, the runner managed to dodge in time!)

🚻 Only 2 portalets (portable toilets) for hundreds of people.

🚪 No clear entrance/exit signage, leading to confusion.

🥾 Some were wearing slippers or even barefoot.

🗑 Littering—plastic bottles scattered everywhere.

I expected the initial chaos since the track oval was still new, and people were excited. But the congestion made it hard to actually run, so I decided to leave after less than an hour.

Second Visit: March 30, 2025 (Early Morning)

I gave it a few days before returning, this time at 4:30 AM on a Sunday.

🚑 Big improvement! There was a medical vehicle stationed outside, and when I asked, the staff confirmed that medical personnel would be on standby as long as the oval was open. That’s a huge relief!

As someone with a heart condition, I always monitor my heart rate and avoid overexertion. But even with precautions, there’s always that lingering fear—what if I collapse on the road? Now, with medical staff present, I feel much safer. And this isn’t just for me—it’s peace of mind for all runners. If someone gets injured, collapses, or even just scrapes their knee, help is readily available.

🏃‍♀️ I managed to complete a 7K run in under an hour—new personal best! 🎉

However, I still felt there were areas for improvement, so I decided to talk to the staff on my next visit.

Third Visit: April 1, 2025 (Holiday Afternoon Visit + Staff Conversation)

Since it was a holiday, I had time for a long run and also took the chance to chat with the staff. Here’s what I learned:

🏢 Toilets

Currently, there are still only 2 portalets—which is just not enough for the number of people using the oval.

🚽 BUT Good news: Mayor Samsam plans to build proper restroom facilities once the gymnasium is completed. For now, just make sure to use the bathroom before coming to the track oval.

🚨 Security & Safety

The LDRRMO staff actively reminded people about lane discipline (e.g., “Walkers to the right!”).
Kids under 7 were not allowed for safety reasons.
When I visited again on April 2, the signages were already put up! This is what they looked like:

🗑 Trash Disposal

There are four big trash nets around the oval like these:

Yet people—especially students—still leave their bottles lying around. 😤

Since I’m a mom and a paki-alamera, I picked up and threw away about 30 bottles during my run. Hopefully, with time and proper education, people will learn to clean up after themselves.

🅿️ Parking Situation

🚗 For cars: Forget it. There’s zero parking space, so if you’re driving, be ready to park along narrow roads, risking being blocked in or towed.

🏍️ For motorcycles: Better, but not perfect. There’s limited space near the entrance, and it fills up fast. Latecomers park along the sidewalks.

🚲 For bicycles: Risky. While some people lock their bikes near the fence, theft is a concern. If you value your bike, bring a heavy-duty lock—or better yet, don’t bring it at all.

If you live nearby? WALK. It’s the safest and most stress-free option.

Final Thoughts & Gratitude

Despite the initial chaos, I am incredibly grateful for this new facility. It may not be perfect yet, but the effort to improve it is visible.

🙏 A huge thank you to:

✔️ Mayor Samsam Gullas for making this long-awaited track oval a reality.

✔️ LDRRMO & security staff for maintaining order and safety.

✔️ All personnel working behind the scenes to keep the track oval clean and functional.

To my fellow runners:

📢 Let’s be responsible! Follow the rules, use the right lanes, and clean up after ourselves.

🏃‍♀️ Let’s keep running! It doesn’t matter if we’re fast or slow—what matters is that we show up.

💪 Let’s make the most of this gift! Because, for the first time in forever, we have a safe, dedicated space to run in Talisay.

Lipay kaayo ko as a Talisaynon from Dumlog kay duol nalang kaayo ang lakwon nako to exercise safely. I can train for my upcoming races and hopefully run a marathon someday because naa nay tarong na facility para maka-practice ko.

So to that person who posted:

"TABANG LORD RUNNER NA TANAN TAGA TALISAY 😭"

Yes, sakto ka! You are absolutely right, sir!

🙏 Tabang jud, Lord that runners in Talisay won’t get injured.

🙏 Tabang Lord to keep them safe.

🙏 Tabang Lord na dili ma-dugyot among track oval ug dali.

🙏 Tabang Lord na mo tuman unta sa rules para clean and well-maintained atong oval.

Indeed, tabang Lord! And also—thank you so much, Lord. Naa nami oval. Yay! 🎉