MANILA, Philippines ? Lance Gokongwei is looking fit these days?as in four sizes smaller in his Italian suits. That?s because he?s found passion in marathon running.

Eighteen months into the sport, the 42-year-old president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings Inc. has lost 15 pounds, his waistline trimmed down to size 32 from 36.

?I always ran on the treadmill, but never joined the races. My friends said it?s fun,? says Gokongwei.

Running buddy Nina Huang took a coach when she wanted to participate in the half marathon in Hong Kong last January 2008. Butch Jimenez also encouraged him.

He spent more time on the pavement in September 2007. Four months later, he joined his first half marathon in HK. The distance spanned Kowloon across the Harbour Tunnel to Central, Causeway Bay and Victoria Park. He clocked in at two hours and 13 minutes.

?It was well organized. There were lots of sports drinks and sports water on the road. The night before you load up on bread and pasta,? he says. Since then, he upped his ante by joining 10-kilometer and 15-kilometer runs.

Marathon running has put structure and discipline into his fitness routine when he began with working with coach Ige Lopez. ?Before that, I ran when I felt like it. When I prepared for my first 21-kilometer run, I started running outdoors thrice a week and went for longer distances on weekends. I started on two or three kilometers to build resistance so I could run 21 km.?

Gokongwei?s routine consists of running for 10 kilometers on weekdays and 15 kilometers on weekends.

The weekend athlete also learned his lesson about the importance of body conditioning after injuring his knee in his first marathon.

?I was running without training and didn?t have enough core strength, I went up too fast. I hurt my knee. I had to stop running for a couple of months. I didn?t prepare adequately and I didn?t stretch well.?

He now works out at home with a personal trainer who gives him stretches to loosen up his muscles, core-strengthening exercises and a series of light weights for resistance. The Balance Ball has become a portable gym which provides him low-impact exercises and toning. Just flopping over the ball and rolling around for a few minutes is a great stress and tension reliever.

He finds running and core training complementary since the former works out the cardiovascular system while core training builds strength and stability. The weekend athlete points out the importance of fitness conditioning.

Gokongwei says one advantage of running is that it can be done anywhere. While on business trips, he makes time for his routine. In Singapore and HK, he hits the treadmill in the hotel?s fitness club. In the United States or London, he lopes outdoors at the park or on the streets.

?The best things about running are the general fitness and the discipline. I have more energy to get through the work day. I sleep much better now. Since running takes up a lot of time, I end up going out less,? says Gokongwei.

He adds that runners are constantly driven to advance. ?Most people who run are Type A personalities. Part of the enjoyment is to see improvement in your race time,? says Gokongwei, who describes himself as a Type A personality.

A summa cum laude graduate of Wharton, the CEO says he?s very self-motivated and always takes the initiative. ?I?m very competitive. I want to do my best each time I do something.?

Gokongwei also enjoys the camaraderie of the sport and its potential for supporting advocacies. Running for Others, of which he is a member, organizes fundraising marathons for Operation Smile.

In a run in HK, Running For Others was able to raise half a million for its beneficiary. Last March, his group partnered with the Condura Run, whose beneficiary is Bantay Kalikasan. Participants paid P500 to join the marathon which covered the Skyway and Magallanes Interchange. An additional P100 went to a bid for charity. ?More than half joined the bid which benefited Operation Smile,? says Gokongwei.

?We run because we like to run and we have a cause. Our enjoyment of running translates into being able to help others.?

Gokongwei hopes to join the New York Marathon in November, his first honest-to-goodness event if he finishes the full 42 kilometers. He plans to start training in June.

Asked why business leaders favor outdoor sports such as running, he replies, ?To reduce stress. It?s a nice and quiet time to reflect. Instead of watching TV, you run.?

He explains that business leaders enjoy the challenge, the discipline, and health benefits that are reflected in work and family life. ?You?re more alert and energetic. The time you spend at work and with the family is of a higher quality.?

His wife is the happiest. ?She noticed the improved muscle tone. My pants are very loose; I?m slowly updating my wardrobe,? says Gokongwei.