INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Theater artist Leo Tavarro Valdez’s fitness regimen runs parallel to his musical career.

He was thrust into the spotlight after winning the grand prize for his rendition of “Magsimula Ka (Make a New Beginning)” in the first Asian Song Festival in 1981. The success opened doors to more TV appearances, recordings and international performances.

Like the lyrics of “Magsimula Ka,” which talks about the determination to follow a vision, his musical career started to flourish, and with that, a fitness program to keep him in shape. Without any proper guidance in running, Valdez took up the sport. He started running for two kilometers but ended up sore. Nonetheless, he pursued his fitness goal with discipline.

In the early ’80s, running and jogging were major fitness trends while aerobics and gym workouts were still in their infancy. The popularity was attributed to the camaraderie of the sport and the low upkeep. Today, running is experiencing a big resurgence.

“You need only a pair of good running shoes, no fancy outfits and a nice route or track,” says Valdez.

While living along Roxas Boulevard, his routine covered the whole 10-km stretch along the bay walk that even extended the run to 16 km. Valdez joined the half and full marathons sponsored by big companies. He recalled that he even overtook the young Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, now the poster boy for CEO triathletes.

When he was cast in “Miss Saigon,” he always requested to stay in a place near a park where he could run. In London, he enjoyed the luxury of living in Mayfair, close to Hyde Park. During the Sydney season, Valdez was billeted at the 35th floor of the Connaught which overlooked the Sydney Opera House. His runs covered the Botanical Gardens and the Sydney Harbor.

Playing The Engineer, the Eurasian pimp in “Miss Saigon,” six days a week for nine years was also like a marathon. And not once did he get jaded or let his energy flag down.

“There was never the challenge of how to keep the performance fresh,” he says with his signature Cheshire Cat grin. “I looked forward to every show—entertaining 1,500 to 3,000 at a time. Think of how many you’ve made happy in the middle of their tears. The good vibes bounce back to you because you’ve made them feel good.”

Cardiovascular workout

Valdez likens “The American Dream” number, where he sang, danced and jumped into a car, to a full cardiovascular workout, which left him sweaty and heaving backstage. Yet he remained spirited during the after-show night-out with the younger cast members who couldn’t even keep up with his energy. He returned to the theater the next day, packed with power for two performances. He attributes the stamina to running and his positive attitude.

“Running is like brushing your teeth. If you want to get fit, no one else can do it for you,” says Valdez. “If you stop, the muscles will fall asleep. You have to wake them up again. The strength you’ve accumulated will always be there. It will just take double the effort to get back to your former peak levels.”

Last year, Valdez admitted he was looking puffy after stopping. Four months ago, he returned to his regular 10-km run at the Ultra oval track, and would hit 15 km on a Sunday.

For a man at a right and wonderful age, Valdez says running has stabilized his blood pressure, lowered his blood sugar, and more importantly, let him detox and burn fat. He also went on a low-fat, low-salt diet which speeded up his weight loss of 15 pounds and got rid of his muffin top.

To maintain his weight, he eats greens, fish, baked or stewed skinless chicken, tomato-based pasta for energy and drinks lots of fruit and vegetable juices. Occasionally he indulges in Häagen Dazs ice cream, decadent chocolate cake or Via Mare’s bibingka.

In the three decades of running, he has never had an injury common to runners—shin splints, runner’s knee, tendonitis or sprains. Valdez underscores the importance of cooling down and stretching. He doesn’t let go by putting on more weight that would burden his knees.

“I run alone. It’s a testament to my independent existence,” he adds.

His favorite time is running at 5:30 a.m. to watch the sunrise while the city is still asleep. “When I’m memorizing a song, I sing in cadence with my steps. Most of the time, I don’t think I’m running when I’m running. That’s why it’s a stress-buster.”

He describes the runner’s high as the state when the mind and body are so attuned with each other. “You don’t feel anything. You float and go with the flow.”

If his life were likened to a runner’s track, it would be an even-surfaced circuit. “Life has been good. I never had to struggle to get anything that I couldn’t reach. I’m still aiming high, but not having to exert too much effort.”

In the future, Valdez hopes to return to his roots, singing romantic Filipino songs which made him popular in the beginning.